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Creed Crushed A Sold Out Show in Saint Louis Friday

Creed performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Saint Louis Friday. Photo by Sean Derrick/ Thyrd Eye Photography.

 

–by Sean Derrick

 

The on and off again career of veteran rock band Creed is back on again after a twelve-year break, and “Higher” and cooler than ever, as evidenced by their sold-out show Friday at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Saint Louis.

Creed performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Saint Louis Friday. Photo by Sean Derrick/ Thyrd Eye Photography.

Soaring high since the band’s weeklong Summer of 99 Cruise in April the band is performing to capacity crowds once again. This is a stark contrast to the last time the band played in the Gateway City (a mildly attended show at The Pageant in May of 2012, shortly before the band broke up for a second time).

Creed performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Saint Louis Friday. Photo by Sean Derrick/ Thyrd Eye Photography.

At one time they were simultaneously loved by fans while also hated by critics, other groups of fans, and musicians alike for their seemingly commercialization and polished sound that were clearly intended to satisfy a music lover’s desire to be wowed and rocked. All this while being tagged in the post-grunge genre, and everywhere you turned all you would hear was Creed. Hell, even my mom loved Creed back then when she was 55.

Creed performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Saint Louis Friday. Photo by Sean Derrick/ Thyrd Eye Photography.

Now, long after those genres came and went, it seems the world is lacking those bands that have quantifiable hooks, memorable melodies, and sing along choruses. Seems like the world is itching for more of those kinds of songs. Maybe that is why Creed focused entirely on their pre first breakup catalog.

Creed performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Saint Louis Friday. Photo by Sean Derrick/ Thyrd Eye Photography.

This show did not feature one single song from the band’s last album, 2009’s Full Circle. Instead, they focused on 2001’s Weathered (4 songs), 1999’s Human Clay (7 songs), and their 1997 debut My Own Prison (4 songs) to round out the setlist.

The band blitzed through the songs like they were on a mission. With all the rock star poses, crushing guitar power chords, booming vocals, coupled with columns of flames and nitrogen cannons, the band (Vocalist Scott Stapp, guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall, and drummer Scott Phillips) seemed intent on blowing the roof off the seating area of the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre.

Creed performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Saint Louis Friday. Photo by Sean Derrick/ Thyrd Eye Photography.

Stapp’s vocals were as sharp as I have ever heard and seemed hyper focused on presenting a killer show, while at the same time talked about most of the song’s inspirations and meanings, and even opened up about the “self-torment and shame” he was going through when writing “My Own Prison”.

Creed performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Saint Louis Friday. Photo by Sean Derrick/ Thyrd Eye Photography.

Tremonti was his usual solid axe kicking self and even gave away one of his guitars to a fan the band stated was the most energetic for the show. They picked out a young woman from about 20 rows back an invited Katie up to the stage the receive the guitar. (I always wonder what each fan does when an artist gifts them a cool thing like a guitar).

Creed performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Saint Louis Friday. Photo by Sean Derrick/ Thyrd Eye Photography.

From the first notes of “Bullets” to the last bar of “My Sacrifice” Creed held the enthusiastic audience in the palm of their hands and didn’t let go for an hour and 45 minutes. By the sound of it, the fans loved every minute.

Finger Eleven performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Saint Louis Friday. Photo by Sean Derrick/ Thyrd Eye Photography.

Opener Finger Eleven had a solid set that ended with a unique mashup of their hit “paralyzer” coupled with AC/DC’s “Back In Black”, AFTER they sang a verse of the Genesis hit “That’s All” to kickstart it. I loved it. From a photographer’s perspective I loved the energy of guitarists James Black and Rick Jackett. Pure gold.

Finger Eleven performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Saint Louis Friday. Photo by Sean Derrick/ Thyrd Eye Photography.

3 Doors Down held the support slot for the show with a strong 13-song set.

3 Doors Down performing at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Saint Louis Friday. Photo by Sean Derrick/ Thyrd Eye Photography.

 

Be sure to check out the photos from the show in the gallery after the setlist below.

 

Creed Setlist:

Bullets

Torn

Are You Ready?

Never Die

My Own Prison

Say I

Weathered

What If

Faceless Man

One

What’s This Life For

With Arms Wide Open

Higher

Encore:

One Last Breath

My Sacrifice

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