Concert Review: Sevendust (Fillmore Charlotte)

BY MAUI CABRAL

This is Sevendust. My all time favorite band. A band I’ve listened to for years. A band that’s helped shape parts of my life. A band I’ve now had the unreal opportunity to photograph for the second time. And somehow, even crazier than that... getting to shoot for my friend, my idol, frontman Lajon Witherspoon. That’s one of those things that still doesn’t fully feel real when I say it out loud.

Opening the night was American Adrenalin , bringing a mix of rock, post-hardcore, and emotionally driven songwriting to the stage. And the crowd responded.

Then came Fire From The Gods, and the energy shifted immediately. Blending heavy riffs with hip-hop influence, melody, and socially conscious lyrics, Fire From The Gods has always felt like more than just another metal band. Their music carries purpose behind the aggression. Live, that intensity hits even harder. Commanding attention the second they stepped on stage, and the band delivered this massive wall of groove and energy that feels impossible not to move to. From behind the camera, this set felt explosive. Movement everywhere. Emotion everywhere. The kind of performance that gives you moments nonstop.

Then Atreyu took over the stage, and instantly it felt like stepping back into one of the best eras of heavy music. Coming out of the early 2000s metalcore scene, Atreyu helped define an entire sound for a generation. Massive choruses, melodic hooks, screaming vocals, and pure energy. Bands like them helped shape what modern heavy music became. And live? Still absolutely relentless. The crowd reaction said everything. People swere creaming lyrics back like no time had passed at all. Their set felt like a storm that passed in the best way possible, but still powerful enough to stand beside newer heavy acts without missing a beat.

And then... my absolute favorite band, Sevendust. Honestly, it’s hard to even put this one into words without sounding emotional about it. For over two decades, Sevendust has been one of the most respected and consistent bands in heavy music. Blending alternative metal, hard rock, soul, groove, and raw emotion, they created a sound that never really fit into one category and that’s exactly why so many people connected to them. And somehow, after all these years, they’re still doing it at the highest level.

What makes this era even more special is seeing all the original members together again. That chemistry isn’t something you can fake. You can feel the history between them on stage: the trust, the brotherhood, the years behind every song. And with newer material continuing to prove they still have something to say, it doesn’t feel like a legacy act going through the motions. It feels alive. That’s rare.

And then there’s LJ. There are frontmen... and then there are people who genuinely make you feel something the second they walk on stage. Lajon Witherspoon has always had that ability. The voice. The energy. The emotion. The way he connects to people. Watching him perform live is one thing. Actually getting to know him as a person after years of looking up to him? That’s something completely different. And honestly, it’s still wild to me.

Shooting Sevendust for the second time felt less like just photographing a band and more like documenting something personal to me. Every moment on stage carried weight because this isn’t just another group I listen to, this is THE band for me. From behind the camera, this show felt emotional in a way a lot of concerts don’t. You’re trying to focus on lighting, movement, framing , and focus, all the technical stuff but at the same time you’re standing there watching your favorite band absolutely destroy a stage while realizing how insane it is that life somehow brought you here. That’s a hard feeling to explain. Every frame felt important. Every expression from LJ. Every crowd reaction. Every moment between the band members. You could feel how much this band still means to people.

American Adrenalin opened the night with heart. Fire From The Gods brought passion and energy. Atreyu reminded everyone why they became legends in metalcore. And Sevendust reminded me why they’ll always be my favorite band. Second time shooting them. A handful of times seeing them live. And somehow becoming friends with someone I grew up looking up to. That’s not something I’ll ever take for granted. And honestly? 6 hours in total worth of driving. Nights like this are exactly why music will always mean more than just entertainment to me.

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JOSH "MAUI" CABRAL

Hey! I'm Maui. Originally from Queens, New York, now making Raleigh, NC my new home. I'm a touring photographer and Nomadic Motorcycle Rider, obsessed with seeing the world through different lenses!

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