Mudvayne performs at The Rave in Milwaukee on May 15, 2024.
Mudvayne returned to The Rave in Milwaukee for yet another appearance at the majestic venue. The newly renovated patio space served as a nice outdoor lounge and bar area for many, as the rest of the crowd headed to the very top of the building into the grand Eagles Ballroom.
Leading off, A Killer’s Confession brought intensity straight out of the gate, with aggressive vocals and dual drummers. The group was started by former Mushroomhead vocalist Waylon Reavis, and the similarities are still very strong. The masked group, multiple drummers and sounds all harken back to the Mushroomhead style and presentation. While the similarities are drawn, the crowd itself was very into the show. Many past fans and new listeners still came out and supported Reavis and crew, with the similarities to the other group being an added bonus to the event. Their short set saw them end with “Numb,” to which a vocal group of fans in the pit were singing along to.
A Killer’s Confession performs at The Rave in Milwaukee on May 15, 2024.
Hyro the Hero took the stage next, and brought what was by far the most energy of the entire night. Unexpecting concertgoers might have expected just a rap set, but the accompanying full band alongside him was the second piece to the puzzle that made the set so unique and fun. Hyro’s energy was off the charts, jumping, spinning, and hardcore dancing for the full set. The metal screams and vocals that accompanied the rap elements were raw and brutal. He certainly made an impression, and gained huge support from the Milwaukee crowd, who were throwing up middle fingers, jumping, and shouting along.
Hyro the Hero performs at The Rave in Milwaukee on May 15, 2024.
P.O.D., the nu-metal rockers from San Diego, recently saw a resurgence with their latest album Veritas and have been hitting the road promoting it since. For 30+ years in the game, P.O.D. still throws down as hard as all of the groups on tour, and “Boom” was one of the most intense, as tons of crowd surfers flew over the barricades. The venue had a strict “no moshing” policy noted, so crowd surfing was definitely not off limits, and the fans took full advantage. It was a great set, featuring lots of newer tracks, but also the classics. Fans knew the old P.O.D. like “Youth of the Nation” and “Alive,” but they also sang along to one of the newest radio tracks “Afraid to Die,” featuring vocals from Jinjer’s Tatiana Shmayluk.
P.O.D. performs at The Rave in Milwaukee on May 15, 2024.
Headliner’s Mudvayne wasted no time with hyping up intros. Vocalist Chad Gray immediately walked into the spotlight, whispering the intro to “Dull Boy” before the lights came up on the motley-painted group. The fan-favorite “Not Falling” took an early slot in the set, and got a huge reaction, with crowd surfers flying over the crowd to the front of the stage. The surfing ebbed and flowed, until Gray himself later leapt into the crowd to sing with them on “World So Cold.”
Mudvayne performs at The Rave in Milwaukee on May 15, 2024.
The performance was still just as heavy as they’ve always been, with Gray’s vocals being harsh and emotional, especially at the end of “Nothing to Gein.” They focused heavily on L.D. 50 but still included their classic tracks from other albums, as well as several off of The New Game, which Gray noted haven’t been performed that many times live. The ballroom had nearly been filled, and the crowd was incredibly lively for every track, but especially for the back-to-back finale of “Happy?” and “Dig.” Mudvayne hits the road later this summer alongside Megadeth and All That Remains for a North American tour.
Photos and Review by Ian Storck – IG @i_storck
