Sevendust “SEASONS” 21st Anniversary Tour 9.17.2024
Back in May, the renowned band Sevendust revealed an exciting tour lineup featuring 10 Years, Return To Dust, and Horizon Theory to commemorate the 21st anniversary of Sevendust’s Seasons album. As soon as I caught wind of this announcement, I knew it would be an incredible opportunity to capture some amazing photos at the show. The tour is scheduled for October 8th, so there's plenty of time to catch these talented acts in action. As I made my way to the venue fans of all ages and backgrounds were eagerly making their way inside. Some were proudly sporting their newly purchased merchandise, while others were busy getting their favorite drinks or reuniting with friends. It was clear that everyone was determined to secure the best spot for the upcoming show. It was no surprise that the event was on the verge of being completely sold out.
Horizon Theory is a 4-piece rock band from Mount Pleasant, Michigan. I hadn't heard of them before the show, but after listening to their music, I really enjoyed it. I couldn't find much information about the band, but they were a great opening act for the show. Despite having limited stage space, they brought a lot of energy and rocked out. During their last song, they brought their friend Joe on stage to help them perform "Past Life." Joe even jumped off the stage onto the barricade to sing the song with the fans. Before leaving the stage, Horizon Theory took a selfie with the crowd.
Return To Dust is a 4-piece rock band from Los Angeles, CA. They released their self-titled album "Return To Dust" in May. The band comprises Matty Bielawski, Graham Stanush, Sebastian Gonzalez, and London Hudson. I had never heard of them before coming to this show, and I was surprised to find out that the drummer, London Hudson, is Slash’s son. During their set, they played 6 songs including “Black Road”, “Belly Up”, and “When You Look At Me.” These guys also had an amazing stage presence. As they were leaving the stage some members came over to where all the photographers were hanging out and thanked a couple of them for covering the show. Next time they go on tour, they will be a band I have to see again.
10 Years is a rock band from Knoxville, Tennessee formed in 1999. The band's current lineup includes lead vocalist Jesse Hasek, guitarist Brian Vodinh, rhythm guitarist Matt Wantland, bassist Chad Grennor, and drummer Luke Narey. Over the years, the band has seen several changes in its lineup. They have been quite productive, having released ten studio albums, with their latest one, Descontructed, coming out in 2022. 10 Years has released three singles since Descontructed was released. They re-released “The Optimist” featuring Conquer Divide. When 10 Years took the stage, the energy in the room surged. Singer Jesse Hasek had face paint that looked like it was dripping down his face, adding to his overall look. They played 10 songs during their set, including a cover of “Heart Shaped Box” by Nirvana. When their set was coming to an end, Jesse Hasek looked over to the side stage where friends and other photographers were hanging out and gave us a wave since he saw some familiar faces. Jesse jumped from the stage to the barricade multiple times to sing closer to the fans. I also noticed that one of their guitarists was playing barefoot. 10 Years finished their set with their number 1 song on Spotify called “Wasteland.”
Sevendust was formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 1994. Many consider Sevendust as one of the early pioneers of NuMetal. I discovered something interesting about Sevendust. They have been together for 30 years with only 2 member changes. It's rare to see a band tour with the same members for over 30 years. Sevendust has an extensive discography consisting of 14 albums. Their latest album, Truth Killer, was released in 2023, showcasing the band's evolving musical style. The current tour celebrates the 21st anniversary of the release of Seasons, an album that includes 12 tracks. Right before Sevendust hit the stage the whole venue went dark and everyone in the room started screaming as the members stepped out on stage. Sevendust started their set by playing “Disease.” While we were in the pit taking photos of the band out of the corner of my eye I saw drumsticks flying in the air and fans trying to catch them. At one point the drummer Morgan Rose threw a stick up into the balcony and was laughing because the drumstick had just slipped from the fan’s grasp. These guys know how to put on a show, their stage presence is amazing, and you could see on each of their faces how much fun they were having. In between songs singer Lajon Witherspoon was saying how beautiful the city of Rochester is and how much he loves older buildings. The energy from the crowd got even more intense after he said how much he enjoyed their day off in our city. Throughout the night Sevendust played 15 songs, ending their set with 3 encore songs called “Pieces”, “Rumble Fish” & “Bitch.”
As we approach the end of 2024, we want to keep you informed about the exciting shows we'll be covering in the coming months. With only 3 months left, we encourage you to connect with us on our social media platforms by hitting the "Like" and "Follow" buttons. By doing so, you'll gain access to exclusive updates and content as we close out the year with a bang!