Killswitch Engage, Dragonforce, Chimaira, & He Is Legend – Uptown Theater – Kansas City, Missouri - April 1, 2007
Posted by Brandon Ratliff on 04.27.2007
“I guess they don’t want to listen to a black guy…?”
You know, even in this business, with as many shows as I go to, there’s always those bands I’ve liked for years, and yet still never managed to catch them live. Timing usually ends up being the biggest factor. Killswitch Engage is a band I’ve been into since about 2001 or so, but again, I’ve never had the chance to see them play. I was going to see them on Taste Of Chaos a couple years back here in Kansas City, but I was sick that day and unable to go. This time however, I managed to catch them with Dragonforce, Chimaira, and He Is Legend.
Chimaira is another band I was really looking forward to seeing, and I first got into them when they started releasing their first demo tracks for The Impossibility Of Reason, their second album with Roadrunner Records. They are also my older sister’s favorite band, so she spent the entire trip there talking about seeing them. I was supposed to interview guitarist Rob Arnold before the show, but due to some miscommunication (and the fact that it was Sunday, so I couldn’t get in touch with anyone at the record label), it didn’t get done. I’m working on scheduling a later phone interview, so we’ll see how that works out.
Dragonforce is a band I haven’t had much of an interest in. I’ll give credit where it is due and say that Herman Li is one of the best speed guitarists of this day and age, but I just can’t get into the band’s music. Even after hearing about the band showing up drunk on stage the night before in Colorado and getting booed off, I still was interested to see if their music translates better live than on record. Though for the life of me I can not understand why they got billing above Chimaira, who has been around for far long and likely has more sales. Maybe it’s something with Roadrunner? Who knows. Either way I was at least curious to see these guys as well.
But I was here to see Killswitch Engage. As I said I had a few chances to catch them before but never had the opportunity to go for one reason or another. But that doesn’t matter, and I’ll quit rambling. On with the show.
We arrived there about halfway through He Is Legend’s first song. They aren’t really a bad band, and they were very tight live for being pretty young, but their material didn’t really fit with the bill. A friend of mine said they sound like “a bad Saliva cover band with less talent,” and while I don’t think they are quite that bad, they definitely would be better suited for a tour with Shinedown that Killswitch Engage and Chimaira. Through most of their set the drum levels were too low, but not so much so that you couldn’t hear them. But again, they were very tight live, and while I wouldn’t go see a show just to see them, I wouldn’t mind too terribly much if they were playing with a band I did want to see.
Chimaira was up next, and I was really looking forward to seeing them. All the way from the blistering “Resurrection” that opened the set to the closing attack of “Pure Hatred,” they definitely didn’t disappoint. Vocalist Mark Hunter is sporting a (to my knowledge) freshly shaved head, which makes him look more the part of the pissed off metal vocalist on stage. The rest of the band played to the crowd very well too, as they were all very active on stage. One specific thing I have to mention though is, to the critics of Andols Herrick, shut the hell up. Kevin Talley is an excellent drummer, but Herrick took the two songs they played from Chimaira and made them his own. Can he play Talley’s stuff with no problems? Yes, and then some. Hunter was spot on with his vocals all night as well, showcasing every bit of alcohol soaked demonisicity (yes, I just made that word up) that you hear on the albums, notably the latter two of the band’s catalogue.
Next up was Dragonforce. I’ll try to be brief here so I don’t sound like a total asshole, but I just can’t get into them, and their live set didn’t help things. Most of the band stood there barely moving for the entire set, and yeah, Herman Li is good, but he is very aware of it, as he spent most of the set showboating up on stage. At one point one of the members brought out a keytar, which was slightly amusing, but it definitely would have helped had the levels not been horribly off the whole time. It just seemed like when they fixed one thing something else went wrong. As for their records, I’m just going to realize it’s not my thing and move on, but they really are lacking in their live set as of yet. I’d avoid them.
Last, but obviously not least (I hate that phrase, and I hate myself for using it here) was Killswitch Engage. They opened, very appropriately, with “Daylight Dies,” the kind of title track that opens their newest album AS Daylight Dies. But where was the charismatic guitarist Adam Howeverthehellyouspellhislastname?
He’s not there. Duh.
Actually, Dutkiewicz (I think that’s it) is still out right now, due to having to get additional surgery on his back. Maybe it’s the cape and short shorts? Hmm. But he will be back in time for the band’s run on the Warped Tour this year. Filling in for him on guitar and vocals was former Damageplan/current The Mercy Clinic vocalist Pat Lachman. Lachman used to play guitar in the A.J. Cavalier (who is now in Soil, since Ryan McCombs left to join Drowning Pool…talk about musical vocalists…no pun intended) fronted Diesel Machine as well. Anyhow, Lachman played into a KsE show very well, even joking back and forward with vocalist Howard Jones (namely at one point telling Jones that the crowd will not start a circle pit because they don’t want to listen to a black guy) throughout. He also handled the backing vocals, and while it was strange to hear the same voice that did “Save Me,” “Fuck You,” and “New Found Power” singing “The End Of Heartache,” he did an excellent job at it. Speaking of vocals, it did seem that Jones’ microphone kept cutting in and out. Not that it would die completely, but it would occasionally drop in volume. This happened to Joel Stroetzel’s guitar as well, though his was more of a consistent lower volume. Both seemed to be fixed by about halfway through the set.
The only complaint I can really make with Killswitch Engage’s set is when they came out for their encore, which consisted of “My Last Serenade” and “Holy Diver” (a Dio cover), all of the band members seemed to be out of gas besides Lachman. Jones moved a lot less than before, Stroetzel and Mike D. looked tired, and Foley played with much less intensity. They had a pretty long set so it’s understandable that they were tired, but it’s a cardinal rule that you do not show that. I’m willing to bet that most fans see musicians in a band they like as immortal, in a manner of speaking. So you absolutely can not show weakness. Their charged cover of Dio’s classic Holy Diver addressed this as the band seemed to get something of a second wind, so at least they ended on a strong note.
Overall, Killswitch Engage and Chimaira made it worth the price of admission. He Is Legend were tight live, even though their material didn’t really fit the bill that well. Dragonforce left a lot to be desire, even for their fans. Not being much of a fan of their recorded material I don’t have a whole lot of interest in seeing them again, but to fans, just keep in mind that their live show does need some work when checking them out. It was a good enough show though, so I can’t complain too much.
He Is Legend: Didn’t really fit the bill, but they were solid. Their presence could use some work, but otherwise they were decent. 6.5/10
Chimaira: Very tight after years of playing together, and Herrick is able to play Talley’s stuff without any problem. Very good live. 8.5/10
Dragonforce: I’m not much of a fan to begin with, but their stage show wasn’t very good. Herman Li ran around showing off the entire time, and the rest of the members stood around. Sound issues also plagued them, but even for fans, Dragonforce didn’t put on a very enjoyable set. 5/10
Killswitch Engage: A live band I’ve only heard good things about, and they did not disappoint. Pat Lachman was a great choice to kill in for Dutkiewicz, and every member looked and sounded as they should. Also, their cover of Dio’s “Holy Diver” was phenomenal. 9/10
The 411: A good show, though He Is Legend would be better served playing with Saliva than these guys, and Dragonforce left a lot to be desired. Killswitch Engage is every bit as good live as you've ever heard, and Chimaira definitely put on a great show as well. It's been nice if they had longer to play, and there were less sound issues throughout the show, but what can you do? These things happen. Killswitch Engage and Chimaira are recommended, Dragonforce is not as they need to work on their show a lot, and check out He Is Legend if they are playing with another band you like.
