Words by: Kristyn Clarke
Photos by: Ken Schuler
I had the opportunity to check out the kick-off date of this year’s Gigantour 2012 in Camden, NJ and bottom line it was a truly amazing show. Normally when you catch a tour on opening night there are always a few setbacks or kinks to work out, but Gigantour ran fairly smoothly during its’ inaugural night and I am sure that is a pretty good indication on what you can be in store for from the rest of the tour overall. This year’s tour features an amazing line-up with Megadeth, Motorhead, Volbeat, and Lacuna Coil and while this music of these band’s are each a bit different, everything somehow fit together incredibly well. Gigantour 2012 featured something for all musical tastes and I feel that were an equal number of fans in attendance for each band on the bill.
Italy’s Lacuna Coil took to the stage right on time and played a solid 30 minute set which included a few older songs such as “Our Truth” and “Spellbound” along with the band’s newest single “Trip The Darkness” off their new album “Dark Adrenaline”. I had the chance to interview Lacuna Coil vocalist Andrea Ferro to discuss the band’s new album and expectations for Gigantour. Click here to check it out!
After Lacuna Coil, Volbeat , a band hailing from Denmark, took to the stage and in usual Volbeat style played a blistering 45 minute set which included songs such as “Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood”, “Hallelujah Goat”, “Fallen” and of course the ever catchy “Still Counting”. The only complaint that I have is that Volbeat, and Lacuna Coil for that matter, didn’t play long enough, a sentiment that was echoing throughout the audience who were desperately wanting to hear more of their favorite songs from these bands. Volbeat had great energy and what I love so much about the band is that they are not afraid to be different. While their music is certainly still metal, there are elements of different musical eras thrown into the mix to give the band a sound that is fresh and unique, something that at times can be missing from a lot of modern metal music. I was able to catch up with Volbeat drummer Jon Larsen just before the show to discuss the band’s music, Gigantour, and more. See video interview below:
This was my first time seeing Motorhead and I was hearing mixed opinions throughout the audience as to whether or not the band was on point, but to me they lived up to their motto which is “We are Motorhead….and we play rock n’ roll”. While there may have been a few sound problems throughout their 50 minute set, Motorhead played loud and played hard which is certainly what they are known to do best. The band opened up with “Bomber” and “Damage Case” and made sure to include several fan favorites such as “Metropolis”, “Going To Brazil”, and of course “Ace Of Spades”. I was particularly thrilled with the incredible five minute drum solo from Mikkey Dee during “The One To Sing The Blues”.
Speaking of Mikkey Dee, I had the chance to catch up with Mikkey prior to Motorhead’s set click here to check out the interview where we discuss new music, Gigantour, pop culture, and more!
To end out the evening of metal Megadeth took to the stage with an explosion of lights and a very clean and open stage set. Right out of the gate the band broke into “Trust”, “Hangar 18″, and “Angry Again” and vocalist Dave Mustaine appeared to be in great shape with very little evidence, if any, to his recent neck injury that required surgery right after the band’s appearance at last year’s Big 4 show in NYC. I think I may have even witnessed a little head banging from Mustaine which is certainly a good sign. Despite what some die-hard fans may say, I am huge fan of Megadeth’s new material and was happy to rock out with songs such as “Guns, Drugs, & Money” and “Public Enemy No.1″ off the band’s latest album release “Th1rt3en”. A great surprise during Megadeth’s set was when Lacuna Coil vocalist Cristina Scabbaia was brought out for a duet on the not often played “A Tout Le Monde”. See fan filmed footage of the performance below:
Megadeth closed out their set with “Symphony of Destruction” and “Peace Sells” followed by an encore of “Holy Wars…Punishment Due”. Personally I could watch Mustaine and guitarist Chris Broderick (who looks like he walked off the cover of a romance novel…sorry girlie moment) rock out all night, however all good things must come to an end.
Gigantour 2012 is an awesome world-tour of rock and certainly worth checking out when it rolls through an area near you!
