Anthrax's Special Sold-Out Sho

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Gearing up for their forthcoming tour in Japan and Australia, Anthrax played a special sold-out gig at the Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood on April 8th.

The night before, Anthrax held a screener for their forthcoming DVD, Music of Mass Destruction, at the Laemmle Theater in Hollywood. The DVD contains live concert footage from a sold-out gig at the Metro in Chicago. Now, as cool as the DVD is, seeing them live at the Whisky, one of Los Angeles’ smaller venues, is just utterly incredible!

Josh Todd, formerly of Buckcherry opened the show, followed by Downset. I didn’t make it in time for Todd’s set, but I heard it was really good. Downset was an interesting band – played a fairly brutal set. I’m not too familiar with the band, but I do know they performed the tunes “Anger” and their latest single “Forever.”

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Tonight would be the first night Anthrax would perform without Frank Bello, who’s recent departure was pretty shocking and unexpected. Armored Saint bassist Joey Vera had stepped up to the plate, and helped the band knock out one homerun after another.

In continued support of their latest album, We’ve Come For You All, Anthrax tore through tracks “What Doesn’t Die,” the very popular singalong track “Safe Home,” “Refuse to be Denied” and “Nobody Knows,” in which Charlie Benante did an exceptional extended drum bashing that had the room screaming.

They ripped up the house with favorites like “Caught in a Mosh,” “Belly of the Beast,” “Only,” “Antisocial,” “N.F.L.” and “Keep it in the Family.” The surprises to the set list that night were the inclusion of “Be All End All” and “Deathrider.” As they do at most shows, they wrapped up the gig with “Bring the Noise.”

These guys couldn’t put on a bad show if they tried, but I’ll tell ya, seeing them in this small club just wreaking pure sonic mayhem was beyond words. Absolutely flawless show!

Here is a photo gallery - be sure to click on the pictures to enlarge!

(Photos by Sefany Jones/KNAC.COM)