Alt-rockers Icon For Hire are setting out on the appropriately named Emo Dreams Tour this September-October. Support is date specific and in the form of Conquer Divide, The Funeral Portrait, and/or Concrete Castles. You can get your tickets and VIP now at iconforhire.net!
9/13 – Greenville, SC – Radio Room*
9/15 – Rochester, NY – Montage Music Hall*
9/16 – Elmira, NY – The L (The Pit)*#
9/17 – Leesburg, VA – Tally Ho Theater*#
9/18 – Mechanicsburg, PA – Lovedrafts*#
9/19 – Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom*#
9/20 – Brooklyn, NY – The Kingsland*#
9/22 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace*#
9/23 – Erie, PA – Basement Transmissions*#
9/24 – Lakewood, OH – The Winchester*#
9/25 – Columbus, OH – A&R Music Bar*#
9/26 – Indianapolis, IN – Hoosier Dome*#
9/27 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Stache at The Intersection*#
9/29 – Joliet, IL – The Forge*#
9/30 – Des Moines, IA – Lefty’s Live Music*#
10/1 – Fargo, ND – The Aquarium*
10/3 – Billings, MT – Pub Station*
10/4 – Great Falls, MT – The Newberry*+
10/6 – Boise, ID – The Shredder*+
10/7 – Spokane, WA – The Big Dipper*+
10/8 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon*+
10/10 – San Francisco, CA – Brick & Mortar Music Hall*+
10/12 – Fresno, CA – Full Circle Brewing Co.*+
10/13 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues*+
10/14 – Los Angeles, CA – The Mint*+
10/15 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick*+
10/17 – Las Vegas, NV – The Space*+
10/18 – Phoenix, AZ – The Rebel Lounge*+
10/19 – El Paso, TX – Rockhouse*+
10/20 – Roswell, NM – The Liberty*+
10/21 – Lubbock, TX – Jake’s Sports Cafe and Backroom*+
Shinedown is embarking on their fall leg of The Revolutions Live Tour 2023. Support for this stretch of shows comes in the form of Papa Roach and Spiritbox. Tickets are available at shinedown.com, and VIP experiences for both Shinedown and Papa Roach can be purchased through ticketmaster.com (limited availability).
9/3 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
9/4 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
9/6 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
9/8 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
9/9 – Alton, VA – Blue Ridge Rock Festival 2023+
9/12 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre*
9/13 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
9/15 – Ocean City, MD – Ocean City Bike Fest 2023+
Nothing More will no longer be appearing this summer with Godsmack and Staind. Mix Master Mike, of The Beastie Boys, is replacing them. Flat Black, which features Jason Hook (formerly of Five Finger Death Punch), will also be on the bill for the last four dates.
The genre-bending Fame on Fire is touring in support of their latest album, Welcome to the Chaos, in late summer/early fall. With support from the Texas-based rock quartet Kingdom Collapse, The Chaos Tour kicks off September 2nd in St. Louis, following Fame on Fire’s appearance at Rocklahoma.
Escape The Fate is kicking off their Out of the Shadows Tour on August 31st in Salt Lake City. With them will be D.R.U.G.S., Point North, Stitched Up Heart, and Garzi. You can get your tickets and VIP at escapethefate.com. (VIP is also available for Stitched Up Heart.)
8/31 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
9/1 – Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall
9/2 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre
9/3 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Club
9/5 – Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall
9/7 – Alton, VA – Blue Ridge Rock Festival 2023 (Escape The Fate and Stitched Up Heart only)
9/8 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
9/9 – Providence, RI – The Strand Ballroom & Theatre
9/10 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl
9/12 – Warrendale, PA – Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
9/13 – Columbus, OH – The KING of CLUBS
9/15 – Pontiac, MI – The Crofoot Ballroom
9/16 – Covington, KY – Madison Theater
9/17 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl
9/19 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Heaven)
9/20 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City
9/22 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
9/23 – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum
9/24 – San Antonio, TX – Vibes Event Center
9/26 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
9/27 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco Theater
9/29 – Riverside, CA – Riverside Municipal Auditorium
9/30 – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl
10/1 – San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge
10/3 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox
10/5 – Portland, OR – Bossanova Ballroom
10/7 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival 2023 (Escape The Fate only)
In This Moment and Motionless In White are bringing The Dark Horizon Tour to a city near you, with special guests Fit For A King and From Ashes To New.
After kicking off The Revolutions Live Tour last spring in North America, Shinedown decided we needed another run, this time with From Ashes To New and Three Days Grace along for the ride. I was fortunate enough to catch Shinedown twice in 2022, and when they announced a Huntsville date for early 2023, I bought tickets so fast it would have made your head spin! This concert was extra special as it was my mom’s first time seeing Shinedown.
Unfortunately, we missed openers From Ashes To New, but I have been to one of their shows and can say that I’m sure their set was spectacular. The VBC was positively buzzing when we got there, so FATN definitely pumped up the energy in the building.
Three Days Grace then came out swinging, opening with “So-Called Life” and ripping through several of their well-known tracks in succession. They utilized the extended portion of the stage, leaving only drummer Neil Sanderson and his kit to fill the main stage. (I had always referred to the extension as a catwalk, but I recently learned the appropriate term is “the thrust”.) As the band launched into the song that started it all – “I Hate Everything About You” – the audience erupted, shouting the words back at vocalist Matt Walst with gusto.
I assumed that would be the highlight of their set; however, I was wrong. Before the fans had finished cheering, Matt announced a special guest: “An OG member of Three Days Grace, Adam Gontier!” The noise level was roughly equivalent to that of an explosion as Three Days Grace founding member/singer/rhythm guitarist Adam Gontier strode into the spotlight. His huge grin was visible even from our seats in the balcony. After waving to the ecstatic crowd, he moved to the center of the thrust and the band began “Never Too Late.” Adam stayed on the stage for the final number, “Riot,” and he and the current members converged to take a bow and a few photos.
Anticipation crackled in the air as we anxiously awaited the headliner. It seemed ages, and yet no time at all, when the room went dark and the familiar intro of Outkast’s “Bombs Over Baghdad” filled the air. The early 2000s hit neared its end and faded, and the two giant split screens that shielded the main stage from view came to life. Video clips of past Shinedown performances, off day outings, and backstage shenanigans played, earning laughter and cheers. Gradually, the images distorted, crackling with static, and were ultimately interrupted by a broadcast from a female AI welcoming the audience to Planet Zero.
“We hope that you enjoy your stay. And as always, remember to start your day with outrage.”
The screens flashed bright white then parted, revealing the silhouettes of four men surrounded by fog: frontman Brent Smith, guitarist Zach Myers, bassist/pianist/guitarist Eric Bass, and drummer Barry Kerch. Screams and applause echoed through the expansive space, and the foursome made their way to the end of the thrust to wave and bask in the excitement, if only for a moment. Barry soon jogged back to his kit while Zach, encouraging the fans to get louder, grabbed his guitar and Eric slung the strap of his bass over his shoulders. Without further ado, Shinedown tore into “Diamond Eyes (Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom)” and we were off!
📸 Me
I won’t focus on the set list, just in case you’re going to attend a show and want to be surprised. Instead, I want to tell you about the energy, the non-stop high octane exuberance that Shinedown deliver in every performance. Choosing where to look is next to impossible. Between Brent’s strong, otherworldly vocals and overall charming demeanor, Zach’s interaction with the crowd and continuous rock star poses, Eric bouncing all over the place like a madman, and Barry attacking the drums with a fierce grin and flying dreadlocks, there is a feast for the eyes everywhere – and that’s without mentioning the pyro!
While there were several highlights, including Eric and Zach and their cover of “Don’t Look Back in Anger” by Oasis, I have to take a second to write about Brent’s speech. If you’ve seen Shinedown, this is nothing new. If you haven’t, I’ll prepare you.
Brent gives the most heartfelt, encouraging speeches each tour, mostly in regard to mental health and everyone belonging when it comes to the music family. On this run, he is addressing mental health and suicide. Shinedown has partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, donating $1 from every ticket sold for The Revolutions Live Tour directly to them. “And you have already raised over $150,000,” he announced. He went on to say that life is a journey, that we are all a work-in-progress, and he requested that the crowd light up every cell phone, just for the next song, then the band flowed into “A Symptom of Being Human.”
Shinedown carried us on a journey of emotions, bringing us up with bangers such as “Sound of Madness” and “Planet Zero,” only to tug the heartstrings with “45,” “Second Chance,” and “Monsters.” Their cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” was met with resounding enthusiasm, and they wrapped the evening with an anthemic high note in “Cut the Cord.”
📸 Me
Shinedown is a band that never disappoints, and this show was no exception. My mom and I left the venue in high spirits, and they only climbed higher when we joined my friend and his daughter near the buses. Within half an hour, Zach had emerged to say hello and take pictures before heading to the airport.
It was a night to remember, and I’ll end this with Mr. Brent Smith’s catchphrase.
Atreyu is setting out on The Hope of a Spark Tour later this month. With special guests Point North, Within Destruction, and LYLVC, the tour kicks off April 27th in Sacramento, CA. Tickets and VIP available at atreyuofficial.com.
4/27 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades
4/28 – Reno, NV – Virginia Street Brewhouse
4/29 – Bend, OR – Midtown Ballroom/Domino Room/Annex
4/30 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox
5/2 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory Concert House
5/3 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
5/5 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
5/6 – Los Angeles, CA – The Forum*
5/7 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
5/8 – Tucson, AZ – Encore
5/10 – San Antonio, TX – Vibes Event Center
5/11 – Corpus Christi, TX – Brewster Street Ice House
5/12 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
5/13 – Dallas, TX – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
5/15 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
5/16 – Belvidere, IL – The Apollo Theatre AC
5/18 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
5/19 – Lawrence, KS – The Granada
5/20 – Colorado Springs, CO – Sunshine Studios Live**
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