Danish Band Volbeat Rocks Dubuque’s Back Waters Stage

Just 48 hours after Darius Rucker brought his "Starting Fires" tour to Q Casino's Back Waters Stage, two different bands took the stage on Saturday, July 15th and both brought a raucous and lively energy to a crowd of over 3,000.

It was Bad Wolves' and Volbeat's turn to crank things loud and give Dubuque and Tri-State concertgoers a memorable evening of music, community, and fun. The show began at 8pm with heavy metal band Bad Wolves taking the stage and performing their hits old and new for nearly an hour.

Led by relatively new lead singer Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz, the band cycled through songs from their latest album, Dear Monsters, and doubled-back to older songs, such as their popular cover of The Cranberries' hit "Zombie." DL brought a palpable energy to the stage, almost single-handedly livening up the crowd with his exhortations and spirit.

My girlfriend and I actually got to meet DL inside Q Casino after the show. In contrast to his stage persona, he was quiet and humble following the show. Bad Wolves made a new fan in me. I've been singing their song "Lifeline" since I heard the band perform it.

By 9:30pm, it was time for Volbeat to take the stage. The Danish band has their own style of heavy metal: it's a mix of traditional metal/groove metal sounds, rock 'n' roll, and rockabilly, all blended together to create a rollicking sound. Since 2001, Michael Poulsen has served as the frontman for a band that has released eight albums (many of which double albums) and toured all over the world.

A long way from home, Poulsen made sure to note how much it means to him and the band that people all around the States come out en masse to see them. He made sure to note how his wife and young child were asleep in the tour bus, reminding everyone that life on the road might not be glamorous, but it pays dividends when you perform in front of lively crowds like the one Q Casino saw on Saturday night.

Once again, Q Casino set the standard for live music in the Tri-States. We're just about at the halfway point of their 2023 Summer Concert Series, and every show has been a rousing success both in turn-out and execution.

Next up, the Back Waters Stage will be welcoming Elle King on Friday, August 11th with another quick turnaround for Halestorm on August 12th. Tickets for both shows are available on Back Waters Stage's website.