Fans from all over the tri-state packed the Big Sandy Arena for the Attention Attention tour with Shinedown, Papa Roach, and Asking Alexandria. This was the arena’s 3rd sold out show since December 2018.
Starting off the show was Asking Alexandria from York, North Yorkshire. This was my first time seeing them live and I have to say, they got the crowd fired up. They started off the show with Into the Fire followed by Where Did it go and others like Vultures, Moving On, and finished their set with the only song I knew, Alone In A Room. This is a band I would go check out again if they are in my area. The band members were full of energy, working the crowd, and not standing still for more than three seconds.
Next up was Papa Roach. Formed in 1993, these guys know what they are doing on stage. They opened their set up with probably their most famous, song Last Resort. Other songs they covered was Help, Who Do You Trust, Getting Away With Murder, and finishing up their set with Born For Greatness, their 3rd single off their album Crooked Teeth. The singer of the band, Jacoby Shaddix even went out into the crowd taking photos with some of the fans.
Now the moment everyone was waiting for, the moment I have been waiting for was about to begin. I have been a big fan of Shinedown for years and finally got the chance to photograph them professionally. When the curtain dropped the music began with one of my favorite new songs Devil, the crowd went wild. With the laser lights going and fire bursting all around the crowd only got louder. The 3rd song of the night was Enemies, with the crowd singing along to the verse. For the rest of the show, I watched from the crowd area as I was done shooting the show. Brent Smith made sure the crowd knew that their band was very grateful for their loyal fans. They went on to play I’ll Follow you, Get Up and Bully which had everyone singing along.
Then Brent, Zach, Eric, and Barry made their way down the catwalk to the other stage in the middle of the stadium. I have never seen this done before and I thought it was pretty awesome. He talked to the crowd like everyone there was his friend. He went on to say we never want someone to come to a Shinedown show and feel like they are alone, because you’re not. You are welcome here now and forever. Brent said rock and roll is not a genre, it’s a way of life. It doesn’t matter if you’re a man, or a woman, old or young, your religion or anything that makes you you. Everybody is welcome in the rock and roll community. EVERYBODY is welcomed.
Those words were so true that night and it was a sight I will remember forever, the whole stadium lit up with lighters and cellphone lights. It was a breathtaking moment and one that makes me proud to be a part of the rock and roll community.
Here is a picture that sums up what Brent said, this is a way of life, this is the way of our life. Everyone is welcome in the rock and roll community. This picture shows our rock and roll community in full force and this will live on forever. Rock and roll is here to stay. And remember EVERYONE is welcome now and forever.
This is why Shinedown sells out their shows all across the world. In my opinion Shinedown is one of the humblest bands I have seen live.
Galleries from this show:
