Concert Review: Godsmack w/New Years Day @ Mohegan Sun Arena 7/26/19

Hailing from California, Pop-Punk Metal band New Years Day released their fourth full-length studio album, Unbreakable, in April 2019. They have been touring to promote the album since June 11th, but briefly paused the tour for a 10 show run opening for Godsmack at the end of July. 

I had the pleasure of attending New Years Day on the final night of their tour in support of Godsmack at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. New Years Day took the stage promptly at 8:00PM on the warm summer night of July 26th. New Years Day played songs from various albums and EPs of theirs and even throwing in “Fucking Hostile” by Pantera. Frontwoman Ash Costello got the crowd to keep the iconic devil horns up for the entirety of “Fucking Hostile”, to sway their hands back and forth during Skeletons, and to sing the ‘we’re so contagious’ chorus of Epidemic. Ash went on to say that it was a dream of hers to have a sold out arena all lit up completely with smartphone flashlights, and so all the arena lights went down and the crowd was full of stars.

New Years Day took the crowd by the throat from the second the intro to “Come For Me” hit and did not let go last note of “Defame Me” rang out. Between the will to rise above and the extraordinary musical talent each member of New Years Day presents, you have every reason to go to a show.

Boston Hard Rockers, Godsmack embarked on a 10 show tour of the US East Coast before they play a few festivals and then hop on a co-headlining tour with Halestorm throughout the United States. 

The Godsmack curtain dropped at Mohegan Sun Arena and drummer Shannon Larkin immediately had the crowd hooked between his hard-hitting drum introduction to the show and the flashing white lights around the stage. Sully Erna’s monster vocals and electrifying stage presence especially shined on 1000hp and completely pumped the crowd up. During the second verse of their 1999 hit “Voodoo”, Sully began conducting the sold out crowd sang the lyrics. It was the most unreal feeling hearing 10,000 Godsmack fans chanting the “oh”s of Unforgettable and having each and every one pumping their fists to the beat of the drums. Godsmack really gave Connecticut fans a treat by playing a few songs from several different records, both old and new. Flashlights lit the arena for “Something Different”. As a first-time Godsmack concert-goer, seeing Sully Erna bring out his roots as a drummer in a drum battle with drummer Shannon Larkin was truly impressive and highly entertaining. The band left the stage as fans cheered awaiting an encore. 

Godsmack came back on and played the deep, serious-toned “Under Your Scars” and introducing the crowd to their organization The Scars Foundation which aims to educate and empower those who struggle with mental illness, addiction, or abuse. They also included “Bulletproof”, “Come Together” by The Beatles, and, of course, “I Stand Alone” to close out one epic show!