I'm addicted to Craigslist

So, I've decided that I'm going to kind of review the Seether/Five Finger Death Punch/Hell Yeah/Drowning Pool/Lacuna Coil show I went to last night.

Disappointments of the night: Missing Lacuna Coil/My lack of nerve.
Surprises of the night: Five Finger Death Punch

Once my girlfriend and I rolled into Lacrosse, things were peachy. Still following the directions from Google map, we went around a giant building and had no idea where the venue was. And that's when I saw Shaun Morgan, Seether's vocalist, standing on the sidewalk talking to some chick. Just...chillin'. So, naturally, I didn't want to go meet the dude of one of my favorite bands ever. No, it makes far more sense to walk the OTHER way and yell at my girlfriend while she's trying to figure out why I'm so freaked out and not getting his autograph. (It's because I'm afraid that meeting celebrities could ruin them for me. What if Shaun is a massive tool? Seether would be ruined.)

So, anyway. When we walked in, Drowning Pool was almost set up. I didn't check the time when I strolled in, but I later found out that Lacuna Coil opened and we missed them. (Thank you 173 detour that put us back.) So, that was disappointing. But, onward.

Drowning Pool was okay. They did a few songs off of Sinner, the band's first album. I don't know what DP has been doing lately, really. I haven't listened to them since Sinner. I do know that the original lead singer died. In Milwaukee. And, if I remember, it's because he choked on his own vomit. Not pretty. And I totally get and appreciate the homage that could be paid in-show to him. But...there's a certian point where it's not homage paying and it's more "Hey remember that guy that you all loved but died well I like him too so like me and don't hate us!" That's what I got off of the singer. It was getting annoying. But, for what it's worth, they did Bodies amazingly. It was awesome.

After Drowning Pool we found a place to sit, because I didn't know two of the bands and I was sick of standing. And there was no way I was going down to the pit. I care far too much for the safety of my minutely fragile girlfriend. Also, I bloody hate drunks.

So Hell Yeah set up. And...well, I don't know Hell Yeah. I've never listened to them before. But I like some death metal from time to time so, what the hell, right?

I was so bored during their set. So. Bored. I was half asleep really. The people in the pit seemed to enjoy it, because he screamed and they could mosh and crowd surf. Wee. The singer was crouched near the front of the stage almost the whole time.

So, after the disappointment that was Hell Yeah, I asked my girlfriend if she wanted to get a bite to eat. We had an hour before Seether took the stage. (This was after I realized and begrudgingly accepted that we missed Lacuna Coil.)

Five Finger Death Punch took the stage. From their intro, I was already interested. They had a strong intro, a strong first song (a strong 10 or so songs if I'm honest.) This guy really knew how to play the crowd. He had an amazing stage presence. I could understand him at times! At one point, he enouraged the fans to crowd surf up to him and shake his hand. It was pretty awesome. I'd love to see these guys headline. I would definitely go see them again. I might even have to check out some of their stuff. A+ for FFDP. Except at the very end when there was a mic problem or something and dude guy got all angry cos like, 3 or 4 mics weren't working. I still think they cut him off. Lame.

Ah, Seether. I love me some Seether. I consider myself a Seether concert veteran. I've seen them at a fair, as an opener, and, finally, as a headliner. I must say they just get better each time. It kind of sucks for Seether to follow Five Finger Death Punch because Shaun doesn't engage the crowd like the other guy did. Shaun loves to play music, that much is blatantly obvious. If you love rock music, and love to listen and thrash around...Seether is a good band. If you want to be engaged a lot, hear stories and bullshit, then their not. I, personally, wish Shaun would engage the crowd a little more, but that doesn't take away from the over all act to me. Shaun just seems a little more introverted to me. I would be the same way if I had thousands of people staring at me and judging my every move and sound.

Seether puts on a great music show, period. I will go and see them time and time again because I have a genuinely good time and their shows. It helps that Shaun is one of those guys who thanks the crowd a lot. To me that says "I'm sorry I'm kind of afraid of people but I appreciate you coming out here to see me and feed me and my daughter."

Oh and, Remedy? Seether's single off of Karma and Effect? Always the last song. Always flawless.