Black Label Society along with Corrosion of Conformity and Eye Hate God performed at the Rebel nightclub recently. This event was rescheduled from February of this year, when Zakk Wylde became ill and wasn’t able to progress with his commitments of this tour. The long awaited show wasn’t without it’s complications though. The entire evening events, including the meet and greet where delayed due to issues at the border getting their equipment across the states line. In fact the trailers didn’t arrive until 5:30pm. The road crew certainly had their work cut out for themselves. But they worked their butt off to ensure this show wasn’t cancelled as well.
Eye Hate God performed at the Rebel, opening for Black Label Society
Starting the evening off was Eye Hate God. I had heard the name but wasn’t familiar with their material. In comparison to the other two acts of the evening I felt like their performance was a bit primative. In researching them I know they have a considerable following, yet their set reminded me of days gone by where the boys would gather in the basement to drink and jam. They didn’t have a specifically great stage presence, as a matter of fact it kind of looked like the singer was super buzzed. Being a metal gal at heart I wanted to like them, I wanted to discover my next favorite “new to me” act, however they didn’t accomplish that for me specifically. They played a 50 minute set and the crowd was pretty tame throughout. There was no surfing or moshing, no overwhelming acknowledgement coming from the crowd.
Corrosion of Conformity performed at the Rebel Night Club opening for Black Label Society
Corrosion of Conformity took to the stage next and the crowd perked up in anticipation. Once again I hate to admit, I knew the name but not the material. I was married to a prominent metal guitarist for over half my life and the name came up several times throughout those years. I had high hopes for my expectation of these guys and they didn’t disappoint. They put on an energetic set, and where engaging with the crowd. I didn’t feel like they were jamming, but a talented bunch of musicians that belonged on that stage. Their music was melodic yet heavy, with a full bodied sound emanating from the stage. After I was finished shooting their set I really enjoyed watching them play. I can classify them as a newly discovered to me band and I will be buying their material to add to my collection. Lead singer Pepper Keenan told the audience that after their stint with Black Label Society they will be touring again but as headliners. I would definitely like to see that show and will probably enjoy it even more once I familiarize myself with their material. Once their set finished the crowd chanted C.O.C over and over again hoping for an encore, however that never happened. This is a metal band worth seeing. I thoroughly enjoyed their set as did the people in attendance at the show.
Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society performed to a packed house at the Rebel Nightclub in Toronto.
It was now time for the much anticipated headliners Black Label Society. As previously mentioned the entire show was delayed and they didn’t hit the stage until close to 10:40pm. It would make for a very late night, finishing at nearly 12:45am. Add the commute back home and I had 3 hours of slumber before work the next day, however it was worth the sleep deprivation. Behind a huge black curtain dawning their skull logo, you could see the band come together for their traditional huddle, pumping each other up for this show while appropriately a Black Sabbath song played in the background. The curtain dropped and they came out axes blazing, with a wall of sound coming from the never ending stacks of Marshalls amps lining the back of the stage, smashing into the venue. The crowd surfers awoke and where rolling through like an ocean after a storm.
They performed a 17 song set including fan favorites In this River, Trampled Down Below and Stillborn.
Zakk would change up his guitars as much as some guys would change their underwear. A steady stream of Gibsons, Flying Vs and double neck guitars.
Three quarters through their set, a piano made it’s way to the stage and Zakk Wylde tickled the keys and slowed things down. A tripled cup tea sat on top of the instrument while he played Spoke on the Wheel with Dario Lorina accompanying him on guitar.
A huge fan favorite moment was during the song Fire it Up when Zakk left the stage and made his way through the crowd, eventually perching himself on the venues balcony wailing his guitar with fans flocking him on all sides. The crowd went nuts. He is know for doing that at most of his shows, and it shows how he is able to relate to the crowd and be selfless with his actions.
At one point during the show, I discovered american rapper Post Malone standing beside me doing his best air guitar moves and totally digging the performance.
Zakk and his band put on a kick ass show, but that was to be expected. If Black Label Society is making their way to your city check them out. You will not be disappointed!
