Mushroomhead steamrolls into Covington, KY delivering a stunning performance with Vyces, Gabriel and the Apocalypse, VentanA and Blood Sun.
For a metal band to have the longevity and success that Mushroomhead has had over their 25 year career overcoming changes are part of the game, so when Tommy Church and founding member singer Jeffrey “Nothing” Hatrix left the group just before the start of the spring tour, the guys were prepared and had a plan. Mushroomhead started the spring tour performing to a sold-out crowd at the legendary Machine Shop and rolled into the Madison Theater in Covinton on a giant high. A solid group of supporters, many donning Mushroomhead-like masks and plenty of face paint turned out in force for a chance to see their favorite band.
The evening started out fast and furious with “43,” “Kill Tomorrow,” and fan favorites “Bwomp,” and “QWERTY” coming out in rapid-fire succession. A Mushroomhead show is always a solid mix of metal, industrial, and techno music interwoven with well-crafted visual theatrics incorporating an ominous lighting set-up and of course their famous water drums. Over the next 60 plus minutes, Mushroomhead gave Kentucky fans everything they could handle with a set that also included “Sun Doesn’t Rise,” and “Nowhere to Go” before closing the evening on a high note with a killer rendition of Pink Floyd’s “Empty Spaces” and “Born of Desire.”
Providing the main support for the night was Los Angeles based Vyces. Touring in support of their newest album, Spaceuntravel, and the hot single “Thin Luck”, frontman Dave Naruszewicz, drummer Russell Ray, guitarist Shawn Patterson and former Breaking Benjamin bassist Mark James Klepaski were nothing but energy from the word go! Playing songs from both the new album as well as their debut EP, Devil, including their top 40 hit “Nocturnal” during their too brief 45-minute set, Vyces were heavy, tight and a treat to see. They surely gained several new Kentucky fans.
Minneapolis based heavy/Industrial metal rockers Gabriel and The Apocalypse, served up a solid set of original music. With the leather-clad temptress Lindy Gabriel center stage leading the way, ‘GATA’ blasts through a hard-driving set with a stunning visual flair. ‘GATA’ is on the final legs of a whopping 18-month tour supporting their most recent album “The Ghost Parade” as well as their latest music video for “Behind the Sun.” The band has plans to hit the studio in the near future to record a brand-new studio album for 2019.
Although VentanA performed early in the evening, there were plenty of fans who didn’t miss an opportunity to see them perform live. While VentanA and Mushroomhead may both share members and wear masks, the similarities end there as VentanA blazed through a powerful industrial metal influenced set of original songs much to the delight of everyone in the room.
