From the opening note of ‘1000hp’, to the closing riffs of ‘I Stand Alone’, Godsmack had the gas pedal pressed to the floor for the duration of their Louder Than Life set.
The Massachusetts rockers closed out the Loudmouth Stage as the penultimate headliner on Day #2 of the four-festival on September 22, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky.
“I heard there was a big fucking party going on out here tonight,” Sully Erna, vocals and guitar, told the crowd.
“I hope I’m in the right goddamn place because it sure as hell fuckin’ looks like it.”
Erna added: “It’s been a while since we’ve been back through, so I just want to say thank-you for allowing us to be a part of this awesome fuckin’ festival with your favourite bands on this shit.”
Godsmack’s Louisville stop was a part of a slate North American tour dates, which was bringing the multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated band to a number of cities in the United States and Canada throughout September and October.
The shows are in support of their eighth studio album, Lighting Up The Sky.
“So good to be back in general, so good to be looking at our fans without masks on your motherfuckin’ faces,” Erna told the Louder Than Life crowd.
“We are out here, we put out a brand new record this year, we hope you guys have enjoyed it so far.”
Throughout their career, Godsmack has sold over 20-million records worldwide and to date, they’ve accomplished a staggering 11 #1 singles at mainstream rock radio and have achieved 20 Top 10 hits at the format, the most of any act since February 1999.
Erna said they are proud to be celebrating 25-years as a band in 2023.
“We’re still standing so far man, it’s our 25th year anniversary, so thank-you guys for 25 years of love and support,” the frontman said.
“We’re a little bit older, sometimes we can’t remember shit. It’s not going to be a perfect fuckin’ show, but that’s okay. It don’t matter. We’re still fuckin’ standing and I’m going to tell ya, there is a reason why we won’t be perfect tonight, because first of all, this band doesn’t play with clicks and tricks and computers and all that shit, we are still an old school fuckin’ rock band that plays our motherfucking instruments.”
“So, let’s do some new shit for you, Louisville, let’s party,” Erna screamed into the mic, before they played back-to-back new songs, ‘Surrender’ and Red, White & Blue’.
Midway through their set, after playing crowd favourite ‘Voodoo’ from their 1998 self-titled debut album, Godsmack broke out a tune listed as ‘Batalla de los tambores’ on their setlist.
Translated from Spanish, the title means ‘Battle of the Drums’.
The wildly entertaining, back-and-forth, drum-off saw Erna duelling with drummer Shannon Larkin on opposing kits. The montage included Erna on the bongos, both of the musicians on separate kits at times, pyrotechnics, fireworks over the stage and an array of rock n’ roll mashups, from Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Rush and Metallica.
Later in their set, the Godsmack singer gave a shout-out to the only remaining band yet to play on Day #2 of Louder Than Life.
“I know when we get done with you guys, just wait and fucking see, because I want to see that shit, too,” Erna said.
“Are we ready for one of the most powerful fuckin’ bands in our generation, Tool? Do we want this? Do we want it, Louisville? I can’t wait to see those fuckin’ freaky bastards. Fuckin’, love ‘em.”
Here is the complete Godsmack setlist from their Louder Than Life performance:
1. 1000hp
2. When Legends Rise
3. Cryin’ Like a Bitch!!
4. What About Me
5. Awake
6. Surrender
7. Red White & Blue
8. Voodoo
9. Batalla de los tambores
10. Whatever
11. Bulletproof
12. I Stand Alone
Godsmack is Erna, Larkin, guitarist Tony Rombola and bass guitarist Robbie Merrill.
Learn more about the band, and their tour, on their official website https://www.godsmack.com/.