Lacuna Coil Takes Atlanta!

Lacuna Coil pulled into Atlanta on November 7th as part of the HARDDRIVE RADIO tour and I was lucky enough to see them twice in one day. They played an amazing acoustic set at Criminal Records in Little 5 Points to a very appreciative audience earlier in the day and it was an awesome way to give the fans something different and fun. They did a short but sweet four song set that was closed out with a gorgeous acoustic version of “Shallow Life” which was the first time they had ever performed this song live. It was such a treat to be hearing this for the first time ever. I loved that they really did great acoustic renditions of their songs. It wasn’t just the songs played normally with acoustic guitars. I could really tell that they put some effort and thought into the translation of the songs to acoustic and it made for a really pleasurable listening experience.

The band was in amazing spirits and they were so appreciative of the support and made their way out to meet and greet the fans. I had a great time meeting the band. Cristina was an absolute doll and really a cool person to talk to. I also really enjoyed talking to their singer Andi and guitarist Pizza about acoustic music and life on the road. They were super cool and without a doubt the nicest band I have ever met. To this point I had decided that I wasn’t going to the show that night at the Masquerade since they were only playing 40 minutes as an opening act but they were so awesome I just had to see them in all their glory and besides, my wife pretty much made me go!

I got to the Masquerade around 8pm and the energy in that place was just amazing. I forgot what a great place to see a metal show it was. The place was packed wall to wall and I think it would be safe to say that it looked like a sold out show. The house lights went down and the crowd went absolutely nuts. The band took the stage and once the opening notes of “Survive” kicked in the the crowd just lost it and started jumping and moshing. It was nice to see an audience so responsive to them. The band just fed off of the energy from the audience and continued to push it to the next level. One of the biggest things that stood out to me was the amazing dynamics between Andi and Cristina. They’ve always had a great dynamic together on stage both being lead vocalists but this was different. Andi seemed to exude a confidence I hadn’t seen before and his voice was super strong. In the past, in all honesty, I felt it sometimes painful to hear him as he didn’t always seem in key but he must have really worked hard on this because he was nailing it both on his solo spots and on the harmony parts with Cristina. It was truly something to see and hear!

It was a the 3rd song in the set, “Fragments of Faith” that things really took off. Andi and Cristina addressed the crowd and let them know that they had to be ready to give them all they had. The song kicked in and the entire audience was pumping fists in unison and pogo jumping. I could literally feel the floor of the venue bowing up and down as they jumped. The energy was so intense and you could totally see that as the audience got more intense, the band pushed right back with more. I felt like I was at a European festival as opposed to Atlanta, GA. This is Andi’s song without a doubt. This is the one where he takes everything he has and throws it directly into the eye of the storm. He puts so much into it that the audience completely fixates themselves right to him as Cristina steps back allowing Andi to truly own the stage. As the song progressed, Cristina and Andi stood at the edge of the stage almost as if they were summoning the crowd surfers to the front and as they made it to the front would high five them and send them back to where they came. This energy seemed to spread as more and more people began surfing to the front. This was something to be seen as the audience seemed to be completely connected and drawn to this band.

Cristina thanked the audience for all of the years of support and dedicated the next song to all the fans that had been there for them since day one. They launched into “Heaven’s A Lie” from the Comalies album which was met with a roar that was so loud that my ears pounded before the song even kicked in. They delivered it with such energy that even I found myself pumping my fist in the air with the audience and not looking back. The band did a fantastic job mixing old and new material in a way that the set had a flow to it. It’s hard to make 40 minutes work when you’ve got as extensive of a catalog as Lacuna Coil has but they made it work without a doubt. They made the most of their 40 minutes and showed that audience just what they’re capable of.

Closing the set out with “Our Truth” was truly unfortunate. Unfortunate for the band that had to follow them! The audience went apeshit and jumped up and down in unison like it was Castle Donnington or something and just gave the band everything they had. In turn, Lacuna Coil gave the audience every last bit of energy they had. You could totally see it in the bands faces that they could’ve gone on for easily another hour. They were drenched in sweat they looked like they were having the time of their lives.

Lacuna Coil did in 40 minutes what many bands cannot do and haven’t done in two hours on the stage. They went out there with their most solid material and hungry hearts and gave that audience all they had. In return, they got back 100% from the audience. Even performing without their bass player (who was sent home with an arm injury of some sorts) should’ve been an impossible feat but they modified it and pulled it off and made the most of that show. It’s always exciting when a band you love exceeds your expectations. I had seen Lacuna Coil once before and trust me , they were great but this time, they were amazing. The energy on stage, the strength of their set list, the confidence and the appreciation and humbleness that they convey all at once was amazing to take in. As the house lights came back on I just stood there with my mouth open at what I had just witnessed. I just nodded my head with a smile and exited the club pretty much forgetting that there was even another band performing after them.

Lacuna Coil solidified themselves to me this night as force to be reckoned with. They are not some nu-metal band that has worn out their welcome or that has lost steam over the years. On this night, Lacuna Coil solidified themselves to me as true Metal force to be reckoned with. I am excited for their future and for my future as a fan of this band.

Lacuna Coil – Masquerade – Atlanta, GA – 11/07/2009
Survive
Underdog
Fragments of Faith
I’m Not Afraid
Heaven’s A Lie
Fragile
I Won’t Tell You
Spellbound
Our Truth

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