Evan recently covered the Breaking Benjamin, Five Finger Death Punch, Nothing More & Bad Wolves show in Tinley Park, IL. Check out his review and incredible photos HERE

9/4/2018

By: Evan J. Thomas

Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in Tinley Park, IL was the place to be last week as some heavy hitters in the rock / metal world came together for one epic night. Bad Wolves, Nothing More and Co Headliners Five Finger Death Punch and Breaking Benjamin.

Bad Wolves who are the "Newbies" on this lineup kicked things off. I say newbies because Bad Wolves is the newest of the bands bu lead singer Tommy Vext is a season vet on the stage as he's played with various bands in the pas. But tonight it was about the new Bad Wolves album Disobey. The band brought the energy from the beginning as Vext thrashed about the stage and connected with a new audience. Bad Wolves night culminated with a sing along by the crowd in unison to their platinum cover of The Cranberries 1990's hit "Zombie". And that was just the opening band.

Three time Grammy Nominees Nothing More was next up and killed it through nearly 45 minutes of their catalog including their recent hits "Do You Really Want It", "Just Say When" and the chart topping "Go To War" off of The Stories We Tell Ourselves album. The highlight of the night from them came from the drum solo when Jonny Hawkins climbed up "The Scorpion Tail" that is a structure made from scrap metal and salvaged auto parts that weighs 400lbs and measuring 14 feet tall. The emotion that Nothing More brings gives the band a connection with their fans that is rarely seen.

Metal giants Five Finger Death Punch pulled out all the "punches" with their set and stage show. Being the Co-Headliner with Breaking Benjamin, 5FDP provided a brilliant light show and a 3 story mammoth skull as the backdrop for Ivan Moody and the boys as they came out blazing with music off their most recent release And Justice for None. Moody has his patented red hand gracing the right side of his face as he popped off catalog of hits "Trouble", "Sham Pain" and their cover of "Bad Company" among others. 5FDP is by far one of the best live shows out there.

Breaking Benjamin was the final set of the evening as their set was a complete 180 on stage compared to 5FDP. With darkness engulfing the stage and solo lights highlighting the band as they came to the stage and rocked the masses right off the bat with their hit "Red Cold River" fresh off their recent album Ember. Ben and crew gave the crowd what they wanted with an hour plus set of hits like "The Diary of Jane", "I Will Not Bow" and "So Cold".

An epic night of music and performances is what a mid day work week show should be. Something for everyone from the mild to the hard core of rock and metal and some ringing ears the next morning.