The Texas based alternative metal band Drowning Pool bestowed joy and happiness to the Rocky Mountain region not only once but two times (well I guess three times if you count Casper, WY) this past week.
They made a tour stop in Denver on March 17th and the next day they headed down to Colorado Springs to do it all over again. Support on the tour came from Pop Evil, Anew Revolution, Trust Company and Static Cycle.
Normally I don’t mind watching tons of bands on a single touring bill but my single reason for driving up to Denver was just to shoot some pictures because the venue in the Springs doesn’t have a photo pit. So this review will be a combination of both gigs since I didn’t stay in Denver all that long.
And why you might ask; well it was St. Patrick’s Day or as one of my friends called it fittingly “Amateur Night” (real Irish don’t need a dedicated day to drink!) and the Denver show was at the Summit Music Hall, smack in the middle of all the shenanigans.
I already planned on going to the Black Sheep in Colorado Springs weeks ago so it was no big deal to leave the mayhem in downtown Denver early that night.
Static Cycle out of Anchorage, Alaska started the evening after some local band which I totally missed. And yap, Alaska, holy crap, I heard it took them 104 hours to drive to the first gig of the tour which was in Texas. Thankfully they have their own transportation, a converted big rig with sleeping bunks and a lounge. Anyhoo, never heard of them, but I would label them as a symphonic rock band. Really energetic on stage and the audience really got into them.
Next up was Trust Company out of Alabama which were definitely a touch harder. A lot of people in the audience knew their songs, sang along and the band really appreciated that fact. Alternative rock is apparently not dead, not necessarily my cup of tea but the dudes had a great time on stage.
Unfortunately I totally missed both those bands the next day in Colorado Springs.
For more Pictures of both band click right HERE
Anew Revolution; buddies of mine and I have seen them tons over the past couple years. Even though they are a fairly new band (formed in 2005) they have managed to collect an impressive number of followers. Every time they hit the Denver region their number of fans is getting bigger and bigger. And this is because they ROCK! Hard and heavy, with awesome guitar solos and riffs; old school drumming and vocals that are beyond today’s kiddie bands.
Their set contained songs as “Head Against the Wall”, “Crucify”, ”NME” and “Life” with the whole fricking audience jumping up and down. Joey (vocals) and Frank (bass) do an awesome job of getting everyone involved. And a stable of each performance is when Joey steps on the shoulders of the audience; so far no one dropped him, but to be real, dude weighs 50 pounds dripping wet.
Make sure you check them out next time they are in town and since they are touring maniacs, I bet it won’t take that long.
For more pictures of AnR check HERE
Pop Evil was up next. They hail from Michigan and play an assortment of metal and rock. Again, never heard of the band but I actually enjoyed their set. For some reason they sounded better in Denver then in the Springs, but this could be due to acoustics in the room. They are also a fairly new band; around since 2008, but once again, a lot of folks knew their stuff.
Gee, I need to get out more often and start listening to new bands (NOT, just kidding) Pop Evil plays radio friendly rock and I guess that’s why they are so popular right now and to my surprise I actually knew one of their songs. Go local radio station; song called “Last Man Standing”. Not a bad band overall, really super nice guys but to commercial in my eyes. But hey, whatever it takes to pay the bills I guess. And to the ladies; eye candy that’s all I can say! Bass player could have been in any ‘insert random 80’s glam band here’. They sure know how to work the crowd and will be back in Denver in support of Papa Roach in May.
For more pictures of Pop Evil click HERE
Finally it was time for the headliner Drowning Pool to hit the stage. I just saw them this past October opening for Five Finger Death Punch and Godsmack up in Broomfield so I was really excited to see them in a smaller venue compared to an arena setting.
But by the time they started playing in Denver it had started snowing (!) and in anticipation of tons of idiots on the interstate (St. Patty’s day, drunks, snow = non-drivers) I only stayed for the first 3 songs.
Attendance wise I would guesstimate about maybe 800 peeps at the Summit, while the Black Sheep was SOLD OUT!
Granted, it’s a much smaller venue (capacity ~ 450) but just this makes it feel more personal, like you are right there with your ‘heroes’. And speaking thereof, I met folks from all over the state at the Black Sheep that also went to their Denver gig. Now that is fan dedication.
Drowning Pool put on an amazing show, hands down. It was very apparent that Ryan (vocals) and gang had the time of their lives. They really gave all they got, but it must be kinda weird for a band that frequently plays in front of thousands of people to play an intimate club setting.
Crowd favorites like “Feel Like I Do”, “Enemy” and “Bodies” brought to room almost to a boil. To be honest I don’t even know if they played “37 Stitches” in part because I, my friends, Scott (tech-Pop Evil) and Joey from AnR were hitting the bar pretty hard. (yeah for designated drivers), but I do believe it was in their set. In all it was a very, very good show. The Mosh pit was civilized also, well shit; there was no room to be a karate chopping idiot.
As usual the security at the Black Sheep was at the top of their game and not enough can be said for the bar tenders that night. Trust me, I ought to know!
For a couple more pic's check HERE