Sevendust rocked the racetrack with Theory of a Deadman at The Sound
On a warm summer evening in Del Mar on Saturday, September 19th, The Sound hosted a fantastic rock and roll double header with Atlanta alt-metal legends Sevendust and Canadian rockers Theory of a Deadman joining forces for The Dead / Seven Tour, supported by rising heavy act Return to Dust. San Diego’s heavy metal faithful were out in force for this show, and The Sound was packed with tons of fans in black early in the night. The beautiful North County venue is a fantastic place to see a show like this, offering plenty of floor room for those who want to be close to the action, as well as balcony seating and standing areas for those who prefer a great view of their favorite artists—and perhaps older metal fans who no longer prefer GA. The actual live sound at The Sound is always great; the rear center of the room and even the upstairs balconies offer a very well-balanced mix of vocals and the band. And it’s always nice to see more heavy rock and roll shows come down south here to San Diego; having more venues with concerts like this around town is fantastic.
Opening band Return to Dust was a great surprise at this show. The young band was clearly full of energy and excitement, and their short set proved a fantastic introduction to their unique sound. The band’s influences range into dark and heavy grunge, with clear nods to bands like Alice in Chains and Soundgarden; however, this group offers unique touches, including a powerhouse drummer in London Hudson and some excellent vocals from singer/guitarist Matty Bielawski. The band has a popular cover, a brooding, sloggy version of Outkast’s “Hey Ya!” (feat. Mat Mitchell of Puscifer) that has generated millions of streams. Their original song “Bored” sounds like a proper grunge anthem plucked straight from 90s-era MTV. Return to Dust is a fun and talented band to watch out for.
Theory of a Deadman was up next on this talented bill and played a 15-song setlist with all of their hits and a bunch of great covers thrown in as well. Singer Tyler Connolly, with his signature hair and tattoos, was in full command of this set, leading his band through some fantastic tunes. The Canadian rockers offered a really interesting transition from the opening act with a much more straightforward, early 2000s rock and roll sound. Songs like “Lowlife”, “Rx (Medicate)”, and the singalong favorite “Bad Girlfriend” were all standouts. The band teased an all-acoustic tour coming back to the West Coast sometime soon, which would be a fun and different way to experience some of these songs.
Sevendust was so absolutely awesome to experience live at this show. The band’s energy and charisma are undeniable, and you can tell watching them perform that they are true veteran rock acts in full command of the stage. The band’s sound is alt-metal, but without a ton of samples or electronics—just incredible music played by talented musicians with actual instruments. Formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1994 by bassist Vinnie Hornsby, drummer Morgan Rose, and rhythm guitarist John Connolly, the group has maintained its original lineup alongside vocalist Lajon Witherspoon and lead guitarist Clint Lowery for 32 years, releasing 15 studio albums and earning a Grammy nomination. The band’s newest album, One, was released on May 1, 2026. Despite some band members unfortunately being under the weather at this show, the group still somehow performed an incredible heavy set for their San Diego fans. Songs like “Crucified”, “Denial”, and the signature song “Black” were crowd favorites, with the new song “One” starting the set and featuring some powerful physical drumming by Morgan Rose. Sevendust really was fun at The Sound; here’s hoping more metal bands decide to rock out at the racetrack.
