WALLINGFORD, Conn. – Oklahoma’s very own Hinder came roaring through Conn. on their Welcome to the Freakshow tour Saturday, December 15, at the Oakdale in Wallingford. This show was part of WCCC’s annual holiday concert, aptly named Christmas Chaos.
Hinder opened the show with a blistering 2 Sides of Me from their 2010 release, All American Nightmare. They then proceeded to rip through Up All Night and Use Me before slowing things down a little with What Ya Gonna Do. From the opening chords and throughout the night, Hinder’s energy level was that of a 15 year old male amped up on red bull and going to his first rock concert.
See You in Hell from their latest release, Welcome to the Freakshow, was an all-out rock song that paved the way for the All American Nightmare. Perhaps their most popular and highest charting song, Lips of an Angel, brought along an audience sing-a-long with everyone’s lighter (ok cellphone) raised in appreciation. This led right into Save Me before closing the show with anthemic Get Stoned. The crowd gave the band a standing ovation, but due to time constraints, Hinder wasn’t able to come back out for an encore.
Hinder is without a doubt a throwback band that would fit right in with all the party hair bands of the 80s. They are truly a great live band, with tons of energy, catchy songs and great guitar riffs. This is the type of band that is one hit song away from bringing their Freakshow to arenas and putting on this great show in front of 10,000 people nightly.
Opening the show was the band Otherwise, who’s single Soldiers is lighting up the airwaves on a number of rock radio stations. This band is making a name for themselves in the hard rock scene and we should be hearing from them soon.
Following Otherwise was the band Fozzy, fronted by former wrestler Chris Jericho. Fozzy is a band that is still trying to figure out its own sound. Chris Jericho might need to rethink this metal band thing as his vocals were at times like sand paper scratching your ear. Musically the band is very tight and once they can get their songwriting down, a little vocal coaching and possibly a name change…watch out!
