M'Lou Elkins 
CONCERT PHOTOS + REVIEW
Godsmack
4/22/24 – Orpheum – Madison, WI
Photos + Review © Justin Nuoffer \ NuofferMedia.com
The Capital city of Madison, WI held host to Godsmack‘s “Good Vibez” tour. The historic marquee hanging out front of the famed Orpheum Theater let everyone know who was there to tear it up. Patrons filled the restaurants and bars nearby and State Street was bustling. Meanwhile, the VIP line stretched from the glass door entrance down the street to the corner. Looking up from the line a nearly perfect backdrop presented itself. Orpheum signage lit up vertically against the building with the state capital looming half a block down. The weather and view was nearly perfect. The line was filled with anticipation and curiosity. Godsmack, a band known for its fire show and heavy metal prowess performing in a theater, was an extreme rarity. The last time it was done was 2004, so one knew what was in store.
Entering The Orpheum Theater is a treat. The small foyer for security and box office is always smooth and easy to deal with. That opens past another set of glass doors into the main hallway. Marble-looking banisters wrap completely around the room. Stairs on both sides lead up to the balcony. The center area held a large merch table which led the line down the small wrapped-around hallway outside of the main theater. The classic red, white, and gold decor shined brightly. The facelift given to the aging theater really impresses. As the theater doors opened promptly at 7 pm, the theater filled quickly. The half under that balcony held permanent seating while the main floor lined up removable seating.
The theater dimmed and the massive video board that filled the entire back wall lit up. Piano keys were floating through space and time. On each end of the stage, massive grey gargoyles stood with the Wiccan stars on them brightly shining red. Across the stage, candles lit the performing surface. Vocalist Sully Erna’s Scars Foundation piano stood near center stage. Godsmack took the stage as a 6 piece with a keyboardist and additional guitarist in tow.
Drummer Shannon Larkin dressed dapperly and in a fedora slowly built into “Time” by Pink Floyd and the show was off and running. Sully Erna stood dead center unleashing his unique vocals in a pair of sunglasses. One could only think of the famed images of Layne Staley in that moment. It felt that special and the seated yet raucous crowd knew it. However, once “Love-Hate-Sex-Pain” kicked in the entire crowd rose to its feet and the room filled with cheers. Little did they know the band had no intention to dig out the heavier material after it.
Godsmacks catalog is fairly deep and they are not afraid to pull out a deeper cut or two. “Spiral” was just that cut. The reaction was incredible. Madison came prepared for anything. Set staples such as “Voodoo” and “Serenity” were unimaginably creative and struck at the primal nerves of man. Each song carried its own specific imagery and video behind the band, at times making them virtually unnoticeable in the moment. With a theme of Wiccan belief, ceremony, and vipers the overall consciousness of the moment was off the charts.
Impressively, their renditions of four all-time classic rock songs blew the roof off of the building. The aforementioned opener “Time”, “No Quarter” by Led Zeppelin, “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica, and “Long Train Runnin'” by the Doobie Brothers. Each performance stood alone for very different reasons. “No Quarter” was not only visually stunning but flexed the band’s musical muscles. Guitarist Tony Rombula and touring guitarist Tim Theriault often split the lead solos and playfully picked their strings around each other flawlessly. Keyboardist Chris Decato laid the foundation rhythm the entire evening, but it stuck out ever so more during this masterful performance. The screen played spiraling 70s-infused imagery. The floating emotions were enhanced greatly by it. The evening was also a storytelling opportunity for the men of Godsmack. Sully Erna sat with an acoustic guitar and a lone light on him at one point. He explained the basic components of life and music as being simply vibrations and a frequency. How just a slight change can alter one’s mood or emotion. Music is simply pleasant vibrations of sound. The basic foundations of life. As he strummed individual notes, it led into “Nothing Else Matters”. The entire facility lit up and turned into a deafening sing-along. The idea of hearing a song can take you back to places you heard it first or moments in your life. Obviously, the idea and commentary were proven right at that juncture.
“Truth” as Sully explained was an emotional song that wasn’t expected until a breakup occured just as they were settling in to record. He left the band for 6 months to regroup and he came back with it. Additionally, he didn’t think it would fit their overall band vibe but he was proven wrong by the rest of Godsmack. Nearing the finale, “Under Your Scars” carried an intense intimacy of life’s struggles. Erna spoke on how the song took on a life of its own and allowed them to create the Scars Foundation to help people struggling with all sorts of ailments. Mental health, PTSD, suicide, cancer, and so on. You could not have been more moved at that moment. His voice cracked with sentimental feeling yet it remained heartwarming. In that moment, Godsmack couldn’t have been more human to a mass of people there to watch them. Brutal honesty and an intensely warm reception.
Closing out one of the more awe-inspiring and astonishing nights was the final cover. Beforehand though a 12-year-old named Jefferson held a small paper sign about himself wanting to play drums with them. Sully and bassist Robbie Merrill invited him on stage. Jefferson sat down on Shannon Larkins’s kit with him watching over him and the band kicked into the Metallica classic “Enter Sandman”. A smile ran across his face. Shannon then gave him a set of drumsticks once done and he shook everyone’s hand. Godsmack thanked the crowd and then pointed out another child who was wearing a Red Sox cap that caught his attention. He was brought on stage to play the tambourine during “Long Train Runnin” the Doobie Brothers storied song. The entire theater sang and danced while the band enjoyed ripping through a timeless classic. They encompassed every part of their musical talents into it. Piano, keyboard, harmonica and so on built on top of the moment, and then just like that the lights all turned on as the passionate fan base remained standing with roaring applause.
As everyone was heading out the impact of the evening was discussed throughout the venue. There is simply nothing more one could say about this special run of shows. They are creative, stripped down, informative, and visually astounding. Once again Godsmack topped their already mighty live show and it is safe to say it should not be missed. It could be another 20 years before they do it again.
Check out the concert photo gallery from the Godsmack show below:
