Black Label Society Bring Their Grimmest Hits to Riverside

Riverside, California | Friday, February 28, 2020

March 2, 2020 Maurice Nunez Concert Reviews Comments Off

Founder and guitarist/vocalist Zakk Wylde and Black Label Society at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium in Riverside, California on Friday, February 28, 2020. (Photo credit: Maurice Nunez)

MAURICE NUNEZ | Go Venue Magazine

Zakk Wylde and Black Label Society were in town tonight at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium. This is part of their ‘North American Crusade’ tour that kicked off on February 26th in Tucson, Arizona and goes through March ending in Hartford, Connecticut. Fronted by Zakk Wylde, co-writer of Ozzy Osbourne classics like “No More Tears”, “Mama I’m Coming Home”, “Road to Nowhere” and “Miracle Man”, Black Label Society has consistently been defined by Wylde’s unmistakable voice and signature guitar sound. The band consists of bassist John DeServio, guitarist Dario Lorina, and drummer Jeff Fabb. Black Label Society’s most recent proper studio album was 2018’s Grimmest Hits, but the band also released a re-imagined version of their 1999 debut Sonic Brew album earlier this year in celebration of its 20th anniversary.

We arrived in time to catch Obituary. These guys are veterans of death metal hailing from Tampa, Florida. They took the stage and got things started with the pounding sounds of “Redneck Stomp.” The Riverside crowd immediately started headbanging. The floor was now full as the mosh pit started to take its form. We covered Obituary on their last tour when they came to Southern California and tonight was just as brutal. They played fan favorites like “Sentence Day,” “A Lesson in Vengeance,” “Visions in My Head,” “Straight to Hell,” and “I’m in Pain” among others. Their set concluded with “A Dying World” and “Slowly We Rot.” They got a great response from the crowd and were a perfect supporting act for this tour.

By now the venue was completely packed and everyone was ready for Zakk and crew to take the stage. Black Label Society went on at 9:30 and the fans roared! Headbanging, devil horns, and moshing brought all the Riverside fans together at once as they started with “Genocide Junkies.” Zakk Wylde was in his traditional BLS vest, leather tied wrist bands, boots, and kilt. The stage was stacked with walls of speakers that only enhanced the heavy metal experience.

The band played fan favorites like “Funeral Bell,” “The Rose Petalled Garden,” “Heart of Darkness,” “Suicide Messiah,” and “Peddlers of Death” among others. At one point Zakk took the piano playing a few songs including paying tribute to both Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul with “In This River.” This seemed to hit home with everyone in the crowd. Towards the end of the set both Zakk Wylde and Dario Lorina left the stage and entered the crowd. They made their way to a balcony, each going to opposite ends of the venue as they battled out guitar solos while the crowd gazed in amazement. The 15 songs, two-hour set concluded with “Concrete Jungle” and “Stillborn.”

Thanks to Black Label Society for coming to Riverside. Current tour dates are listed here.

See photos and set-list from tonight’s performance below.