Godsmack - June 17

Sticks with what works

By LINDSEY WARD, ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER

OH MY, GODSMACK: Erna performs. JOHN WOODS Sun

Sometimes you've just gotta stick with what works. For Godsmack, blasting their Winnipeg fans with one archived hit after another -- and ignoring much of latest release, IV -- at Saturday's Convention Centre show was it.

Kicking off (too late for our press time) with first-ever single Whatever off their self-titled debut, the Boston-based alterna-metalheads -- frontman Sully Erna, drummer Shannon Larkin, guitarist Tony Rombola and bassist Robbie Merrill -- laid the smackdown with their signature testosterone-packed intensity, then skipped ahead three years to deliver Greed, a gritty rocker about being smothered by someone with control freakish tendencies.

And speaking of control freaks, ringleader and singlehanded showman Erna -- whose relationship and addiction troubles swept him to the sidelines for IV -- was back at the reins -- something that also works for the outfit.

IV finally broke through four songs in (coincidence?), offering third track The Enemy. After igniting Bics with enchanting '97 ballad Voodoo, the guys took another stab at this year's release with Shine Down, a refreshing harmonica-accompanied bluesy cut.

Nice and all for variety's sake, but Godsmack fans don't want blues -- they want full-on anger.

And judging by the lengthy drink lines, they weren't going to accept anything but.

Not like they weren't going to get it. The rage masters pounded out 45 minutes of frill-free amped up infuriation for the show's last half, neglecting none in the catalogue of faithfuls they'd already confirmed our appreciation of while opening for Metallica at Winnipeg Arena in '04 and headlining the '01 MuchLoud tour at Burton Cummings Theatre.

Erna demonstrated his ability to play all the instruments, most notably the bongos for an extended drum duo with Larkin. Other than the two kits moving forward for the segment and migraine-inducing strobe action during U.S. army recruiting ad soundtrack Awake, the band relied heavily on deafening, bare-bones rock -- and equally as much on the audience itself.

"Have we forgotten anything?" Erna asked earnestly while skimming the setlist during the four-song encore, which finished the job with fist-pumper I Stand Alone.

Yes, Sully, you did forget something: It's called IV.

And thank God for that.

GODSMACK

Saturday @ Convention Centre. With X-Engine-X.

***1/2 out of *****
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