A night where we cannot stand alone – Live report of Godsmack at Eventim Apollo, London

Shows like this don’t come around too often. Maybe it’s the big setting where the sound spreads and vibrates right to your bones, or perhaps it’s just the chance to see bands that defined a whole generation of people like me, helping us get through the tough days. Being part of an event featuring three of the most iconic bands in music history is something you just can’t pass up. Godsmack is hitting the road again, and guess who’s joining them? P.O.D. and Drowning Pool! This tour is going to be epic and we expected the best from this sold-out show in London.

I think many of us will vibe with what I’m about to say. If you’re wondering why those three bands made such a significant impact in the early 2000s, it’s primarily due to the themes and trends they shed light on, and not only because they were bloody cool. Young adults were craving to be heard and understood, but we also wanted something a bit heavier than what grunge was offering us at the time. I was definitely one of them.

This tour is really special because it’s a great time to celebrate the band’s 30-year catalogue but, there’s a bit of a bittersweet update here. The tour kicked off with some notable lineup changes, featuring Will Hunt from Evanescence on drums and Sam Bam Koltun from Dorothy and Faster Pussycat on guitar. And then came the big news: long-time members, drummer Shannon Larkin and guitarist Tony Rombola, are stepping away from the band for personal reasons. Wishing both of them an amazing future ahead!

A big thank you to Dominique from Shelter Music Group for hosting us!

Drowning Pool

1. Sinner
2. Feel Like I Do
3. Step Up
4. Rebel Yell (Billy Idol cover)
5. Tear Away
6. Bodies

As Kiss‘s “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” begins to play, Mike Luce makes his grand entrance, rousing the audience with his clapping and dancing before settling into his drumming stance.

Are you a sinner? I suppose every one of us is in some capacity! And Drowning Pool is here to remind us of that as they kick off the set with “Sinner”. As they tore across classics like “Feel Like I Do” and “Tear Away,” which are as legendary as they are ageless, the crowd was already going crazy. With only six songs on a fairly short set list, the London audience could absorb the fierce energy of the Texas-based band thanks to their absolutely unvarnished performance.

Thanks in large part to the electrifying stage presence that frontman Ryan McComb brought to the Drowning Pool stage in his 2023 return, the band proved that they can rile up an audience anywhere and at any time. The energy here was just amazing, and the venue really hit the mark. But of course, you can’t miss the most acclaimed, “Bodies”, and that’s how the band wrapped up their set before P.O.D. took the stage.

The band is heading back to the UK in November for their own tour, and they’ll be joined by Spineshank and (Hed)p.e. If you missed out on their show in Eventim Apollo, make sure you catch them at the end of the year!

Photo: Peterson Marti.

P. O. D.

1. Boom
2. Satellite
3. Murdered Love
4. Drop
5. I Got That
6. I Won’t Bow Down
7. Youth of the Nation
8. Southtown
9. Afraid to Die
10. Alive

The lights go out as P.O.D.‘s “Boom” guitar riff starts playing. The electrifying energy of the music caused the audience to lose control and begin moshing immediately. Even the people sitting down got up to feel the electric atmosphere. Performing hits like “Murdered Love“, “I Got That“, and their most recent single “Afraid to Die“, P.O.D. made sure to bring their A-game to this sold-out London show.

Sonny Sandoval, at the helm, got the crowd up and moving to sing along with every word of “Satellite” and “Youth of the Nation“, which set the moshpit ablaze. He seized the opportunity to leap into the audience as soon as he could, sending the supporters in the first row into chaos. What really set P.O.D. apart was the joyful attitude and love they shared with everyone; whether it was their message of hope or the infectious choruses, the whole auditorium was buzzing with life and energy.

When Sonny encouraged everyone to let loose but stay safe during the “Southtown” break, the pit grew much hotter. When they sang “Alive,” every single person in the room added their own distinct voice to the song. “And now that I know you, I could never turn my back away, and now that I see you, I could never look away.” As many of us relate to the songs’ lyrics about overcoming adversity, the whole presentation brought back fond memories of those songs and the age they represent.

And, of course, there’s no better way to close the show before the headlining arrival.

Photo: Peterson Marti.

Godsmack

1. Surrender
2. You and I
3. When Legends Rise
4. 1000hp
5. Cryin’ Like a Bitch!!
6. Speak
7. Straight Out of Line
8. Awake
9. Keep Away
10. Voodoo
11. Drums battles
12. Whatever

Encore:

1. Under your Scars
2. Bulletproof
3. I Stand Alone

As the clock hit 21:03, Mike D from the Beastie Boys popped up on the screen, spinning some vinyls and getting the crowd hyped with a mix of tunes. Then, as “Hey Jude” played, the video showed the Godsmack guys getting out from their bus tour and strolling into the venue, giving us a behind-the-scenes glimpse with a nostalgic 90’s vibe.

The band began the night with the powerful opening chords of “Surrender“, creating an immediate sense of energy. Sully Erna, as always, delivered his usual spot-on vocals and had a powerful presence on stage, welcoming the London crowd with open arms. Unquestionably, the band had great synergy, despite the latest news of both historical members leaving the band. As the concert progresses, we can’t help but sing along to songs like “When Legends Rise“, “1000hp“, and “Awake”.

Just before they took a break for the last three songs of the night, Sully and Will found themselves in an epic drum battle that seemed to stretch on for almost two songs. The way they went back and forth, with the unique sounds of their different drums and techniques, was something else! It all came together perfectly as Sully slid onto the stage and got into position next to Will’s already set-up drum kit. Bassist Robbie Merrill really held down the rhythm section, setting the perfect stage for Sam Bam Koltun’s explosive guitar work. Their performance during “Voodoo” was captivating, and when they kicked in the iconic riffs of “Whatever“, which Sully mentioned was the very first song written back in 1998, the crowd went wild.

In “Under the Scars”, Erna really opens up and gets emotional, sharing the years of effort he’s put into his foundation, The Scars Foundation. It’s all about helping people navigate tough times and supporting mental health when things get challenging. Everyone in the crowd seems to feel the same way, as the images of talented artists we’ve lost to suicide or substance abuse really resonate with all of us.

I get that Godsmack isn’t everyone’s favourite, and the sounds from the early 2000s might not be for everyone either, but you can’t deny that their experience and straightforward style really made for a wonderful performance. It was such a blast, right? Drowning Pool brought that gritty ferocity, P.O.D. had that awesome genre-defying sound, and Godsmack just nailed those heavy-hitting, arena-ready tracks. Each band really had its vibe, and it totally took us back to our nu-metal days, headbanging and driving our parents crazy with our loud music.

As the band kicks off ‘I Stand Alone‘, we raise a toast to you and dive right into the pit ourselves.

Photo: Peterson Marti.