Industrial metal superstars Static-X returned to the DMV for the highly anticipated ‘Rise of the Machines tour’. The massive 45-stop tour had twice been postponed due to the global pandemic. These popular L.A. rockers headlined a lineup that included bands Society 1, + dope +, Mushroomhead, Fear Factory and the almighty, Static-X!!
Society 1 started the night off first taking the stage. In case you need some back info on these guys… Society 1 is an American industrial metal band formed in the 1990s in Los Angeles by lead singer Matt Zane.They have released four studio albums, a live album, a compilation album, and a spoken word poetry album by vocalist Zane. Society 1 had a solid 30 minute set which had fans excited and screaming out in excitement. Frontman Matt Zane straddled a microphone stand outfitted with a curved metal penis. He was joined by bandmates Jimmy Minj, Johnny Pilz and Zhenya Pro in an exciting, energy filled performance that bends thelines of being socially correct.
Nu-metallars + dope + took the stage next and from the very start had the crowd in the palm of their hand. These guys started their set with “Blood Money.” The band had fun interacting with the crowd.
+ dope + frontman gave a brief backstory of the making of the band, proclaiming “I know we are a little old, some of you might not even know us… but for those who do, let me see you thrash a little bit,” screamed Edsel Dope, whose name is Brian Ebejer, before launching into the next song, “Violence.” His voice was deep, loud and clear, and he ended his lyrics with screams and growls. + dope +, which includes guitarists Virus (Andre Michel Karkos) and Acey Slade (Emil John Schmidt IV), and drummer Daniel Fox, focused primarily past hits instead of more recent material from the forthcoming album, Blood Money Part Zer0. + dope + endedc their set the same as they started it… with the crowd in the palm of their hand. Fans went wild with a cover from + dope + of Dead or Alive’s “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” to finish their high energy set!
As the stage production changed sets and water drums made their way on the stage, American heavy metalers, Mushroomhead were the next to take the stage. Formed in 1993 in the Cleveland Warehouse District, the band is known for their avant-garde sound and horror film-inspired imagery which features masks and costumes as well as their unique live shows usually performed at smaller venues. Dressed in St. Patrick’s day attire, these guys opened their set with ‘A Requiem for Tomorrow’. It becomes immediately evident just how good their stage presence is, with members mysteriously stalking the stage, back and forth. As frontman Scott Beck leaps into the crowd provoking a pit, his band mates handled business up on stage. As the water drums were pummeled, water flew up into the air and made for a nice mist for the crowd and photographers. it was really something to see! Truthfully this was welcoming considering how warm and packed it is up front near the stage.
FEAR FACTORY was the fourth band to take the stage and what an epic moment it was! First off, new singer Milo Silvestro fits PERFECTLY in the mix. The Italian-born Silvestro recently joined FEAR FACTORY as the replacement for the band’s original singer Burton C. Bell. Even with this new singer, these guys. are HEAVY. The SOLD OUT crowd was buzzing with anticipation.The staged glowed blue and the spoken intro from Messiahs “Beyond Good and Evil” echoed throughout the venue. The guys quickly shifted into “Shock” from the album Obsolete which was released in 1998. Mosh pits ensued and next it was time for the headliner….. Static-X!!
Static-X took the stage in a very iconic fashion. The band members stood on several risers, from which they engaged and hyped the audience. The performance started out theatrically. A white suited mysterious character with a huge gray circular head with an X dead center for the face crossed the stage holding a huge spotlight. Shortly after, bassist Tony Campos, guitarist Koichi Fukuda and drummer Ken Jay joined him. Finally, Xer0 joined the group. A wide variety of digital screens on stage flashed images, song lyrics and even displayed the face of late frontman Wayne Static singing along with past hit lyrics. Their current masked lead singer, known as “Xer0,” is + dope + Edsel Dope. Eddie Yang, a Hollywood master costume maker designed this new robotic mask. It was as if Xer0 had transformed to a mechanical figure with electrical wires for hair and red laser beams as eyes. The set included several tracks from Machine, including “Permanence,” “This Is Not,” “Structural Defect,” “Sweat of the Bud” and “Black and White.” The performance of “Cold” was especially worth mentioning. As fake snow blew in the air, images of Wayne Static singing the chorus in sync with the music flashed behind the band. I noticed a mechanical element to Xer0’s voice as he expertly handled the raspy growls of Waynes parts. In sync and in unison, Campos and Fukuda took turns crisscrossing the stage and interacting with the crowd on both ends. Static-X closed with “Push It” as massive black and red balloons dropped from overhead and its gray-headed ‘X’ mascot rejoined the band, animatedly celebrating on stage.
