LIVE: DISTURBED wsg THREE DAYS GRACE – January 12, 2019

Venue: T-Mobile Arena

City: Las Vegas, NV

Date: January 12, 2019

Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com)

While on vacation the cool opportunity to cover a show at a venue new to me popped up and I couldn’t resist… especially when it is a newer venue and the show was two killer rock bands – Disturbed and Three Days Grace.  Walking from my Vegas hotel to the T-Mobile Arena was a quick walk and I was able to take in the vibe of the venue before setting foot inside.  The crowd was already amped up and ready for a killer show and the buzz around the place was electric, to say the least.  After getting situated with credentials and tickets (thanks to a friendly process coordinated by the staff), we were escorted into the venue and took our spot in the pit for Three Days Grace.  The band came out swinging and were on fire – with new track “The Mountain” kicking things off.  Next up we were treated to the one-two punch of “Home” and “The Good Life” as we worked our way around the stage giving our shutter fingers a workout.  With the allotted time to photograph over, I was able to hop up into a seat and experience the rest of the show and enjoy hit after hit from the bands catalog.  While lead guitarist Barry Stock stayed relatively still while ripping solos and leads one after the other, bassist Brad Walst roaming like a caged animal ready to pounce while keeping the show anchored and on time with drummer Neil Sanderson.  Songs like “Just Like You,” “I Hate Everything About You,” and “Animal I Have Become” gave singer Matt Walst ample opportunities to sing and speak with the crowd delivering song after song from most fans dream setlist.  Matt demonstrating the timelessness of “Never Too Late” when he related it to cuurent events and prompted those who needed a lifeline to reach out for one as they needed.  The band closed out their set with “Riot” leaving everything they had on the stage before exiting and allowing for a set changeover for the evenings headliners.

I still remember the first time I saw Disturbed live – they played the main stage on Ozzfest at Detroit’s Pine Knob.  These rockers were new to the scene and not above trying to blend into the crowd.  I remember the music, the power, the energy, and David Draiman sitting in the row in front of my son and I to watch other bands on the main stage after their set.  That same music, power, and energy was present when the band delivered an absolute killer performance to a packed house at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on their current Evolution tour.  After a short video message, the band took their place one by one on the stage and set their portion of the evening into motion with “Are You Ready.”  It was evident that not only the audience came to have a great time, but the energy swirling in the air was undeniable as Draiman, Dan Doengan on guitar, John Moyer on bass, and drummer Mike Wengren locked in for the evening and came at the crowd song after song with all they had, whether the tunes were rockers or otherwise.  The one two punch of “Prayer” and “The Vengeful One” kept the crowd on their feet and the energy up, with killer riffs, thundering drums, and pounding bass lines underneath the vocals.  While “The Animal” – a personal favorite – stirred me, it was an amazing live rendition of the Genesis cover “Land of Confusion” that really grabbed me and wouldn’t let go through songs like “Hold On to Memories,” “The Game,” and “Watch You Burn.”  Arguably the bands biggest crossover hit, “The Sound of Silence” lit the place up with lighters as the area above the crowd filled with the not silence but thousands of voices singing together… as one in spirit and one in rock, if only for the night.  After the rousing track that seemed to bond us all together, the band ripped into “Indestructible” and brought the show full circle with energy and enthusiasm.  After kicking the show into full gear with the last track and “Inside the Fire,” I couldn’t wait to get to the track that I first remember hearing… “Down With the Sickness.”  The guys did not disappoint, as they closed the show with this phenomenal rocker, sending everyone into the night infected with the sickness that Disturbed injected us with this evening.  This was a killer show top to bottom and an amazing performance from a band that never seems to get their due.  The only thing missing from tonight’s show was Draiman’s massive piercing.  Be sure to grab your tickets for this tour when it hits your town or any where near you!!!

Disturbed Setlist: Are You Ready – Prayer – The Vengeful One – The Animal – Stupify – Voices – Land of Confusion – Hold On to Memories – The Game – A Reason to Fight – Watch You Burn – The Sound of Silence – Indestructible – Inside the Fire – The Light – No More – Down With the Sickness

Three Days Grace Setlist: The Mountain – Home – The Good Life – Pain – Infra-Red – Just Like You – Painkiller – Break – I Hate Everything About You – Animal I Have Become – Never Too Late – Riot

Complete set of DISTURBED show photos HERE

DISTURBED LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

Complete set of THREE DAYS GRACE show photos HERE

THREE DAYS GRACE LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries