• Blog,  Concerts

    0-60: My Five Finger Death Punch/Megadeth Concert Experience

    Talk about going from 0-60.
     
    Monday, I had car issues and it was taken to the shop for repairs.
     
    And I had a concert to go to Wednesday evening so I was not feeling good about my odds of getting it back in time.
     
    And not only was I going to a concert, a friend of a friend who works for the main band I will be talking about got me a backstage pass and a much better ticket!!
     
    So, I was sweating that I was going to have to stay home.
     
    Luckily, I got my car back Wednesday morning!!
     
    So, what was the beginning of maybe a very bad day turned into a great day!!
     
    I went to the show (Five Finger Death Punch/Megadeth/The HU/Fire From The Gods), I got my backstage pass and better ticket (13th row center) at will call, I was shown around the stage, I met the bassist of 5FDP, I got several guitar picks, and I had a great time!!
     
    First up was Fire From The Gods and then The HU.
     
    I didn’t know anything about either before the show but I enjoyed both.
     
    Fire From The Gods are from Austin, Texas and have a very hard hitting style of music, reminds me of KORN a bit.
     
    The HU are from Mongolia and have 8 members in the band.
     
    They play various types of instruments, including a horsehead fiddle, Mongolian guitar, and jaw harp.
     
    Very unique style of music. Both got a good response.
     
    Then one of my favorite bands ever played: Megadeth.
     
    I have been a fan since 1999 (my first album of theirs was Risk, which I know many fans hate but I love it) and they have continually put out great albums, most recently their newest The Sick, The Dying, and The Dead.
     
    They played two songs from it plus a selection of Megadeth classics.
    This is my 4th time seeing the band and they’re always great live.
     
    Dave Mustaine, lead singer/guitarist/songwriter/leader of the band, continues to have great musicians with him and writes and performs great songs.
     
    I love Megadeth.
     
    Then the headliner, Five Finger Death Punch performed.
     
    Wow what a show.
     
    I had not seen them in many years and they truly are now one of the biggest rock/metal bands out there.
     
    They just released their 9th album, Afterlife, and like Megadeth, they have been consistently great and just get better.
     
    Singer Ivan Moody is a great singer/songwriter/performer who is very giving to his fans and gives it his all.
     
    He even brought a fan on stage and told everyone about this fan being bullied and Ivan heard about this and showed him support and backed him up.
     
    And for this fan, Anthony is his name, he sang part of a song that he never sings anymore because it’s too hard for him to sing, emotionally.
     
    The bassist of 5FDP, Chris Kael, is the one I mentioned earlier that I met.
     
    Very nice guy and a great player.
     
    And he’s from Lexington, Kentucky!!
     
    All the band are just great at what they do.
     
    Guitarists Andy James and Zoltan Bathory and drummer Charlie Engen all are great.
     
    I don’t understand why they seem polarizing for some people.
     
    They play heavy/catchy songs, Ivan screams and sings, and as heavy as they are, they have a lot of melody.
     
    I like them. They’ve earned their success.
     
    Anyway, I had a great time.
     
    And THANKS to Scott Proctor for hooking me up.
     
    And thanks to my friend Dean M. Porter for telling Scott about me.

    Five Finger Death Punch Band Members:

    Megadeth Band Members:

    The Hu Band Members:

    Fire From The Gods Band Members:

    Five Finger Death Punch Set List:

    1. Inside Out
    2. Trouble
    3. Wash It All Away
    4. Jekyll And Hyde
    5. Sham Pain
    6. Bad Company
    7. Got Your Six
    8. Never Enough
    9. IOU
    10. Remember Everything (Partial)
    11. A Little Bit Off (Partial)
    12. All I Know/Judgement Day Mash-Up
    13. Wrong Side Of Heaven
    14. Burn MF
    15. Welcome To The Circus
    16. Lift Me Up
    17. Under And Over It
    18. The Bleeding

    Megadeth Set List:

    1. Hangar 18
    2. Dread And The Fugitive Mind
    3. Angry Again
    4. Soldier On!
    5. Sweating Bullets
    6. Trust
    7. Symphony Of Destruction
    8. We’ll Be Back
    9. Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying
    10. Encore:  Holy Wars (The Punishment Due)

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)