A figure stands high up on the rigging, looming over stage and audience. The man slips a noose over his neck and jumps as Avenged Sevenfold launches into their opening song, Nightmare. The stunt man sways and kicks, before succumbing to his fate –hanging through two songs before the 7,000 in attendance. The audience below him never went still throughout the headliner’s energized 80 minute set.

This was my first experience with Avenged Sevenfold (aside from the 2005 Hunter S. Thompson inspired single Bat Country) and they met every expectation. From the graveyard stage décor for the aptly named the Nightmare After Christmas tour, to the blistering waves of heat off the pyrotechnics and right down to the heavy ink covering A7X (short for Avenged Sevenfold) front man M. Shadows.

Stone Sour preceded the top billing with songs shifting from newer and hard to older and soft. Lead singer Corey Taylor followed songs off the band’s new album Audio Secrecy with tunes such as the solo acoustic Bother (2002) and ballad Through the Glass (2006). Taylor questioned the audience as to whether or not they recognized him after abandoning his long locks for a look that he described as a “Metal Doogie Howser.” A task more daunting and complicated considering Taylor wears a mask as the lead for Slipknot.

The 4 ½ hour show also included rockers New Medicine and Hollywood Undead. The latter of which began their set sporting masks (a possible ode to the aforementioned ‘Knot?) and boasted four vocalists -one of which could be described at best a hype man/videographer. The Undead was short on space during their set due to the halved stage concealing some of A7X’s stage pieces.
This coupled with the loaded lineup proved logistically trying and provided some unintentional humor as a couple band mates bumped accidently while trying to orient themselves during the first song. But don’t let this or their name fool you, Hollywood Undead look as if they will be well and alive for years to come.

M. Shadows and company provided possibly the most humorous and somber moments of the night. The Avenged Sevenfold singer admitted to catching Rascal Flatts the night before. Shadows was none too impressed with the country act to the pleasure of the crowd who also chastised his taste at first, playing along with the bit.

On a sad note Avenged Sevenfold performed So Far Away in tribute to former drummer Jimmy Sullivan who died in 2009. All told the entire show was perfect tribute to a fallen band mate.

Click Here to View the Setlist for the Show
Click Here to See More Photos from the Show

Blogged by: Sean Phillips
Photos by: Paul Hooper