Life Is But A Dream Tour PT 3: Avenged Sevenfold, Poppy & Sullivan King
Avenged Sevenfold, also known as A7X, announced in March 2023 that they would be embarking on a tour to promote their new album titled "Life Is But A Dream". The album was released in June of the same year. During the first two legs of the tour, A7X was joined by other popular bands such as Alexisonfire, Falling In Reverse, and Kim Dracula. A7X has recently announced its third leg of the Life Is But A Dream Tour with the support of Poppy & Sullivan King. I was thrilled to learn that they were starting the tour in Buffalo, NY. I have been a fan of their music since I was just 12 years old, and the thought of seeing them live and even taking photos of them would have made my younger self scream with joy. As I was walking towards the venue, I noticed that a long line had already formed down the block. The excitement and anticipation of the fans were palpable as they eagerly awaited the upcoming A7X performance. By the time I entered and prepared to take photos, fans were rushing inside to find their seats.
Keaton Prescott, who goes by the stage name Sullivan King, is a talented DJ and multi-instrumentalist. His unique music style combines Electronic Dance Music (EDM) and Metal, attracting fans from both genres to come together and enjoy his music. Sullivan King has released many singles, collaborating with various artists such as Papa Roach, Riot Ten, Kayzo, and others. Sullivan King made a grand entrance to the stage with a lantern on fire and immediately caught the audience's attention. As a DJ, he had an impressive amount of energy, which was unexpected. Although he mostly stayed behind the DJ booth, he occasionally came out. He played the guitar while performing his songs such as "Codename: Reckless", "Blame", and EDM mixes featuring songs from Rob Zombie, Linkin Park, and A Day To Remember. The light show during the bass drops was superb, with laser lights flashing on and off. At some points during the performance, pyrotechnics were even used, adding to the overall spectacular experience.
Moriah Rose Pereira, who goes by the stage name Poppy, hails from Boston, Massachusetts. Initially, Poppy gained popularity for her YouTube videos that parodied modern and internet culture with an android-like persona. In 2014, she ventured into the music industry with her debut pop album titled Bubble Bath. In an interview with DJ Niko from AMP Radio, Poppy revealed that she had originally aspired to become a Rockette. However, after dancing for 11 years, she decided to pursue a music career. Over the years, Poppy has released five studio albums, which have evolved from being pop-oriented to incorporating nu-metal and heavy-metal elements. Her latest album earned her a nomination for a Grammy in the Best Metal Performance category in 2021. Unfortunately, due to the rules, we were unable to capture photos of Poppy's set. When Poppy came out on stage, many of her fans screamed in excitement, eager to see what she was going to perform for us. Poppy's music is a unique blend of pop and metal, which was evident in her set. However, I was a little disappointed with her performance, as I wished she had been more interactive with the crowd and had more energy behind the performance, given that she enjoys dancing as well. During her set, the musician performed a total of 12 songs. She started with "BLOODMONEY," which got her fans extremely excited for the rest of the show. Additionally, she sang some tracks from her latest album, including her latest single "V.A.N," which is a collaboration with Bad Omens.
Avenged Sevenfold is an iconic heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California. They made their debut in 1999 and have since released 8 studio albums, each marking the evolution of the band. The current lineup includes M. Shadows as the vocalist, Zacky Vengeance and Synyster Gates as guitarists, Johnny Christ as the bassist, and Brooks Wackerman as the drummer. Recently, A7X allowed their fans to listen to their new album, Life Is But A Dream, a few weeks before its scheduled release day in a 360 immersive album experience. This was showcased at Las Vegas' Area15 for a select few dates in May. According to A7X's Instagram, the album is meant to be listened to in its entirety from start to finish. The fans were already chanting "SEVENFOLD, SEVENFOLD, SEVENFOLD" before A7X even stepped on stage. When the band finally came out, the crowd went wild. A7X didn't mess around with the setlist for this tour - they played songs they hadn't performed in years, such as "Blinded In Chains" and "Save Me." They also debuted a new song called "Roman Sky" for the first time on this tour. At one point during the show, a woman was handing out stars with a note attached that said "Hold over your phone flashlight during Cosmic when it slows down after the solo." This was done in an attempt to create a galaxy effect in the crowd. A7X left the stage after "ending" their show but returned to play "Cosmic," another live debut.
Have you missed the first two legs of this tour? Don't worry, there are plenty of dates left and the show is coming to a city near you! This is a must-see show that you don't want to miss. Be sure to follow ConcertHopper on our Instagram and Facebook pages for updates. Keep on hopping!
3.13.24 • Heritage Bank Center Cincinnati, OH
3.15.24 • Wells Fargo Arena Des Moines, IA
3.16.24 • Pinnacle Bank Arena Lincoln, NE
3.18.24 • Vibrant Arena at The MARK Moline, IL
3.19.24 • Gainbridge Fieldhouse Indianapolis, IN
3.21.24 • Mohegan Sun Arena Uncasville, CT
3.23.24 • SNHU Arena Manchester, NH
3.25.24 • PPG Paints Arena Pittsburgh, PA
3.26.24 • Nationwide Arena Columbus, OH
3.28.24 • Thompson-Boling Arena Knoxville, TN
3.29.24 • PNC Arena Raleigh, NC
3.31.24 • Prudential Center Newark, NJ