<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2t7QTL_0vkJzThd00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2t7QTL_0vkJzThd00" width="1350" height="900" ><figcaption>Godsmack, seen here performing last year at Pine Knob Music Theatre, returns to the venue Sept. 28 as the headliner for RIFF Fest 2024. (Photo courtesy of Mike Ferdinande)</figcaption></figure>It’s only been 13 months since Godsmack last played in these parts — at Pine Knob Music Theatre, as it will be doing again this weekend.But drummer Shannon Larkin promises it won’t be an exact repeat of what the heavy rock quartet did then.“We have a grandiose idea that we hope everyone’s gonna love, and we hope we can perform it flawlessly for y’all,” says Larkin, 57, who joined in 2002 and has been with the group for its last six albums — as well as the 2012 concert album “Live &amp; Inspired,” which was recorded at Detroit’s Fox Theatre. “We’re gonna do songs from every record in a cool way that kind of ties together, video-wise, through the whole show.“It’s gonna be a kick-ass Godsmack, heavy-ass set, and I’m excited for it.”Last year’s Godsmack show was part of a tour promoting the band’s then-new eighth studio album, “Lighting Up the Sky.” At the time, the band members said it would be their last full album release, though they said Godsmack would continue to tour and, essentially, rest on the laurels of a catalog that’s produced 29 Top 10 Billboard Mainstream Rock chart hits since 1998, including 13 No. 1 singles.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1oZKX6_0vkJzThd00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1oZKX6_0vkJzThd00" width="1860" height="1237" ><figcaption>Godsmack is responsible for producing 29 Top 10 Billboard Mainstream Rock chart hits since 1998, including 13 No. 1 singles. (Photo courtesy of Kamal Asar/Shelter Music Group)</figcaption></figure>Now, however, Larkin says the band is no longer ruling out the possibility of some new music.“We’re not gonna make new (albums), but that doesn’t mean we can’t put out a new single, or if a cool song comes along, we’ll go in the studio and record it,” the drummer explains. “Last year, when we said, ‘We’re not gonna make any more records,’ it kinda blew up and everyone was all like, ‘Why are you gonna quit making records?’ and whatever. It was a bigger deal than we thought.“We want to keep playing, and usually when you tour, it comes with an album. That won’t be the case anymore, but a new song every now and then … sure, why not? I think people would like that and so would we.”Godsmack, Seether, Asking Alexandria, Wage War, Sleep Theory, Flat Black, Royale Lynn and Fame on Fire perform at RIFF Fest 2024, starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at Pine Knob Music Theatre, 33 Bob Seger Drive, Independence Township. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.Other music events of note this weekend (all subject to change) include …FRIDAY, SEPT. 27• A heavy rock triumvirate of Korn, Gojira and Spiritbox will melt a few faces at 6:30 p.m. at Pine Knob Music Theatre, 33 Bob Seger Drive, Independence Township. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.• The Detroit Symphony Orchestra opens its 2024-25 PVS Classical Series with Branford Marsalis performing through Saturday’s, Sept. 28 Opening Gala at Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-576-5111 or dso.org.• Celtic rockers Dropkick Murphys — which just dropped a new song, “Sirens” — visit the Fillmore Detroit, 2115 Woodward Ave. Doors at 6 p.m. 313-961-5451 or thefillmoredetroit.com.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1bitNK_0vkJzThd00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1bitNK_0vkJzThd00" width="500" height="333" ><figcaption>Dropkick Murphys (Photo courtesy of Travis Schneider)</figcaption></figure>• Airborne Toxic Event promotes its new album, “Glory,” at Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.• Philadelphia indie rock trio Spirit of the Beehive is joined by Winter at 8 p.m. at Third Man Records, 441 W. Canfield St., Detroit. 313-209-5205 or thirdmanrecords.com.• New York’s alternative/electronic Two Feet (aka Zachary Dess) plays at the Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-399-2980 or royaloakmusictheatre.com.• Spanish-American singer-songwriter Victoria Canal headlines at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. Lucy Clearwater opens. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.• Grand Rapids ska punk favorites Mustard Plug journey west to play at the Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-544-1991 or themagicbag.com.• British DJ D.O.D. tops a five-act bill at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 9 p.m. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.• Britain’s Davy Knowles Band tops a bill with Jim McCarty and Brad Russell at the Token Lounge, 28949 Joy Road, Westland. Doors at 7 p.m. 734-513-5030 or tokenlounge.com.• Country singer and songwriter Dillon Carmichael will be live at District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte. Doors at 7 p.m. district142live.com.• Drummer Sean Dobbins and his All-Star Organ Quartet will be in the house through Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, 97 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe. 313-882-5399 or dirtydogjazz.com.• Jazz vocalist Brandon Bain is in residence through Sunday, Sept. 29 at Cliff Bell’s, 2030 Park Ave., Detroit. 313-961-2543 or cliffbells.com.• Pretoria and the Doozers team up to co-headline at the Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. Get Tuff and Headband Henry also play. 248-820-5596 or thelovingtouchferndale.com.• It will be fantasy rather than real life when The Ultimate Queen Celebration stops for an 8 p.m. show at the Flagstar Strand Theatre, 12 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac. 248-309-6445 or flagstarstrand.com.• Singer-songwriters Kaitlin Butts and Angel White play at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.• Virtual: “Paul McCartney and Wings — One Hand Clapping,” a performance documentary from 1974 at Abbey Road Studios in London, is screening for a limited time in theaters. Locations and ticket information via onehandclapping.film.• Virtual: Michigan Grammy Award winner Billy Strings previews next weekend’s concerts at Pine Knob Music Theatre by streaming performances from Buena Vista, Colorado, at 10 p.m. through Saturday, Sept. 28, free for subscribers of nugs.net.• Virtual: Goose streams at 10:30 p.m. from Los Angeles and again at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 from Stanford, California, free for subscribers of nugs.net.SATURDAY, SEPT. 28• Americana favorite Sturgill Simpson (or, as he’s now known, Johnny Blue Skies) performs at 8 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.• British English rocker PJ Harvey crosses the pond for a show at the Masonic Cathedral Theatre, 500 Temple St., Detroit. Doors at 6:30 p.m. 313-548-1320 or themasonic.com.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0Dm8Kt_0vkJzThd00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Dm8Kt_0vkJzThd00" width="800" height="1200" ><figcaption>PJ Harvey (Photo courtesy of Steve Gullick/Partisan Records)</figcaption></figure>• California nu metal troupe (hed) PE brings its 30th-anniversary celebration to the Diesel Concert Lounge, 33151 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield Township. Doors at 7 p.m. 586-933-3503 or dieselconcerts.com.• The Bronx Wanderers offer rock ‘n’ roll oldies at 8 p.m. at Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Road, Warren. 586-268-3200 or andiamoshowroom.com.• Veteran San Francisco Bay Area punk rock troupe Pansy Division is joined by Bev Rage &amp; the Drinks at the Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Doors at 7 p.m. 248-544-1991 or themagicbag.com.• Also from the Bay Area, Marc E. Bassy &amp; Skizzy Mars bring their hip-hop pop to Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress St., Detroit. Doors at 7 p.m. 313-961-8961 or saintandrewsdetroit.com.• The New York hardcore trio Show Me the Body rocks atop a five-band bill at the Magic Stick, 4120 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Doors at 6:30 p.m. 313-833-9700 or themajesticdetroit.com.• The Austin, Texas, duo Dawn and Hawkes play at 8 p.m. at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion. 248-783-7105 or 20frontstreet.com.• Subfiltronik will be all about the bass when it headlines a six-act bill in the Pike Room at the Crofoot Complex, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Doors at 8 p.m. 248-858-9333 or thecrofoot.com.• Not Garth Brooks but (maybe close to) the next best thing as the Garth Live! tribute band performs at 7:30 p.m. at the Macomb Center, 44575 Garfield Road, Clinton Township. 586-286-2222 or macombcenter.com.• A cadre of Michigan performers will pay tribute to Mitten state songwriter and playwright Jay Stielstra with a celebration at 8 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.• The local band Television City celebrates its new single, “Lost in Arkansas,” with a show at Ghost Light, 2314 Caniff St., Hamtramck. Jim Roll and Mike Galbraith &amp; Courtney Hurley also perform. Doors at 7 p.m. teeveecity.com.• Virtual: The annual Global Citizen Festival from the Great Lawn in New York City’s Central Park begins at 4 p.m. and will feature performances by Post Malone, Doja Cat, Jelly Roll, Rauw Alejandro, Benson Boone and more. It will be broadcast via a number of networks and streaming and social media sites. Visit globalcitizen.org for a full list of outlets.• Virtual: Jazz pianist Eddie Palmieri performs at 7:30 p.m. from Jimmy’s Jazz &amp; Blues Club in New Hampshire. Streaming tickets via veeps.com.• Virtual: Mt. Joy streams its concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden at 8 p.m., free for subscribers to nugs.net.• Virtual: Sound Cipher streams at 8 p.m. from Seattle, free for subscribers to nugs.net.• Virtual: Jelly Roll is the musical guest on the season-opening episode of “Saturday Night Live,” 11:30 p.m. on NBC (WDIV, Channel 4 in Detroit). Jean Smart hosts.SUNDAY, SEPT. 29• The Ohio duo Twenty One Pilots brings its Clancy World Tour, with Balu Brigida opening, to Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit. 7:45 p.m. showtime. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4aifHV_0vkJzThd00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4aifHV_0vkJzThd00" width="1200" height="1754" ><figcaption>Twenty One Pilots (Photo courtesy of Ashley Osborn)</figcaption></figure>• Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter goes it alone at 7:30 p.m. at Sound Board in the MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit. 800-745-3000 or soundboarddetroit.com.• Actor Billy Bob Thornton and his band the Boxmasters play at 7 p.m. at The Roxy, 401 Walnut Blvd., Rochester. 248-453-5285 or theroxyrochester.com.• It’ll be a metal end to the weekend when Testament and Creator bring the noise at the Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. Doors at 6 p.m. 248-399-2980 or royaloakmusictheatre.com.• Muruga Cosmic Boogie trips out at 3 p.m. in Mussel Beach outside of the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. 313-882-8560 or cadieuxcafe.com.• Texas’ Urban Heat brings it north on a bill that also includes Wingtips, Gvllow and Al1ce at Small’s, 10339 Conant, Hamtramck. Doors at 6 p.m. 3130873-1117 or smallsbardetroit.com.• Aday, Just Snazz and more perform as part of the Breaking Sound Detroit Showcase at 7 p.m. at the New Dodge Lounge, 8850 Jos Campau, Hamtramck. 313-638-1508 or thenewdodgelounge.com.• Bruiser Wolf, D2x and J.US throw down at 7 p.m. at the Sanctuary Detroit, 2932 Caniff, Hamtramck. 313-462-4117 or sanctuarydetroit.com.• Flamenco features music and dance — early, even, at 2 p.m. — at the Macomb Center, 44575 Garfield Road, Clinton Township. 586-286-2222 or macombcenter.com.• Landon Conrath and his band play at 8 p.m. at the Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit. Kevian Kraemer opens. 313-500-1475 or thelagerhouse.com.• Folk singer Willie Watson, with Jack Van Cleaf opening, performs at 7:30 p.m. at The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor. 734-761-1818 or theark.org.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

RIFF Fest 2024 rocks atop a loaded metro area music weekend

It’s only been 13 months since Godsmack last played in these parts — at Pine Knob Music Theatre, as it will be doing again this weekend. But drummer Shannon Larkin promises it won’t be an exact repeat of what the heavy rock quartet did then. “We have...