Nothing More delivers an electric performance for energetic Lexington fans with Bad Wolves, Eyes Set to Kill and Indigo Storm
Squeezing in a headline show on an off day while in the middle of a long tour run is a common occurrence. When your headline tour stop is in the middle of a 3-day holiday weekend and less than half a mile from a three-day festival organized by a local country radio station you never know what’s going to happen. Tonight’s show in Lexington is not just any show, it’s a chance for Lexington metal fans to see Nothing More and Bad Wolves in a smaller, more intimate venue, an opportunity that seemingly no one in the area missed, selling out Manchester Music Hall.
Touring in support of their most recent Grammy award nominated album, The Stories We Tell Ourselves, Nothing More blew on stage, eager to get the evening started, opening with the raucous “Do You Want It” with Jonny hammering like a madman on the giant drums in front on him. It’s difficult for mere words to describe the impossible energy and relentless on-stage actions as the guys rolled into songs including “Let ‘em Burn,” “Don’t Stop,“ “Fat Kid and “Go To War.”
Taking a quick moment to address the jam-packed venue Jonny (Hawkins) said “Wow, we really didn’t expect this tonight, you guys are f**king amazing. Thank You all so much! We received 3 Grammy nominations this year, thank you all for your incredible support! This song almost didn’t make it on the album, this is a song I wrote at the end of an 8-year relationship, this is ‘Just Say When.’”
More Nothing More fan favorites followed including the moving “Fade in/Fade out” followed by mega-hit “Jenny” with a surprise guest, Bad Wolves lead man Tommy Vext joining the guys on stage.
Nothing More closed out with Jonny perched high above the stage on top of the “The Scorpion Tail”, creating wild and outrageous digital electronic effects while the band ripped through the Skrillex cover of “First of the Year (Equinox)” followed by “Salem (Burn the Witch)” putting the finishing touches on an outrageous set.
Los Angeles-based rockers Bad Wolves provided the main support for the evening. On tonight’s small and cramped stage, front man Tommy Vext was uncontrollable, jumping, spinning and pouring out energy from the opening chords of their opening song “Officer Down”. With a little more stage time afforded tonight, compared to their current 5FDP supporting tour slot, Bad Wolves were able to treat fans to a number of songs from their debut album Disobey, including “Learn to Live,” “No Masters,“ “Remember When,“ “Better the Devil,“ “Run for Your Life,” and “Hear Me Now” with each song being harder and more powerful than the last.
Tommy asked for the house lights to be turned down and for everyone to get their cell phones and lighters out as Bad Wolves tore through their mega-hit, The Cranberries cover of “Zombie” ending a powerhouse set. Bad Wolves is Tommy Vext, (Snot, Divine), former DevilDriver drummer and co-founder, John Boecklin, former God Forbid guitarist Doc Coyle, bassist Kyle Konkiel (Vimic, ex-In This Moment), and guitarist Chris Cain (Bury Your Dead).
Performing second was Tempe, Arizona rockers Eyes Set to Kill. Their 30-minute set opened with their first single from their most recent self-titled album “Break” along with the hard-hitting “Heights,” “Broken Flames,” Letting Go” before closing their set with “Infected”. Eyes Set To Kill is Alexia Rodriguez – vocals/guitars, Caleb Clifton on drums and A.J. Bartholomew on guitar.
Opening the evening was Central Kentucky based progressive/alternative rockers Indigo Storm. Their set included songs from their album Deep drawing some great comments from Jonny Hawkins towards the end of Nothing More’s set. Indigo Storm is CJ Jones on guitar/vocals, Ryan Slayton on drums and David DeWolfe on Bass/vocals.
