"Check this out. No video, no pyro, just us, you, and some good old fashioned fucking rock n' roll baby!"

Those were the words of Godsmack's Sully Erna, before the band blasted the Stampede Corral with Criyin' Like A Bitch off their 2010 The Oracle album. Over the course of an hour and forty-five minutes, the band stayed true to their word with a loud, powerful rock show.

Nicole, my date for the evening and a long time Godsmack fan commented that the audience was a "sausage-fest." She was right, Godsmack's angry music resonated with the primarily male crowd who loudly sang to each word of songs like The Enemy and Love Hate Sex Pain while slamming into each other. I often find that if I am frustrated or angry, cranking some Godsmack helps.

The band does have it's softer side, as shown on Voodoo. Make no mistake about it, Erna has great musical chops. Guitarists Tony Rombola and Robbie Merrill provided the wall of sound while drummer Shannon Larkin pounded the drums with abandon. As has become a staple of Godsmack shows, Larkin and Erna faced off in a percussion battle on rotating drum kits centre stage. No matter how many times they do it, it is still an amazing spectacle to behold.

During Whatever Erna chastized people in the stands for sitting down, and asked the audience to put away their cell phones and cameras.

"That little screen will never recapture the experience of a live concert," he said, requesting that, "if someone still has their phone out, grab it and smash it on the ground." (All of them had been put away.) He then told the crowd to go nuts on the floor while he lead them in singing the "go away" portion of the chorus.

Erna's words capture the essence of a live rock concert. I am as guilty as anyone of snapping pictures to capture the memory of being there, but at the same time it doesn't compare to the actual experience. Godsmack live is an experience - viceral, angry, intense - but well worth it. By the time we were done singing the chorus to the finale number I Stand Alone, the audience was hoarse, sweaty, and satiated - everything you can ask for in a great rock show.

Setlist

Cryin' Like A Bitch
The Enemy
Forever Shamed
Straight Out of Line
Awake
The Oracle
Keep Away
Speak
Love Hate Sex Pain
Voodoo
Batalla de los Tabores
Whatever
Encore
Serenity
I Stand Alone