Lineup changes, persona changes, and still killing it after all these years is how many people would describe hard rock legends Powerman 5000. The Dudley Boys have used Powerman 5000 for entrance music in WWE, their music has been featured in video games, tv shows, and the like, and people still remember them for their colossal smash “When Worlds Collide”. Powerman 5000 brought their “New Wave” tour to Spicoli’s Grill in Waterloo, Iowa.
Earlier that day, Spider One, the esteemed frontman of Powerman 5000, conducted a radio interview with Rock 108. In that interview, Spider One stated that he still can’t believe that people still come out to see them and jump and mosh to their music after all these years. It was plain to see why with their blistering set in front of a packed room at Spicoli’s Grill.
Spicoli’s Grill is a unique venue that I would put up against any venue in the United States. The venue boasts of delicious food, wall-to-wall of arcade games, and murals that portray our icons in video games. There’s also signed drumheads that plaster the venue as well to give it that intimate rock-n-roll atmosphere that the concertgoer would look for. After Knee High Fox’s performance, Powerman 5000 was set to take the stage.
The theme to Star Trek built the anticipatory setting for the room full of fans at Spicoli’s Grill and it transitioned into the song “Nobody’s Real” off of Powerman 5000’s platinum selling “Tonight! The Stars Revolt”. The crowd jumped and sang along to every word as if they just released that video on MTV yesterday. You could tell that Spider One and the band were appreciative of the rabid fans, hence why they come back to Spicoli’s Grill seemingly every time that they tour.
The setlist was pleasing for the old school fans as there were a couple of cuts off of their underground cult classic “Mega Kung Fu Radio” as they teased the crowd with bits of “Organizized”. Primarily, the fans were pleased as they got to hear the hits from Powerman 5000 such as “Free”, “Hey! That’s Right”, “How To Be Human”, and The Dudley Boys WWE entrance theme “Bombshell”. They blistered through the hour plus set and capped it off with “Supernova Goes Pop”, their underground hit “Sid Vicious In A Dress”, and closed off the raucous night with their smash hit “When Worlds Collide”.
After all of these years, Powerman 5000 stay true to their brand of music and they keep people wanting more. Their music is wonderful for today’s times because instead of singing about gloom and doom all of the time, they just make good rock anthems that allow their fans to take the night off of work or school, and just leave their cares behind and rock out. Honestly, that is what we need in today’s times, and Powerman 5000 will bring the antidote to our inner ailments.
This summer, Powerman 5000 has a couple of one-off festivals and this fall, they will embark on the Summer of Screams Tour featuring Mushroomhead, The Browning, Kissing Candice, and Earth Caller. Psychostick, Unsaid Fate, and Voodoo Terror Tribe will be appearing at select dates on the bill. Check out tour dates below.
Sunday, July 15th- The Apollo Theatre in Belvidere, Illinois (w/Wayland and Fozzy)
Saturday, July 28th- Impact Music Festival in Bangor, Maine (w/Emmure, Avenged Sevenfold, Black Label Society)
Summer Of Screams Tour Featuring Mushroomhead, Powerman 5000, Kissing Candice, and Earth Caller
Sunday, September 2nd- 1720 in Los Angeles California
Tuesday, September 4th- Boardwalk in Orangevale, California
Wednesday, September 5th- Dante’s in Portland, Oregon
Thursday, September 6th- El Corazon in Seattle, Washington
Friday, September 7th- Pub Station in Billings, Montana
Saturday, September 8th- The Complex in Salt Lake City, Utah
Sunday, September 9th- The Roxy Theater in Denver, Colorado
Tuesday, September 11th- Aftershock Live Music Venue in Merriam, Kansas
Wednesday, September 12th- Spicoli’s Grill in Waterloo, Iowa
Thursday, September 13th- Skyway Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Saturday, September 15th- Patio Theater in Chicago, Illinois
For tickets and further information on any of the shows listed above, click here.
Fans can find Powerman 5000 at the following locations:
www.facebook.com/officialpowerman5000
ICYMI: Check out our review of “New Wave” by Powerman 5000 here!
