Aaron Lewis may be a moping and MTV-friendly Fred Durst suck-up, but his band isn't half bad live. On Saturday, Staind and Sevendust kicked off the first day of their tour with a sonic flurry of rock proportions.
As Sevendust's Thundercats-esque red and black flag descended, testosterone coursed madly through the audience's veins. Sevendust delivered a sound so punishing that you could nearly feel the enamel peeling off your teeth. Given an alternate lineup, they could have easily upstaged the headliners, but they graciously allowed for Lewis and company to shine brilliantly.
Far more potent live, Staind oozed passion, playing a mix of recent and older material. The set focused heavily on Break the Cycle and gained the greatest audience participation and approval with hits like "It's Been Awhile," "Fade," and "Outside." Thousands of audience members, dozens with raised lighters, gleefully intoned every lyric. Although their acoustically-driven numbers struck an emotional chord, the band appeared most content while dispensing an unrelenting tornado of reverb. With Lewis bleating "Raaaaaaawww" at the top of his register, little doubt remained as to why this band has garnered so much success.
