Modern Rock Heavyweights: 3 Doors Down & Staind &
Finger Eleven
Attention all rock and rollers, head
bangers, and metal heads in the tri-state area. Two major metal bands of the 21st
century are descending upon Robert’s Stadium. 3 Doors Down with Staind and
Finger Eleven will be in Evansville
Tuesday, July 29th at 6:30 p.m. Not since Disturbed or even Godsmack
along with many others, performed in Evansville
several years ago has there been laid out such a banquet of hard rock. Of
course, certain fans of rock including myself are a little bit more deeply
rooted into the hard rock scene and it takes a great deal more in the genre to
impress the likes of us. However, do not dismiss these three great bands on the
grounds of popularity and certainly do not segment them into processed record
label creations. The diverse metal head or rock and roll freak can appreciate
something in 3 Doors Down or Staind, not to mention Finger Eleven that will get
them their kicks. Each band, meaning 3 Doors Down and Staind, built their
temple of rock or metal monolith (whichever you prefer) from the ground up and
in neither case was it easy and obstacle free.
3 Doors Down originally consisted
of three good old boys from the south. From the start 3 Doors Down was vocalist
and drummer Brad Arnold, guitarist Matt Roberts and bassist Todd Harrell but
another guitarist and a studio drummer was added so that Brad Arnold could
focus on singing at the concerts. They first formed in 1994, in a small town in
Mississippi
by the name of Escatawpa. When their first single was released “Krytonite” it
was given special attention by WCPR, a major rock station in Biloxi, MS.
As with fire, word spread eventually to the ears of the major rock club in New York called CBGB.
3 Doors Down
From then on 3 Doors Down has
always been a dependable crowd pleaser and they work hard to give their fans
what they want. Their first album was released on a partner label to Universal
and was titled The Better Life in
2000, after which came the huge success of their first major album Away From the Sun including the hits
“When I’m Gone” and “Here Without You” in 2002. The next album was called Another 700 Miles a release of all live
tracks as a bridge between studio albums, and then came Seventeen Days in 2005. A self-titled album followed three years
later, the newest release in May of this year.
Nothing exists in the world of rock
or metal today that compares the distortion riddled, stumbling rhythms, and
painful melodies of Staind. Formed at the opposite end of the spectrum in
American life Staind hails from the Northeast, the madness began when lead
singer Aaron Lewis met guitarist Mike Mushok at a Christmas party in 1993. It
seems the ultimate irony that one of the most depressing bands in rock and
metal was formed during the most joyous time of the year. Anyways, they picked
up drummer Jon Wysocki and they began to grind that axe.
They relentlessly toured all over the
northeast and finally on the night of October 23, 1997 their intense dedication
got them a break. Staind was prepped and ready to open for Limp Bizkit when
Fred Durst got his panties in a bunch over the cover art on Staind’s CD. There
was no doubt it was very controversial, a knife stabbed into a Bible and blood
issuing from it. In any case, they went on to perform and Fred Durst was so
impressed he personally called the head of Flip records and arranged for the
band to record new songs in Los Angeles.
Staind
After their first stint on the Vans
Warped Tour, Staind set to work on their first (and best album in my opinion)
record titled Dysfunction which was
released on April 13, 1999 under the genius producing eye of Terry Date who has
produced albums for the likes of the Deftones, Pantera, and Soundgarden. This
CD featured their first single “Mudshovel” but is filled with other angst laden
head busters such as “Home” and “Spleen.” Their sophomore effort titled Break the Cycle really cemented respect
for them into the minds of metal heads all over the country. Most of the tracks
on the album such as “For You,” “Epiphany,” and “It’s Been Awhile” are so
emotionally enriched you feel as if you have your own personal glimpse into
Aaron Lewis’s soul.
In listening to these and other
songs on the album you can hear the amount of passion and the mentality being
conveyed. It was shortly after this time that Staind did an unplugged session
on MTV that was mildly successful and they became a staple on the Family Values
Tour.
Finger Eleven
In 2003, Staind released their
third album titled 14 Shades of Grey
and then came back two years later to release Chapter V including the tracks “Right Here” and “Paper Jesus.”
While some Staind lyrics or the cover of their first CD are controversial Aaron
Lewis is no holds barred when it comes to his creativity and to be a lasting
artist you cannot restrain that. Since then Staind has been on a three year
break but it is clear their music making abilities are vast and hopefully with
continue to grow.
Comments (
