Tag: johnconnolly

September 16, 2022 – Starland Ballroom, Sayreville NJ

Review by Chris Yates // Photography by Estelle Massry

The heavy hitting, alternative metal, heavy metal, hard rock band Sevendust blew the roof off the Starland Ballroom last Friday night as they played explosively to a packed house of fans. The band played their entire Animosity album (plus a few extras) to the roaring delight of the crowd. The band celebrated their 20th anniversary of their album “Animosity” (21st actually due to Covid) which is the third studio album by the American rock band hailing from Atlanta, Georgia. The album was released on November 13, 2001 and appeared on the Billboard 200, remained there for thirteen weeks, peaking at No. 28, and was certified gold on March 11, 2002.

Sevendust is comprised of: Lajon Witherspoon (lead vocals), Clint Lowery (lead guitar, backing vocals), John Connolly (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Vinnie Hornsby (bass), and Morgan Rose (drums, backing vocals).

It was my first time seeing Sevendust and by the end of the first song I was a fan! Sevendust played with tremendous energy and for as hard metal rock as their music is, the stage presence of each member and the front-man work of Lajon Witherspoon were very welcoming, uplifting, and created an amazingly feel-good environment. I didn’t want it to end. They obviously have a huge following of superfans, as people traveled from all over and many from great distances to see them play. The crowd knew every word to every song and sang along with Lajon and team to each belting lyric. The fans were having a blast and surfed the crowd being passed along on their backs from the back of the floor to the pit in front of the stage. They were having an amazing time and feeding off the fun and positive energy of Sevendust.

I must acknowledge the security working at the Starland Ballroom. About 6 of them were lined up with backs against the stage with the knowledge of the level of crowd-surfing that was to come. I had one eye on the band and the other on the safety of our photographer (Estelle) as the pit was tight with security and other photographers. Security caught and hauled every surfer over the rails and were gently (in most cases) escorted back out to the crowd. It was such a cyclical pattern of surfing that I noticed some of the same individuals coming through for a 5th, 6th and even 7th time, resembling an amusement park ride you take over and over again. Singing with a smile, Lajon and Sevendust welcomed the fun and the energy, fist-bumping and slapping hands with fans as they safely landed stage-front before being escorted away.

Opening for Sevendust were: Burden of the Sky, Bastardane & Nonpoint.

Working backwards from the headliner and playing just before Sevendust, Nonpoint brought the same tremendous, fun energy to their playing as Sevendust and made for a great pairing. Prior to Nonpoint, Bastardane played with thundering prowess and were anchored by drummer and heavy metal rock royalty, Castor Hetfield, son of Metallica’s James Hetfield. It was fun to see him play with similar mannerisms. It was a great evening of Rock & Roll.