Lamb of God and Anthrax blow the doors off of The Midland Theater in Kansas City
Photo by: John Thornbrugh
Tuesday, February 2nd saw Lamb of God and Anthrax pull in to KC and leave a trail of destruction behind them. Opening the night was Power Trip out of Dallas, Texas, and Deafheaven out of San Francisco. Both bands brought their own style of metal to the stage and were a great way to get the night started.
After the crowd was nice and worked up, the legendary Anthrax took to the stage. I was very excited to see them, as I was able to scratch another one of the Big Four off my list (Megadeth on Feb 20th will complete). Also I got to see my goatee-idol, Scott Ian. For a band that has been crushing the stage for more than three decades, you would have thought they were still fresh faced teens with the way they covered the stage. The way Scott Ian power-stomped around that stage, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that there is now a trench worn through that floor. Anthrax did not hold back either; three songs in, and we were all “Caught in a Mosh”. Joey Belladonna could be seen running from one end of the stage to the other; hell, I was worn out just watching him. Anthrax also treated the KC crowd to a new song off of their new album For All Kings, releasing February 26th. The song was entitled “Evil Twin”. Something that brought the audience to a frenzy was a touching tribute to Mr. Ronnie James Dio and Mr. Dimebag Darrell Abbott during “In the End”. Before Anthrax left the stage, the war cry was started and the first bars of “Indians” rang out. There could not be any better ending for Anthrax in KC than a packed house doing the Tomahawk Chop along with the band.
Photo by: John Thornbrugh
As the crews switched over gear from one band to another, chants of, “Lamb of God, Lamb of God!!” could be heard rumbling through the theater. As the crews finished and left the stage, massive LED’s were lit up with namesake of their band. Louder and louder the chants could be heard, “Lamb of God, Lamb of God”, and as the band took to the stage, the masses raged. Lamb of God started off the night with “Desolation” and did not slow down from there. With every song that was delivered to the crowd, a sensory overload was supplied by a multitude of images that were blasted across the LED’s. Music aside, how in the hell does Randy Blythe not end up in a tangled mass the way he jumps around on stage with that mic cord? I would look like a dolphin caught in a freaking tuna net, but anyway, I had to get that off my chest. Song after song, Lamb of God pummeled that Kansas City crowd, from “Still Echoes” to “Set to Fail”, KC gave back everything they were given. Before the lights could come on and everyone could make their way out of the venue, “Redneck” would be chanted to the ceiling
Time is running out; this monster tour is coming to an end on February 12th. If you did not make it out to see this show, you missed out, and if you still have the chance, yes I am talking to you, Vegas and L.A., get your asses out there. The last thing you will be is sorry!
Ace Sims – RockRevolt Contributor
