W.A.S.P
The Factory
Dallas, Texas
Photos and article by Artur Brakhman
It was a pretty chilly Sunday evening, that is, until the show started. The line outside almost hit the end of the block, but was moving fast. Once inside, I checked out the merch booth which had some awesome looking t-shirts and some signed memorabilia. The crowd inside was pumped in anticipation of an awesome concert.
Armored Saint opened the show, a band that doesn’t need much introduction given their history that spans just over four decades. The band kicked off their set with “End of the Attention Span” from the “Punching the Sky” album that was released in 2020. From the very first notes the crowd was headbanging and throwing up their fists. As the audience got warmed up, the band continued their set with a classic – “Nervous Man” from the “Delirious Nomad” album released in 1985. The pace was picked up with “Pay Dirt” from the”Revelation” album. Although there were no mosh pits, the crowd continued to headbang and raise their fists to the beat, enjoying every moment. Throughout the set, John Bush (vocals) was running all over the stage, interacting with the crowd. Both guitarists and the bass player – Phil Sandoval, Jeff Duncan, and Joey Vera respectively, were also interacting with the crowd, switching places, running from one side of the stage to the other, headbanging, giving their all. The rest of the set included mostly 1980s/90’s classics except a banger from 2015, a title song from the Win Hands Down album. The high energy set was wrapped up with “Reign of Fire” and the crowd kept headbanging all the way through the last notes, yearning for more, yelling the band’s name as the band walked off the stage.
Over the decades I have heard of Armored Saint, maybe even heard their music. For some reason I never gave them my full attention. After seeing their live set, I can truly say that I’ve been missing out big time. I’ll definitely be going through their catalog and I’ll be adding some of it to a few of my numerous playlists.
Armored Saint Setlist:
End of the Attention Span
Nervous Man
Pay Dirt
Last Train Home
March of the Saint
Book of Blood
Win Hands Down
Can U Deliver
Reign of Fire
The show’s headliners were none other than W.A.S.P., a band that’s synonymous with shock rock, lots of controversy in the 1980s and, as recent as a couple of weeks ago, making the news because of Blackie Lawless’s speech at a show in New York. The band’s current tour is focused around their eponymous debut album that was released 40 years ago.
The house lights were dimmed and “The End” by The Doors followed by the band’s medley of their hits were played over the PA speakers, then the band appeared on stage. Blackie Lawless got behind his huge skeleton mic stand which almost completely blocked him from the view of the audience. The whole crowd started screaming, whistling and raising their fists when the band kicked off the set with “I Wanna Be Somebody” followed by “L.O.V.E. Machine” and most of the other consecutive tracks from the same album, including my favorites – “Sleeping (in the Fire)”, “Tormentor” and “The Torture Never Stops”. The audience loved every minute of it.
After a small intermission, the band kicked off the second part of their set that included songs from their other releases that span the decades long career.
Once again the house lights were dimmed and “The Big Welcome” was played over the PA speakers after which the band got back on stage and kicked off a medley that included: “Inside the Electric Circus “, “I Don’t Need No Doctor” and ” Scream Until You Like It”. Whole crowd went crazy. Once again excessive headbanging, air guitars and air drums ensued with fists pumping in the air. The second medley followed which included: “The Real Me” (The Who cover), “Forever Free” and “The Headless Children”. All throughout the both medleys there were classic videos of the band shown on the huge screen that was above Aquiles Priester (drums). At times I could see that the band members on stage mimicked the moves that were shown on the screen. In a way, the band was reliving the old days. Of course you can’t have a W.A.S.P. show without “Wild Child“, another one of my favorite songs, that I was impatiently waiting for, hoping to hear. I was definitely not disappointed! It was incredible. All the spotlights were directed just on Blackie Lawless and his huge mic stand, no one else on stage. The crowd got quiet and he started off the song by singing it a capella. Then the rest of the band got on stage and rocked the song which was accompanied by the original music video. Having the show in Texas, the band played “Blind in Texas“, as the final song of the night. Once the show concluded, “Riders On The Storm” by The Doors was played over PA speakers as an outro.
I’ve always wanted to see W.A.S.P. live, but for one reason or another I kept missing their shows over the years. This year all the stars lined up and I was very fortunate to finally see the band live. Blackie Lawless’ voice still sounds amazing, the whole band was full of energy and they gave it their all on that stage. Looking at the crowd throughout the night, I could tell, the ones that grew up in the 1980’s, were teleported back to the time when they were teens and at times acted like it.
W.A.S.P. Setlist:
I Wanna Be Somebody
L.O.V.E. Machine
The Flame
B.A.D.
School Daze
Hellion
Sleeping (in the Fire)
On Your Knees
Tormentor
The Torture Never Stops
Medley: Inside the Electric Circus / I Don’t Need No Doctor / Scream Until You Like It
The Real Me (The Who cover)/Forever Free/The Headless Children
Wild Child
Blind in Texas
