The Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach hosted co-headliners Theory of a Deadman and Sevendust for two nights, with Theory closing night one of the Dead/Sevendust Tour.
Northeast Sevendust fans have learned a few things over the decades of following the band from Maine to Massachusetts to Connecticut in a single weekend. The lessons are simple: hit as many Northeast shows as you can, make sure you eat something before spending the night on the rail, and never miss a Casino Ballroom show in Hampton Beach.
Match that with Theory of a Deadman’s equally dedicated Northeast fan base, and you already have the recipe for something special. Now add in the possibility of the Casino Ballroom getting a full renovation and its 100-year celebration coming in 2027, and you might as well call upon the rock gods to summon every fan from the depths of the Northeast.
First up was California band Return to Dust, a young group that has quickly become a familiar face within the Sevendust camp. Since emerging onto the scene in 2022, the band has steadily built momentum, joining Sevendust on the road and crossing paths with us several times along the way. In 2024, Return to Dust hit the road with Sevendust for the Seasons 21st Anniversary Tour, a run that also brought both bands through the Casino Ballroom.
The band kicked off their set with “Black Road” and “Facedown” off their 2024 self-titled debut album. Return to Dust carries a sound that will instantly remind you of the grunge era, with shades of Alice in Chains woven through their heavy riffs, layered vocals and darker, brooding tone, while still bringing enough of their own identity to keep it from feeling like a throwback act.
The band also worked in their newest single, “Sweet Escape,” released this past June, before putting their own rock-grunge spin on Outkast’s “Hey Ya!” It was a fun curveball in the set and gave even those in the crowd who may not have known much about Return to Dust something familiar to sing along with.
They closed out their set with “Bored” and “Belly Up,” leaving the Ballroom with a solid taste of everything the band brings to the table.
Return to Dust was a great kickoff to an awesome night of music, and it was clear they already had plenty of die-hard fans in the room. Many had discovered the band through their previous runs with Sevendust and showed up ready to support them all over again.
RETURN TO DUST SETLIST 8.27.2026 HAMPTON BEACH CASINO BALLROOM
1. Black Road
2. Facedown
3. New Religion
4. Sweet Escape
5. Hey Ya! (Outcast Cover)
6. Bored
7. Belly Up
Next up was the almighty Sevendust, and this time around, the guys kicked off the night with a brand-new intro. “Cocaine Country Dancing” by Paul Cauthen, the song so many Sevendust fans have come to know as the signal that the Atlanta boys are ready to take the stage, has officially been retired…at least for now.
In its place is something new, tailored specifically to the venues they’re playing. We’ll leave it at that and let you experience it firsthand at your next Sevendust show. Let’s just say it is 100 percent fitting for the guys in Sevendust, full of humor, and may be one of the best walkout intros they’ve had yet.
The bright lights of the screen shifted into swirling reds and oranges as a countdown began, signaling that Sevendust was moments away from taking the stage. When the countdown hit one, the screen flashed “O N E” as Lajon Witherspoon (vocals) stepped out and asked the crowd how they were feeling.
The overhead lights came up, revealing a packed Casino Ballroom. Lajon started to shout, “We can’t hear you,” but barely made it halfway through the sentence before the roar of the crowd completely overpowered him and he exclaimed “Oh Shit” Because thats is the beauty of this venue when Sevendust is in town at specifically the casino ballroom. It’s all in for the Sevendust community. The bands ride or dies.
Sevendust kicked into “One,” the title track from their brand-new studio album, One. The album is a banger—everything that makes Sevendust who they are, elevated by decades of performing, writing and evolving together.
“One” wastes no time generating energy. The bouncing riffs, chugging guitars and slightly dissonant feel of the intro immediately give the song that heavy, off-kilter groove that Sevendust does so well.
From there, the band reached back into their catalog with “Denial” off their 1999 sophomore album, Home, keeping the energy at an all-time high before jumping all the way back to 2026 with “Is This the Real You?”
“Is This the Real You?” showcases exactly what makes Sevendust’s sound so uniquely their own. Morgan Rose’s guttural crow screams cut through and complement Lajon Witherspoon’s unmistakable blend of heavy metal power, soul and R&B, while the backing vocals from Clint Lowery and John Connolly add another layer to a vocal combination few bands could ever replicate. “Is This the Real You?” is one of those songs that somehow makes you want to headbang, dance and groove all within the same 3:47.
VIDEO FROM SEVENDUST
From there, the band took the energized crowd on a musical journey through some of Sevendust’s greatest hits, leaning heavily into their first few albums, bouncing between 2001 album Animosity with “Crucified,” to 1997s self titled debut album with the crunchy “Terminator” The crowd went crazy when the opening notes rang out. “Praise” off Animosity and “Enemy” off 2003s Seasons can next, before slowing it down with the emotionally powerful “Angel’s Son.”
The opening notes of “Angel’s Son” immediately changed the atmosphere inside the packed Ballroom. Phones went into the air, flashlights illuminated the room and thousands of voices sang along to every word. Originally written in tribute to late Snot frontman Lynn Strait, the song has taken on a life of its own over the years, becoming a soundtrack for fans remembering loved ones they’ve lost and reflecting on some of the hardest moments of their lives.
It was one of those moments no video could ever fully capture—the energy of thousands of voices singing the lyrics at the top of their lungs while the entire Ballroom seemed completely locked into the same moment. It slowed things down just long enough for the crowd to catch its breath before Sevendust dove straight back into the heavy.
VIDEO FROM SEVENDUST
A little Sevendust whiplash never hurt anyone, with the band kicking the show back into full gear with “Black” from their self-titled debut album.
As a self-proclaimed Sevendust Old Head, it’s a bit of a reflection point to realize just how massive their discography has become when a song like “Black” is now sitting later in the set. In the old Hampton days, you’d hear that choppy, syncopated opening riff ring through the Ballroom as the strobe lights hit the stage, and you knew the next 90 minutes of your life were about to be a full-throttle onslaught of metal therapy that would somehow solve all your problems.
We went digging down memory lane through some of those older Ballroom performances and came across video from a 2008 show that perfectly captured what those nights felt like.
There was no safe place on the floor of the Ballroom. If you were on the rail, you were holding on for dear life as hundreds of bodies behind you started jumping, moshing and crowdsurfing. If you weren’t on the rail, you moved wherever the crowd took you—side to side, front to back. The massive mosh pit would open in the middle of the floor and continue to expand, while anyone standing outside of it still had to keep one eye overhead for the steady stream of crowd surfers coming their way.
VIDEO FROM JONJON
Almost 20 years later, times may have changed, and Sevendust old heads may need to protect their knees and backs a little more, but one thing remains certain: the energy that only Sevendust can create has only amplified.
Their ability to connect with a crowd is something truly special. It’s spectacular to watch from the back of the room, but even more powerful to be right there in the middle of it—surrounded by thousands of fans completely locked into the same moment.
The onslaught continued with the epic “Rumble Fish” off Home. Lajon’s “get up, get up” call, matched with the chugging guitars, had the Sevendust old heads showing up one more time for a full-on throwdown.
And no Sevendust show is complete without the legendary “Face to Face” off Seasons. Because really, there ain’t no Sevendust show without a Morgan Rose salute to send you off into the next act.
After all these years, Sevendust remains the standard when it comes to live shows. We spoke with so many fans throughout the night about what makes a Sevendust show a Sevendust show, and the answer kept coming back to one word: family. They just a band you go see live. It’s a family reunion.
They weren’t closing out night one, and with Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson playing nearby—not to mention Sevendust returning the following night to close out night two—the family still showed up. They packed the Casino Ballroom and created the kind of energy that can only come from Sevendust, their fans and that room.
It was one hell of a setup for Theory of a Deadman to close out night one.
SEVENDUST SETLIST FOR 8.27.2026 HAMPTON BEACH CASINO BALLROOM
1. ONE
2. Denial
3. Is This The Real You?
4. Cruicified
5. Terminator
6. Praise
7. Enemy
8. Angels Son
9. Black
10. Rumble Fish
11. Face To Face
Soon the PA kicked into “Sweet Caroline,” by Neil Diamond, a favorite just about anywhere, but for New Englanders this close to Boston, you best believe they were singing it at the top of their lungs. As the lights came up for the final performance of night one, Theory of a Deadman took the stage.
Theory of a Deadman and Sevendust are certainly no strangers to sharing a stage. The relationship between the two bands goes all the way back to 2002, more than two decades of crossing paths on the road before finally joining forces for a full co-headlining tour in 2026. In the years between, both bands have gone on to build massive catalogs and legacies of their own, making the pairing feel less like two bands sharing a bill and more like two longtime friends finally getting the chance to do it properly.
Theory of A Deadman kicked off the show with Barricade off their brand new EP The Funeral Songs Part 1. The EP was just released on September 4th, 2026. The newest EP aligns perfectly with Theory of A Deadman’s style, masterful powerhouse hooks, matched with witty lyricism, they create music that sticks in your head and you find yourself humming the melody as you are driving down the road.
VIDEO FROM THEORY OF A DEADMAN
The night rolled on with “Ambulance” off their 2023 album Dinosaur and “Blow” off 2014’s Savages. What made “Blow” especially fun live was Tyler Connolly pulling out a Polaroid camera and snapping photos of the crowd, giving a few fans an extra piece of memorabilia to take home from the night.
From there, Theory shifted back into their newer material with “Winnebago (Lay Low),” the second single released from their newest EP, Part 1: Funeral Songs. The track stays right in the lane Theory of a Deadman does so well, built around an instantly catchy chorus that feels made for a live crowd to latch onto.
VIDEO FROM THEORY OF A DEADMAN
From there, the band moved into some of the biggest hits of their career, kicking things off with the platinum-selling “Bitch Came Back” from their 2011 album The Truth Is…. The instantly recognizable opening had the Ballroom reacting almost immediately, with the crowd shouting along to the chorus and throwing every bit of energy they had left back at the stage.
As the familiar melody of Alice in Chains’ “Nutshell” played, Connolly took a moment to ask how many people in the crowd had seen Theory before, while also thanking everyone for sticking around after Sevendust’s set. He reflected on the first show the two bands played together back in 2002 in New Orleans, talking about how great the guys in Sevendust were to share the road with then—and how that same love and respect remains more than two decades later.
Then he turned his attention to the one thing that had brought everyone in the Ballroom together that night: music.
“Music is that one thing. It’s the perfect drug. It never cheats on you, stabs you in the back. For those three and a half minutes, it’s perfect. The bad day’s gone.”
It was a sentiment that resonated throughout the room. No matter where you came from, what kind of day you had or which band brought you through the doors that night, for those few minutes none of it mattered.
After taking the time to talk with the crowd and slowing things down with “Nutshell,” Connolly told the Ballroom he wanted to take them back to 2005. The band kicked into “Santa Monica” from Gasoline, with the crowd quickly picking up the familiar chorus and singing it back at the stage.
From there, they rolled into another fan favorite, the double-platinum “Not Meant to Be” from 2008’s Scars & Souvenirs. The softer, more melodic side of Theory had the Ballroom singing along once again, turning that stretch of the set into one massive throwback to some of the songs that helped define the band’s rise through the 2000s.
VIDEO FROM THEORY OF A DEADMAN
From there, the band rolled into a medley of songs, kicking things off with Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” before weaving through snippets of massive hits from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s. It was another fun way to pull the crowd into something familiar before seamlessly shifting the set back toward Theory’s heavier, more rock-driven side.
The band saved some of their biggest hits for last, kicking off the final stretch with “Lowlife” before plowing through “Hate My Life,” “Rx (Medicate)” and, finally, “Bad Girlfriend.”
All four songs have become major pieces of Theory of a Deadman’s catalog. “Hate My Life” has gone platinum in the U.S., while “Lowlife,” “Rx (Medicate)” and “Bad Girlfriend” have all reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.
And the Ballroom made it pretty clear why those songs have had that kind of staying power. By that point, the crowd was singing the lyrics right back at the band, turning the closing run into one massive singalong before “Bad Girlfriend” put the final exclamation point on night one.
The vibe throughout night one was incredible. It was everything Hampton Beach is all about—great music by the beach, your favorite people around you and some seriously good bands onstage. Add in the magic that Sevendust brings every time they step into the Casino Ballroom, and you already know it’s going to be a good night.
The Setlist was there for both nights, and we’ll have a full review of night two coming soon, with Sevendust returning to close out the second night.
VIDEO BY THEORY OF A DEADMAN
Theory of A Deadman has a lot planned for the rest of this year. The will continue on with Sevendust for the Dead/Seven tour. There is still a full month of dates left that will take the bands through the Western side of the country. That tour wraps up on October 1st in Sacramento, CA at the Aftershock Festival.
After the Dead/Seven Tour wraps, Theory of a Deadman will take a brief break from the road before heading overseas in February for a 12-date European run on The Barricade Tour. The tour kicks off February 5 in Nottingham, UK, before making its way through the UK and Europe, wrapping February 21 in Milan, Italy.
From there, the Canadian natives will head home for The Northern Chaos Tour, beginning March 5 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and working its way across the country before wrapping March 31 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Mammoth will join Theory as special guest for the run, beginning with the March 6 stop in Moncton.
That is going to be a tour not to miss. Theory of a Deadman playing to their home-country crowds, matched with the powerhouse that is Mammoth, has all the makings of one hell of a rock show. Tickets are on sale for that tour so get them while you can.
We’re only slightly jealous of our friends to the north.
Okay…we’re a lot jealous.
THEORY OF A DEADMAN SETLIST 8.27.2026 Hampton Beach Casino Balroom
1. Barricade
2. Ambulance
3. Blow
4. Winnebago (Lay Low)
5. Bitch Came Back
6. Santa Monica
7. Not Meant to Be
8. Wicked Game
9. Lowlife
10. Hate My Life
11. RX (Medicate)
12. Bad Girlfriend
THEORY OF A DEADMAN
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SEVENDUST
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RETURN TO DUST
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HAMPTON BEACH CASINO BALLROOM
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