Rock Fest review: Godsmack overcomes vocal issues with solid show

Posted: Saturday, July 21, 2012 2:02 am
By Chris Vetter | 0 comments
CADOTT – Any concerns about Godsmack lead singer Sully Erna’s voice were put to rest Friday when he stepped to the microphone and belted out “Straight Out Of Line” to open the band’s headlining set at Rock Fest in rural Cadott.
Godsmack canceled 12 of its European dates last month because Erna had sore vocal cords, and doctors advised him to rest for several weeks. In recent days, several Rock Fest fans have questioned me if Godsmack would wind up being an eleventh-hour cancellation.
However, Erna’s smooth, low voice was strong, as he moved through “Realign” and one of the band’s bigger hits, “Awake.”
Erna, wearing a plain black T-shirt, didn’t address the crowd much, focusing instead on his guitar playing.
“I don’t have a lot to talk about tonight, so I’m just going to play you a lot of songs,” Erna said early in the set.
However, the band played extensive guitar beats in the middle of songs, along with a couple instrumental numbers. Thus, Erna actually only sang 12 songs over the band’s 80-minute set.
By playing so few songs, Godsmack stuck to a “greatest hits” mix, ramping up the show with energetic numbers like “Speak” and “Love-Hate-Sex-Pain.” Erna led the crowd in singalongs of “Voodoo” and “Whatever,” encouraging fans to join in on the chorus. For the finale, Godsmack saved perhaps its biggest hit, “I Stand Alone.”
This was Godsmack’s first time at Rock Fest since they played back-to-back years in 2007 and 2008. I had seen Godsmack twice before, and I recall Erna singing more songs at those previous shows, but it makes sense for him to scale back to save his voice.
Godsmack, formed in 1995, has sold more than 20 million albums, and the band has 20 hits that have made the top 10 on Billboard’s rock charts. But, hits like “No Rest For The Wicked” and “Shine Down” and “Serenity” didn’t make the cut on Friday.