Over a sip of tequila, singer Sully Erna warned Godsmack fans gathered at the Videotron Center on Sunday night that they wouldn’t be attending a perfect show “because we don’t play with computers and all these damn babes.” We’re an old-school band, who plays with real instruments.”
There’s also a fair amount of flames, pyrotechnics (a lady in front of us jumped as fireworks exploded at the end of Awake), hits that listeners of Quebec rock radio stations could easily recognize, and the promise of presenting a concert as such was made in time held by the Massachusetts Quartet, which has been working since the late 1990s.
Sully Erna, from Godsmack. Photo Didier Debusschere / Le Journal de Québec
Although he receives little attention from major music media and his albums do not receive 4-star reviews, Godsmack remains a safe bet on the stage, especially in Quebec, where he attracted 13,000 spectators at his last performance in 2019.
They may not have been as numerous on Sunday at the final concert of the group’s 25th anniversary tour in Canada, but they were no less engaged and enthusiastic.
No tip
The audience was first treated to a very brief and very quickly forgotten pre-recorded performance by Beastie Boys mix DJ master Mike on a giant screen before the Americans, not exactly known for their top-notch performance, made a strong entrance with the sound from when legends rise and 1000 hp.
Afterwards, a seemingly obligatory detour to the latest album “Lighting Up The Sky”, released in early 2023, went too far to present three consecutive excerpts. However, the party got back on track when Godsmack lined up Keep Away, Cryin’ Like a Bitch, Awake and Voodoo in a more meaningful way.
Erna and the spectacular Shannon Larkin then engaged in their now traditional duel on drums, an exercise that reached its climax when the two musicians played parts of Back in Black, Walk This Way and Enter Sandman.
Greetings to the missing
This wasn’t the only moment Godsmack felt the need to honor heroes of the past. Sully Erna sat at the piano and sang “Under Your Scars,” paying tribute to the memory of late greats like Chris Cornell, Chester Bennington, Amy Winehouse and Eddie Van Halen.
“Let’s send them energy where they are to remind them how important they are to us and that we are here in Quebec to fly the flag of rock and roll,” said the singer, visibly grateful towards those who paved the way.
Two songs later, that flag flew high as the entire Videotron Center sang “I Stand Alone,” a powerful exclamation point to this concert that made Erna say, “The best public fuck in Canada is in Quebec.”
I Prevail: a first
I Prevail in action, Sunday, at the Videotron Center. Photo Didier Debusschere / Le Journal de Québec
“Keep walking. Don’t stop!” singer Eric Vanlerbleghe shouted as the audience circled and/or collapsed on the floor during the performance of I Prevail just before Godsmack’s arrival.
Thanks to a performance of rare intensity on its first visit to Quebec, the Michigan collective, already with two Grammy nominations and known for its explosive concerts, made sure not to leave anyone indifferent.
With an energy that was as angry as it was jubilant, the combination of metal, rap and hardcore created a thunderous atmosphere at the Videotron Center that we’d like to see more often at rock concerts.
To simply summarize: It went back to the post.
The band played on point by playing several samples from their latest album “True Power” and short covers of “Limp Bizkit” and “System of a Down,” which kept the crowd happy.
“You seem to like heavy music,” remarked Vanlerbleghe, flanked by the equally dynamic singer Brian Burkheiser.
We will see you again soon.