Volbeat give a great performance.
The opening act of the show, Eye Empire, was all about the music as opposed to ticket sales or merchandise. The lead vocalist, Donald Carpenter, was always interacting with the crowd, getting them pumped up and thanking them for listening to their sound. He often spoke of the Eye Empire mantra, which was “Music is love, respect and support.”
The band seemed very sincere throughout their entire set. Songs that were performed included their first single “More Than Fate,” “Idiot,” “War Isn’t Over Yet” from the Battlefield of the Mind soundtrack and “Great Deceiver.” Carpenter said something that summed up their performance perfectly: “Music is an artform.” It is, indeed.
Following Eye Empire’s set, there was a brief intermission. During that time, people at the show expressed what they were excited for. Thomas Burton said, “All That Remains has been one of my favorite bands for a long time, and this is my very first time seeing them live, so it should be a great show.”
It was then apparent that the band All That Remains was the second opening act of the night. Philip Labonte, the lead vocalist, was having a great time – and excessively cursed about just that. What he was saying helped pump up the crowd.
After another intermission, Volbeat finally graced the stage. The band opened with “Hallelujah Goat,” which got the crowd louder than they had been all night. The band then continued with “A New Day,” “Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood,” “Pearl Hart” and “Heaven Not Hell.” Volbeat’s stage presence was right on the money, and it brought the crowd to their feet multiple times throughout the night.
Aside from Judas Priest, Misfits and Slayer covers, the band focused on their fan-favorite music as opposed to heavily promoting their new album, “Outlaw Gentleman and Shady Ladies.” In fact, out of the entire 17-song set , only two songs were from the new record.
After their final song of the night, “Still Counting,” the audience begged for more. And more they got. The band came back to the stage to perform not one, but four more songs: “Doc Holiday,” “Fallen,” “The Mirror and the Ripper” and “Pool of Booze, Booze, Booze.”
Making an appearance next at the Wellmont Theatre is Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes on Friday, May 10. Tickets are being sold for $25-45 and can be purchased as the Wellmont’s website, as well as the Wellmont Box Office.
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