Photos and writing by Dillon Reesor
At this point in their careers, all three acts on The Rise of Rock Tour know exactly what they are. No surprises, no reinventions, just a night built around hard rock staples and veteran performers doing what they do best. At Truist Field on May 14, the package delivered a straightforward but entertaining night led by Godsmack, with support from Stone Temple Pilots and Dorothy.
Dorothy opened the evening with a solid set that leaned heavily on stage presence and chemistry. Dorothy Martin’s voice sounded excellent live, carrying the grit and power that makes the band stand out in a crowded rock landscape. Guitarist Nick Perri was a major highlight throughout the set, constantly moving around the stage and adding plenty of personality to the performance. The connection between the two gave the set an easy confidence that helped win over the early crowd.
Stone Temple Pilots followed with what was probably the most consistently strong set of the night. Their setlist was stacked with classics, opening with “Dead & Bloated” before rolling through songs like “Wicked Garden,” “Vasoline,” “Big Empty,” and “Plush.” Even decades later, those songs still hit hard in a live setting, especially in an outdoor amphitheater. “Interstate Love Song” predictably got one of the loudest crowd reactions of the evening, while “Sex Type Thing” closed things out with plenty of energy still left in the tank. The band sounded tight throughout, and the set struck a good balance between heavier cuts and the more melodic radio staples that made them one of the defining rock bands of the 90s.
By the time Godsmack hit the stage, the crowd was fully engaged. Opening with “Surrender,” the band wasted little time getting the audience moving, and the energy stayed consistent through “When Legends Rise,” “Cryin’ Like a Bitch!!,” and “Straight Out of Line.” The set leaned heavily into the band’s biggest material, which was exactly what this crowd wanted. Sully Erna still commands the stage effortlessly, and the band sounded polished and experienced throughout the night.
The drum battle during “Batalla de los tambores” was one of the standout moments of the set, mixing in snippets of “Back in Black,” “Walk This Way,” “Enter Sandman,” and “Tom Sawyer” while giving the crowd a fun change of pace midway through the show. The encore closed things out strong with “Under Your Scars,” “Bulletproof,” and “I Stand Alone,” sending the crowd home satisfied after a night that fully embraced arena-rock nostalgia without trying to be anything more than that.
fuelthescene.com 