Black Label Society at the Tarheel in Jackonville NC
Supported by Black Dahlia Murder and Toke
by Sarah Carmody
Pulling into The Tarheel you can see the line wrapping around the parking lot, The Jacksonville, NC Chapter is excited to see the legendary Zakk Wylde. There is no doubt that rock is alive, to have this type of turn out on a Sunday night when people have to work come Monday. Fans young and old didn’t want to miss the chance to see the talent Black Label Society has. The entire night had an old school vibe, all the bands using cabs on stage for that vintage sound. The whole venue is filling up and everyone is trying to catch glimpses of the bands before its showtime. 7:30pm hit and the lights go down…
As the stage lights turn on the first band hits the stage “Toke” from Cape Fear, NC. The three-piece has a smooth bluesy vibe to them which gets people dancing and bobbing their heads. Their singer/bassist kept the crowd interested and owning the stage. A lot of the local fans were happy to see one of their favorites perform with a great line up. After their set, they went to their merch table to meet fans and take pictures, and hang out.
The Black Dahlia Murder has been to this area before and had many fans in the crowd. Playing direct support for Black Label Society they left the crowd wanting more! So much energy out of the gate, heavy in your face sound. Frontman Trevor Strnad is very interactive with the fans during the show, running from one side of the stage to the other stopping to fist bump with the crowd. The third song hits and he says he wants to see a circle pit, the crowd wastes no time obliging, then mass chaos in the put breaks looks white strobes and red lighting is hitting the stage. You can tell they have a family type of bond they make sure to stop the show towards the end of their set to announce it’s their Drummer Alan Cassidy’s 30th Birthday as you hear the guitars playing Happy Birthday in the background. Fans are amped up and ready for BLS to hit the stage at this point and that anticipation only grows when they drop down the massive Black Label Society banner hiding the stage and creating that excitement.
The fans are ready, they want to see that banner drop… with no warning, the banner falls away revealing the man, the myth, the legend… Zakk Wylde. It’s a sensory overload the strobes are going and the music is loud and the fog reveals the band once it settles starting the show with “Genocide Junkies”, fans went nuts! They have been saving this energy for this moment all night and it was finally there. You start to see all the details on stage, you can see drummer Jeff Fabb on a drum riser huge smile on his face ready to start the night. Zakk Wylde is a Showman, there is no doubt about that and the talent that is in his band is overwhelming. In this River comes on and screens come down with images of Dimebag Darrel on them. As Wylde continues to play the crowd is in awe of this tribute to a legend we lost incredibly to early. Several people were still talking about it after the show and what it meant to them. Finishing up the song looking up saying “We miss you Dime and Vinnie”. As the set moves along Fans were over the top excited to hear Fire it up, spotlighting Zakk’s exceptional guitar solo. After he left the stage with bandmate Father Dario, everyone whispering trying to figure out what was coming next. Suddenly they hear them both soloing on top of the venue's soundboard, spotlights on them and fans gathered around. Everyone has their phones out catching the magic as it happens. They not only shredded on top of the soundboard but continued to do so with guitars behind their heads the entire way back to the stage. With a sea of people following them in shock of the pure excellence happening right in front of them.
They finish the set with “Concrete Jungle” and “Still Born.” At the end of the show, you see the band wave out to the crowd thanking them for coming out and Zakk leaves his guitar ringing out as if he didn’t want the show to end. Several fans stay hoping to catch a rouge guitar pic on the ground or the setlist from the night. Black Label Society left its mark on this town and the people who attended will not soon forget the epicness that is BLS and the family they have created with their music.
