New Haven Gets Loud With Sevendust at College street Music Hall

College Street Music Hall was filled from the barricades to the doors on August 29 for The Dead Seven Tour, bringing a packed room of fans together for a night to headbang with their favorite rock bands. The entire lineup is full of energy, and the New Haven show was no exception.

Return to Dust opened the show with an incredible set before Theory of a Deadman came out to “Sweet Caroline,” immediately bringing their own style of theatrics to the stage. Smoke and lights filled the room throughout their set, as Tyler Connolly was front and center with a chrome guitar and his signature hair and popped collar.

Theory played a set full of classics including “Barricade,” “Ambulance,” “Blow,” “Winnebago (Lay Low),” “Bitch Came Back,” “Santa Monica,” “Lowlife,” “Hate My Life,” “Rx (Medicate)” and “Bad Girlfriend.” During “Ambulance,” Connolly took a Polaroid picture and tossed it into the crowd, giving one lucky fan a perfect, one-of-a-kind souvenir from the night. He also made a point of mentioning that Theory doesn't come around here often, something that clearly meant a lot to the New Haven fans as they cheered for the band's return to the East Coast.

The band also worked in an Alice in Chains cover of “Nutshell,” Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” and a medley featuring “Jump,” “Crazy Train,” “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “A Thousand Miles” and “The Final Countdown.”

Sevendust came out next, but their arrival had already built anticipation before the band even appeared. A custom New Haven intro song played as the band made their way to the side stage. The room then went dark, “Sevendust has arrived” flashed across the screen, and the crowd immediately erupted.

Opening with “One,” Sevendust gave the fans exactly what they were waiting for. Their live performance gave the songs a heavier edge, and the entire band was completely locked in. Lajon Witherspoon was especially impressive with his magnificent vocals, keeping a smile on his face throughout the set. There is something about watching Witherspoon perform that makes it very easy to see why he has remained such an incredible frontman. His voice sounded better than ever, and the energy he brought to the stage never faded.

“Denial” brought out some of the wildest fans of the night, as people began crowdsurfing across the room while Sevendust tore through the song. The audience continued getting more electric as the set moved through “Crucified,” “Praise,” “Terminator,” “Waffle” and “Enemy,” with “Angel’s Son” bringing a different moment into the set before “Black” and “Rumble Fish” picked things back up.

The band members were constantly interacting with the crowd, throwing picks and other items into the audience throughout the night, and it was clear just how much the fans were enjoying the affection. Sevendust has a way of making their live music feel fresh, even with songs that fans have known for years. Hearing these songs live, they hit harder than on the records, and the chemistry between the members and the audience makes the entire performance feel effortless.

By the time Sevendust reached “Face to Face,” the floor was literally shaking. Witherspoon closed the show with, “I love this town... We love y’all. Love one another,” while the entire crowd bounced along. It was a fitting ending to a set that had continued building throughout the night.

Sevendust has been doing this for decades, but nothing about their performance felt tired or routine. Their live show still feels fresh, their vocals are as strong as ever, and their connection with the audience is something that really needs to be experienced in person.

Photos and review by Bek Allegretti