5 reasons to see Disturbed live
Disturbed — YouTube
Chicago multi-platinum selling metal band Disturbed brought their Evolution Tour to Detroit at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday, Mar. 5. After a solid hour-long performance from Canadian rock band Three Days Grace, Disturbed took to the stage for an explosive two-hour performance with plenty of noise, pyro and meaningful moments.
The tour comes on the heels of their late 2018 release Evolution. Their seventh studio album lives up to the name, finding the band exploring new areas with an album filled with acoustic-oriented tracks mixed in with their signature metal sound. The experimentation was inspired by the success of their take on the Simon and Garfunkel classic pop track "Sound of Silence." The album also finds the band taking on a number of important topics including war, addiction, government and technology.
The Evolution Tour helps bring together their heartfelt message and highlight their new tracks while also staying true to their fan base and treating them to a set filled with all of their biggest hits. Here are five reasons to get out and check out Disturbed the next time they come through your town.
1. Perfect balance of old and new with a dose of both hard-hitting tracks and emotion-filled ones
Veterans of the stage, Disturbed continues to put together shows that both captivate, entertain and educate their audiences. After 19 years, the band has a vast catalog to draw from and they continuously manage to please everyone in the crowd, balancing their old hits and new ones in such a way that they flow together seamlessly. Tuesday's show did just that, kicking things off with the fiery new track "Are You Ready" and ending with their signature "Down With the Sickness."
Along the way, they pulled out heavy hitters "Prayer," "Stupify," "Ten Thousand Fists" and "Stricken," which sat alongside newer singles "No More," "Hold On to Memories," "Watch You Burn" and "A Reason to Fight." They also managed to work in their frenetic cover of Genesis' "Land of Confusion" and their popular powerful take on "Sound of Silence."
2. Sophisticated staging
Their veteran status also affords them a unique insight into what makes a true rock show work. Over the years, their shows have grown larger and more elaborate and they used all of that knowledge to full effect at Tuesday's 2-hour, 19 song set. They kicked things off with a video package built around their popular "music as a weapon" slogan. Fire was a major component of the set as flames shot up across the stage, fell from the ceiling and came out of the piano during "Sound of Silence."
The band both whipped up the mosh pits and had the crowd swaying as they made their way to a second smaller candlelit stage in the center of the crowd where they slowed things down. The tightness of the band as they moved around the tri-level stage was also important as vocalist David Draiman took a step back at times to allow the spotlight to show on the talented musicians behind him as guitarist Dan Donegan shredded at the edge of the stage, bassist John Moyerleapedt around, inspired by his furious playing and drummer Mike Wrengren, perched on his high rise, oversaw it all as his sticks flew across his kit.
3. David Draiman's commanding presence
Disturbed popularity and longevity is largely due to their frontman's intensity and engaging personality. Draiman's versatile, powerful voice stands out and commands attention. He smoothly moves from shouts, screams and his own unique growls to the softer ballads effortlessly. He connects with the audience on a deeper level and Tuesday's show found him addressing the crowd throughout, including harkening back to that message of "music as a weapon."
Throughout the evening, vocalist David Draiman kicked back to the idea as he lamented those lost to addiction and depression including most recently The Prodigy's Keith Flint. He had those in the arena raise their hands if they had dealt with or have known someone who had dealt with either or both and the vast amount of those hands raised were a sharp reminder of how universal the problem is. Later, he invited some kids from the audience and their family onstage to watch a song perched below Wrengren, taking selfies with them and declaring them the next generation of Disturbed fans. Draiman also took to the crowd at one point, shaking hands along the way.
4. A strong message
Over the years, Disturbed has moved more and more towards being a commentary on the world around them and their latest album particularly follows this trend. Their "music as a weapon" campaign places a powerful eye on addiction and depression. Their shows are a beam of hope in a uncertain world and Draiman addressed the topics throughout the show.
Early on in the set, he turned the spotlight on the crowd and stated that although the news and society wants you to believe that we as a people are more separated than ever, the fact that so many different types of people were packed in enjoying the music together was a sign that things aren't so bad. Those attending a Disturbed show are consistently reminded that they are appreciated and that they have the power to help change the world around them.
5. A sense of community
It is that connection that Draiman shares with his audience and the message the band conveys that gives their fans a sense of importance. They are treated like family with Draiman deeming them his "brothers and sisters" and continuously thanking them for their support. It is that sense of community that keeps the fans coming back and spending their hard-earned money on their shows and their music.
For more information and Disturbed and to purchase tickets, check out here.