Pantera & Lamb of God – Pavilion at Star Lake – Burgettstown (A PopEntertainment.com Concert Review)

Pantera & Lamb of God – The Pavilion at Star Lake – Burgettstown, PA – July 28, 2023

Pantera brought the opening night of their headlining tour to the Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania on July 28. Fans had waited years for a new Pantera tour announcement and months since the tickets went on sale for this one. It is safe to say that no one left disappointed.

A video montage of clips on the screens bringing the past history of the band into the immediate memory of the audience. The huge Pantera banner dropped as the video ended and Pantera slammed into "A New Level" and "Mouth for War" and never let up for the next 90 minutes. Even with the changes and replacements in the lineup, the band was as tight as if they had been together for the whole career.

There were several tributes to the Abbott brothers including paintings of Dime and Vinnie on two of the bass drums. In the middle of the set, they played the studio version of “Cemetery Gates” and a video tribute of the brothers played on the big screens. It was a very touching moment in an otherwise rocking show.

One other surprise was the band taking a second to wish their bass player, Rex Brown, a happy 59th birthday. A cake was wheeled out and the entire crowd sang “Happy Birthday.” I’m not sure if that wasn’t a first for a Pantera set.

The band rocked back into the hits after the short break with “Walk,” (with a guest appearance from opening band SNAFU), "Domination / Hollow" and "Cowboys From Hell" to finish out the main portion of the set.

The last surprises of Pantera’s set were the two encores. “Slaughtered” and “Revolution Is My Name.” Neither song had been done live since 2001.

Metal band Lamb of God warmed the crowd up for Pantera, starting with “Memento Mori” and “Walk with Me in Hell.” And ending their 10-song set with “Redneck.” In between, they showed why they are still on the road constantly and whether opening for legends like Pantera or headlining their own shows.

Snafu, a band that has been friends of Pantera for years, took the stage first, and launching into a short set that set the tone for what was to follow.

Overall it was a history-making evening that every attendee will probably never forget.

Pantera Setlist: A New Level / Mouth for War / Strength Beyond Strength / Becoming / I'm Broken / Suicide Note Pt. II / 5 Minutes Alone / This Love / Fucking Hostile / Planet Caravan / Happy Birthday to You (For Rex Brown’s birthday) / Walk (with SNAFU) / Domination / Hollow / Cowboys From Hell Encore: Slaughtered / Revolution Is My Name

Lamb of God Setlist: Memento Mori / Walk With Me in Hell / Resurrection Man / Ditch / Desolation / 512 / Ruin / Contractor / Laid to Rest / Redneck

Dave Parsons