The Machine Killer Tour with Sevendust and Static-X brought the perfect blend of rock music and evil disco to Portland’s Roseland Theater. It’s no surprise that Dope was also in the house.
Opener Lines of Loyalty came out strong playing a seven-song opening set. Songs like “Hurts to be Human” and “Winless War” were particularly catchy and the trio from Wisconsin seemed to have a solid following here in Portland.
Up next, Dope really got the venue jumping. Singer Edsel Dope said “I love coming to Portland… Bunch of fuckin’ mental patients here”. It was a relatively short set, but “Bitch” and “Die MF Die” really got things shaking. Edsel went on to talk about being approached to record a song for American Psycho then went on to talk about how it was a lucrative business decision, but expressed a bit of chagrin that they “have to play this stupid fucking song every show until the end of time”. The crowd didn’t seem to mind however, rocking out to “You Spin Me Round”.
Sevendust came out and blew the doors off. Singer Lajon Witherspoon’s melodic vocals a sharp contrast to the heavy instrumentals. Drummer Morgan Rose was absolutely off-the-rails on the drumkit and I know I found his animalistic percussion delivery to be compelling and quite-frankly awe-inspiring. Sevendust played just over a dozen tracks, three of which were from their latest album Truth Killer.
Static-X with new frontman/cybernetic anomaly Xero at the helm is magnificently carrying on the legacy that Wayne Static created. Wisconsin Death Trip is celebrating a 25th anniversary and the band with Tony Campos speaking on their behalf are so greatful for the fan support and being able to carry on the Static-X legacy. During the performance of “Cold”, in what’s becoming a bit of a tour tradition, a video tribute to Wayne Static is displayed throughout. Again, speaking to the crowd, Campos expressed his sincere gratitude and said “As long as our name is at the top of the bill, we will always be making a stop in Portland”.
In addition to the incredible music, the visuals throughout the show were fabulous. it was a truly visceral, carnal metal experience.
