In honor of the 25th anniversary of the band’s debut album, Disturbed hit the road for a North American tour, along with Three Days Grace and Sevendust. During the anniversary tour, the Chicago-based band performed The Sickness album — which to date has sold more than five million copies — in its entirety, followed by a second set comprised of greatest hits.
With nearly 14 billion streams and countless sold-out shows around the globe, Disturbed — which consists of frontman David Draiman, guitarist Dan Donegan, bassist John Moyer and drummer Mike Wengren — has forged a distinct identity over the last two and a half decades thanks to an aggressive sound, introspective lyrics and Draiman’s distinctive vocals.
Released on March 7, 2000, The Sickness was a commercial success thanks in part to the hit single “Down with the Sickness,” which peaked at number five on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The album itself peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200 chart and is certified four times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. In total, Disturbed has sold more than 17 million albums worldwide, with five of their albums achieving platinum certification in the states.
Just days after the Chicago Bulls were forced to remove all six of their championship banners from the rafters of United Center due to “minor damage” from pyrotechnics during a Disturbed concert, the band rolled into the nation’s capital ready to spread the sickness. With the Washington Capitals’ Stanley Cup banner safely on the other side of Capital One Arena, the packed venue could safely settle in for marathon of madness.
In a nod to Anthony Hopkins’ cannibalistic serial killer, Hannibal Lecter, from the 1991 hit movie The Silence of the Lambs, the show began with Draiman wheeled out onto the stage in a straitjacket and facemask, setting the tone for a memorable evening. Like the album itself, the live show was designed so that each track built off of the previous one. While the lighting and performance of “Voices” was simple and straightforward, the stage was illuminated with an abundance of pyro and blasts of fire throughout “Stupify.”
Because they played the entire album in order it meant their biggest single, “Down With The Sickness,” came barely 15 minutes into their set. While it’s a smash hit that is typically best served during an encore, it still garnered the loudest ovation of the evening. Speaking of the sickness, Draiman admitted that he was still recovering from a recent bout of bronchitis. Fortunately for everyone involved, the frontman still sounded great, and the show itself lived up to the heightened expectations.
Disturbed’s cover of “Shout” by Tears For Fear stood out as another highlight of the opening set. It was, in fact, one of three cover songs featured throughout the night, along with “Land of Confusion” by Genesis and “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel. All three tracks earned roars of approval from the enthusiastic crowd which was eager to join in on the fun.
Prior to the performance of “Meaning of Life,” Draiman was strapped into an electric chair, sentenced to death and then sparks flew as the switch was flipped. As the rest of the band kicked into the track, the frontman stood in his orange prison jumpsuit and, with fake blood dripping down his bald head, dove into the final track of The Sickness.
After a short intermission, Disturbed returned to the stage and requested “Ten Thousand Fists” in the air, which the rowdy crowd at Capital One Arena was happy to oblige. The band’s newest offering, “I Will Not Break,” followed and was clearly well received. This shouldn’t really be a surprise because singles from all eight Disturbed albums have reached the top ten of the Mainstream Rock charts.
“Shall we kick it into the next gear?” Draiman asked. As the band began playing “Bad Man,” a dark and menacing character towered over the stage.
With a single light and a piano on stage, “The Sound of Silence” provided a haunting highlight of the second set. As Draiman’s vocals soared on the song’s iconic chorus, hundreds of cell phone lights illuminated the venue and thousands provided backing vocals, loudly singing along to the timeless classic. And because it was a Disturbed show, the piano inevitably ended up with giant flames protruding from the top of it.
The closing track, “Inside The Fire,” provided a reasonable excuse to utilize even more flames and pyro shooting up and out in all directions as the nearly two-hour sing-along came to a conclusion. When the band took their final bow, they received a well-deserved standing ovation from a captive and appreciative audience at Capital One Arena.
Disturbed Setlist
Voices
The Game
Stupify
Down With The Sickness
Violence Fetish
Fear
Numb
Want
Conflict
Shout 2000
Droppin’ Plates
Meaning of Life
Intermission
Ten Thousand Fists
I Will Not Break
Bad Man
Land of Confusion
Indestructible
The Sound of Silence
The Light
Inside The Fire
—–
Sevendust Setlist
Black
Denial
Enemy
Praise
Crucified
Face to Face
—–
Three Days Grace Setlist
Animal I Have Become
So Called Life
Break
Home
The Mountain
Chalk Outline
Mayday
I Hate Everything About You
The Good Life
Painkiller
Never Too Late
Riot
Photos & Review: Brian Murphy