STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, GODSMACK and DISTURBED, in concert at the E Center, Friday evening, Nov. 3; one performance only.
Once Disturbed finished its angry ranting set, the expectations were high.
Luckily, the Stone Temple Pilots were in top form last night when the band hit the E Center stage. The rowdy audience that filled the lower bowl of the arena gave recovering drug addict/lead singer Scott Weiland a hearty welcome back roar.
In fact, the band didn't seem like it had been away from Utah for the past four years. The last time the band played was at the David O. McKay Center in Orem.
STP — drummer Eric Kretz, guitarist Dean DeLeo, bassist Robert DeLeo and Weiland — exploded onto the stage as the heavy light show highlighted the energetic set.
A wiser, slimmer Weiland snaked his way to the microphone and gave the audience something more to scream about.
The older hits "Creep," "Big Empty" and "Naked Sunday" were some of the vintage cranks that the band played. And there was even a couple of new tunes from the most recent album, "4." "Down" and "No Way Out" brought a darker STP sound to the audience.
Regardless, the band was tight and things meshed well.
Opening the night was the rocking theatrics of Disturbed. Vocalist David Draiman was mock executed just before the set. Everything including the leg straps were fastened to the man. But after the smoke and strobes cleared, the singer raised his hands and began to chant away.
The music of Disturbed — Draiman, drummer Mike Wengren, guitarist Dan Donegan and bassist Fuzz — is a cross between Tool and Ministry, with the same amount of energy.
"Down with the Sickness," "Violence Fetish" and the guttural remake of Tear for Fears' "Shout" got the audience rocking and anticipating the violent rock of the next band, Godsmack.
When that band hit the stage, the audience went ballistic.
Vocalist Sully, bassist Robbie, guitarist Tony and drummer Tommy brought heavy crunches of "Time Bomb" and "Sick of Life" to the mix. The band captured the audience's attention and earned its affection as the night wore on.
E-mail: scott@desnews.com