On Saturday, September 20th, the hills of East Tennessee rumbled with a different kind of thunder as the Black Mass Tour stormed into Johnson City. Freedom Hall, a venue with a legacy of hosting giants like AC/DC and ZZ Top, became the altar for an electrifying night of heavy music, theatrical spectacle, and pure fan devotion.
The atmosphere outside was already electric by noon. Fans lined up early, costumes in full force for the tour’s interactive tradition: a costume contest at every stop. Vampires, demons, gothic queens—you name it, they were there, setting the tone before the doors even opened. By 5:30, when the venue welcomed the crowd inside, anticipation had reached its boiling point.
Kicking down the doors and opening the night was Arizona’s own Ded, a nu-metal powerhouse that wasted no time ripping the roof off Freedom Hall. Their raw energy flipped the crowd’s mood from patient anticipation to all-out chaos. With heavy riffs, guttural vocals, and pounding rhythms, Ded proved exactly why they were the perfect choice to set the night ablaze.
Dayseeker, a band that thrives on emotion-driven anthems and raw connection with their fans, was next. From the moment they launched into “Pale Moonlight” and “Shapeshift”, the audience was locked in. Frontman Rory Rodriguez’s haunting delivery of “Dreamstate” and “Dancing With the Devil” brought the energy higher, but it was his heartfelt dedication of “Homesick” to his late father that turned the arena into a sea of emotion.
Voices blended with his as the crowd sang every word, making the moment feel both intimate and transcendent. Dayseeker closed their set with “Neon Grave”, sending chills down spines and leaving the audience primed for the night’s headliner, In This Moment.
The lights faded, the curtain began to pulse with strobes, each flash syncing perfectly with the rising beat. Tension grew thicker by the second, and when the curtain finally dropped, In This Moment emerged in full theatrical glory.
Maria Brink, the band’s enigmatic frontwoman, embodied her role as rock goddess with fierce command. Opening with “The Purge”, “Sacrifice”, and “The In-Between”, the band immediately set the stage for a night that blurred the line between concert and performance art. Costume changes, elaborate staging, and unrelenting energy turned Freedom Hall into a cathedral of sound and spectacle.
Crowd favorites came one after another—“Blood”, “Big Bad Wolf”, “Adrenalize”, “Sick Like Me”—each delivered with Brink’s signature blend of ferocity and vulnerability. Fans roared the words back, the energy feeding the band as much as the band fed the crowd. As the night reached its climax, “Roots” shook the venue before the final act: “Whore.” Red balloons rained from above as Brink belted out the defiant chorus, “You love me for everything you hate me for.” It was an ending as unforgettable as it was cathartic, sealing the night as one for the books.
From nu-metal grit and heart-wrenching post-hardcore to a larger-than-life theatrical rock show, Johnson City’s Freedom Hall once again etched itself into music history. Already a venue known for hosting legends, it can now proudly add In This Moment to its storied legacy. The Black Mass Tour couldn’t have chosen a more explosive way to begin its journey.
Upcoming Tour Dates (tickets here)
Sep. 27 — El Paso, TX — Speaking Rock Entertainment Center
Sep. 28 — Albuquerque, NM — Revel
Oct. 01 — Los Angeles, CA — Hollywood Palladium
Oct. 02 — Las Vegas, NV — Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort
Oct. 03 — Paso Robles, CA — Vina Robles Amphitheatre
Oct. 04 — Sacramento, CA — Aftershock Festival
Oct. 07 — Garden City, ID — Revolution Concert House & Event Center
Oct. 08 — Spokane, WA — The Podium
Oct. 10 — Idaho Falls, ID — Mountain America Center
Oct. 11 — Casper, WY — Casper Events Center
Oct. 12 — Colorado Springs, CO — Ford Amphitheater
Oct. 14 — Kansas City, MO — The Midland Theatre
Oct. 16 — Waukee, IA — Vibrant Music Hall
Oct. 18 — Milwaukee, WI — Eagles Ballroom
Oct. 21 — Atlanta, GA — Coca Cola Roxy
Oct. 23 — Greensboro, NC — Greensboro Special Events Center
Oct. 24 — Bethlehem, PA — Wind Creek Events Center
Follow Dayseeker: Facebook ll Instagram ll TikTok ll Website ll Youtube ll Spotify
Follow In This Moment: Facebook ll Instagram ll TikTok ll Website ll Youtube ll Spotify
Follow Freedom Hall: Facebook ll Instagram ll Website
