Live Reviews : Hellyeah (Melbourne) – 30/07/2010

Hellyeah
w/ Death Audio – Friday 30th July 2010
Billboard, Russell Street, Melbourne

Click here to see all of the photos.

This was my first time in seeing the southern badboy outlaws Hellyeah, the new band featuring former Pantera/Damageplan drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott alongside members of Mudvayne and Nothingface; Chad Gray (Mudvayne),  Greg Tribbett (Mudvayne), Tom Maxwell (Nothingface) and BobZilla (Damageplan). Being a massive Pantera fan, was very pumped!

When first walking down the stairs into the Billboard, I notice an array of cowboy hats, Black Sabbath playing in the background and the odd dude screeching ‘HELLYEAH!’. Within 15 mins, the Melbourne home-grown Death Audio, the supporting band, with the similar sounds of Killswitch Engage, jumped straight into a song, pumping the crowd, winding up he audience with their brutally energetic routine playing their 45 min set and getting us all ready for Hellyeah.

When Hellyeah kicked off, the sound was tight, loud and right on! The band emerged on stage approx 9:00pm with the crowd going wild to the intro of AC/DCs ‘For Those about to Rock’, then getting straight into “Hellyeah”. I tell you, it was the best feeling, being in the same room as Vinnie Paul and hearing him play those brutal drums, felt like my heart was going to jump out of my skin! Every song kicked ass all the way through. Each person who was present felt it, in their soul and in their heart that metal lives.

Hellyeah had the crowd with the tracks and highlights of the night, “Hellyeah”, “GodDamn”, “Matter of Time” and “The Cowboy Way”. I managed to get down and sweaty in the mosh pit, so I could get a closer look at the boys playing and I tell you what, was the best vibe ever!

Later in the evening, Chad introduces the band and we were all asked by Vinnie to pay tribute to his ‘little brother Dimebag’ which for me and I know most people there, was an emotional moment; some shedding a few tears or at least tears welling! The crowd’s response was insanely huge and respective.

They played for approx 1.5 hours, saying their thanks and walk off stage. I look around at some confused and some drunken faces, with the occasional ‘HELLYEAH’ screams from highly pumped up patrons hoping for an encore. After about 10 mins the lights come on and its time to go.

Personally I love an encore as I never want the night to come to an end, but being my first time seeing Hellyeah, I was very impressed and would go back next time they tour which will be early next year.

Setlist
• Hellyeah
• GodDamn
• Matter of Time
• Cowboy way
• Hell of a Time
• Nausea
• Rotten to the Core
• Thank You
• The Debt That All Men Pay
• It’s On!
• You Wouldn’t Know
• Stampede
• Alcohaulin’ Ass

Reviewed by Naomi Johnston
Photos by Anwar Rizk