Shinedown in Orlando: a ‘homecoming’ worth waiting for

Live Review

TAMPA BREAKWAY FESTIVAL – April 26th-27th

TAMPA BREAKWAY FESTIVAL – April 26th-27th
Shinedown. Photo by David Lucas.

By David Lucas, Rock At Night Orlando

Live Review: Shinedown-Revolutions Live Tour-Amway Center, Orlando, FL – April 15, 2023

8:50 PM and it’s show time. Two large split screens are at the back of the stage and pre-recorded video plays some clips from previous shows along with dressing room shenanigans and the guys having some playtime while on the road. As the video ends, you can see smoke rise and the screens slowly move apart and (left to right) Eric, Barry, Brent and Zach come walking out toward the front of the stage. As the guys walk forward, Barry’s drum kit moves out from behind the screens as well. They acknowledge the audience for a few seconds and Barry turns and runs back and takes his seat. Eric’s bass and Zach’s guitar are handed up from the side of the stage and the music starts and the screams get louder.

Shinedown. Photo by David Lucas.

Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom, Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom, Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom, Boom-Lay Boom-Lay BOOMMM, Fireworks and explosions ignite and it’s on, Shinedown has just taken over the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida! When I first saw the setlist and that “Diamond Eyes” was going to be the opening song I was interested to see how this would play out. It was perfect for an opener. Explosions in the beginning, Zach and Brent doing a little dancing around each other and into Zach’s solo with a spray of sparks and smoke coming up from the middle of the stage. Ending with more explosions this live version is what I will hear every time I listen to “Diamond Eyes.”

In a low-toned creepy voice, We hear from Brent as he leans down by the drum riser, “We can’t hear you” and walking towards the front of the stage, one more time “We can’t hear you”. As Zach fires up his guitar, fireworks pop out from over the stage and flames shoot up the middle of the stage floor. It’s “Dead Don’t Die” from their latest album, Planet Zero.

Brent Smith of Shinedown. Photo by David Lucas.

It’s time for the third and final song for us in the photo pit. Having noticed the piano hanging from the ceiling earlier in the evening, I was pleased that this would happen right in front of where I was standing. The piano lowers and Eric puts his bass away and takes a seat on the bench and gets everyone going with the first notes of “I’ll Follow You.” During the solo Zach gets up on top of the piano and plays it though and jumps off toward the front of the stage. Brent then takes a seat next to Eric and finishes out the song.

Zach Myers of Shinedown. Photo by David Lucas.

It’s that time where those of us in the pit have to leave the photo pit and join everyone else and enjoy the show from the stands. While doing so, I could still hear the next two songs happening in the background, both from the Amaryllis album, “Bully” and “Unity.”

Now in my seat, just in time for “If You Only Knew“, from my favorite Shinedown album, The Sound of Madness. The energy and audience interaction from Brent shows the guy he is and how dedicated to his performances he is. With Eric back on the piano, Brent talks about Shinedown working with an organization called AFSP, which stands for American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. For every ticket sold on the Revolutions Live tour, $1 per ticket goes to the AFSP. Then asking everyone to light-up their phones they play “A Symptom of Being Human” from their newest album Planet Zero.

Barry Kerch of Shinedown. Photo by David Lucas.

Now asking everyone to put their fist up in the air. The music starts with a beat that gets your heart pumping. “The Sound Of Madness!” Talk about audience involvement, I don’t think there was a single person who didn’t have their fist in the air pumping with the beat of the drums.

With things settled back down for a minute, Brent states “Florida, especially Orlando, You are a part of this band’s DNA. Orlando’s rock station 101.1 WJRR was the very first radio station to play Shinedown on the air. Thank You all!”

PHOTO GALLERY

Setlist:

Diamond Eyes (Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom)

Dead Don’t Die

I’ll Follow You

Bully

Unity

If You Only Knew

State of My Head

Enemies

A Symptom of Being Human

Sound of Madness

Planet Zero

45

Devil

Second Chance

Don’t Look Back in Anger(Oasis cover)

Daylight / Get Up

Simple Man(Lynyrd Skynyrd cover)

Monsters

Cut the Cord

 

SHINEDOWN TOUR DATES 2023

April 3 – Saginaw, MI @ The Dow Event Center

April 4 – Cincinnati, OH @ Heritage Bank Center
April 7 – Bridgeport, CT @ Total Mortgage Arena
April 8 – State College, PA @ Bryce Jordan Center
April 10 – Wilkes-Barre, PA @ Mohegan Sun Arena

April 12 – Huntington, WV @ Mountain Health Arena
April 14 – Jacksonville, FL @ Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena
April 15 – Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
April 17 – Savannah, GA @ Enmarket Arena
April 19 – Huntsville, AL @ Von Braun Center
April 21 – Memphis, TN @ FedExForum
April 22 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Raising Cane’s River Center
April 24 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
April 25 – Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
April 27 – Ft. Wayne, IN @ Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
April 29 – Milwaukee, WI @ Fiserv Forum
April 30 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
May 3 – Bozeman, MT @ Brick Breeden Fieldhouse
May 6 – Spokane, WA @ Spokane Arena
May 7 – Everett, WA @ Angel of the Winds Arena
May 9 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center
September 7 – 10 – Blue Ridge Rock Festival @ The Virginia International Raceway *^
*Festival, no Three Days Grace and From Ashes to New
^Not a Live Nation & FPC Live Produced Date

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David Lucas

Forest Live Festival – UK

Forest Live Festival – UK
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