Presented by LiveNation, the evening kicked off with Mammoth, the project led by Wolfgang Van Halen, who proved himself not only a torchbearer of rock royalty but a standout in his own right. Blending melodic hard rock with technical precision, Mammoth’s short but potent set made clear that the future of rock is in capable hands.
Next up was Daughtry, led by American Idol alum Chris Daughtry, whose raspy vocals and radio-ready rock ballads had fans singing along like it was 2007. His polished set bridged the generational gap in the crowd - a crowd that, notably, skewed younger than one might expect for a band that hasn't released new material in over a decade.
Next up was Daughtry, led by American Idol alum Chris Daughtry, whose raspy vocals and radio-ready rock ballads had fans singing along like it was 2007. His polished set bridged the generational gap in the crowd - a crowd that, notably, skewed younger than one might expect for a band that hasn't released new material in over a decade.
But the real spectacle began when Creed stormed the stage beneath a blaze of pyrotechnics and pounding riffs. Frontman Scott Stapp emerged already glistening with sweat, as if he’d been powering through sprints backstage before curtain. Clad in a fitted black tank top, distressed jeans, and a notably large watch, he evoked the energy of a WWE star channeling a rock-and-roll biker - and, surprisingly, it worked. Stapp's dramatic stage presence and earnest delivery, once the subject of ridicule in the early 2000s, now feel like essential elements of Creed's enduring and nostalgic appeal.
The setlist pulled heavily from the band’s commercial heyday, with tracks like "My Own Prison," "Higher," and "With Arms Wide Open" drawing deafening singalongs. During "One," Stapp started with a message that felt both earnest and unusually resonant in today’s polarized climate: “We live in a world that separates us on ideological differences - we in this room have 90% in common and only 10% differences." Corny? Maybe. But heartfelt, too.
The setlist pulled heavily from the band’s commercial heyday, with tracks like "My Own Prison," "Higher," and "With Arms Wide Open" drawing deafening singalongs. During "One," Stapp started with a message that felt both earnest and unusually resonant in today’s polarized climate: “We live in a world that separates us on ideological differences - we in this room have 90% in common and only 10% differences." Corny? Maybe. But heartfelt, too.
The show wasn’t just nostalgia; it was also heavy. "Never Die" was dedicated to Brad Arnold, frontman of 3 Doors Down, who recently revealed a stage 4 cancer diagnosis - a somber moment in an otherwise roaring night.
Lead guitarist Mark Tremonti shredded through the evening with the same tight precision that made him a rock guitar hero decades ago. Meanwhile, Stapp never relented - his vocals soared, his movements bordered on Shakespearean, and he gave everything, sweat pouring as steam blasts and flames lit up the stage.
Lead guitarist Mark Tremonti shredded through the evening with the same tight precision that made him a rock guitar hero decades ago. Meanwhile, Stapp never relented - his vocals soared, his movements bordered on Shakespearean, and he gave everything, sweat pouring as steam blasts and flames lit up the stage.
In true arena-rock fashion, the band gave away a guitar to the "craziest Creed fan" in the crowd — which, by all appearances, could have been any of the dozens of men on shoulders or shirtless fans singing arm-in-arm and shouting every word. The energy was palpable — not just from longtime devotees reliving their youth, but from Gen Z newcomers embracing Creed’s emotional rawness and unapologetic sincerity. The prized instrument ultimately went to a young boy, who triumphantly held it overhead as the crowd erupted in cheers.
Creed was once dismissed for being too self-serious, too melodramatic, too "earnest." But at this show, that exact earnestness felt like a breath of fresh air. Sure, Scott Stapp still strikes crucifix poses and preaches like a Southern televangelist, but the band’s performance was tight, emotional, and undeniably powerful.
Creed was once dismissed for being too self-serious, too melodramatic, too "earnest." But at this show, that exact earnestness felt like a breath of fresh air. Sure, Scott Stapp still strikes crucifix poses and preaches like a Southern televangelist, but the band’s performance was tight, emotional, and undeniably powerful.
Say what you will about Creed - and many have over the years - but Wednesday’s performance proved one thing: when it comes to live shows, they still know how to take a crowd "Higher."
Originally published on August 7, 2025. Photos by Tom Searcy of Zilla Media.
Originally published on August 7, 2025. Photos by Tom Searcy of Zilla Media.
