W.A.S.P. Concert Review-Atlanta 11/27

November 27, 2024 at The Eastern in Atlanta, Georgia was electric as Armored Saint and W.A.S.P. took the stage to give the crowd a hard rocking performance that gave us all a pre-Thanksgiving Day workout.

Prior to the show, I took part in W.A.S.P. V.I.P. Experience. This included a picture with Elvis, Blackie’s infamous mic stand, display cases of W.A.S.P. History. This included Gold/Platinum records, props from the old stage and photo shoots. Yes, even the infamous codpiece from the Animal single.

Then, the time comes where Blackie comes to have pictures taken with each of us and sign 2 items. Once all of us had our pictures taken and items were signed, the next portion of the experience begins. The Q&A.

Almost Everyone had a story or a question for Blackie. Here, Blackie shows a part of us that people don’t always get to see. Sometimes the stories were humorous. Sometimes the stories were insightful. Sometimes the stories were emotional. It’s the emotional stories where Blackie then asked “is there something you want to talk about further?” He was genuinely interested in us as fans. No. Not just fans. As people.

After everyone got their questions in, Blackie said it was time to go to work. We applauded and thanked him.

7:00 the doors open for the crowd. I hung out with a friend who also travelled to Atlanta from Birmingham (where we both live) and a new friend that I met through the W.A.S.P. Facebook group and also did the V.I.P. Experience.

8:00 Armored Saint takes the stage and gives a blistering 9 song set. 2 songs from the debut album and a song from their remaining albums. John Bush is in fine voice and full of energy. The band is tight as a tourniquet. During Can U Deliver, John heads into the balcony to join the crowd there. If you have been on the fence about checking out Armored Saint, please do so!

Roughly about 9:30, the lights go out and the sounds of The Doors song The End starts up which segues into a medley of W.A.S.P. songs. And then I am transported to being 15 again and I was in my friend Dave’s room and hearing the debut album for the first time. The song that usually comes towards the end of the set, this time opens up the show. I Wanna Be Somebody. Blackie and the boys proceed to tear through the debut album as it first appeared. 10 tracks. In order of how it appears on the album.

Longtime bassist Mike Duda and drummer Aquiles Priester held it down. Doug Blair added his own style to the solos that Chris Holmes and Randy Piper originally laid down.

The band played the album pretty much straight through as you heard it on the album. The ballad Sleeping (In The Fire) is the only song that was stretched out to give Doug Blair a solo spot.

40 years since the original release, it’s not an easy album to replicate vocally but Blackie pulled it off with much energy. Mike and Doug added backing vocals.

Clips from Live at the Lyceum were played in the background. Scenes from the movie Dungeonmaster were played during Tormentor.

Another film clip is shown during the album closet The Torture Never Stops.

The first album played in its entirety and was a triumph!

A second set of hits were performed. Again, with video clips in the background.

If you are going to this show and you are like me and wanted to be surprised by what was played, I won’t give any spoilers. Just know, I was thrilled to see and hear what was played.

As a fan since that day I first heard the debut album in January 1985, I have only seen the band twice in concert. I call W.A.S.P. my go to band. A band that I have called my soundtrack to my life. A band that I wanted to do a YouTube series on and go through their catalogue. W.A.S.P. Wednesday came to life and it was the one series that if my passion for the band wasn’t evident, you were probably blind and deaf.

The other cool thing about this night was a guy named Chris came up to me and asked if I had done the W.A.S.P. Wednesday series. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that would happen.

What a great show! Made better with friends. The power of music truly does bring people together.