The Psychotherapy Sessions tour is absolutely one for the ages. Bringing together 5 bands that could easily headline their own tours, Butcher Babies, Nonpoint, GWAR, Coal Chamber, and Mudvayne completely dominated Ridgefield.
With an early 5:30 start time, Butcher Babies started their set as the venue was just beginning to get filled in. Carla and Heidi didn’t seem to be phased by it however as they ripped through as much metal as they could muster for the thirty minutes they were allotted. The whole Butcher Babies crew seemed to be having a great time. The crowd became especially animated when they performed their cover of Saweetie’s “Best Friend”.
Nonpoint took the baton from the Butcher Babies and kicked things up a notch. Dressed in matching red, the boys in Nonpoint unleashed a sonic assault that left the uninitiated a bit stunned, and the veterans begging for more. A circle pit had formed in the GA Pit as a few brave crowd surfers meandered toward the barricade. Nonpoint squeezed in 8 tracks during their short set, starting with “Victim” and closing out with none other than “Bullet With a Name.” My personal favorite, “Breaking Skin” didn’t make the cut, but “What a Day” and “Ruthless” were also part of their incredible performance. Singer Elias Soriano was having a fun time, even introducing the band as Korn at one point.
Smack dab in the middle of this amazing night of metal music, GWAR blessed us with their extraterrestrial side-show. Half metal, and half theatrical performance, their set was captivating, leaving many in utter disbelief. Those that had seen GWAR before showed up in white jumpsuits, knowing about the impending carnage. Signs displayed throughout the venue warned patrons that stage “blood” would be used during the performance. As the set began, security near the barricade began tossing out ponchos and some patrons moved back away from the barricade, unsure of how the performance would unfold. Sure enough, as the blood rained down, and the NSFW performance carried out on stage, some people just stood there aghast. After the set was over, I overheard a pair of women discussing how inappropriate the performance was. Viewer discretion is advised, due to some mature themes such as simulated oral sex, but they’re alien overlords so there’s that.
Coal Chamber took the main support slot and flipped the script, opening with their biggest song, “Loco.” Despite the band’s turbulent history, they seemed quite tight and amicable throughout their intense 11 song set. Perhaps the hatchet is buried and this tour is a launching point to a revitalized Coal Chamber? Drummer Mike Cox was completely unhinged, slaying on the kit for their entire set and lyrically, singer Dez Fafara was note-perfect. I’m looking forward to some new Coal Chamber music and tours.
Mudvayne.
It’s stil somewhat difficult to process the emotional journey we all experienced at RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater there in Ridgefield. As the Kabuki fell and “Not Falling” poured out over the venue, it started to become more apparent why the tour was titled “The Psychotherapy Sessions.” Through the heavy, riff-driven assault of songs like “Determined”, “Dig”, and the softer more lyrically driven tracks like “World So Cold”, we were taken on a tour through the shared experience of being a metal music “family”. Singer Chad Gray addressed some personal issues, relatable for many of us. He even encouraged everyone to take a moment to high-five a stranger, bringing us all just a bit closer as we let the things in life that are piling up within each of us drift a bit further away if only for the few hours we were under that same roof. It was cathartic. Therapeutic. It was incredible.
The Psychotherapy Sessions tour is nearing it’s end. But, it’s clear that each of these bands still has a story to tell. We can’t wait to see what’s just around the corner.
