Baxter Arena opened to the public in October 2015. The arena is a vibrant community asset, serving as the home of University of Nebraska Omaha hockey, men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. The building also serves the community by holding concerts, civic events, campus recreation, youth hockey, figure skating, and curling. The building seats approximately 7,500 and features a competition/event arena.
The grounds quickly filled with a sea of camouflage and studded black leather apparel as soldiers of both Sabaton and Judas Priest plowed their way into the venue. Both bands have loyal followers, but there was no doubt that Rob Halford and Judas Priest were in command of this invasion. Power Metal band Sabaton would lead the charge this evening and they would do it with an all-out military performance. From the tank-styled drum riser to the rifle and helmet microphone stands, Sabaton is a band that even Patton would be proud of. Each song that Sabaton fired upon the audience was a war story being told with thunderous intensity. The moments between songs in which lead vocalist, Joakim Brodén, would become a peacemaker of sorts and graciously and genuinely thank the crowd for their support went over very well. One moment that the crowd really enjoyed involved a stagehand who came out with a Hello Kitty pink guitar for Joakim to use. He questioned whether it even worked and tested it with a “Breaking the Law” tease, the band then went into “Resistance and Bite”. When done chatting he would morph back into his militarized character where he and the band would continue to bombard the crowd with war chants and outright instrumental assaults. During “Attack of the Dead Men”, Joakim is wearing a gas mask and is firing “gas” into the crowd and onto the band members. A “Dancing Queen” snippet followed, and the show closed with “Hell and Back”. Sabaton is a musical war machine that steadily marches forward through their set. Retreat is not an option for them, and they have never left a stage defeated.
Sabaton Band Members:
Joakim Broden – Lead vocals, additional guitars, keyboards, metal machine
Par Sundstrom – Bass, backing vocals
Chris Rorland – Guitars, backing vocals
Hannes Van Dahl – Drums, backing vocals
Thobbe Englund – Guitars, backing vocals
Sabaton Set List:
The March to War (recording)
1. Ghost Division
2. The Last Stand
3. Swedish Pagans
4. The Red Baron
5. Bismark
6. Stormtroopers
7. Carolus Rex (In Swedish)
8. Resist and Bite (Joakim on Hello Kitty pink guitar, “Breaking the Law” tease)
9. The Attack of the Dead Men (History intro, Joakim with gas mask)
10. Primo Victoria
11. Soldier of Heaven (“Dancing Queen” tease)
12. To Hell and Back
Dead Soldiers Waltz (recording)
Before Judas Priest took the stage a huge banner was raised with an oath that read “UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL. DEFENDERS OF META. FOR ONE AND FOR ALL, KEEPING THE FAITH HONOR AND PRIDE, STRENGTH IN THIS BLOODLINE. GOD ON OUR SIDE, EXTERNAL IMMORTAL METAL BURNS BRIGHT. LIFTING OUR HORNS, READY TO FIGHT. STAND AND BARE WITNESS WITH ALL OF OUR MIGHT AS WE RAISE THE INVINCIBLE SHIELD.”
Judas Priest is touring in support of Invincible Shield their newest album and contribution to over 50 years of music. Attending a Judas Priest concert feels like stepping into a realm in which leather reigns supreme. The air is thick with anticipation as fans decked out in studded leather jackets, belts, and boots, fill the venue. The stage is a sea of gleaming black leather, from Rob Halford’s iconic leather coat to the guitarist’s sleek leather vests, shimmering under the lights. As the first riffs of “Panic Attack” tear through the speakers, the crowd surges forward, leather-clad arms raised in unison. The smell of worn leather mixes with the electric energy in the air, and each leather-bound figure in the audience moves to the heavy beats, unified by the band’s unmistakable, leather-heavy aesthetic. Halford enters the stage with his leather trench billowing behind him, it’s the ultimate symbol of Judas Priest’s dominance, a testament to their status as the true leather-clad gods of metal. Richie Faulkner and Andy Sneap might be the best tandem guitarists on the planet. They are so in tune with each other and their stage presence is unmatched. The 18-song set list was masterfully performed with a perfect mix of new and old. It was old that the crowd really got into however, as they sang at the top of their lungs, songs like “Turbo Lover”, “Victim of Changes”, Electric Eye”, and of course Living After Midnight”. Leather you like metal or not even if it’s a stormy leather night, you must not miss any Judas Priest concert that can possibly attend.
Ian Hill – Bass, occasional backing vocals
Rob Halford – Lead vocals
Glenn Tipton – Guitars, backing vocals, keyboards
Scott Travis – Drums, occasional backing vocals
Richie Faulkner – Guitars, backing vocals
Andy Sneap – Guitars, backing vocals (touring member)
Judas Priest Set List:
War Pigs (recording)
Invincible Sheild Tour Anthem (recording)
1. Panic Attack
2. You’ve Got Another Thing Coming
3. Rapid Fire
4. Breaking the Law
5. Riding On the Wind
6. Love Bites
7. Devils Child
8. Saints in Hell
9. Crown of Horns
10. Sinner
11. Turbo Lover
12. Invincible Sheild
13. Victim of Changes
14. The Green Manalish (With the Two Prong Crown) (Fleetwood Mac cover)
15. Painkiller
ENCORE:
The Hellion (recording)
16. Electric Eye
17. Hell Bent for Leather
18. Living After Midnight
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Wasn’t good enough to be on stage as a performer, so the next best thing was to photograph the people who are. Shooting my R6’s is nearly as great as holding my Strat. Getting up close to an artist and feeding off the crowd is exhilarating. Concert photography allows me the opportunity to capture a once in a lifetime live moment and then share it socially.
