Blindside - Black Friday concert
The Black Friday Tour featuring
Blindside, with Showbread, and The Showdown
at Bluebird Theater, Denver, Colorado
July 18, 2005
My anticipation had been building for this tour since I first found out about it a few months previous. Blindside’s previous Colorado performance at Club 32 Bleu in Colorado Springs was nothing short of amazing and I had also been enjoying The Showdown’s album, as well as their short set a month previous on the Extol tour.
I arrived at Denver’s Bluebird Theater and found a nice long line. I had never seen the Bluebird as packed as it was that night. The show opened with the Showdown taking the stage. The band entered before the singer and played an intro that wasn’t on their album. Lead vocalist David Bunton entered, and the band launched into “Iscariot.” This band is just as tight live as they are on their album. They played their difficult blend of technical death, thrash and 80’s metal perfectly. The clean vocals and harmonies were also executed quite well. In between songs, Bunton said, in his thick Tennessee accent, “Alright, I’m gonna headbang till my head pops off.” I was also greatly amused when he introduced a song as a “ballad” which turned out to be quite heavy, although much slower than the others. His onstage antics and goofiness are quite a contrast to the band’s online/album cover image of being “epic metal.” I suppose it works though, because he is fun to watch.
My only real gripe during The Showdown’s set was the sound mixing. The band was given the typical “half sound” job that the opening band gets. The bass player’s background vocals were never heard, and all the guitar solos weren’t turned up at the right times. This meant I could only hear the leads and solos that came from the guitarist closest to me. I had to rely on my thorough knowledge of the album to fill in the rest. The Showdown played a strong set, closing with “A Monument Encased In Ash.” This band is phenomenal on their album, and can play great live. As an opener on this large tour, they had a huge opportunity to bring in new fans, but they failed to capture much of the audience. Hopefully they will figure out this key ingredient to success. An amazing set though, don’t miss the Showdown if you can help it!
The second band to take the stage was Showbread. I really wasn’t sure what to expect from this band. I had heard a few good reviews of their live show, but I hadn’t become a fan of the music. As the band entered the stage, the first thing I noticed was their outfits. Each member was wearing a sleeveless t-shirt that had a graphic consisting of two eighth notes inside a circle with a line through it. The ensemble was completed by tight cut-off shorts, which were pretty short by guys standards. One of the lead singers also had on fishnet stockings and cowboy boots. As the band began their set, I was immediately impressed by their tone. The classic rock tone of the guitars was pretty big and sounded great mixed in with their drummer’s simple kit. The drumsets were definitely a study in contrast. The Showdown played a kit with two kick drums, about 4 toms and a plethora of cymbals. Showbread came out with a kick, snare, floor tom, hi-hat and big crash.
Showbread buzzed all over the stage. It was entertaining watching the guy with the key-tar flip it all over the place. The drummer was quite adept at spinning his drumsticks and pretty much did it throughout any beat that was slow enough to allow him to do so. Unfortunately, I couldn’t hear a lick of vocal throughout the entire set. I decided to wander towards the back to see if it was any better. It was slightly, but the vocals were only at the appropriate volume when both frontmen screamed together. Overall, the crowd was more into Showbread than the Showdown. There were a group of guys towards the front that seemed to know all the music. Because of the lack of vocal volume, I was never able to get into their set, perhaps next time.
After waiting through a set change and another soundcheck, the lights finally dimmed. Blindside entered the stage dressed in 1930’s outfits. Quite fitting for the “Black Friday Tour” and upcoming “The Great Depression” album. The band hit a few chords, starting what had previously been a live intro for “Where The Sun Never Dies” but instead blasted into the hits “Follow You Down” and “Caught A Glimpse.” The crowd came alive, practically drowning out the band. It should be mentioned that for some reason, the soundman had the master volume down through the first 3 songs, but once it came up, the crowd was still quite audible. The crowd had to quit singing as Blindside whipped out a new song called “Yemkela.” The band gave the crowd the option of which song they wanted played from A Thought Crushed My Mind. I screamed for “My Mother’s Only Son,” but everybody else wanted, and got “King of the Closet.” During this hardcore-ish romp, I became part of the first second-tier moshpit I’ve ever seen at the Bluebird. Normally the moshing just stays in the first of about 4 tiers that make up the main level.
About halfway through the set, vocalist Christian Lindskog stopped to tell a story. He has been supporting World Vision’s efforts to help starving children for the last couple of tours. In November, Christian and his wife went down to Africa to see things first hand. They met a young man dying of AIDS and Tuberculosis. After talking to him and praying with him, they saw a brand new light in his eyes. Christian said “I could see Jesus in his eyes.” Then they started a song off the new record that is about this man they met. It was mellow, yet groovy. This was a song to break your heart. I know it broke mine. A unique spirit settled upon the room. It was probably the first time that I’d seen a hard rock band play through a very slow and mellow ballad without somebody in the crowd shouting “Shut up and play something heavy.” Instead, the crowd hung on every word and note.
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Comments
Whoever wrote this review seems rather dense. I'm not the biggest Blindside fan out there, but I occasionally listen to their older stuff. This review alone has turned me off of Blindside forever.
I AM JUST DAYS AWAY FROM SEEING BLINDSIDE ON TOUR FOR THE SECOND TIME. WHEN I FIRST HEARD KING OF THE CLOSET, I WAS HOOKED. THEY ARE A GREAT PART OF THE REASON ON WHY I DECIDED TO REDEDICATE MY LIFE TO GOD. I TRULY FELT THEIR SONGS ON A DEEPER LEVEL AND HOPE THAT OTHERS CAN FEEL THIS WORSHIPFULL EXPERIENCE THAT YOU AND I HAVE FELT.
these men of blindside sound like some real nice good ol' snake handlin' God-fearin' boys from a far country. They make some real good tunes. Sort of kin to Extol in that way.
Blindside is amazing! Gilby, sorry, but if one person's opinion turns you off from a band, maybe you should think about getting a life. at least blindside is out there pushing the Gospel and thats what matters.
BN
Gilby... I wrote this review when I was extremely tired. Running off about 2 hours of sleep. I plan to edit it and re-post it. I myself am amazed at my denseness on this one. Don't be turned off to Blindside because of a bit of bad grammar. Oh... thanks for your comment Sparky. I just noticed that was you.
well i think the reviewer did a good job and i really like what Blindside is doing out there, Showbread is pretty cool also. Be blessed!
monterrey, mexico.
Not quite sure what about this review would turn anyone off, but I enjoyed reading it. I just saw the Black Friday Tour two days ago and must say it was a unique pleasure. My third time to see Blindside live and they never disappoint.
Yeah, I saw this tour on and it was amazing. It was the second time I've seen Blindside and they are by far one of the best live bands I've seen and the most worshipful. Showbread was awesome as well, I like them even more now that I've seen them. Although one area I will disagree with the reviewer on would be the Showdown. They were just awful. The music was okay but the vocals were just plan bad. I don't know maybe there were just having a bad night.
that was an excellent review....i loved what you said about seeing christ in them.......soo true
i must say i agree with this review although showbread is still great. i saw them the day before the show that this review is about in Lawrence Kansas. all bands were amazing and i could feel God when Showbread and Blindside played. during Stabbing Art To Death by Showbread at the part that says, you inspire me to sing to you, the whole place had their hands up and it was really awesome...great review and great show.
I went to one of the shows it was awesome! All bands were good ,but THE SHOWDOWN was Amazing!!!!!
Blindside is definitely my favorite band, they sent me about 200 stickers and 4 posters to promote their newest tour and CD, and i still have about 50 stickers left, unfortunately i've never seen them headline before and i'm going to miss it because they're in hometown on Aug 17th and i'm in texas visiting family. if anyone is going to the show at the NorVA in norfolk virginia, please feel free to email me on how it went.
Hey, i just saw Blindside and Showbread in seattle, and the way you wrote out the experience was right on the money... i highly apreciated that Blindside gave so much heart in the concert (even after being kicked in the face by a crowd serfing fan). and i was also impressed on the story and dilivery of the soft song. oh, and i had a blast with showbread, being proudly able to see that they were good guys deep inside(even with the crazy look).
