Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY
4-28-99
(Courtesy of Music.com)
"The Boston band Godsmack was in New York playing the Bowery Ballroom supporting their self-titled major debut album. Candles were strewn across the stage as the scent of incense permeated the air. As the lights went down, words of advice echoed from the speakers 'Its Friday…You ain't got no job.. you got nothing to do… Its time to get…' if you know the movie Friday you know the rest and Godsmack exploded onto the stage. Getting right down to business the band opened with 'Moon Baby,' the first track off their new album. After the first couple of songs sunk into the crowd's skull, lead singer Sully Erna professed his love to NYC, declaring it the best. The small crowd of fans applauded in appreciation and the show went on.
The band proceeded, knocking out song after song exposing the audience to their brand of a hybrid post industrial metal. Sully batted out throaty screams blended with distorted vocals on songs such as 'Bad Religion' and 'Time Bomb.' Tony Rambolo and Robbie Merrill conducted several extended sermons on metal psychedelia on the guitar and bass respectfully. Unable to keep himself away from the drums, which he played since age 4, Sully traded beats on a conga/snare/cowbell with drummer Tommy Stewart during the song 'Voodoo.'
As the night wound down, the band proudly displayed to the crowd their recently acquired gold record for Godsmack. Thanking fans for pushing their sales over a half a million, Erna announced that the crowd was the first to see it. On that note Sully invited the small intimate crowd to approach the stage as he serenaded the crowd with their current hit single 'Whatever.' "
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