With SantaCon finally in the rearview mirror and just five days left before Christmas, New York City felt like it was holding its breath. And if Santa had room for one last gift for diehard metal fans this holiday season, the answer was clear: John Bush Celebrating the Songs of Anthrax (1993–2003) at a sold-out Racket in NYC.
Braving the Saturday-night holiday gridlock in the Meatpacking District—no small feat on a freezing December night—the payoff was immediate. Near Chelsea Market, the venue was jam-packed, buzzing with anticipation, and filled wall-to-wall with fans ready to celebrate a defining, darker chapter of Anthrax history. This wasn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake—this was a statement.
Category 7 Sets the Table
Opening duties fell to Category 7, and as John Bush himself joked, this was the band “warming themselves up.” In reality, it was the perfect opportunity to showcase songs from their 2024 debut album that hasn’t yet had the benefit of a full tour cycle. With only a handful of one-off shows under their belt, Category 7 delivered a tight, aggressive set that culminated in a shredding finale ‘Etter Stormen’, highlighted by the twin-guitar attack of Phil Demmel and Mike Orlando. As Bush exited the stage to prepare for the main event, the crowd knew what was coming.
A Celebration of Survival and Evolution
Fifteen minutes later, the band returned—and let’s be honest—this was a full-throttle celebration of Anthrax’s dark, heavy, and often industrial-tinged era, a period when classic metal bands were forced to evolve just to survive the grunge-dominated ’90s. These songs may not carry the same classic thrash feel as earlier Anthrax material, but they are powerful statements of their time—and they absolutely stand on their own.
Opening with ‘Potters Field’ from The Sound of White Noise was the perfect choice, mirroring how Anthrax themselves kicked off their 1993 shows. For longtime fans such as myself, it felt like a full-circle moment. Bush quickly acknowledged that while the recent Los Angeles and Chicago shows were incredible, this three-show run had to end in New York City—the band’s hometown.
John Bush: Unstoppable
All night long, John Bush was a force of nature—headbanging, prancing, and tearing across the stage with relentless energy. The band powered through a 17-song set spanning over 90 minutes, evenly representing all four albums from the Bush era. The setlist balanced radio staples with deep cuts, fan favorites, and even songs that Anthrax never performed live during their original run.
Early standout ‘Refuse To Be Denied’ came with Bush noting that its lyrics are just as relevant today as they were 20 years ago. One of the night’s emotional high points was ‘Inside Out’, a chaotic, furious track dedicated to the late Dimebag Darrell, whom Bush lovingly referred to as the third Anthrax guitarist. On that song, Mike Orlando fully channeled Dime’s spirit—an undeniable show highlight.
That Pantera connection resurfaced on ‘Cadillac Rock Box’, with Bush reminding the crowd that both Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell played on the studio version. Moments like these gave the night a deep sense of brotherhood and history.
Deep Cuts, Debuts, and Humor
Bush was in great spirits throughout, joking about how exhausting it is to manage his own band and revealing that he finally enlisted Joey Vera—his Armored Saint bandmate—to help keep things in line. During ‘Hy Pro Glo’, Bush shared a surprising stat: The Sound of White Noise is the only gold album he’s ever appeared on across his 40-year career with Anthrax, Armored Saint, and beyond.
Deep tracks like ‘1000 Points Of Hate’ hit hard, delivering some of the darkest music and lyrics of the night. The live debut of ‘Strap It On’ drew laughs and cheers after Bush explained he finally played it just to silence a particularly persistent Instagram commenter.
For “Black Lodge,” the band brought out a local keyboardist, adding atmosphere to the song’s slow, moody build and expansive harmonies. It was haunting, powerful, and beautifully executed.
Secret Weapons and a Perfect Finish
While the band was stellar across the board, Phil Demmel emerged as a secret weapon—delivering not only crushing guitar work but also strong backing vocals, especially noticeable on ‘Safe Home’, and Jason Bittner shined behind the kit, particularly on radio staple “Room For One More.”
And then, as expected, the night came to a thunderous close with “Only”—the biggest song of the John Bush era—bringing the house down and sealing the night as something truly special.
Reflections
As the final notes rang out and the crowd poured into the cold New York night, one thing was crystal clear—this wasn’t just a nostalgia run or a side project show. It was a powerful affirmation of an era that helped keep Anthrax alive during one of the most challenging periods in heavy metal history. Adding to the significance of the night was the quiet but unmistakable presence of Anthrax bassist Frank Bello, watching side-stage, taking it all in. It felt less like a guest appearance and more like a silent nod of respect—one era acknowledging another. In that moment, the lines between past and present blurred, and what remained was brotherhood, survival, and the undeniable impact of the John Bush years. If this show proved anything, it’s that these songs still matter, still connect, and still hit with force. In New York City—where Anthrax was born—this celebration didn’t just honor history. It reaffirmed it.
Concert review by Metal Walt
John Bush:
- Potters Field
- Random Acts Of Senseless Violence
- Refuse To Be Denied
- Inside Out
- Cadillac Rock Box
- Hy Pro Glo
- 1000 Points Of Hate
- Crush
- Strap It On
- Black Lodge
- King Size
- Safe Home
- Room For One More
- Fueled
- What Doesn't Die
- Catharsis
- Only
Category 7:
- Land I Used To Love
- Exhausted
- In Stitches
- Apple Of Discord
- Mousetrap
- Etter Stormen
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