Drowning Pool ’10
with Nonpoint
by: David Gerhard
After completing a relentless tour headlining along side Sevendust, Drowning Pool set them selves up to do it again. This time around, Drowning Pool attached them selves to history by head line this tour along side Non-Point. With only a hand full of shows left on this tour, Drowning Pool and Nonpoint found time to come again to Minnesota. Drowning Pool came with Sevendust to The Rock on February 23, 2010, Then Nonpoint came with Cold to The Rock Nightclub on March 5, 2010. Both tours ended and on June 6, 2010, Drowning Pool and Nonpoint tried to level The Rock night club once again.
The night started off with Pinwheel jumping right in to their set. Taking no time for pleasantries, Pinwheel rolled through their first few songs. As I listened to them play I found a sense of familiarity yet this was the first time I’ve listened to them. The lyrics seemed slightly predictable and the transitions seemed over used but it felt like I could have been listening to them for years. The lead singer finally found a moment to plug their free EP. When he began to sing again, I noticed that he has a good voice for what they play. How ever, it seemed like he was singing to slow for his voice which made it sound slightly dry and crackly. Pinwheel kept my attention through out the whole set. With the incorporation of the keyboard, the digital interjections were actually very well placed. If you ever get a chance I recommend finding their EP or seeing a performance. Its worth it.
The lights faded down and Queens’ We Will Rock You quited the crowd as Nonpoin made there way back on to the stage of The Rock. Kicking the show miracle, which was a great way to jump start the motivation in the crowd. Then we had a chance to talk about the day again. The momentum the show rolled on and the crowd couldn’t get enough. All of a sudden the crowd through up thier gun finger as the where told which side to be on. From the look of the crowd, every bod wanted to be on the sid with guns. As this song played on you could definitely tell the tole the extensive 2010 tour schedule has had on his voice. even with that being said there was no effect taken on the the energy Nonpoint had on stage. Taking the time to tell us why he loves America, Elias began to dedicate the next song to the troops here and over seas. His dedication faded in to Miricles, Frontline was fading in behind the dedication. It seemed to sound like he was saving his voice for this song because he and the rest of nonpoint played it with such force. The crowd began to chear as the guns were raised, because we all new what was comig next. There last song and thier signature good-bye. Bullet With A Name played and as quick as the song began, it was over and the mic. sounded the end as it hit the floor. This was another amazing proformance but I feel it was to soon. The last show was still to fresh in the crowd to present something new or build on what they forgot.
After Ending A lengthy tour with Sevendust, Drowning Pool got the vans ready to hit the American roads again. Along side Nonpoint they set the dates. After playing a sold out show at The Rock, Ryan McCombs, former lead vocals for Soil, took the stage in hope for the same crowd enthusiasm as before. The show began with Enemy and it hit heavier and harder than i was expecting. So did Feel Like I Do. The whole show seemed to be played heavier than it should have been. Saddly, I really wasn’t impressed this time around with the live proformance. The vocals at times went a little faster than the instumentals at times and there was too much dass and lead guitar. The crowd was asked if they wanted to hear some older tracks and the crowd cheered in hopes for that one song. They road that train for a while. When Step Up began to play you could here the cheer fromthe pit to tha patio. The lyrics seemed to poer out of every corner too. The energy was drained abruptly from the crowd and the pit when they played 37 stitched. Drowning Pool has progressively gotten softer after the replacement of the original singer, David Williams. So, it was nice to her them dedicate Tear Away David. Which i have to say was the best profprmance of the set, by far. I think the crowd at this point was growing tired of waiting for that one song that put them one the map 10 pain staking years ago. Bodies was the next and last song of the scheduled set to be played and needless to say but i must, the crowd went from zero to 60 in seconds. McComb seemed to sing a very calm version of Bodies, but than again it just isn’t the same sung by anybody else. I encore was an amazing desplay of Cowboy From Hell by Pantera. This encore was a request from a man up against the railing and was properly dedicated to the late Darrel Abbott. After this, I have to wonder what going to come next for Drowning Pool.
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/drowningpool
