Black Label Society Turns San Antonio's Boeing Center into a House of Riffs

Most headliners do not spend the first half of the evening opening for themselves.

The American Crusade tour is different.

Southern metal legends Black Label Society may close the evening, but its members are a part of the show from the beginning. Guitarist Dario Lorina leads Dark Chapel, while Zakk Wylde, bassist John "JD" DeServio, and drummer Jeff Fabb perform together as Zakk Sabbath. The four eventually regroup as Black Label Society, implementing a tour format unlike a typical concert bill.

On Friday night, that unconventional setup arrived at San Antonio's Boeing Center at Tech Port to bring three closely connected bands under one roof for a night of beer-chugging, brotherhood, and Southern rock-infused metal. Southbound Signal was there for firsthand coverage.

Dark Chapel lived up to its name beneath low lights that bathed the stage in a suitably moody atmosphere. The band opened with "Afterglow," mirroring the introduction to their February 2025 debut album, Spirit in the Glass. It was a natural choice to begin the night.

There was no shortage of movement (or hair) onstage, especially from the bassist, who headbanged his way through the entire set. Lorina's voice held its own against the heavy guitars and brought real, gritty soul to the heavier material without getting lost in the mix. A brief interpolation of "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" at the end of "Afterglow" fit surprisingly well and a later cover of Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" explored the soulful side of the band more deeply.

They may have received only a brief opening slot, but Dark Chapel used it well. Just two years removed from their formation in 2024, the band already appears both comfortable and confident onstage. Their place on a bill could look very different the next time they're on tour. A move from opening slots to headlining stages may only be a matter of time.

At the age of 20, Zakk Wylde entered Ozzy Osbourne's world through an audition in 1987 and quickly became part of metal history. The experience shaped nearly every chapter of the career that followed, and Ozzy's influence remains deeply embedded in Wylde's music. Since 2014, he's paid tribute to that legacy as the leader of Zakk Sabbath. With his history alongside Ozzy, there's a significance beyond that of the average cover project. If anyone has earned the right to carry these songs into the future, that person is Wylde.

I never had the opportunity to see Black Sabbath, and sadly, I never will. And while Zakk Sabbath may not completely replace that experience, the band offers something meaningful for those of us who missed ever seeing Sabbath live. Their setlist pulled from some of the most recognizable songs in metal history — but then again, nearly every first Ozzy-era Black Sabbath song carries that distinction. Zakk clearly feels a deep connection to the material, and the energy he and the band brought gave the familiar songs a life of their own.

For fans like me who never had the chance to hear these songs live, the set was an awesome opportunity to experience classics like "Children of the Grave," "Snowblind," "Fairies Wear Boots," "Bassically," "N.I.B.," and "War Pigs." And with Sabbath's legacy properly honored, it was time to turn toward Wylde's own catalog with Black Label Society.

"Suicide Messiah" was my introduction to Black Label Society, and I can still remember how cool I thought it sounded the first time I heard it. That memory came rushing back as I waited for the band to take the stage, everyone around me still buzzing from the Zakk Sabbath performance. Overhead, a huge black curtain emblazoned with the Black Label Society logo blocked the stage from view. When it finally fell, the band was revealed all at once, launching straight into "Funeral Bell" to start the set, guns blazing.

One of the first things to catch the eye after the initial moments was Zakk's microphone stand. It rose from a pile of skulls and was topped by a wooden cross, a striking piece that matched the band's image perfectly. With his long blond hair, vest, and signature kilt, he looked equal parts metal god and battle-worn warrior.

There is still something remarkable about how naturally Wylde's fingers move across the fretboard, even during the fastest and most intricate sections. The band played through "Name in Blood," "Destroy & Conquer," "A Love Unreal," and "Heart of Darkness" before getting into a cover of Ozzy's "No More Tears."

In many ways, the entire evening felt like an ode to Ozzy Osbourne. His presence hung over the show, not as something mournful, but as a reminder of how much his music still means to both Wylde and the fans in front of him. Chants of "Ozzy! Ozzy! Ozzy!" broke out repeatedly. Fans were just as vocal during the music, singing along throughout the set. The affection coming from the audience visibly affected Zakk, whose emotions began to show as he absorbed the chants. All of that emotion eventually found its clearest expression in the performance of "Ozzy's Song," Wylde's deeply personal tribute to his longtime friend and mentor. After the emotion of "Ozzy's Song," Black Label Society returned to full force for the closing "Stillborn."

At 59, Wylde remains as busy and visible as ever, moving between Black Label Society, Zakk Sabbath, and Pantera while continuing to create new music. And at Friday's performance at Boeing Center, Zakk honored where he came from. The American Crusade tour is a demanding undertaking, but that is also its appeal. Fans do not simply get an opening act and a headliner; they get a fuller look at the music, history, and people surrounding Black Label Society.