Stillnoname

Black Label Society -Shot to Hell Tour 2006

The venue was The Warfield Theater in San Francisco, California. The date was December 6th, 2006. Doom Crew Inc. and their chapter members gathered to pay homage to the hardest working man in music today. His name is Zakk Wylde. His band are Doom Crew Inc. better known as Black Label Society and a bunch of SDMF'ers from Black Label Chapters from around the country gathered for a night of pure "Brewtality".

The Warfield Theater has played host to many plays and operas before becoming a major concert hall in Northern California. With it's high ceilings featuring paintings of angels, two balconies and roaming waitresses, it is the perfect venue for a concert.

Up first were a Canadian band by the name of Priestess. they were a blast playing really fun rock and roll. They sound great and the drummer played a drum solo. Yeah the opening band sounded awesome and had a drum solo. Quite unusual. All in all they were quite good and well worth a listen.

Up next were Kentucky's Black Stone Cherry. They had soulful lyrics and a down and dirty heavy rock sound with a southern rock feel. They had guitar solo's galore and sounded great. They really impressed me with their musical ability and quality of their music.

Finally it was time for a band I have wanted to see for a very very long time.

After Black Stone Cherry's set a Huge Black Label Society banner fell from the rafters covering the stage. A roar of approval went up from the crowd of card carrying Black Label Society chapter members. Who would not begin chanting "BLS" until the house lights dropped. An amazing concept lost on dumb assholes in Calgary.

As the sirens rang out and the police lights spun a random voice spoke. "San Francisco, welcome Black Label Society." With that the sirens stopped and the piano intro from New Religion began. When it finished a couple of seconds passed and a spotlight shone on the center of the stage as the figure began to play and sing the song. As the drums and the rest of the band joined the song the banner fell to reveal Zakk Wylde and company delivering a crushing dose of brewtality. They were loud and heavy, yet clear as day. When the band kicked into New Religion it felt like my chest had caved in and the world was coming to an end. It was thunderous and intense like nothing else I have experienced.

BLS continued to deliver a great set including Suffering Overdue, Concrete Jungle and Been A Long Time.

Zakk sat behind the piano for Last Goodbye, Spoke In The Wheel and In This River dedicated to the late great Dimebag Fucking Darrell! I enjoyed a "Black Tooth Grin" in his honor before the show and raised my lighter in the air for the full duration of the song to my fallen hero.

Zakk was having throat problems, so instead of electing to call the show early, he grabbed people out of the audience to sing Fire It Up with the band. How fucking cool is that. If only I was closer to the stage.

Whether they played the normal versions of the songs or jammed out a blues version, The Beginning At Last or a totally new version, In This River they were awesome and made me even more proud to worship at the altar of Zakk Wylde and Dimebag. They also re-affirmed my status as a card carrying member of Doom Crew Inc and a Black Label Society chapter member.

Let us not forget Zakk's solo. It was awe inspiring. Raising his fists' in the air, much like he did throughout the show, Zakk assaulted the senses with a "21 Guitar Salute". Finishing with the Star Spangled Banner, Zakk showcased why he is the best guitar player on the planet.

Black Label Society had great stage presence and were spot on all night long. They mixed the heavy songs with the ballad style songs masterfully and just all around were great.

Bow down to the masters! The Lords of Destruction came and conquered and made all of us Society Dwelling Mother Fuckers (SDMF) go forth with more Strength Determination and Mercilessness Forever.(SDMF)

Here is the set list from the show: