Sevendust and Friends

Earlier this year, Sevendust announced the first dates of their acoustic tour. At first I wasn't sure if I'd be seeing them anytime soon as the closest location was in Madison, Wisconsin. After taking another look, I decided that I could make the trip. At the time, I didn't know if there were going to be any other tour dates closer to my home. I started talking more and more with some of my friends that I've gotten to know in a Sevendust fan group on Facebook about the tour and the Madison date turned out to be a common meeting point for several of us. As the weeks, days and hours grew closer to the show, we all got more and more excited about the concert.

I got to Madison on Friday afternoon, taking a day off to enjoy the drive and explore the city a little before the big event. The day of the show, I drove downtown to familiarize myself with the city, which is one I'd never been to before. A couple of coworkers recommended the Tipsy Cow restaurant, so I checked out that location, since it's where I told my friends to gather to meet before the show. Little did I know that there was a 5 mile run that morning that was starting at the capitol building when I arrived. After that commotion was over, I walked through the capital building and then wandered down a small side steet to find the Orpheum where the concert would be. It was a quaint nostalgic theater, kind of like one near my hometown.

After a lunch and rest break, it was soon time to get ready for the show! I met a few friends at the Tipsy Cow, not realizing how small the building was or how many people (about two dozen) actually planned on meeting for dinner. After a short wait in the crowded bar area, we were led down the hall to a table that we were able to squeeze a dozen people around while we waited for the rest of the group to arrive. One friend brought a Sevendust poster that had been sent to fan group members across the country to sign. It just needed the signatures of me and several others at the dinner table to be complete.

It was great getting to meet people and get to know them better, as we shared stories and Sevendust concert experiences. After paying for our dinners and drinks, it was time for some of us to collect the VIP sticker for the after show festivities. My friends and I picked up our satin stickers, got to the line outside and waited briefly for the traditional venue opening. We were even entertained outside by some college students and an somewhat unintentionally amusing street performer.

I bought my usual concert T-shirt after the doors opened and quickly made my way to the stage. I got to meet more Sevendust fans before the concert began, and admire the historic building at the same time. The concert began shortly after 9 p.m. with a performance of "Trust" from the new album Time Travelers and Bonfires. This was one of six Sevendust classics re-recorded for the new disc, and its relaxed pace set the tone perfectly for the intimate evening.

The evening got a little emotional during songs like "Xmas Day," "Prayer" and "The Wait," which was a new song written about the loss of guitarist/singer John Connolly's father who passed away last year. It was hard not to notice the tears welling in lead singer Lajon Witherspoon's eyes during the song. It was also difficult for my friends and I to keep our composure after emotional songs like that.

Sevendust ran through about a dozen tracks before a brief intermission, ending their first set with a heavy acoustic version of "Gone," one of my favorite re-recorded classics on Time Travelers. They returned to the stage about fifteen minutes later with a boisterous rendition of "Come Down," the first song on the new album. They put a lot of energy and fun into this track and the ones that followed, including a cover of Johnny Cash's version of the Nine Inch Nails classic "Hurt" and the more familiar songs "Karma," (which the band never played in concert until rerecording it for the new disc) "Got A Feeling" and my top two favorite Sevendust songs "Angel's Son" and "Black." I was grooving to "Black" when I spied one of guitarist/singer Clint Lowery's picks in the pit between the stage and front rail. I got the attention of one of the security crew members who kindly picked it up and dropped it into my waiting hand - another souvenir for my collection!

For us VIP'ers, we were gathered into line 20 minutes after the show to have the guys sign an item for each of us. I brought an enlarged group photo that I got at their last MN show in September, a collector's piece that I'm going to frame and display proudly at home. I enjoyed getting to chat with all of the guys, including bassist Vinny "The Boss" Hornsby and tour keyboardist Kurt Wubbenhorst, who is also an owner of Architekt Studios where the band recorded their last two albums. I was surprised by Lajon, who commented after I showed him the jewelry pieces his wife Ashley had made for me that I was family. I was simultaneously shocked and humbled by this stament, which just proved how he views fans as family and friends, especially diehards like my friends and I who have seen and talked to all of them multiple times.

We were also invited to each get a group photo with the band (another item for me to have printed and framed). I was able to chat with John about the YouTube videos for his side project Projected and examine drummer Morgan Rose's new "battle scar" up close from a show a couple of nights earlier. At the end, our group members were able to present the band with the traveling poster. We could see from their expressions that they were definitely impressed. They even insisted on getting a group photo with us and the poster! Not many groups would do that, so I think we were all honored by that gesture. That was a moment my friends and I will not forget any time soon.

I got home today with a lasting smile on my face, and lots of great photos and memories. It was a fantastic evening that I just don't want to forget. A perfect evening of good music in the company of good friends. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better day! I'm glad so many friends were able to join me in this unique experience. I'm already looking forward to joining some of them at Sevendust's acoustic tour stop in Minnesota in June. If you're a Sevendust fan or just want to have a great time with friends both on and off-stage, be sure to attend this tour in a city near you. It'll be an experience that will last in your mind for years to come!

Until next time, have a great week everyone, and keep on rockin'!

Set list: (not including cover song medleys)
1. Trust
2. Prayer
3. Crucified
4. Xmas Day
5. Under It All
6. Skeleton Song
7. The Wait
8. Denial
9. Disgrace
10. Rumblefish
11. Gone
12. Come Down
13. Hurt
14. Karma
15. Got a Feeling
16. Angel's Son
17. Black

Bucky's CD Review: Time Travelers & Bonfires by Sevendust

There have been some great acoustic rock records in recent years. Live offerings by Seether, Nirvana, Alice in Chains and Sevendust come to mind. Sevendust's 2004 live CD/DVD Southside Doublewide Acoustic Live comes to mind for me because I was lucky enough to go to the Minneapolis date on that brief tour. When I first heard guitarist/vocalist Clint Lowery talk about the possibility of an acoustic studio record after a Sevendust show last July, I was intrigued by the possibility.

This past Tuesday, the guys just released Time Travelers & Bonfires, their 10th studio album and first acoustic-based studio disc. The album was funded by a Pledgemusic campaign online. Within 48 hours of the project being announced via Pledgemusic, the band topped their funding goal! I pledged for a signed copy of the album, but pledge items ranged from signed guitar picks to getting your name in the liner notes to dinners and exclusive intimate shows with the band.

The album kicks off with the catchy song "Come Down." The jangly guitars and backing keyboards hook you into the song. This leads into the song "Under It All," a softer ballad that is instantly singable. The third song "The Wait" was written about guitarist/singer John Connolly's dad passing away, and is a good ballad that reminded me of good friends and family who are no longer with us.

The remaining new songs "Upbeat Sugar," "One Life" and "Bonfire" are all incredibly catchy songs. I like the fact that this isn't a 100% acoustic album, and that the guys brought in a little electric guitar into some of these new tracks. "Bonfire" is a great jam that leads in to the second half of the album.

Before the recording began, the band asked fans which older songs they'd like to hear re-recorded acoustically. While the first half of Time Travelers is new songs, the second half is a half-dozen Sevendust classics re-recorded for this album. The second half kicks off with "Gone." A lesser known track from the album Seasons, this quickly became a favorite of mine. I prefer this version over the original one.

Following up is a slowed down version of "Denial," a great song on its own that I've heard live in concert several times. Slowing down songs like this one and "Crucified" were great ideas, because you can really take the time to understand the lyrics and the musical layers of each one.

"Trust" sounds a lot like the Southside Doublewide version, but that's a good thing. It's a great song that I found myself singing along to right away, a song that just grabs you from the first note and doesn't let go until the very end. I also enjoyed the newer stripped down versions of "Crucified" and "Karma."

The closing song is an all-acoustic version of "Black," the first song from Sevendust's debut album. Although they've played this songs thousands of times before, this version puts a refreshing, relaxing spin on a timeless classic. Great way to close out an admirable album!

I'd recommend this discc to anyone who's a Sevendust or hard rock/metal fan, as well as to those who enjoy a good acoustic rock album. That's all for now, next week I'll let you know how some of these songs sound live in concert after I see the guys in concert in Madison, WI. Until next time, have a good holiday weekend everyone!