Mudvayne brought their ‘Psychotherapy Sessions’ to Jones Beach (recap, photos)

Peoria, Illinois metal band Mudvayne are out on the road on their first headlining tour in over fourteen years. The Live Nation-produced ‘The Psychotherapy Sessions’ tour kicked off on July 20th at the iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida, with a stacked lineup featuring Coal Chamber, Gwar, Nonpoint, and Butcher Babies as support. The tour is set to run through late August, with the grand finale scheduled for August 26th at the Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre in Englewood, CO. Tickets for the tour can be purchased here.

Mudvayne brought their carnival of madness to Wantagh, NY at the Northwell Health at the Jones Beach Theater on July 28th, having last performed at the Long Island venue back in 2001 during their ‘Big Day Off-Fest’ stint. During their 70-minute set, Mudvayne delivered a strong performance that had the audience jumping and raising their hands in the air from start to finish. Hitting the stage with a 12-song setlist, the band played a selection of tunes from their first four albums, treating the crowd to big favorites such as “Not Falling,” “Internal Primates Forever,” “Death Blooms,” “Happy?,” and “Dig.”

Lead singer Chad Gray’s signature shrieks and passionate delivery reverberated through every agonizing note as he poured his heart and soul into the performance, often hunching over and dropping to his knees, further intensifying the raw energy that Mudvayne brings to their live shows. The chemistry between the band members was remarkable, with guitarist Greg Tribbett and bassist Ryan Martinie seamlessly locking in rhythm while drummer Matthew McDonough provided a thunderous beat. The band was also joined by Marcus Rafferty, who has been performing live guitars and backing vocals since the band’s reunion in 2021.

Led by the powerhouse Dez Fafara, Coal Chamber delivered a pummeling direct support set, unleashing mosh-inducing hits like “Loco,” “Big Truck,” “Oddity,” and “Sway.” Since reuniting last November, the band’s live lineup, featuring guitarist Miguel Rascón, bassist Nadja Peulen, and drummer Mike Cox, has been a force to be reckoned with. The stage came alive as the foursome jammed together, surrounded by billowing clouds of fog and synchronized flashing lights, enhancing the impact of every beat.

Gwar, the intergalactic metallers, brought a wild and entertaining performance that left the crowd drenched and exhilarated. Their always amusing stage antics and heavy riffs set the tone for a memorable sunset. With a powerful 9-song display, they unleashed monster-mashing numbers such as “Hail, Genocide!,” “Mother F*cking Liar,” “Completely F*cked,” “F*ck This Place,” and their headbanging cover of the AC/DC classic “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It).” And as if their profanity-laced songs weren’t enough, the band added a shocking twist by theatrically “dispatching” Russian president Vladimir Putin on stage, severing his hands and ripping his chest cage apart.

Both Nonpoint and Butcher Babies kicked off the evening with crowd-pleasing performances, setting the stage ablaze with help from the scorching afternoon sun beaming down on them. Regardless, both bands maintained their cool and delivered callous sets like seasoned metal professionals. The only regrettable aspect was their early time slot, potentially causing some fans to miss out on their lively sets. Nevertheless, those fortunate enough to witness their ear-pounding performances were undoubtedly left thrilled and satisfied.

Check out photos of Mudvayne, Coal Chamber, Gwar, Nonpoint, and Butcher Babies from Jones Beach by Johnny Perilla via the gallery below (click to enlarge).

Butcher Babies:

Nonpoint:

Gwar:

Coal Chamber:

Mudvayne: