'L.D. 50' Anniversary Tour Concert Review

It is 2025 and we’ve gotten new Mudvayne music. What a world we live in. Not only have Mudvayne released two new songs this year, they are currently embarking on a tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of their groundbreaking debut album, L.D. 50. Vended and Static-X are the supporting acts, rounding out a very heavy and very nu metal lineup. I had the pleasure of attending with my dad and sister, and I can easily say it was one of the best concerts I have ever been to. I had the time of my life and I felt my love and passion for this genre to my core, so I would like to share my experience.

Vended is a spectacular choice to open up the show and get the crowd warmed up with their infectious energy. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them four times previously, and they get better each time. Vocalist Griffin Taylor really knows how to command a crowd with his stage presence, an impressive feat at such a young age. So young in fact, that he was born after the two albums being celebrated on this tour were even released. Let that sink in for a moment. But age is just a number, and the band has a long, promising future ahead of them. Just a little over one year removed from their debut album Vended being released, the band has proven they are an irresistible force here to take the metal world by storm. I would say that they are one of my favorite newer bands in the scene, but I think it would be more accurate to say that they are one of my favorite bands period. I’ve been a fan for years, and I’m so excited to see them improve and grow even more than they already have. Hopefully sometime soon I’ll be able to see them play longer than a 30 minute opening set.

There are very few instances nowadays where Static-X wouldn’t be the headlining act, but in this case, they are a fantastic band to bridge the gap between Vended and Mudvayne, but also keep the vibes fresh. The band is also celebrating 25 years of their debut album, Wisconsin Death Trip, although it came out in 1999 and not 2000. Regardless of when it came out, I will always celebrate that iconic album. I remember being 14 years old and hearing the news of Wayne Static’s unfortunate passing. I was absolutely heartbroken and had resigned to the idea that I would never get to see Static-X perform live, and now at 25 years old, I can now say that I’ve seen them three times. The band does a great job of keeping Wayne Static’s memory alive, and Xer0 makes for a very fitting frontman who has done the impossible task of filling his shoes. The best way to describe a Static-X set is that it is a fucking party. Whoever came up with the term “evil disco” is a genius because that really is the essence of their music. In the same song, people are throwing down in the pit, then 30 seconds later are jumping and dancing to the inviting groove. The perfect example of this is the song “Terminator Oscillator” from 2020’s Project Regeneration Vol. 1, my personal favorite track from the band. The flashing lights, balloons, smoke bubbles, dancing mascots, and contagious rhythms make for a stellar live experience. If you think listening to Static-X in the car makes you want to drive 120 MPH, the energy is even better in person.

Mudvayne is one of those bands that I have been listening to for as long as I can remember (since birth, probably). Much like Static-X, they were a band that I had come to terms with never seeing live. They went on hiatus when I was only 10 years old, which is right around the time when I started going to concerts on a regular basis. After a few years with no return, my hope had died and been laid to rest. My only reprieve was being able to see Hellyeah at Rocklahoma in 2014. Then in 2021, my dream had been resurrected when Mudvayne announced their comeback. Unfortunately due to work and scheduling conflicts, I haven't been able to see them until four years after the fact. I am incredibly glad it worked out this way though, so that my first time seeing them would be with my dad and sister who last saw them open for Disturbed all the way back in 2001 (I've lived almost my entire life since then). It was everything little 10 year old me dreamed of.

The first half of their set was songs from L.D. 50, opening with "Dig". An insane song to start off with, by the way. If they weren't going to close with it, might as well lead with it. The energy from both the band and the fans started at 100 and never faltered for the rest of the show. My sister and I have been going to concerts together for 15 years, and "Dig" was the first song we ever shared a mosh pit to. Next came "Internal Primates Forever", another absolute rager. I was most excited to hear "Under My Skin", my favorite Mudvayne track of all time. Bassist Ryan Martinie is just as much of a frantic freak on the bass live as he is on records, and it is an absolute joy to witness. Personally, I believe that L.D. 50 is one of the best and most innovative albums in the metal genre as a whole. Even if the album didn't get played in full like other album anniversary tours, I'm grateful we were able to hear some deep cuts that haven't been performed in decades.

Vocalist Chad Gray still sounds amazing and hasn't slowed a step in terms of energy on stage. In between the L.D. 50 and their greatest hits sets, he took some time to talk to the crowd. He switched from his overalls into a "Fuck Cancer" shirt, a tribute for guitarist Greg Tribbett's late wife, who had just passed from breast cancer. Gray's speech really spoke to my heart, especially this quote:

"We're here because heavy metal saved our life, and we're here to give you our version of heavy metal to save your life. And you're here to save our lives."

He continued talking about the importance of music and the impact that it can have on people's mental health.

"Fuck you life. I'm gonna take care of me. This is heavy metal medicine. This shit is cathartic, therapeutic, heavy metal psychotherapy."

Gray spoke about how he went through very tough times as a child, and the only thing that would get him through to the next day was music. He loved singing, and he would sing to make the hurt in his heart go away, even if only for a little bit. It's very clear how much music means to him and how happy he is that Mudvayne is back. They played one new song, "Sticks and Stones", which admittedly I wasn't a huge fan of, but hearing it live warmed me up to it a bit more. Some of their biggest hits that they played include "Not Falling", "World So Cold", "Dull Boy", and they closed out with "Happy?" It was surreal finally getting to hear these songs from my childhood live with my own ears, and it is a memory I will cherish forever. Another aspect I will remember forever is the visual of Chad Gray ripping his prosthetic face makeup off at the end of the show and throwing the bits and pieces into the crowd for fans to fight over. It was such a sick and twisted, but very metal scene and I wouldn't expect anything less from the band and the fans.

This concert was one for the ages, and I feel sad for anyone who missed out on it. All three bands brought their all, and they were the perfect combination of classic and new, heavy and fun. Something that I noticed is that all three frontmen, Griffin Taylor, Xer0, and Chad Gray, were wearing overalls. I thought it was such a fun attention to detail and thread connecting the bands. This tour brought together fans of all different ages. I stood next to an older lady who was easily in her 60's or 70's, at the show all by herself and having the time of her life.

There were the people who were teenagers when Mudvayne and Static-X were bursting onto the scene, like my sister. There were also people like me, who were too young at the time to really appreciate the music or be able to go to shows, but now we have a deep love for the music that raised us, as well as adult money. Not to mention, I did see some younger kids whose parents are clearly raising them well. At one point, Gray noticed a kid in the crowd, no older than 16, who had painted his face like the vocalist in the "Dig" music video, and pointed at him. The smile on both the kid and Gray's face was very endearing. This show reminded me of the power of music and how it brings people together, and the passion that nu metal inspires to this day is stronger than ever, whether it's bands and fans reliving their youth or the newer generation discovering it for the first time.