Live: Sixx AM in Fort Wayne

To say Sixx A.M. has a dedicated fanbase is an understatement. Their first full-fledged tour came after the release of their third album and it sold out on almost every date. It was during this tour- at the Chicago date (which we had the privilege of attending) that Nikki Sixx announced the band would be releasing a double album and embarking on a world tour. Fast forward one year and it\’s all begun. They hit the road in May for a headline tour with support from newcomers Cilver, which recently made a stop at Fort Wayne\’s Pieres Entertainment Center for a sold out show lived up to everything you\’d expect from a Sixx A.M. show. After an impressive set from a local Fort Wayne band who covered songs from Aerosmith, Motorhead and more, Cilver took the stage and showed exactly why they\’re one of the most successful new bands around. Their debut record- Not The End of the World, which came out two weeks before the show, already cracked the top 20 New Artists charts and continues to climb. On this tour, they had a chance to prove exactly why and they did. They played a good portion of their debut record and the crowd couldn\’t have loved it more. Their energy, their emotion and their dedication solidified them as the real deal- especially with frontwoman Uliana feeling under the weather. Before too long, the lights went down and each member of Sixx A.M. took their place on stage as the crowed grew louder and louder. The band ripped into “This Is Gonna Hurt” and the crowd began getting rabid. As they played through the set- “Rise” followed by “Relief,” the crowd was getting louder and more involved as the songs progressed and it was living up to everything you\’d expect from Pieres if you\’re a longtime attender of the venue. Guitarist DJ Ashba took time to talk to the crowd, explaining how excited he was to be back in his home state and giving shout outs to the family members in attendance. Asha has always been one of the most underrated axemen in rock and he proved it in Fort Wayne. Just two weeks removed from the release of Prayers for the Damned Vol. 1, the fans had already learned the lyrics to every song, screaming them word-for-word back to the band during each one. Bassist Nikki Sixx took time to talk to the fans before playing “Rise of the Melancholy Empire,” explaining how the song was written during the fateful night of the Paris bombings last year and how it\’s an anthem of unity. He urged everyone to take out their phones and record the song and to post it online for everyone everywhere to see and hear. It\’s always a better show when the songs are close to the band\’s hearts and when the band truly cares about their fans. The Sixx A.M. faithful sat patiently for years waiting for the band to tour so it\’s no surprise how strong the crowds have been on every show and Fort Wayne was no exception. This has been a rewarding run for both the band and the fans and things are just getting stronger. -Reggie Edwards Click here for photos of Cilver and Sixx AM