Arts & Entertainment
 

Sevendust leads energetic show

By Mauro Alvarez
The Daily Cougar

Georgia band Sevendust decided to wait until after the Super Bowl to make its Houston appearance at the Verizon Wireless Theater on Friday with supporting acts Element Eighty out of Dallas and the Soulfly-influenced Ill Nino. It didn't make for a typical romantic date, but for Sevendust loyalists it was the perfect way to say "Happy Valentines Day."

The lights dimmed, hinting to the crowd the rock celebration was about to begin. Vocalist Lajon Witherspoon took the mic and ripped into "Disease," the first track off the band's new album Seasons. He then proceeded to tear his way down the album list to Animosity's "Trust" and "Suffocate" as bassist Vinnie Hornsby made the stage his own moshing area.

The karaoke shout session continued as the band changed songs and shot into "Shine," "Crucify" and "Praise" before leaving the stage. The cry for encore spread, and the crowd applauded as Sevendust reclaimed the stage and played the final song (which fans wanted so much to hear), the anthem "Face to Face."

Ill Nino warmed up the crowd with "This Time's for Real," "Lifeless Life" and other cuts from its new album Confessions, but it didn't leave the Revolution Revolucion tracks behind in favor of promoting the new album. The set list included "Fallen," "What Comes Around" and "Unreal".

Element Eighty showed Dallas cam produce metal acts as it stirred up the crowd with "Dummy Block" and "Broken Promises" from its self-titled debut album.

Moshpits, hard rock karaoke, and a performance with whiplash jamming effects summed up the night. It doesn't scream traditional Valentine's Day weekend, but then again neither does Mardi Gras. 

Sevendust

Verizon Wireless Theater, 520 Texas Ave.

The verdict: On a scale of one to seven, a 6.5.
 
 

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