GODSMACK; House of Blues; Las Vegas, NV; 11/23/04
Reviewed by Richard Fenkel
Godsmack took over the Las Vegas House of Blues this evening to perform their brand of unplugged rock. Acoustic or amped to ten, Godsmack kick ass live. They are currently on an acoustic tour, promoting their new album, "The Other Side," which is unplugged but full of energy.
I am not a big fan of acoustic rock, but Godsmack still managed to deliver for their loyal fans. Previously, I have only seen Godsmack when they opened for the mighty Metallica. But there they were plugged in and very alive and loud.
This night, however, Sin City fans were in for something a little different. As they do on "The Other Side," Godsmack were there to play an acoustic set. Fans waited in line for hours before the Las Vegas HOB opened. This show was sold out and for good reason - Godsmack's music is played on Vegas radio stations all the time.
The stage was set with lots of furniture, a large sun- like decoration and various carpets. The setting was very reminiscent of a Hookah Lounge. The stage decor matched the ambiance of this unplugged setting.
As soon at the show started, fans screamed and whistled. Even when playing acoustic, the band was very well received.
Fans bonded well with Godsmack frontman Sully Erna. He encouraged the audience by interacting with them during parts of the concert. The best part of the show was watching the band perform popular songs such as "Voodoo," "Re-Align," "Running Blind," and "Keep Away" just to name a few. The crowd ate it all up.
The show was being videotaped throughout - I'm not sure why; maybe it'll end up on a future DVD - but fans were well aware of the cameras moving swiftly around the stage and audience.
Check out Godsmack on tour and pick up "The Other Side." Electric or not, Godsmack rocks!
Copyright © 2004 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
Revised: 06 Oct 2019 11:48:56 -0400.
