W.A.S.P. / ARMORED SAINT (Live)

There’s a certain mindset and set of expectations that should be in place when you see a band that’s been together for 42 years. On one hand you have to realize everyone is a bit older, perhaps more mature and more confident. Accordingly, all the theatrics, blood and guts a band might have once demonstrated just aren’t  going to be there in present day shows. On the flip side, fans get to see concerts highlighted by the band playing complete, key album releases. In the end it doesn’t really matter especially if the band sounds great, puts on a great show and entertains. And that’s exactly what W.A.S.P. did on this night at the modest, standing room only, The Fillmore in Charlotte!

Armored Saint

It’d be difficult to name a more appropriate opening band then the veterans Armored Saint fronted by original “Saint” vocalist, and Anthrax alumni, John Bush. The Saints did a wonderful job of warming up the crowd. John’s vocals sounded spot on. At one point in the show he even made it through the crowd to appear at the middle of the main floor to show the fans near the back some love. It’s wonderful in this day and age that the majority of the original band being John, Joey Vera (bass), Phil Sandoval (guitar), and Gonzo Sandoval (drums) are still playing together along with Jeff Duncan on guitar!

Daringly the band opened with the barn burner, “End Of The Attention Span”, which is a track taken from their last studio album Punching The Sky (2020). The band’s setlist did a great job of covering a smattering of their catalog of eleven studio albums with only the March Of Saints getting more than one track played. Definitely still a band that could headline in their own right!

W.A.S.P.

As good as Armored Saint was everyone was here to see the main event, a band with a setlist that left little surprises, and knowingly so. Going in, this tour was billed as W.A.S.P.’s “Album ONE Alive World Tour”. The focus was on performing their entire self-titled debut album from start to finish. It’s a popular concept that several of these classic metal bands having been doing the last several years. It’s an album that Blackie Lawless declared that some of these songs haven’t been played in 40 years which took some appropriate preparation. He also made light of the fact that management said they HAD to open with “I Wanna Be Somebody” even though he has it imprinted in his brain that it’s the song they always close with.

All musings aside, the band plowed through the debut album with a fiery intensity that sounded impeccable in this modest sized hall. Granted there was no flying meat, blood, guts or other internals but it was still a strong, welcome offering. The band used the available stage space the best that they could and kept an energetic vibe. The venue also made sure that the audience knew “body surfing” would not be tolerated. Seeing the median age of the crowd in attendance having been middle-aged, body surfing would have been a sight to see.

While it was great to hear the debut album played in full, the encore is where a lot of great radio play songs were found. W.A.S.P.’s “encore” itself was a bit unique. After finishing “The Torture Never Stops”, the show, at that point, clocked in at approximately 45 minutes, Blackie stated “we’ll be back in five minutes”. It was easy to misinterpret that as being an intermission when in fact it was them leaving the stage. When the band returned they broke into a few medleys where tastes of greats like “Scream Until You Like It” and “I Don’t Need No Doctor” seem to end much too quickly. Ending with a couple of full popular songs finished the set at around 75 minutes. So if there was any complaint to be had this night, it was that the show could have been longer. In retrospect though the setlist fully highlighted that all important debut album. Nevertheless, fans in attendance didn’t complain and they all walked away from a great night by two classic metal bands! Catching W.A.S.P. on this ONE Alive tour is highly recommended!

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