Sevendust Rocks Hard

With his thick, black snake like dreadlocks and nose ring, Lajon Witherspoon moved like a mysterious shaman, wistfully floating across the stage at The Venue on last night (12/3). Sevendust snuck on in the dark behind the sound of loud sirens and a blinding white hot light, and tore into some of the most intense hard rock this side of 1999.

The crowd spontaneously erupted into mosh pits that cracked open unexpectedly from all angles. There was prolonged crowd surfing and fist pumping that would make a militant guerrilla revolutionary proud.

Lajon and company passed for transcendental during "Angel's son" and "Denial," two of its biggest hits. Most of the unruly crowd held up its cellphones in lieu of lighters, mainly to snap pictures but the effect was luminescent regardless of the intent.

Lajon himself was gracious and energized by the crowd. He thanked them many times and went from caged warthog to teddy bear with his high school quarterback full cheek grin. He explained that the band just got in from Chicago on a plane and immediately jumped on a tour bus to come to Florida. "I told my little girl, 'Daddy will be home soon,'" he said.

"We do everything for you," he said, in reference to the crowd. "All of this is for you."

Drummer Morgan Rose, with a flair for the dramatic, would throw his drumstick twirling into the air at least ten feet, and then catch it without missing a beat. Guitarist Clint Lowery, sporting a crew cut, handled some background vocals. Bassist Vince Hornsby wore a fedora, which somehow stayed on through his whole set and guitarist John Connolly's jump guitar move just looked so sweet when he executed it.

The band came back for an encore, thanked the crowd, and then left its instruments laying on the floor with a mountain of feedback blaring out the speakers. As for Witherspoon, he just sort of floated away. And just like he came on, man, he was gone.

--Jon Silman; Photos by Andres. G. Farfan

Sevendust to Rock the Venue this Week

This Thursday (Dec. 3), Sevendust, of Atlanta, is bringing its bulldozer-strength rock music to Gainesville for one night of head-banging, ear-thrashing madness. The band has been steadily releasing albums and singles since it dropped onto the nu metal rock scene with its 1999 album Home, which featured the hit single, "Denial."

They scored a pop hit with the emotional ballad "Angel's Son" off Animosity, the band's 2001 album. The song was a tribute to the lead singer of 90s band Snot, who died in a car accident.

The band's latest album, released in 2008, is called Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow and features guest appearances from Chris Daughtry and Alter Bridge members Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti. The album produced the hit track "Prodigal Son" which peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard rock charts.

Sevendust is known for its high-energy live shows, and The Venue is the perfect place to see a band with such a huge sound. This show could potentially melt your face off with pure rock glory.

--Jon Silman

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