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If you haven't heard of Godsmack yet, you will.
The band's new album, "Faceless," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart last week, and the band's song, "I Stand Alone," seemed unavoidable in 2002. Still, that isn't enough to push the band into rock's stratosphere. The Boston-based band's real strength lies in its live performance.
Wednesday night Godsmack electrified a roaring crowd of approximately 3,500 at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum. Granted, the show was filled with fireworks, bursts of flame, belly dancers and unnerving video. Yet, even without the production, Godsmack would've rocked the crowd.
The show began at 7:30 p.m. with rock act Breaking Benjamin. The band looked like a group of college students who had just stowed their backpacks to perform. But the act was as good as its recordings - a rarity for an opening band. Benjamin was followed by Cold, which suffered through a muddy set, making the group sound weaker than on CD.
Yet when Godsmack appeared, it was clear the concert had moved into rock star territory. The stage was cool and industrial looking. When a jet appeared on a giant video screen at the rear of the set, rockets shot from the screen, exploding before the audience. However, it was the band itself that provided the most explosive element.
Frontman Sully Erna is one of the most charismatic rock performers to appear in a long time. He is a guy who can charm and lead the crowd where he pleases. If he asks the crowd to sing along, the teens and 20-something tattoo nation belts it out with more gusto than "Kumbaya" at a 1960 hootenanny. While his lyrics are angry screamers, Erna comes off with surprising goodwill, exorcising the crowd's demons in song.
However, it's not a one-man show. The band works in excellent sync. At one point, Erna whined a creepy vocal into the mike while lead guitarist Tony Rombola answered with psychedelic guitar work. At another, drummer Shannon Larkin fronted an excellent drum solo only to be joined by two additional percussionists and then Erna on a second drum kit on the rear platform. A drum solo that is truly a concert highlight? Talk about a rarity.
It's even more rare any time a rock act surpasses its studio recordings to such an extent that you wish for a live album.
Knoxville was one of the first stops on Godsmack's tour. Expect the band to graduate to arenas soon.