Theory of a Deadman in The Rust Belt
By Justice Petersen – Photo Credit: Jimmy Fontaine
The Rust Belt refers to a region in the United States stretching from the Northeast to the Midwest that was once dominated by industrialism until it began to decline in the 1950s.
The Rust Belt also refers to a music venue in East Moline, IL, and multi-platinum rock band Theory of a Deadman played a sold out show there on Sunday night.
The venue is appropriately named, since it seems to be located right in the center of, well, the Rust Belt. Surrounded by train tracks and corn fields, the music venue was once an automobile manufacturing plant. If you drive through the town of Silvis and its taverns, pubs, and auto parts stores you will find The Rust Belt located in between East Moline Glass and a meeting space building.
You can’t get any more Midwest industrial than that. That is, until Theory of a Deadman tours with Skillet and comes smashing through the empty highways and dusty cornfields with punchy guitars, bright lights and the fresh beginnings of a co-headlining North American tour.
Theory of a Deadman is currently touring with Grammy-nominated Christian rock band Skillet for their “Rock Resurrection Tour”. Opening up for Theory of a Deadman is Saint Asonia, the side project of Three Days Grace frontman Adam Gontier.
At this show, Saint Asonia performed a couple Three Days Grace songs, including “I Hate Everything About You” and “Never Too Late”, which thrilled the entire venue’s crowd and resulted in several emotional sing-alongs.
The inside of the venue is essentially a giant warehouse, but has hosted performances by Sevendust, Hinder and will have Rick Springfield, Blue October and Avatar very soon! Check their site for additional shows: here.
From the enthusiasm of the crowd alone, fans were screaming their hearts out. Sometimes, a fan screaming for one band was also singing all the words to the songs from another band. Clearly, Saint Asonia, Theory of a Deadman and Skillet are a terrific touring trio.
Theory of a Deadman took to the stage and opened with their explosive 2022 single “Dinosaur”. They played through a lot of their most famous tracks, including radio favorite “Rx (Medicate)” and their most recent single, “Ambulance”.
If you can get past their controversial song lyrics, Theory of a Deadman has a gritty and catchy catalog. Their recent singles have a great modern alt rock sound that are electric and pack a punch.
They also have some softer acoustic songs, such as “Not Meant to Be” and “Santa Monica”, the latter of which lead singer Tyler Connolly says is “a song about running away. And we all do that once in a while, right?”
Standing on stage with a black slicked up hair do, paint-splattered Elvira t-shirt, and hollow body electric guitar, Connolly towers on stage like a metal rockabilly Elvis Presley. The highlight of the concert was when the band played through a cover of Alice in Chain’s “Nutshell”. Rather than provide vocals, Connolly instead played a powerfully melancholy guitar solo throughout the song. His playing is incredibly precise and Connolly can shred.
Theory of a Deadman ended their set with “Bad Girlfriend” from their 2008 album “Scars & Souvenirs”. As they left the stage and crew members began to set up for Skillet, the forlorn whistle of a train could be heard outside. Much like the industrial revolution, Theory of a Deadman came and went through the Rust Belt, capturing the hearts and minds of those around who witnessed a definitive event. And through it all the Midwest continued on.
Theory of a Deadman’s eighth studio album, “Dinosaur” will be released March 17 via Roadrunner Records.
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THEORY OF A DEADMAN TOUR DATES
Rock Resurrection Tour with Skillet and Saint Asonia
February 17 – Gary, IN @ Hard Rock Live
February 18 – Green Bay, WI @ EPIC Event Center
February 19 – East Moline, IL @ The Rust Belt
February 21 – Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom Club Stage
February 22 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
February 24 – Reading, PA @ Santander Arena – Theater
February 25 – Boston, MA @ Roadrunner
February 26 – Bangor, ME @ Cross Insurance Center
February 28 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom **
March 1 – Rochester, NY @ Main Street Armory
March 3 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre
March 4 – Mt. Pleasant, MI @ Soaring Eagle Casino – Theatre
March 5 – Cincinnati, OH @ AJB Music Center
March 7 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl **
March 8 –Pikeville, KY @ Appalachian Wireless Arena
March 10 – St Louis, MO @ The Factory
March 11 – Springfield, MO @ Shrine Mosque
March 12 – Tulsa, OK @ Tulsa Theater
March 14 – Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center
March 15 – Dallas, TX @ The Factory
March 17 – Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theatre
March 18 – Omaha, NE @ Baxter Arena
March 19 – Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom
March 21 – Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl **
March 22 – Phoenix, AZ @ First Arizona Federal Theater
March 24 – Reno, NV @ Grand Sierra Resort – Grand Theatre
March 25 – Wheatland, CA @ Hard Rock Live
March 26 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
** no Skillet
Links:
Theory Of A Deadman:
Official: https://www.theoryofficial.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theorymusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheoryMusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theorymusic/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theoryofadeadmanofficial
Skillet:
Official: https://www.skillet.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skillet
Twitter: https://twitter.com/skilletmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skilletmusic/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skilletmusic?
Saint Asonia:
Official: https://www.saintasonia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saintasonia
Twitter: https://twitter.com/saintasonia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saintasonia/
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/saintasonia
The Rust Belt:
Official: https://therustbeltqc.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therustbeltqc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therustbeltqc/