A REINVIGORATED SEVENDUST RILE UP THE STARLAND BALLROOM (4/20/08)

Killswitch Engage might hold the record for security guard singalongs at New Jersey’s Starland Ballroom, but after last night Sevendust hold the crown for roughest mosh pit. A reinvigorated Sevendust — now with founding guitarist Clint Lowery back in the band — got the crowd moving in a way I haven’t seen that room churn in years… maybe ever. Before the show Axl remarked to me that Sevendust, who traveled in a ginormous tour bus and with a full tractor-trailer of a gear, might benefit monetarily from scaling back their production just a tad — but he quickly ate his words as the awesome, all-enveloping stage show that is Sevendust began their set. Sevendust is still one of the most engaging and exciting live bands on the planet, and having Clint back in the band drives that point home.

Let’s get this out of the way first: it is fucking great to have Clint Lowery back in the band. Now sporting some manly man’s long hair, Clint rocked out hard from note one and didn’t relent all night, criss-crossing across the stage without effort and engaging the crowd, who seemed well aware of his recent return even before the band hit the stage. His stage presence is mesmerizing, and it made the overall performance of the band that much more cohesive. Sevendust was and always will be a strong live unit, and Sonny Mayo did a fine job in the 4+ years of Clint’s absence — but I don’t think there’s any doubt that the band’s show is even stronger with Clint up there. Somehow, with Clint up on stage Lajon seemed more commanding, John and Vinny more energetic, Morgan more… Morgan fucking Rose, with his screaming and stick-throwing shenanigans.

When we interviewed Clint before the show (to be published later this week) he told us that he liked the material Sevendust had written during his absence and enjoyed playing it live. He certainly lived up to his word by manically head-banging through new cuts from Hope & Sorrow such as “Inside,” “Scapegoat” and “Prodigal Son.” But Clint — and the crowd — seemed to get riled up most during the older cuts which have become live standards for Sevendust such as “Waffle,” “Enemy” and “Denial.” The setlist contained notably fewer cuts from Next and Alpha than it otherwise might have, and much to the delight of the audience included some much older stuff and two distinctly “Clint” songs that the band has not, and could not, play without him. “Suffocate” was a very welcome surprise, marking the first time I’d seen the band perform anything from Seasons other than “Enemy” and “Face to Face.” The emotional and dramatic “Angel’s Son” was another highlight, serving as a reminder that Clint’s voice, not just his stage presence and songwriting, was also greatly missed from this band.

All that’s left to say is I can’t wait for the wait next Sevendust album; I know one just came out, but with Clint back in the band it’s a whole different ballgame. But for now, I’ll continue going to see Sevendust live — because they are just that fucking good of a live band.

-VN