Photo: Janice French
If traffic is any sign of attendanc,e the venue is going to be packed tonight. The modern open air AVA Amphitheater was built by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe next to the fabulous Casino Del Sol. They have the best burritos at this venue and we chow down before the show starts.
The alternative industrial metal of Hour Cast is dark, haunting and decadent. Featured on the soundtrack of Saw III, the sinister and brooding ‘Sakkara’ is even better live. During ‘Freeze’, strobe lights flash and tension builds like the fury of a gathering storm. An impassioned Patrick McBride roars then falls to his knees whilst random shouts and whistles break out in the crowd. Deeply primal and darkly forceful ‘God Failed’ keeps the audience cheering. Patrick paces and delivers a final, seductive and powerful performance as insatiable passion and wanton desire drives ‘3rd Of July’ to the breaking point.
Ben Burnley of Breaking Benjamin attacks the song ‘Diary Of Jane’ like a possessed man starving for the object of his affection. The harsh intensity of the piece literally leaves the audience howling. He tells us “This song represents the devil in life” then a pounding beat and insane guitar work thrills us during ‘Dance with the Devil.’ Their new single ‘Breath’ begins on a green lit stage. The song soars as Ben passionately pleads like a greedy unfulfilled lover. They end their set with ‘So Cold’ dishing out an intricate killer riff as all three guitarist line up and jam. Then Ben’s incredible vocals edged in desperation and aggression bring the house to its feet.
It’s the Full Monty of pyrotechnics. Explosions erupt, a montage of soldiers in battle flash on a huge screen and Godsmack assumes command of the stage with ‘Straight Out Of Line.’ Mighty and dynamic the rich vocals of Sully Erna are unforgettable. Pictures of Man’s first steps on another planet fuel the needful drama of ‘Moon 
Baby.’ Savage instrumentals, violent white strobes and firelight consume the packed house as Sully crouches down in the face of fans beating their hands in the air. We not only hear but can feel the heat radiating from the stage.
Hell comes in on thundering drums and the audience is jumping as ‘Awake’ jolts us too attention. On both sides of the stage huge flames burst skyward in time with the music and fireworks fly as the song draws to a close. Classic black and white clips of ‘Vampires’ are the backdrop for this wicked song of the same name. Tony Rombola and Sully face each other and power out an incredible riff whilst the entire crowd takes to their feet and goes wild. ‘Voodoo Too’ leads Sully and Shannon Larkin into a highly charged battle of the drums. The sound of a harmonica signals the arrival of their new hit song ‘Shine Down’ which propels the mob into mass insanity. They finish the night with ‘I Stand Alone’ whilst the deafening crowd shouts the words and the band finishes the night off with searing instrumentals and red hot flames.
