Known as one of the more consistently solid rock and metal bands of the 21st century, Disturbed brought the fire to the Illusions Theater at the Alamodome on Friday night with support act Three Days Grace. But vocalist David Draiman, guitarist Dan Donegan, bassist John Moyer and drummer Mike Wengren did something else too. Something not a lot of bands have the balls to do.
Disturbed raised awareness about depression. They spoke of suicide prevention. They took an unofficial survey of the approximately 9,000 in attendance to find out who has been affected by those unfortunate struggles. And they rocked the house with songs focusing on topics many are afraid to address in their normal lives.
But that doesn't mean Disturbed forgot how to have fun. They did so explosively on their Evolution tour in support of their sixth studio album. Armed with new fist-pumping anthem "Are You Ready" as the opening track, the Chicago multi-platinum selling band that now has two Austin residents in Draiman and Moyer was making its first visit since headlining the 2016 River City Rockfest before 27,500 outside the AT&T Center. With the stage set up in a V-shape, two sides of general-admission rockers enjoyed a steady stream of mainstays such as "Prayer," "Voices," "The Game" and Genesis cover "Land of Confusion" mixed with new tune "No More," which served as the second of three encores in a 1-hour, 45-minute performance.
Disturbed's softer side, however, was arguably the highlight. With a miniature drum kit and stage set up in the back of the venue in front of the soundboard, the band was joined by guitar tech Jeremy Chaisson for new tracks "A Reason to Fight" and "Watch You Burn." In between, Draiman summoned the Illusions Theater's patrons to make a pact to not "stand idly by" while their friends and loved ones destroy themselves and contemplate ending their own lives. Draiman even referred to the fact he misses the late vocalists Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots and Chris Cornell of Soundgarden (ATM footage of both songs below).
However, it wasn't all melancholy inside the dome. Disturbed returned to the main stage acoustically with "Hold On to Memories," displaying photographic mementos of their families and musical peers over the years, with the loudest cheers saved for the late "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and brother Vinnie Paul of Pantera (see 110-photo slideshow below). A pair of orchestral members joined in when Donegan took his place at the piano on the smash cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence," with Donegan's instrument rearing its pyrotechnic head (ATM footage here).
Not one to be shy about engaging a crowd or calling it out, Draiman did a little of both. Early on, he spotted a disturbance and took control. "Security, I got this," Draiman exclaimed. "Whatever's going on over here, cut it the fuck out! Unless a hand was touching the wrong place. Is that what happened? . . . Sir . . . apologize and move on."
On the other hand, the vocalist called up a couple to join the band on stage because "we see them at so many shows." Dominick and Bunny revealed they've been to at least 50 Disturbed gigs, and when Draiman asked, "What keeps bringing you back?," Dominick simply answered, "One of the best bands in the world." Draiman then told them to sit in front of Wengren's kit for the next tune, labeling it "the best seat in the house."
Rhythm section members Moyer and Wengren enjoyed time in the spotlight with their respective bass and drum solos. Moyer, who spent time during Disturbed's 2011-15 hiatus in Adrenaline Mob, Geoff Tate's Operation: Mindcrime and as part of one-time Iron Maiden singer Blaze Bayley's The Foundry, has also been heavily involved with School of Rock out of Austin, helping young aspiring kids achieve their dream of playing music.
Three Days Grace, which played the 2017 River City Rockfest, warmed up the dome by supporting last year's release of Outsider. Vocalist/guitarist Matt Walst replaced the unique voice of current Saint Asonia singer Adam Gontier in 2013, joining his brother and bassist Brad Walst in the Canadian quartet. Fan favorites "Animal I Have Become" (ATM footage here), "Break," "Never Too Late" and "I Hate Everything About You" were joined by newer tunes such as “Infra-Red” and "Right Left Wrong" (ATM footage here).
Both bands paid verbal homage to the other during their respective sets, solidifying a pairing that made for a rockin' evening. Although Disturbed should have left the title track to Indestructible off the menu in favor of that album’s “Deceiver” or “The Night,” or mandatory anthem and title track to third album Ten Thousand Fists, or the popular "Stricken," it struck gold with "Stupefy" and of course its first hit, final encore "Down With the Sickness."
No matter the crowd size, venue or reason for its visits, Disturbed always delights and shows why they'll be a force to be reckoned with — as long as they choose to rock our world and keep the hiatuses in the rear-view mirror.
DISTURBED SETLIST: Are You Ready, Prayer, The Vengeful One, The Animal, Stupefy, Voices, Land of Confusion, Hold On to Memories, The Game, A Reason to Fight, Watch You Burn, The Sound of Silence, Indestructible, Inside the Fire. Encores: The Light, No More, Down With the Sickness
THREE DAYS GRACE SETLIST: The Mountain, Home, The Good Life, Pain, Infra-Red, Painkiller, Break, Right Left Wrong, I Hate Everything About You, Animal I Have Become, Never Too Late, Riot
