Red, Mammoth WVH, and Alter Bridge - Mystic Lake Casino - 02/17/2023

Tell the world about your concert experiences.
Post Reply
User avatar
Schulzy
White Knuckled
Posts: 243
Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2016 8:05 pm
Location: The Hawkeye State

Red, Mammoth WVH, and Alter Bridge - Mystic Lake Casino - 02/17/2023

Post by Schulzy »

I purchased my ticket for the show at Mystic Lake Casino back in August of 2022. I'm glad I did because the concert was sold out. It was my first AB concert in the midwest after 16 years and 11 shows in New England - 4 in Massachusetts, 4 in Connecticut, 2 in New Hampshire, and 1 in New York State. After waiting almost six months I was ready to go.

I had considered staying with my sister and brother-in-law in Albert Lea, Minnesota but they had their first baby back in August. Besides that, the concert was an hour and twenty minute drive north of them. I didn't want to be on the road that late or wake them up at 1:00 in the morning. When I looked at hotel prices at the casino they were almost $300.00 per night. Nope. My final option was to book a hotel off of I-35. I found the Baymont in Lakeville. After staying in hotels over 100 nights per year while I was in sales this was a great alternative. $130.00 including taxes and 20 minutes from the casino. Done!

I left my apartment at noon. The drive from Des Moines to the hotel was 3-1/2 hours. I listened to an album by a new band that I heard on Pandora - Awake At Last - The Change. Good stuff! In addition, I had two audiobooks - A Room With A View and A Court of Thorns and Roses. I made it to the hotel almost precisely at 3:30PM. Checked in and then headed over to the casino.

Image

I had already checked out the map of the place and restaurant options. It is rare for me to eat out by myself anymore but this was a special occasion. The Meadows Bar & Grille was downstairs in the hotel area. Plenty of seating at 4:00PM. I already knew what I was going to order - a Wild State hard cider (Duluth, MN) and the Nola Shrimp. The drink and food arrived quickly. I was a little disappointed that there was no rice but it left room for dessert. Brownie Sundae! Also good, but I was a little miffed that they did not warm the brownie. 4/5 stars - $40.00 for dinner by myself including taxes and tip. I was out of there by 4:45PM.

Image

Image

When I got off the elevator there as another couple going down. They were wearing their AB shirts and commented on mine. I patted the guy on the back and said, "I'm ready!". After a short walk I ended up in line at the very front with another couple sporting their Red shirts. They were talking with the security guard and another guy showed up. It was evident that the three of them had purchased VIP packages and that gave them early admission where they were allowed to go onto the tour bus. They would be able to ask the band questions and hear a new song. The younger couple was from Rochester, MN where my grandmother lives and the single guy had driven almost 14 hours from northern Manitoba! His comment was, "if bands don't come to me I go to them".

Once they were let in around 5:45PM I was by myself at the front. A few other people walked by asking when the doors opened - 6:30PM. The line for AB VIP filled in quickly along with mine. One of the guys behind me was from New Hampshire and had seen AB play in Bangor, Maine. I was able to see the merch area from where I stood. It looked like they had a few shirts that are not available online. Another security lady came up to do early scanning. Her name was Connie, the same as my grandmother's, so we talked for a few minutes. She asked about Alter Bridge and if they had any softer songs. I told her to go on break around 9:45 so she could listen to Watch Over You. She said to make sure I used the bathroom before the show because the men's room only had two stalls! What?! Once they let us in I went immediately to the merch area and purchased yet another AB shirt to add to my collection.

Concert Photo Album - https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAsFrR

Image

Image

Image

Upon walking into the showroom I immediately knew that this was the nicest and largest place I'd ever seen AB play in (2100 seats according to the website). I found my seat #62 in Row K in between two couples. We were two rows in front of the sound booth. Both had been early VIP for AB with Q&A and soundcheck at 2:00PM. The guy to the left of me was named John and I didn't catch the other ladies names. The woman to the right of me said she had discovered AB in 2017 right before her boyfriend passed away suddenly. She said she was 64 years old! Just goes to show you that the band appeals to a broad audience. We talked for a little while because she was in hospice care like my father. She asked about Red and Mammoth. I told her that I was a big fan of Red and had listened to Mammoth's album a few times.

Image

Lights went down promptly at 7:15PM and the intro music for Red started. CRAZY LOUD and sounded like it was from the Dune soundtrack! I hadn't seen the band play live since 2015 on the of Beauty & Rage tour. They opened with Infidel from their 2020 album Declaration. Strange to be at a concert with seats. I felt somewhat disconnected as I'm usually up front on the rail. Regardless, I still enjoyed their six songs (Infidel, Death of Me, Faceless, Already Over, Feed The Machine, Breathe Into Me) and they brought a lot of energy. I think their lead singer, Michael Barnes, gets his aerobic workout in during the set. He commented that they were releasing their new album Rated R this year and if we were looking them up online to not type in Red or they would find a lot of Taylor Swift! How true!

Image





The stage cleared and Mammoth WVH went on around 8:15PM. Wolfie has grown up since I last saw him with Tremonti in September of 2012. My impression was that the band sounds good but doesn't look that great together as a live group. Why three guitar players? Good to see Garrett Whitlock too. Wolfie asked several times if we "were having a good time". I wonder what he would have done if the response was no! He said how fun it was to be on the road with AB. They played eight songs. He said his Dad's favorite was Think It Over. I liked Epiphany and Distance.

Image

AB went on between 9-9:15PM. They opened with Silver Tongue. Myles was sporting his leather jacket early on but took it off pretty quickly. The sound was good, not great. A little too bass heavy. Vocals were clear though. It was nice that a few couples in front of me left after Mammoth so I had a good view. Others were sitting down. Two guys a few rows up were have a GREAT time dancing and singing along. AB went through their setlist pretty quickly - Addicted to Pain, Ghost of Days Gone By, Broken Wings, This Is War, Burn It Down, Cry of Achilles, Watch Over You, In Loving Memory, Blackbird, Pawns & Kings, Waters Rising, Isolation, Metalingus, Rise Today, Open Your Eyes. Myles made the comment that they "have a lot of long songs" after playing Blackbird and P&K back to back but promised they would shorten things up. When starting Isolation Brian did not have his bass plugged in so they stopped and went again after Myles said, "always waiting on the bass player!". Towards the end I realized that the guys have been doing this for almost 20 years. Probably the most relaxed show I've ever been to. Some good crowd interaction especially with Metalingus. It hit me that I'm pretty tired and don't have the same energy that I did when I was 25 and seeing AB play for the first time back in 2007. I'm grateful that the guys still produce music and deliver consistently solid live performances at their ages with all that goes into touring.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image



My hands were shaking during In Loving Memory trying to hold the phone still.



Well, I think that will hold me for the next few years. I will go about my business working two jobs and pop up to post here for the Favorite Albums of the Year thread.
Image
_^:Tangled in your trance and I'm certain:^_

User avatar
maximzub
On The Rail
Posts: 1328
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2021 11:57 am
Location: Where women don't exist.

Re: Red, Mammoth WVH, and Alter Bridge - Mystic Lake Casino - 02/17/2023

Post by maximzub »

Great review, Schulzy!
Schulzy wrote: Sat Feb 18, 2023 11:13 pm Lights went down promptly at 7:15PM and the intro music for Red started. CRAZY LOUD and sounded like it was from the Dune soundtrack! I hadn't seen the band play live since 2015 on the of Beauty & Rage tour. They opened with Infidel from their 2020 album Declaration. Strange to be at a concert with seats. I felt somewhat disconnected as I'm usually up front on the rail. Regardless, I still enjoyed their six songs (Infidel, Death of Me, Faceless, Already Over, Feed The Machine, Breathe Into Me) and they brought a lot of energy. I think their lead singer, Michael Barnes, gets his aerobic workout in during the set. He commented that they were releasing their new album Rated R this year and if we were looking them up online to not type in Red or they would find a lot of Taylor Swift! How true!
He said the same thing about Taylor Swift last night as well.
Schulzy wrote: Sat Feb 18, 2023 11:13 pm The stage cleared and Mammoth WVH went on around 8:15PM. Wolfie has grown up since I last saw him with Tremonti in September of 2012. My impression was that the band sounds good but doesn't look that great together as a live group. Why three guitar players? Good to see Garrett Whitlock too. Wolfie asked several times if we "were having a good time". I wonder what he would have done if the response was no! He said how fun it was to be on the road with AB. They played eight songs. He said his Dad's favorite was Think It Over. I liked Epiphany and Distance.
I actually like the idea of having three guitar players. They're almost always playing something different and I think the sound is much fuller than if they only had two guitar players. Also, some of their songs need four vocalists.

He asked us if we were having a good time many times last night as well. I guess he's just insecure and needs some reassurance. Rest assured, Wolfie, we were all having a good time!

Funny that your favorites were some of my least favorites. My favorites were Think It Over and You're To Blame.
Schulzy wrote: Sat Feb 18, 2023 11:13 pm AB went on between 9-9:15PM. They opened with Silver Tongue. Myles was sporting his leather jacket early on but took it off pretty quickly. The sound was good, not great. A little too bass heavy. Vocals were clear though. It was nice that a few couples in front of me left after Mammoth so I had a good view. Others were sitting down. Two guys a few rows up were have a GREAT time dancing and singing along. AB went through their setlist pretty quickly - Addicted to Pain, Ghost of Days Gone By, Broken Wings, This Is War, Burn It Down, Cry of Achilles, Watch Over You, In Loving Memory, Blackbird, Pawns & Kings, Waters Rising, Isolation, Metalingus, Rise Today, Open Your Eyes. Myles made the comment that they "have a lot of long songs" after playing Blackbird and P&K back to back but promised they would shorten things up. When starting Isolation Brian did not have his bass plugged in so they stopped and went again after Myles said, "always waiting on the bass player!". Towards the end I realized that the guys have been doing this for almost 20 years. Probably the most relaxed show I've ever been to. Some good crowd interaction especially with Metalingus. It hit me that I'm pretty tired and don't have the same energy that I did when I was 25 and seeing AB play for the first time back in 2007. I'm grateful that the guys still produce music and deliver consistently solid live performances at their ages with all that goes into touring.
Fun stuff. I envy your setlist because we got The Other Side and Sin After Sin instead of This Is War and Open Your Eyes. I'd take the latter two over the former two in a heartbeat. They did play Stay instead of Waters Rising though, which I was hoping for. Glad you had a great time!
Schulzy wrote: Sat Feb 18, 2023 11:13 pm Well, I think that will hold me for the next few years. I will go about my business working two jobs and pop up to post here for the Favorite Albums of the Year thread.
How about the album reviews thread? I always enjoy reading your reviews and you're the one that inspired me to do some reviews of my own there.
I'm in love with somebody...
Found someone who completes me...
I'm in love with somebody...
Oh yeah...
And it's Lzzy Hale!

MaraCarr wrote: It is not like a crush or a lust thing.
Check out my coolest TABN posts!
My Long Alter Bridge Facts Post
Order Of Me Hearing Alter Bridge Songs
Order Of Me Hearing Tremonti Songs

Post Reply