2019 WMMR-BBQ
SHINEDOWN, Evanescence, The Struts & More
BB&T Pavilion, Camden, NJ
Saturday, May 18, 2019

For my first concert of the 2019 season, there is not a better way to kick it off than back at the BB&T Pavilion for the 2019 WMMR-B-Q show. And wow, Mother Nature could not have treated me and all the sold-out 25,000 fans to a better day. It was absolutely gorgeous with nothing but sunshine and temps in the low 80's, compared to the last five or more years when it has rained and/or poured; very cold conditions. I always felt sorry for the few people who hung in there out on the lawn.

Gates opened at 12pm and the concert started at 1:30. I pulled into the parking lot at 12:30 and there was already quite a crowd partying and tail-gating with music cranked up to all the bands on the bill. I would be very curious to know how many of those people who were drinking that early actually made the entire show that went till 11:30pm.

Every year WMMR lets a local band open the show and this year it was Siravo, a four-piece band formed in 2007, taking the stage at 1:30 and rocking out for a 30-minute set. Check their website at  Siravo - Official Website.

Taking the stage next at 2:25 was Bad Wolves, an American Heavy Metal Supergroup formed in 2017, best known for their 2018 cover of "The Cranberries" 1994 hit "Zombie." Check their website at Bad Wolves - Home | Facebook.

Up next at 3:30 was The Glorious Sons, a Canadian Rock Band formed in 2011 from Kingston, Ontario. Check their website at THE GLORIOUS SONS.

American Heavy Metal band Fozzy played next at 4:30. The band was formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1999 by lead singer Chris Jericho, who said,  “If Metallica and Journey had a bastard child, it would be Fozzy.” Check their website at  FozzyRock.com – Official Website for all things FOZZY. Rock on!

After a short intermission it was time for Joan Jett & The Blackhearts to take the stage at 6:00. Unfortunately, all us photographers were informed that NO one was allowed to shoot Joan Jett; so sorry, no photos of her or her band. Nobody knows why but I will include her website for whoever is interested -  Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.

Taking the stage next at 7:15 was The Struts, an English Rock Band formed in 2009  from Derby, Derbyshire, Lead vocalist Luke Spiller resembles a Mick Jagger / Freddy Mercury look-a-like. Check their website at  The Struts – The Official Website of The Struts.

Next up and taking the stage at 8:45 was Evanescence, an American Rock Band formed in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1995 by singer and pianist Amy Lee. I have only heard of them and had never seen them before, but I was totally blown away. I thought of them as some mellow band, but they actually rocked it out and kicked ass. Lee has great vocals and I would love to see them again. Check their website out at  Band Archive - Evanescence.

And finally, the headliner of the night. Taking the stage at 10:15 was Shinedown, an American Rock Band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2001 by lead singer Brett Smith. I have seen these guys a few times and they are a really good rock band and very entertaining live. Compared to the last time I saw them, their stage production is a lot better with major video screens behind the band and a lot of pyrotechnics. They are on tour for most of the summer, so If anyone has time to see them, go check these guys out; it’s worth the roadtrip. Check their website out at Upcoming Tour Dates | Official Website of Shinedown.

Stay tuned for the next concert photos and review as the 2019 concert season is just getting underway. There are a lot of bands on the road all summer and fall and you can always check where they are and when they are playing at www.pollstar.com

 

Photos with this review are Shinedown. View photos of Bad Wolves, Evanescence, Fozzy, Glorious Sons, Siravo & The Struts in Fun Fotos.

– Gary Crouthamel, concert photo journalist