Life of Agony, the iconic New York hard rock/metal band, is currently touring in support of their latest album “The Sound of Scars”. After over 30 years together, Life of Agony continue to captivate audiences with their raw, emotional music and high energy live shows. So who exactly is Life of Agony touring with on their current run of shows?
Life of Agony’s Current Touring Lineup
The core of Life of Agony remains guitarist Joey Zampella, bassist Alan Robert, and vocalist Mina Caputo. Drummer Veronica Bellino, who has been playing with the band since 2014, rounds out the official lineup. There are no direct support acts listed for Life of Agony’s headlining shows on this tour.
However, the band is playing a number of major rock and metal festivals this year alongside some of the biggest names in the genre. This includes welcome additions like Megadeth, Lamb of God, Trivium, In Flames, and Soulfly just to name a few. So while direct support on their own shows is sparse, Life of Agony is sharing the stage with an impressive roster of metallic heavyweights at these high-profile festival appearances.
Upcoming Tour Dates and Festivals
Here are some of the notable upcoming shows and festivals where fans can catch Life of Agony alongside other major acts:
October 2022
- Oct 15 – Aftershock Festival – Sacramento, CA – Headliners include Slipknot, Rob Zombie, Lamb of God, Trivium, In Flames, Soulfly, and more
- Oct 22 – Monsters of Rock Cruise – Miami, FL and The Bahamas – Headliners include Queensryche, Skid Row, Tom Keifer of Cinderella, and more
November 2022
- Nov 4 – Vive Latino Festival – Mexico City, Mexico – Headliners include Slipknot, Ghost, Parkway Drive, Anthrax
- Nov 11 – Heavy Montreal – Montreal, QB – Headliners include Megadeth, Lamb of God, Trivium, In Flames, Soulfly
- Nov 12 – Rock Fest Barcelona – Barcelona, Spain – Headliners include Slipknot, Bring Me the Horizon, Evanescence
March 2023
- Mar 9 – Download Festival – Melbourne, Australia – Headliners include Bring Me the Horizon, Megadeth, Lamb of God
- Mar 11 – Download Festival – Sydney, Australia – Headliners include Bring Me the Horizon, Megadeth, Lamb of God
Key Highlights
Some key things to note about Life of Agony’s current touring plans:
- They are not touring with direct support acts, but are instead playing major rock and metal festivals
- Festival lineups include Metallica, Slipknot, Megadeth, Lamb of God, Trivium, Ghost, and many more major acts
- This allows the band to play for huge audiences and gain exposure outside of their core fanbase
- Shows span international markets like Mexico, Spain, and Australia through early 2023
- The variety of genres and styles at these festivals gives Life of Agony a chance to appeal to diverse crowds
Life of Agony’s Approach to Touring
Playing these festival dates as opposed to their own headlining tour with direct support is likely a strategic move by Life of Agony for several reasons:
- Festivals provide a chance to play in front of much larger crowds, upwards of 40,000+ attendees daily
- They can appeal to fans of headliners who may be unfamiliar with Life of Agony’s music
- Reduced costs and overhead by not needing their own tour staff, production, buses, etc.
- Opportunity to collaborate and interact with other successful veteran metal bands
- Higher earning potential from large festival paydays vs independent club shows
While Life of Agony could certainly undertake their own headlining tour, playing select major festivals likely provides the best balance of expanding their reach, keeping costs manageable, and earning at a higher level.
What to Expect from a Life of Agony Festival Performance
Fans attending one of these music festivals can expect an energized, full-throttle set from Life of Agony despite the band being 30+ years into their career. With Alan Robert’s ominous basslines, Joey Z’s thrashing riffs, and Mina Caputo’s impassioned vocals, the group continues to perform with a youthful intensity.
Given the limited time allotment at festivals, Life of Agony will almost certainly focus their setlist on fan favorites and singles like “River Runs Red”, “Weeds”, and “Method of Groove”. These are the songs that defined their ’90s New York hardcore metal era and resonate most with their followers. However, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them mix in a few deeper cuts from their latest album as well.
Beyond the music, Life of Agony delivers an electrifying stage presence thanks to decades of touring experience. Mina Caputo in particular is an energetic frontperson who passionately engages the crowd. And thanks to their newfound sobriety in recent years, the band’s performances are tighter than ever.
The Significance of These Touring Plans
The fact that Life of Agony is performing at some of the world’s premier rock and metal festivals in 2022 and 2023 is a testament to their lastingimpact. Despite going on hiatus in the early 2000s, their reputation as genre pioneers has clearly enabled them to reconnect with fans and book major shows again.
It also reinforces Life of Agony’s versatility in being able to share festival bills with both thrash metal legends like Megadeth and modern metalcore groups like Bring Me The Horizon. And it shows that their music transcends any specific scene or time period.
For longtime fans, seeing Life of Agony command festival stages alongside contemporary heavyweights is rewarding. It validates that their fervent fandom over the years was not misplaced. These appearances will also introduce the band to younger fans who may just be discovering their music.
With no signs of slowing down, Life of Agony seems poised to continue conquering arenas and festivals globally. Their hard-hitting catalog of songs will keep connecting with metalheads regardless of passing trends. And their forthcoming shows will only expand their reach to be passed down to future generations of headbangers.
Conclusion
While touring without direct support, Life of Agony is taking full advantage of their longevity and reputation this year and next. Major festival appearances will allow them to perform for massive crowds and remind the heavy metal world of their formidable presence. Their consistently crushing live show will captivate both loyal longtime fans and those just now being exposed to Life of Agony’s caustic, cathartic anthems.