Review By James Magill, OOTB Publications
Photos By Neil Shumate, OOTB Publications
I’ll be honest. Nowadays, it’s really hard for me to make it to a show right at gate time; I usually manage to get there midway through whoever the first opener is, especially if I think I’m going to be standing for most of the evening. That was not the case for this show.
I settled into my seat promptly at 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 20, excited to see Mammoth. They jammed through about seven songs, each one rocking, and the frontman’s lineage was apparent—he plays guitar like only a Van Halen can. The man is a multi-instrumental machine, and his talent and love for music shine on stage.
Daughtry was next to take The Schottenstein Center stage in Columbus, Ohio.
I admit, I’m not familiar with much beyond his biggest hits, but he put on a show—energetic, engaging the crowd, getting them excited and involved. The highlight for me was his cover of “Separate Ways” and the acoustic bits. I will say the set had several false endings—moments where I thought he was done, only for him to launch into several more songs. He was a showman from beginning to eventual end.
But finally, it was time for Creed to perform for the at-capacity crowd.
I’ve written quite a bit about how I think live music is a form of worship, how it can be evocative of specific times in your life, bringing back memories and feelings—Creed did that for me.
Almost any show I go to, I know there’s going to be a moment where I at least get misty-eyed, let a few tears slide. It happened several times during Creed’s set and I wasn’t the only one.
The band rocked through 15 songs, frontman Scott Stapp preaching to the crowd; he spoke from the heart and gave an emotional performance.
“My Own Prison” was the first song that really got to me, taking me back to the weird, obtuse kid I was in 1997 when I first heard it. “With Arms Wide Open” was the next; a song about finding out you’re going to be a father—I remember sitting in my car in the middle of the night, parked at the local park, right after I found out I was going to have a son, listening to that song on repeat.
The regular set ended and the crowd chanted the band’s name, begging for an encore. If you had asked me beforehand what song would choke me up, their first encore was exactly what I would’ve said: “One Last Breath.”
As someone who has struggled with mental health—who has contemplated suicide—that song holds a special meaning. I’ve been there. Close to that edge, thinking that ending it all wouldn’t be so bad. Hearing it live, loud, and empowered really struck a chord.
The band sent us home with “My Sacrifice,” which felt like the final checkmark on the list of every song I’d hoped to hear.
As my fiancée and I left, we talked about how the band was huge during our formative years, and how emotional and cathartic it was to finally see them live.
On a side note, please: If you’re having a rough time and contemplating suicide, reach out to someone. The world is a better place with you in it—I promise. A friend, a family member, or the prevention hotline (call or text 988). Talk to someone.
It does get better.
Summer Of ‘99 Tour Dates
CREED (click to enlarge)
DAUGHTRY (click to enlarge)
MAMMOTH (click to enlarge)
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