The first time our SWOMP crew ever witnessed a live performance by Avenged Sevenfold was way back in 2006 during Ozzfest.
The show was held at the DTE Energy Music Theatre (now known as Pine Knob) in Clarkston, Michigan and included performances by Disturbed and the headlining act, System of a Down.
Playing right before Disturbed, a young and hungry Avenged took the stage, with only a few years of touring under their belts at the time.
Midway through their set, the young Huntington Beach, California rockers tore through a cover of ‘Walk’ by Pantera, which has been etched in our brains ever since, as one the best live covers we’d ever witnessed.
Fast forward 17 years, to the closing headline spot on Day #3 at the Louder Than Life Music Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, vocalist M. Shadows paid homage to the band they covered in 2006, the same band who finished their Louder Than Life set about a half hour earlier in the night.
“How the fuck we doing this evening? Are you feeling good” the frontman asked the crowd, after removing the black balaclava he wore at the start of their set.
“What a day it has been. I got to listen to one of my favourite fuckin’ bands growing up and still to this day, Pantera, on that stage right there. It feels fuckin’ good. It feels good to hear them going. So I want to dedicate this song to those guys keeping Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Daryl’s legacy alive,” he added, before the band played their 2013 banger, ‘Hail to the King’.
The singer also took time to thank the Danny Wimmer Presents team midway through their 11-song set.
“Very, very good friends with Danny Wimmer and Danny Hayes who put on this thing,” he said.
“Those are two of the greatest promoters in the world, they really care about the fans, they care about taking care of you guys and making sure this is a great experience. We really want to thank them for having us and having fucking awesome bands like fuckin’ Foo Fighters, and Tool, Green Day, Turnstile, fuckin’ all these cool bands, Pantera.”
M. Shadows added: “In a time when rock… some people don’t give a shit about, but there are guys like Danny and Danny, who are helping bring these fucking amazing festivals to the fucking masses, it’s fucking great.”
Before playing their next song, 2010’s ‘So Far Away’, the front man encouraged the crowd to soak up the moment.
“Tonight is a beautiful night and it’s not a beautiful night because you’re at the show, or we’re playing, or whatever is happening… you’re fucking alive and it’s a fucking miracle,” he said.
“So, just take it in. You’re with your people tonight. Many years ago we lost our best friend, The Rev, and at the time I don’t think we were really old enough to really process what was happening, but the reality is people can leave you at any moment on this journey and they’re gone and you’ll never see them again. And if you live long enough, you’ll see all of your friends and family pass away, or if not, it will be you. And that’s just the reality of where we’re at here.”
M. Shadows added: “So, what I mean by taking this all in, take in the fact that you’re alive, take in the fact that when you’re with your people tonight, take in the fact that you’re listening to great music, or questionable music, whatever you think, but this one is going to go out to all the brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, the ones we have lost and the ones that make us feel a certain way when we think about them.”
The band were forced to pause their show on three separate occasions, due to issues in the crowd near the front of the stage.
The long, frenetic pace of the day, combined with the sweltering Kentucky heat, surely played a role for some of the fans that needed help from security and medical staff on site.
Word of advice for festival goers, take the time to seek some shade throughout the day, drink lots of water and stay hydrated. The team at Danny Wimmer Presents, as many savvy concert organizers do, ensure there are plenty of free water stations on the grounds.
Before Avenged wrapped up their set, M. Shadows invited a young couple on stage, which turned into a successful marriage proposal in front of the thousands of screaming fans in attendance.
Here is the full setlist from Avenged Sevenfold’s Louder Than Life performance:
1. Game Over
2. Afterlife
3. Hail to the King
4. We Love You
5. Buried Alive
6. So Far Away
7. Nobody
8. Nightmare
9. Bat Country
10. Unholy Confessions
Encore:
11. A Little Piece of Heaven
Here are photos from their performance by Steve Thrasher:
Avenged Sevenfold is M. Shadows, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, bassist Johnny Christ and drummer Brooks Wackerman.
Avenged has a few dates remaining on their current tour, including, ironically, at the Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkson, Michigan on October 18, 2023.
For more details about the band visit their official website https://www.avengedsevenfold.com/.