Review : Nonpoint, Novus Dae - Webster Theatre - Hartford, CT

Nonpoint

One of my absolute favorite bands returned to the area for the second time in two months on February 4, 2008. Nonpoint is currently touring in support of Vengeance, their latest release. I was a bit hesitant to snatch these tickets up due to a previous Nonpoint show I attended where their set only lasted a little over an hour. I was fairly disappointed, but it was easily the fourth time I had seen them within a year and attributed the short performance to fatigue.

Needless to say, they absolutely did not disappoint this time. A truly rejuvenated Nonpoint appeared on the stage at the Webster on this particular Monday night, ready to do nothing short of tear the place apart. While the new songs March of War and Wake Up World were extremely strong, it was Nonpoint classics such as : Alive and Kickin', The Truth, What a Day and The Wreckoning that made the crowd surge. This was by far the best showing I have seen from the band and the crowd responded as such. Midway through the set Elias, the lead singer, threw his bracelet out to a guy standing on the edge of the pit, in order to give him props for picking up at least six people off the ground. While it was one of the meanest moshes I have ever endured (maybe my age is begining to show?!...), it was also filled with cameraderie and pure affection for the band. Get out and see these guys when they're in your area, without a doubt.

Novus Dae

Amazingly enough, a bill that I had lusted after for almost two years finally came to fruition : my favorite local band opening up for one of my favorite bands ever. This was the first time I got to see Novus Dae, from Plainville, CT, play anywhere larger than your average hole in the wall bar. I'm seen them an exorbant amount of times, travelling anywhere in the state where they may play. I am a regularly recognized fan in the crowd, often getting to talk to the guys after they get off the stage.

Their new stuff sounds great live and the guys put on an excellent performance in front of a decent sized crowd. They were on their game, even as Ryan literally cracked a tooth after a screaming portion on Sargent Ricketts and spit a portion of his tooth on the stage floor. As usual, I felt 2 11 was their strongest, follwed very closely by the afformentioned Sargent Ricketts. I'm looking forward to a new release from these guys very soon!