Summer may be winding down but things are just heating up when the Carnival of Madness tour featuring Shinedown, Papa Roach, Skillet, In this Moment and We as Human stops at First Niagara Pavilion on August 20!
“It’s going to be a great show,” said Barry Kerch, drummer of Shinedown. “Each band is doing their own thing and they’ve all really latched onto the ‘carnival’ aspect.”
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“I’m really excited about it,” added Jerry Horton, lead guitarist of Papa Roach. “We’ve worked with all the bands individually. We all get along and I think it’s going to be a summer vacation tour for the bands. “It’s been a while since we’ve been to Pittsburgh and we’re stoked to come back. Come out to the show, it will be amazing.”
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Known for incredible multi-headliner line-ups and crazy antics, the Carnival of Madness Tour is sure to cure those back-to-school blues. Powered by Monster Energy, for the fourth consecutive year, this highly anticipated summer show will deliver pure rock entertainment.
“There will be a few surprises,” said Kerch. “There will be some carnival things going out into the audience. There’s fire and all sorts of fun stuff so it’s going to be a big production.”
Headliners, Shinedown, are no stranger to the Carnival of Madness Tour since they headlined the inaugural event four years ago.
“We’re stoked,” said Kerch. “We had a great time with the first run. It was a great thing to headline a major festival like that. To come back and add to it and bring out all the stops. We’re doing a lot more and it’s going to be a really cool show. All the bands are going to bring their A-Game.”
Considered one of the most successful rock bands in the past 10 years, the group has an army of chart topping hits such as “Bully,” “45,” “Unity” and their latest single, “I’ll Follow You.” Touring off their recently released album, “The Live Room EP,” this five-song collection features tracks from the bands fouth studio album, “Amarylus.”
“We have give to the fans what they want which is the hits,” said Kerch. “We’re going to play some songs we haven’t done before off the record. Once we get the list, we stick to it and all the things going on so it’s consistent from state to state.”
Of course, like many musicans, Kerch says it’s more than just the music.
“It’s the fans that we have out there,” said Kerch. “Thanks for always being there Pittsburgh. We’ve had great shows there and we love to have fans period. We’re happy to play so thank you for being a fan. We put our heart and soul into our music and we’re here to give the fans a wonderful show and wonderful songs. “
Carnival of Madness also features well known rock icons, Papa Roach. Best known for their hit single, “Last Resort,” Papa Roach has proven year after year they are still a major musical icon. Scoring their fifth #1 radio hit (13 years after “Last Resort”) Papa Roach is ready to deliver a fantastic performance for fans because they live for the live shows.
“We always try to bring a high energy show,” said Horton. “We always give 100% and try to get the crowd involved singing and jumping up and down.”
Also on the bill is two-time Grammy nominated rock band Skillet, who’s been dominating the rock circuit with their new album “Awake.” Skillet’s claim to fame comes from their clean, Christian lyrics making them a fan favorite among parents with rock-obsessed children. Producing numerous hits such as “Awake and Alive, “Hero” and “It’s not Me It’s You” the group has become a monster touring phenomenon.
In This Moment joins the Carnival of Madness Tour promoting their latest release, “Blood” from last August. In This Moment is no stranger to the festival stage after their debut album landed feature performances on the 2007 and 2008 Ozzfest dates and then their second album, “The Dream” earned a spot on the 2009 Warped Tour. Known for their high energy shows, In This Moment, promises to deliver a crushing performance.
Kicking off the Carnival of Madness show is We As Human, a recently signed band to Atlantic Records via Hear It Loud, a partnership helmed by John Cooper of Skillet. Discovered only three years ago, We As Human has been determined to leave their mark on the music industry. The group has toured heavily over the years to garner more attention in the rock communities, receiving a fantastic spot on Skillet’s Awake and Alive Tour in 2012. We As Human will be promoting their debut album “We As Human” which was release on June 25.
Don’t miss your chance to catch the Carnival of Madness Tour tomorrow night at First Niagara Pavilion. According to Kerch and Horton, it’s a show unlike any other!
“We give tons of energy,” said Horton. “We give it 100% every time we go on and we make it an experience. It’s something you can’t download. You can watch a show on YouTube, but it’s not the same. We love the crowd experience and the people – our fans – that come to the shows all the time. It’s what they talk about. It’s about being a part of something, singing along and jumping up and down.”
“Why wouldn’t you come to the show,” added Kerch. “If you’re a rock fan, see something special that you’ll remember for a long time.”
To purchase tickets to the Carnival of Madness tour, visit www.ticketmaster.com.