Review & photos by Joe Schaeffer
Creed’s ‘Return of the Summer of ’99’’ run of shows has reignited the fire for fans who grew up on their anthemic sound. The band made its way to Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs for its latest show on the tour.
Opening the night were Mammoth which features the many musical talents of Wolfgang Van Halen. He is supported by Frank Sidoris and Jon Jourdan on guitar, Garrett Whitlock on drums, and Ronnie Ficarro on bass.
They played a short six-song set which included their new song “The Spell” which is taken from the forthcoming album “The End”. A headlining fall run kicks off on October 31st in Palm Desert.
Following Mammoth, Daughtry took its turn on stage for an electrifying set. The band was tight and were full of energy that emitted throughout their set. This venue was a perfect setting for Daughtry. He doesn’t just perform; he connects with the entire audience. His vocal range was on full display as the band navigated through hits like “It’s Not Over” and “The Day I Die.” During his mini acoustic set, he brought out his daughter Adalynn to sing with him on “Waiting for Superman.”
At 9:15, Creed took the stage to a thunderous round of applause. Its original lineup remains intact and consists of Scott Stapp, Mark Tremonti, Brian Marshall and Scott Phillips. So. California guitarist Eric Freidman augments the band as well.
They tore right into “Bullets” as fire shot up across the entire stage. It was a perfect opener for what became a bevy of songs pulled from their first three iconic albums.
Iconic songs like “Ode,” “Torn,” “Say I,” “One,” and “What’s This Life For,” were incredible to hear live. The song, “Never Die” was dedicated to Brad Arnold of 3 Doors Down, who had been diagnosed with clear cell renal carcinoma.
The band’s heavier cuts like “Are You Ready,” “What If,” and “Unforgiven” packed a powerful punch. These songs effectively highlight Mark Tremonti’s explosive guitar talents, while bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips created some amazing rhythmic sounds.
The set wound down with “With Arms Wide Open,” which had the entire arena singing along with every note. The set ended with another massive hit for the band, “Higher.”
As the encore ends with “My Sacrifice,” as the crowd was left wanting more. Creed has shown it is still a powerful band and there is no doubt they will continue to do so.
