Verizon Amphitheater Hosts Cinco de Mayo Bash

Things got loud at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on Thursday night from the opening act before 6:30 p.m. and until the show shut down around 11 p.m.

Tetrarch opened as the crowd slowly filtered in. At that time it's still daylight, and these fans wanted the night to party. The metal thrash band from Atlanta is recording its first album after five years of traveling to dates.

Alter Bridge was formed by three former members of Creed, which had been a knock against the band when it formed in 2004. But last night that was not a problem, and many fans came just to see and hear them.

The trio known as Seether, led by vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Shaun Morgan, next stepped on stage, and if anything, the music was louder than the previous acts.

Fans of Seether who couldn't make it to Thursday night's show, take heart: The band is digitally mastering its May 10 and 11 show in Cincinnati and South Bend IN. The products are high-quality, double CD DigiPaks, and will contain the entire concert, even the encore, according to the band's Web site. Pre-order your copy by going to Abbey Road Live.

The concert concluded with the headliners, Avenged Sevenfold, and things got darker.

Patch contributor Clark Savage said the evening  had a lot of energy and head swinging.

"Avenged Sevenfold was very entertaining and somewhat theatrical. The band's shtick is characterized with morose images of death and dark evil. Like the guy killing himself at the beginning, the house on the hill, the constant flames," he said.

Vocalist M. Shadows acknowledged the band is still feeling the affects of its drummer's death in 2009 by heart disease brought on by drugs and alcohol.

"Southern California heavy metal at its best," Savage said.