P.O.D. with Bad Wolves, Norma Jean, Blind Channel @ Uptown Theater 5/25/24
Review & Photos by jess beck
Saturday, May 25th, 2024, at the Uptown Theater in Minneapolis, MN, proved to be the night. With a show consisting of P.O.D., Bad Wolves, Norma Jean, and Blind Channel, this one was going to be good. As I made my way through the doors of the venue, I could already feel the excitement. It was nights like these that reminded me why I fell in love with live music in the first place.
You wouldn't know it by looking at me now, but I actually first heard of P.O.D. at my church youth group. Hey, if the church didn't burst into flames when Sonny Sandoval walked in, I figured I was safe too.
Anyway, I was ready to relive some of that teenage magic and see what the night could bring.
First up was Blind Channel, the Finnish "violent pop" band that’s been making waves recently. Their sound is a powerful combination of post-hardcore and nu-metal, and these guys knew how to work a crowd. Frontmen Joel Hokka and Niko Moilanen weaved around the stage in a way I can only imagine ended in many rehearsal injuries, and by the time they hit their Eurovision hit “Dark Side,” the audience was singing along like it was a well-worn anthem. The energy was electric, and it was only the beginning.
Blind Channel set the bar high for the night, leaving us sweaty, exhilarated, and craving more.
The second act, Norma Jean, came on and took it to eleven. These guys have been staples in the metalcore scene for years, and it showed. The mosh pit was open for business, and the crowd went shopping. Cory Brandan’s vocals were as brutal and relentless as ever, and tracks like “Sword In Mouth, Fire Eyes” and “[Mind Over Mind]” hit with the same ferocity they did back in the day.
It was chaotic.
It was cathartic.
And I was there for every second of it.
As the stage cleared for Bad Wolves, there was a tension in the venue. Not a bad tension; the exact type of tension Bad Wolves is famous for.
They’ve been in the spotlight a lot lately, and regardless of which side you're on, the music is objectively brilliant. When they finally hit the stage, they didn’t disappoint. Their blend of hard rock and metal was polished yet powerful.
Vocalist Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz was a force of nature, even if he reminds me of the final Dude Bro Boss from my small college fraternity. The band ripped through hits like “Zombie” and “Bad Friend” with precision and passion.
Finally, the moment I'd waited for: POD. It was hard to describe the wave of nostalgia that hit me as the intro to “Boom” blared through the speakers. I was that awkward teenager at a youth group concert all over again, only now with a beer in hand and zero cares about religious conformity.
From the opening choir of Youth Of The Nation to the anthemic "Alive," P.O.D. transported us back to a time when nu-metal ruled the airwaves. Despite no longer subscribing to the religious messages in their lyrics, there was something undeniably comforting about their music.
Sonny Sandoval's charisma and the band's tight musicianship made for a set that was nothing short of invigorating. It was a blend of the old and the new, a testament to P.O.D.'s lasting impact on the rock and metal scene. It was a beautiful reminder of the power of music to transcend time and bring people together, regardless of where we are in life.
By the end of the night, I was drenched in sweat and grinning from ear to ear. It had been an evening of pure, unadulterated rock and metal, a testament to the enduring power of live music. Each band brought something unique to the stage, and together they created an unforgettable experience. As I left the Uptown Theater, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for nights like these, where the music was loud, the energy was high, and the memories were priceless.
So here's to the power of music—to the bands that keep pushing the boundaries, and to the nights that remind us why we fell in love with live music in the first place. And who knows, maybe there's still a bit of that youth group kid in me, still finding salvation in the power of a killer rock show.
Thanks again to the amazing staff at Uptown Theater. Y'all are some classy humans. And to the rest of you rock and roll m-er f-ers, keep being excellent to each other, and remember deodorant isn't that expensive. We'll catch you at the next one!
