CAMDEN, NJ- On Sunday August 26, 2018 Godsmack & Shinedown brought their high-octane roadshow to the BB&T Center in Camden NJ. Known for delivering pyrotechnically punctuated performances both bands are clearly headliners in their own right. Also on the nights roster, the Akron Ohio based rockers Red Sun Rising.
Shinedown is an American rock band from Jacksonville Florida and played a dual headliner roll on this tour with Godsmack. Known for its technical stage productions and its intense musical delivery, this is a band that’s been on my bucket list for a while. Shinedown members include Brent Smith on lead vocals, Zach Myers on guitar and vocals, Eric Bass on bass and vocals and Barry Kerch on drums. Formed in 2001, Shinedown’s latest album Attention Attention dropped in May of 2018, and debuted in the #1 spot on the Billboard top 100 Top Rock Albums of 2018.
The stage was concealed by a large white curtain as a sound clip of Attention Attention blared over the pa system like a public service announcement, the white curtain back lit by laser beams spelling Shinedown in vivid colors as the crowd roared to life! As the curtain fell, the band dove into the title track from their third studio album The Sound of Madness, the crowd of over 20 thousand overtaken by the hard driving music. The stage presentation was brilliant, dominated by pyrotechnics, lasers, smoke and explosions punctuating the music in a beautiful sort of harmony, not overpowering but clearly complimenting both elements, music and visuals.
As the first song came to an end Brent Smith addressed the crowd “Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Welcome to the Show”, the band not allowing the crowd a single second to recover as it plowed forward with “Diamond Eyes” off the Sound of Madness album, Brent on the barrier sharing fist bumps and handshakes with fans (and photographers). There is no way I can exaggerate the sheer power of this band in a live setting as I watch front man Brent, standing behind Barry on the drums, fist in the air while flames and lasers rip through the night, it’s just unreal.
Shinedown’s music, like most successful bands, transcends genres, appealing to a wide range of musical interest it includes rock and metal, while including a bit of Southern influence for good measure. Musically speaking it’s difficult to fathom that three musicians (guitar,bass,drums) can make such beautiful noise , but they do. The combination of Brent on vocals, Barry on drums, Zach on guitar and Eric on bass is just bliss, and their success comes as no surprise. Shinedown continued their scorching set with “Cut The Cord” off the Threat to Survival album, weaving a path through their past and present including “Get it Up “off Attention Attention, and a tribute to their Southern heritage with a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd “Simple Man!
Shinedown played a total of 12 songs during their set, ending with “Devil” off of their latest album Attention Attention igniting the crowd with their musical prowess and visually stunning theatrics.
In conclusion this was an incredible show, both musically and visually stunning with Godsmack and Shinedown combining lasers, pyrotechnics, smoke and explosions to punctuate their music and create / control the shows atmosphere. I will say this, while I loved the visuals of this show, the music is what carried the weight. Godsmack and Shinedown are huge bands that play intense hard driving music with mass appeal that can make a crowd get lost in the moment. Tonight, was a wild bumpy ride, and I was happy to be along. Big thanks to Godsmack, Shinedown and Red Sun Rising for sharing your music with all of us.
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