The Pennsylvania band Motionless in White crippled the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre Saturday night, and the sold-out venue had no I idea what was coming their way. The Sweat and Blood Tour, Motionless in White’s first U.S. headlining run in three years brought some rowdy friends with them with Static Dress kicking off a delightful evening in Sterling Heights, along with Fit for a King, and Lorna Shore. Static Dress set was like the calm before the storm if you will. Following the short but rowdy set Fit for a King hit the sold-out crowd with some crazy ass, face smacking energy and we were only two bands deep. Up next came Lorna Shore a band that plays like a transformer that just exploded. Let’s just say things took a turn for the worst but in a good way. Lorna Shore hit the stage and immediately the venue turned into Detroit Metro airport with crowding surfing galore that needed to be directed for safe landing along with a swirling mosh pit that was like a dangerous riptide sucking you in. Lorna Shore finished their 45-minute set, and the fans were already staggering but somehow still standing.
After a much-needed break for all in attendance it was time for a little pre-sing-along with Bonnie Tyler “Total Eclipse of the Heart” to welcome in Motionless in White. Side note on this, 8,000 metalheads sang in unison and it was awesome, metal shows just hit different. MIW opens with “Sign of Life” from their seventh studio album Decades. Dancers came on stage grinding their belts with a power drill grinder sending sparks into the air. “Playing God” followed “Sign of Life” and let’s just say things got heated in the mosh pit. After “Playing God” security had to escort a rowdy female out of the mosh pit, and to the parking lot she went. MIW returns to the stage with a shorten version of “Meltdown” pretty fitting to say the least. The band hit us with “Voices,” followed by “A-M-E-R-I-C-A.” The guitar rips were aplenty as you can imagine with fingers bleeding from the intense shredding. “Afraid of the Dark,” “Hollow Points” and “Reincarnate” all three hitting you like the old left then a right till you finally drop. The 19-song setlist was brilliant and well put together, one of the better sets from the heavy metal, goth shows.
Things went heavier with “Thoughts & Prayers,” and “RIP.” After those electric brown out’s MIW delivers a Corey Hart cover “Sunglasses at Night” with Chris Motionless voice taking command, and his fans joining him on this one as backups. Some covers are either better, or they totally go south not the case with this cover taking on a darker, gothlike, feel. The highlight of the set came during “Slaughterhouse,” when Fit for a King vocalist Ryan Kirby joined on stage and the duo buried the last of the fans that were still standing. My guess is that some folks are still recovering today. “Masterpiece” gave the sold-out crowd a chance to recover before hitting us with “Abigal” with Static Dress before closing out the night with “Scoring the End of the World,” and “Eternally Yours.” This was a first for me covering MIW and as the saying goes first impressions are lasting impressions and rest assure it will be lasting and talked about for years to come. That was one wild and crazy set. Thanks for stopping by and remember “Horns up, America! Keep rocking!”
