Nonpoint Concert Review

Nonpoint Concert Review
The Castle Theatre
Normal, Illinois

Nonpoint is a metal band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida that has been in existence for over twenty years. Vocalist, Elias Soriano, made a statement that they have always been doing the music their way and it has allowed them to live their lives as rock stars. Nonpoint is touring in support of their latest release, The Poison Red. The album displays the maturity of the band when they contemplate the world that their children are growing up in. Their single, “Generation Idiot” hit a chord since the show was on Election Day.

“And you’ll watch your bellies go hollow
When you have no one to follow The dividing occupation of
The binding separation of
This generation of idiots
Generation of idiots, generation of idiots”

Local openers, Letters From The Dead, are from Peoria, Illinois and they began their set with a cover of “What Hurts The Most”. Their drummer, Adam Hoye, wearing his F*ck Cancer shirt told us that his wife just had someone close to her die from cancer. Letters From The Dead is a band devoted to 90s Alternative music and they performed their songs, “If I Had a Gun”.

Letters From The Dead

Letters From The Dead Photos

 

New, local band, Burden of The Sky, was next and they are clearly on the path of being a great hard rock or self described alt-metal band. Their music, I have to compare to Nickelback with the same melodic lyrics and the correct amount of hard sound. Obviously, they are not as hated as Nickelback is. They have that same catchiness to their music. When their set was done, the crowd definitely wanted more. Their album entitled “Cinis Ad Cinis” comes out January 2017.

For more about Burden of The Sky, see their Burden of The Sky Facebook

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Click to view complete Burden of The Sky Photo Gallery

 

Kansas City rockers, Sidewise, were next and they are a solid rockers. They have graced the stages of Shiprocked and Rockfest. Their style is most similar to Adelita’s Way. Sidewise’s energy was a great prelude that matches the intensity of Nonpoint’s live show. We had a sing along to “Head Like a Hole” cover.

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Click to view complete Sidewise Photo Gallery

 

Nonpoint came onto the stage with a backdrop of their new album art which is a poison red frog on a red background. This particular red frog is found on Bastimentos Island, Panama. Nonpoint fans have a varied taste in music. T-shirts that were on display were Deftones, Prophets of Rage, Clutch, and Red. Nonpoint is always a central Illinois favorite and their fans will travel for hours to make sure to seem them. The band is signing their records and you can pick up a signed copy on the road. They are a band that is truly about the music and not about the money as they were only charging minimal amounts for signed copies of their CDs and vinyl albums.

The band performed songs from their extensive setlist and Elias Soriano commented on the state of the uncertainty of the election day. We still have the freedom to rock. When the band started playing “What A Day” the fans pulled their energy out despite it being eleven at night. The fans also felt the fervor of “Breaking Skin”, “Bullet With A Name” and “That Day”.

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Click to view complete Nonpoint Photo Gallery

                                

Stryper Concert Review

Stryper Concert Review
Limelight Eventplex
Peoria, Illinois

Stryper

Stryper

 

 

 

Stryper is on tour celebrating thirty years of their album To Hell With The Devil. This is their iconic platinum album including their hit ballad “Honestly”.  Stryper is a Christian metal band that includes members, Michael Sweet, vocals, and his brother Robert Sweet, drummer, Oz Fox on guitar and bassist, Tim Gaines.  The show started with an informative video narrated by Michael Sweet talking about the background of the guys, their influences and their rise to fame.  The band took the stage in the dark.  When the lights came up, they performed To Hell With The Devil from start to finish in order and brought back the yellow and black attire.

Stryper

Stryper 1986

Stryper

Stryper 2016

 

Bringing back the “yellow and black attack” was so entertaining.  The outfits may be almost as tight as they were in the Eighties.   However, there was definitely a lesser amount of hair spray and makeup than there was thirty years ago. Michael Sweet, vocalist, did remind us that the tighter pants helped him to hit the higher notes.

In true Stryper form, they threw out special “30 THWTD” bibles.  A true memento for the faithful fans.  Stryper has always been known to distribute bibles at their live shows.  And the faithful showed up in force.  Stryper is truly one of biggest Christian metal bands in history.  There was also a sign language interpreter for the deaf in the crowd. 

Stryper changed to their regular clothes after performing the full album To Hell With The Devil.  Michael Sweet put on a Cubs jersey to celebrate their win of the World Series two days before.  Their setlist contained songs from their extensive catalogue.  
 

Yahweh
In God We Trust
Shout It Out Loud (Kiss Cover)
Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath cover)
God
Revelation
Caught In The Middle
Surrender
Soldiers Under Command
Encore:
Makes Me Wanna Sing

Their latest release Fallen is one of their best albums and made our Best Rock Albums of 2015.  The guitars and the vocals of the album will blow you away so pick up your vinyl copy of it today if you do not have it already at www.stryper.com

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Click to view complete Stryper Photo Gallery

 

 
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Click to view Best Rock Albums 2015

 

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Click to view Michael Sweet Concert Review

Stryper Concert Photos

Stryper Concert Photos
Limelight Eventplex
Peoria, Illinois

                                

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Stryper

Stryper

Oz Fox of Stryper

Oz Fox of Stryper

Robert Sweet of Stryper

Robert Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Tim Gaines of Stryper

Tim Gaines of Stryper

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Robert Sweet of Stryper

Robert Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Oz Fox of Stryper

Oz Fox of Stryper

Oz Fox of Stryper

Oz Fox of Stryper

Oz Fox of Stryper

Oz Fox of Stryper

Oz Fox of Stryper

Oz Fox of Stryper

Icon For Hire Concert Photos

Icon For Hire Concert Photos
Boondocks
Springfield, Illinois

                                

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Shawn Jump of Icon For Hire

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Fivefold Concert Photos

Fivefold Concert Photos
Boondocks
Springfield, Illinois

                                

Ryan Cheney of Fivefold

Ryan Cheney of Fivefold

Matt Benne of Fivefold

Matt Benne of Fivefold

Derrick Huskey of Fivefold

Derrick Huskey of Fivefold

Ryan Cheney of Fivefold

Ryan Cheney of Fivefold

Derrick Huskey of Fivefold

Derrick Huskey of Fivefold

Jorden "CoCo" Murray of Fivefold

Jorden “CoCo” Murray of Fivefold

Derrick Huskey of Fivefold

Derrick Huskey of Fivefold

Ryan Cheney of Fivefold

Ryan Cheney of Fivefold