Photos by Chris Besaw
Review by Kelly Besaw
Mudvayne brings their “Psychotherapy Sessions” tour to the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater in Syracuse on Tuesday August 1. The metal fest included openers Coal Chamber, Gwar, Nonpoint and the Butcher Babies. A highlight of the show was local Central Square High School alum Marcu Rafferty is playing guitar for Mudvayne on this tour.
The Butcher Babies, lead by Carla Harvey and Heidi Shepherd kicked off the evening of metal. The Los Angeles based band has been on the rise since their 2013 debut release Goliath topped charts and garnered buzz in the music world. Butcher Babies are currently on tour for their latest release a double album titled Eye for an Eye…/…Til the World’s Blind. After over ten years on the scene, the Butcher Babies show no signs of slowing down. Catch them live if you can, it brings their studio material to a whole new level.
Up next were the metal titans, Gwar. If you have not seen Gwar live, then you really cannot understand the theatrical absurdity and antics that ensue. Donned in head-to-toe costumes, the band took the stage. It was not long before the slaying and spraying began. The band slaughtered Putin and local Krock radio personality Josh onstage splattering the first few rows of fans with fake blood. Seeing these guys live is an experience like no other.
I have seen Nonpoint several times and they have never disappointed. Lead singer, Elias Soriano, is an experienced front man who knows how to work a crowd. The band worked their way through a short but satisfying set that included, “” Victim,” “What A Day” and “Bullet with a Name.” Nonpoint will be releasing Heartless, an EP set to come out November 2023. I hope that means a winter or spring headlining tour is in the works.
Coal Chamber is back! The band announced their second reunion in 2022 after nearly a six-year hiatus. Lead singer Dez Fafara has been quoted saying that “any of the problems that we had are gone.” Good to hear! Some highlights included “I.O.U. Nothing,” “Another Nail in the Coffin” and “Sway.” They sounded great and seemed genuinely happy to be back out there performing. Will there be new music in the future? Let’s hope so!
I remember the first time I saw Mudvayne live. It was on Ozzfest way back in 2005 and I was blown away. I liked their studio stuff but seeing them live was incredible. They are extremely talented. I often forget how many hits they have. Chad Gray and company took the stage and ripped right into “Not Falling” and the crowd went nuts. A cool tidbit is that Central Square local Marcus Rafferty is touring with the band. Wow! This is another band that dissolved in 2010 and reformed in 2021. It’s nice to see them up to their old antics. The stage makeup is back along with their powerful sounds. It’s been a long time since they have put out some music. Hoping that there are plans for something soon!
Throughout their set, Gray paused to discuss the importance of mental health and taking care of yourself and checking on those around you. Their hour-long set included “World So Cold,” “Severed,” “Dig” and they ended the epic night of metal with mega hit “Happy?” After over five hours of music, it felt like a mini festival on a Tuesday night. There are still plenty of chances to catch this tour on other dates. If you love metal, you won’t want to miss it.
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