Raven Black

I arrived at Diamond Ballroom to an almost completely packed house. Fans that arrived early were treated to an impressive line-up of opening bands, many of whom were good friends or tour mates of Static-X over the years, like the industrial metal band Dope; horror-rocker Wednesday 13, and the Rock band Drowning Pool. Support from the theatrical Los Angeles-based band Raven Black started the evening’s festivities. Raven Black was great, I loved the look and stage presence and the music was intriguing and made me want more. All the bands tonight were impressive and left me wanting to search them out and see what else they have to offer.

Each band that played put on a remarkable show…at times it almost felt like a “battle of the bands,” with each outfit attempting to out-do the previous band. Wednesday 13 put on a spectacle, and their dedication to the tour was evident by the massive amount of body paint their front man was wearing during his very theatrical performance. Dope and Drowning Pool did what they do and totally rocked the Diamond Ballroom, both bands pushed hard because of the other bands in the lineup whose theatrics were over-the-top. The result of all of this volume and light and music was that the evening really felt like a celebration instead of just another tour stop. Each band pulled out all the punches and put forth what I believe to be the best overall show I have seen at the Diamond Ballroom in a while.

By the time Static-X took the stage the crowd was geared up to continue the onslaught on their senses. “Bled for Days” got everyone bouncing and moshing, and it didn’t let up the rest of the night. “Wisconsin Death Trip,” “Fix,” and “Sweat of the Bud” re-enforced the bands “evil disco” moniker that was used to describe their music and now the name makes sense: women in the crowd were dancing and the men

were moshing. Adding to the Static-X atmosphere was the constant barrage of images and lyrics being flashed on the video screens that surrounded the band on stage, along with constantly swirling lights and strobes. It was an auditory and visual assault on your senses.

The wild pace of the evening didn’t slow down until about the eighth song when the band played the creepy and very spooky “The Trance Is the Motion,” which, in my opinion would be perfectly suited in an eerie Slasher film. Jumping right back into the bands higher speed selections, “Get to the Gone,” “Black and White” and “This Is Not” formed a trio of selections from the band’s 2001 album Machine, as they were saving the rest of Wisconsin Death Trip for the back end of the show. Continuing to keep the crowd pumped with songs like “Destroy all”, “Start a War”, “Behemoth”, “Cold” and “I’m with Stupid”. “Push It” – the very first single from Wisconsin Death Trip and the song that first broke the band to mainstream success – was the unsurprising yet appropriate final song of the night, delivered with the same thrashing attitude as the rest.

The band has announced that a new disc of music is on the way, featuring some unrecorded songs and musical pieces that were kept from various recording sessions, so the name Static-X lives on. This tour especially with the amazing opening acts is a show not to be missed! Please search out shows and concerts in your area and help support live music.  If you’re ever in the OKC area check out Diamond Ballroom and any DCF Concert you can get tickets for, they support the music and that’s what it’s all about.

Setlist:

1. Bled for Days
2. Wisconsin Death Trip
3. Fix
4. Sweat of the Bud
5. Love Dump
6. I am
7. Otsegolation
8. The Trance is the Motion
9. Get to the Gone
10. Black & White
11. This is Not
12. Destroy All
13. Start a War
14. Behemoth
15. Cold
16. I’m with Stupid
17. Push It

Static X

Venue – Diamond Ballroom, OKC

Reviewed by: storm@backstage360.com