Disturbed Rocks Kemba Live!
Any concert at Kemba Live is a good time but seeing Disturbed was certainly an out-of-body experience. This show on September 22nd was organized by 99.7 The Blitz radio station, which is a rock radio station in Columbus. As you walked in, there were people of all backgrounds and ages coming together for one thing: rock. It was evident that the fans were super excited about this concert, with most of them representing Disturbed merchandise.
The opener, Dirty Honey, set themselves up for success with songs like “When I’m Gone,” and “California Dreamin’.” Dirty Honey did an excellent job showcasing their energy and were extremely enthusiastic about their art. Their California vibe revealed a 70s rock aura with a modern twist; they were even dressed to fit the part. They have a funk, pop, blues sound with a mix of classic rock, a stellar combination to say the least.
Presenting a powerful 15-song setlist, Disturbed hit the ground running with “Ten Thousand Fists.” If you looked in the audience, you could genuinely see 10,000 fists in the air, and the energy was amazing. Everyone was reminiscing about the time when this song was released, and they were singing along with full hearts. They performed covers of the Genesis song, “Land of Confusion,” and their very well-known rendition of “The Sound of Silence,” by Simon and Garfunkel. For “The Sound of Silence,” the band brought on a violinist, piano, and large drums. Draiman’s vocals, as always, really shined in this performance, with growling vocals and challenging two-and-a-half octaves as the song progressed. This was really a sight to see.
The acoustics of the venue are always applauded, as you were able to really hear David Draiman’s voice along with all the instruments and the audience all the way to the back of the lawn.
After ending the concert with “Indestructible,” they came back for an encore, performing “The Light” and “Down with the Sickness.” For “The Light,” Draiman asked the audience to hold up their flashlights during the chorus, singing along with the words, “sometimes darkness, can show you the light.” Concluding with their most well-known song, “Down with the Sickness,” the crowd roared. Everyone was screaming the words; they even knew when he was going to yell his famous “oh ah ah ah ah.”
Disturbed really showed who they are as a band. Draiman often spoke of recent experiences with Covid and how he was overjoyed to see all the people uniting. Overall, this concert was mind-blowing, highlighting incredible vocals, instrumentalism, and of course, their love of rock.