Black Sabbath - Comcast Center August 12, 2013

 

Black Sabbath

Comcast Center, Monday August 12, 2013
(another one that I should have posted a bit ago...)

Okay, yes lets get this out of the way. Black Sabbath pretty much influenced well over half of the bands you listen to. That is okay. Their songs are timeless, their shirts sold in Wal Mart and every few years we get that “one more chance to see” the band in concert.

Hitting the stage shortly after 830pm to the wailing sirens of “War Pigs” and flashing red lights any doubts you had about the band, or their abilities were quickly tossed out the window. Original drummer Bill Ward is not touring with the band due to some contract issues and the seat was filled by the very capable Tommy Clufetos. To the front it was Geezer Butler (bass) Tony Iommi (guitar) and Ozzy Osbourne front and center.

The band was very tight with Ozzy being really the only weak link. He wasn't out and out bad, but living the way he has, and the fact he is sixty FOUR you'd be hard pressed to be unimpressed. Ozzy paced the stage like the wild man you'd have expected. Sure he has slowed, but he keeps it fun and the fans involved. When Ozzy says “Lemme see your Hands!” you do as he says.

Butler and Iommi were solid in their roles and are just legends unto themselves. Iommi dressed in his trademark long dark coat had spot on and clean solos all night. Butler was sharp too, but the focus was heavily on Clufetos. Given a drum solo at the mid point of the set he showed his flash and speed, and sure there were the mounted tom to floor tom beats synchronized with the lights and the “stand up and point the stick to the sky” moments, but it was a drum solo and at a show like this not only did I expect it...but I demanded it.

The set covered many of the classics and they did dip their toes in the waters of their latest release “13”

Overall it was a fun evening, seeing parents walking about with their young kids, instilling the rock and roll philosophy is always a plus, and really there are no better professors than Black Sabbath.

War Pigs
Into the Void
Under the Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes
Snowblind
Age of Reason
Black Sabbath
Behind the Wall of Sleep
N.I.B.
End of the Beginning
Fairies Wear Boots
Rat Salad
Drum Solo
Iron Man
God Is Dead?
Dirty Women
Children of the Grave
Encore
Paranoid (Sabbath Blood Sabbath intro)
Zeitgeist