Article and Photos by: Linda Carlson
Indianapolis, IN – On February 18, Stone Sour hit the stage in the Egyptian Room at The Old National Centre.
Nashville-based The Dead Deads opened the night’s events. With their trademark X’s over their eyes, the “Deads” (Meta, Johnnie, Dolly and Daisy) rocked the house, drawing the audience into their performance. Drummer Johnnie shined particularly bright, skillfully striking the drums feverishly, dreads flying in all directions.
Next, Ohio’s Red Sun Rising brought its own powerful hard rock sound to the stage. Playing a loaded 10-song set, Red Sun Rising worked the crowd into a frenzy as they played several tracks from their hit album, Polyester Zeal. The performance left the audience with a sense of anticipation for the March 2018 release of the band’s upcoming album, Thread.
Headliner Stone Sour took to the stage to loud cheers and applause. Experiencing front man Corey Taylor is alone worth the price of admission to a Stone Sour concert. Very few lead singers command the stage, and the audience, the way Taylor does. With a sweeping smile that belies an amiable connection with his fans, he masterfully works the stage with conviction and confidence. He repeatedly moves to the very front edge of the stage and leans forward into the crowd, and with that voice, connects with fans through music and conversation. He feeds off the crowd’s mounting energy, appreciating the fans and the opportunity to bring his music to life for them. He never disappoints.
Stone Sour’s musicians are seasoned, skilled performers. Lead guitarist Christian Martucci, bassist Johny Chow, drummer Roy Mayorga and a stand-in rhythm guitarist for Josh Rand provided the perfect high-octane music for Taylor’s passionate vocals. But Taylor is more than a vocalist. At times, he brought out the guitar, proving his skill as a musician as well.
This Indianapolis performance marked the end of this leg of Stone Sour’s Hydrograd tour. Following a two-month break, the band will resume touring at the end of April, heavily hitting the summer rock festival circuit. Stop by their website for more details on where you can catch a performance in your area: www.stonesour.com/tour.
