Live Review: Sevendust @ Palladium Times Square (2024-09-19)
w/ special guests 10 Years, Return to Dust and Horizon Theory
Event Details:
Date: September 19, 2024
Venue: Palladium Times Square (Manhattan)
Ticket Price: $54.25
Artists: Sevendust w/ 10 Years, Return to Dust and Horizon Theory
Tonight was ultimately about 10 Years. They are probably in my top three favorite bands and it has been nearly ten years since I last saw them. I used to be able to catch them fairly regularly in Texas but since moving to NYC they have never made a stop in the city and the surrounding shows are just out of reach. I almost lost my shit when I saw they were coming to town on tour with Sevendust, who was celebrating 20 years of their album Seasons.
The show was an early start for a weekday, with doors opening at 5:00 PM and the first band slated to go on at 6:30 PM. I didn't think lines would be too crazy given the start times and this fanbase isn’t know to be a bunch of rabidly obsessed people. I grabbed a couple of t-shirts, stickers and one of the limited run show posters then waited patiently for the doors to the theater to open. Even with VIP getting to go in early, I still got an amazing spot just left of center stage.
There were a total of four bands on the bill tonight and I was only recently familiar with the first two after listening to some of their releases to prep for the show. The first band, Horizon Theory, was decent and I will blame the mix for why they were rather more underwhelming than I expected. The music wasn’t bad, pretty simple alternative rock tracks, but the drums were way louder than everything else and you could barely hear the vocals. They eventually improved it but their set was so short it didn’t really make a difference.
The next band, Return to Dust, had a pretty cool thing going. They seemed to have a bit more groove and less processed sound. They weren’t using profilers so maybe that was the difference. Analog for the win? Anyways, I was digging their set and they had a cool complimentary vocal exchange between the rhythm guitarist and bass player trading off songs and harmonizing on others. I would definitely be down to check them out again and see a little bit longer set.
After their set, the guy next to me was reaching out to catch a guitar pick saying, “Third time’s a charm!” He seemed pretty excited to see them and it sounded like he had seen them a couple of times before so when the pick bounced around and eventually fell into my hands I had to give it to him. Little did I know that karma would be paying off sooner than I had ever imagined.
Finally, my dudes in 10 Years were up next. This band is really special to me and has been a part of many chapters of my life so far. Each album almost has a special place in memory of where I was or what I was going through, so I was really excited to finally get to see them live again. Since last seeing them in 2015 for the From Birth to Burial tour, they have released two albums and a few news tracks from an upcoming album later this year.
They opened with two songs from Feeding the Wolves which have a more upbeat tempo and some catchy parts that got the crowd energized. It was hard to not let myself go completely crazy since I didn’t want to damage my poster but I still managed to get the excitement out of my system. I was singing along and moving with the music as they played a nice variety of songs from different albums. They played their three newest songs and even played their cover of Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box”.
A few songs into the set, one of their guitarist threw a pick in the crowd that landed somewhere by our feet. We were all looking around for it when the girl in front of me pointed it out to the guy behind me who grabbed it. He then handed it to her because she pointed it out but she turned to me and handed me the pick. Somehow she knew this was a special night for me and made it even more unforgettable. I was really taken aback that she did that for me. To top it off, after the set the lead singer crumbled up the setlist and threw it out to the crowd right next to me. It was just out of reach but it ended up taking a few lucky bounces off all their hands and I snatched it out of the air. I was elated and had the biggest smile on my face, like a kid opening presents on Christmas. It was such a great moment and I made sure to thank the lady again for giving me the pick.
Last but not least, was the alternative metal legends, Sevendust. They are often lumped into the Nu Metal scene but I honestly don’t even know what that is anymore. It seems like anyone that came out from the late 1990s to the early 2000s is now considered Nu Metal but whatever you call them they jam! I was introduced to Sevendust around 2002 or 2003 when my dad started dating this lady who would blast Sevendust when we were driving around in her Mitsubishi Eclipse. I couldn’t stand her but she did have good taste in music.
I had forgotten how much I used to be into the album they were performing in full tonight. This was one of their best releases in my opinion and I used to listen to it all the time when I would go to the gym. There are some really heavy moments and then they dial it back on others to create a nice flow from song to song. I’m glad I decided to move out of the front after 10 Years because the crowd took it to another level when Sevendust came on and there is no way my poster would have survived.
Unfortunately, their guitarist, Clint Lowery, is out for medical reasons so they had their manager of all people filling in on guitar. Thankfully, drummer Morgan Rose and singer Lajon Witherspoon were present and kicking ass as usual. Morgan plays with great ferocity and Lajon’s voice is one of the most powerful in the genre. With Clint’s songwriting and those two bringing their talents, I think that is a large part of what has allowed them to be able to play shows like this 20+ years into their career at 50+ years old.
After completing Seasons, they came back for a four-song encore that featured one of my favorite songs, “Pieces”. They played an awesome set with a lot of positive energy and I left the show feeling more than satisfied. Thank you 10 Years and Sevendust for teaming up to deliver this incredible evening of alternative rock and metal.
Cheers and keep rocking!