Godsmack Took Noblesville by STORM Thursday
–by Kaitlyn Putnam
Legendary hard rock band Godsmack brought their highly anticipated The Rise of Rock Tour to Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana, on Thursday, June 18, delivering an unforgettable night of powerful performances alongside Stone Temple Pilots and special guest Dorothy. The tour recently saw a major lineup change behind the drum kit.
On June 12, former Dream Theater drummer Mike Mangini officially joined Godsmack, replacing Wade Murff, who stepped away from the tour to fill in for Black Veil Brides during their European run. According to Loudwire, Mangini stepped into the role without a single rehearsal! A remarkable feat considering the band’s demanding live show and extensive catalog. In addition to Mangini on drums, Godsmack’s current band members are frontman Sully Erna, Robbie Merrill on bass, and Sam Koltun on lead guitar (formerly of Dorothy.)
Opening the evening was Dorothy, the Los Angeles-based rock band fronted by powerhouse vocalist and songwriter Dorothy Martin. From the moment she took the stage, Martin captivated the crowd with her commanding presence and soaring vocals, displaying her talents, captivating her audience and making new fans. Backed by Jake Hayden on drums, Eliot Lorango on bass, and Nick Perri on guitar, Dorothy delivered a high-energy set that perfectly set the tone for the night ahead. Martin’s raw vocal power and undeniable stage presence quickly won over early arriving fans. Dorothy and Godsmack frontman Sully Erna recently made headlines after publicly confirming their relationship, adding another layer of interest for some concertgoers.
Next up were alternative rock icons Stone Temple Pilots. Forgoing any formal introduction, the band launched directly into their set as frontman Jeff Gutt raised his hands toward the sky and delivered the unmistakable opening lines of “Dead and Bloated”:
“I am smelling like a rose that somebody gave me on my birthday deathbed…” Instantly, cheers erupted throughout Ruoff Music Center as fans recognized the classic track from the band’s landmark debut album, Core. Stone Temple Pilots continue to feature three founding members: Eric Kretz on drums, Robert DeLeo on bass, and Dean DeLeo on guitar, alongside vocalist Jeff Gutt, who has successfully carried on the band’s legacy while bringing his own energy and style to the role.
During STP’s hit song, “Vasoline,” Gutt was helped over the barricade by security & fans as he sang to the crowd & carefully treaded over a sea of hands, smiling faces, and phones recording the moment. STP performed so many of their hit classics such as, “Big Empty,” “Plush,” “Sex Type Thing,” & “Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart.” An overall great show.
As dusk began to settle over the venue, anticipation reached its peak for the evening’s headliners. Godsmack took the stage around 9:15pm, preluded by AC/DC’s “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” blasting through the speakers. Moments later, a massive curtain emblazoned with the iconic Godsmack sun logo dropped, revealing the band’s impressive stage production and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
The band wasted no time igniting the audience, opening with “When Legends Rise.” From the first note, Sully Erna and company commanded the stage with the intensity and confidence that have made them an enduring act of rock. The performance set the tone for a night packed with hard-hitting anthems, explosive energy, and a celebration of early 2000s and modern rock at its finest.
The setlist focused heavily on fan favorites, including “Voodoo,” “Awake,” “Keep Away,” and “Straight Out of Line,” showcasing the band’s longevity and reminding fans why Godsmack has remained a force in rock music for nearly three decades. Godsmack’s performance also leaned heavily into audience interaction. At one point, Erna jokingly called out a man in the crowd for resembling Santa Claus. Later, he invited a young woman onstage, saying she looked like the girl featured on the cover of the band’s self-titled debut album.
Throughout the night, the band also acknowledged several children in attendance, bringing them onstage and celebrating the next generation of rock fans. Erna proudly told the crowd they were looking at “the future of rock.” One of the evening’s most memorable moments came during the band’s performance of “Voodoo.” Erna abruptly stopped the song after noticing, what he believed, was overly aggressive behavior from a security guard toward a couple fans near the barricade.
Visibly frustrated, he called out the guard and demanded him to drop the issue with the fans. Once the situation was resolved, the band seamlessly returned to the song as though nothing had happened, earning surprised looks & loud cheers from the crowd and further demonstrating Erna’s connection with his audience.
One of the night’s most anticipated moments was Godsmack’s legendary drum battle. Erna and Mangini went head-to-head behind their drum kits, exchanging explosive solos as colorful triangles illuminated the stage and the rotating platforms spun beneath them. The performance served as a thrilling display of the talent, chemistry, and musicianship that have become hallmarks of a Godsmack show. The drum battle also featured excerpts from, “Back in Black,” “Walk This Way,” and “Enter Sandman.”
The night came to a powerful close with “I Stand Alone,” the band’s iconic hit famously featured on the soundtrack for the 2002 film The Scorpion King. A longtime fan favorite, the song delivered an explosive finale that left the crowd energized and singing along. As the final notes echoed through the venue, it was clear that Godsmack had delivered a memorable night of rock and roll.
Catch The Rise of Rock Tour this year and experience it for yourself!!
And don’t forget to check out the gallery of images from the evening after the setlists below.
Dorothy Setlist:
- Down to the Bottom
- THE DEVIL I KNOW
- Raise Hell
- After Midnight
- Rest in Peace
- Medicine Man
- Dark Nights
- Elevate
STP Setlist:
- Dead & Bloated
- Wicked Garden
- Vasoline
- Big Bang Baby
- Down
- Lounge Fly
- Big Empty
- Plush
- Interstate Love Song
- Crackerman
- Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart
- Sex Type Thing
Godsmack Setlist:
- When Legends Rise
- You and I
- Cryin’ Like a Bitch!!
- Straight Out of Line
- Awake
- Surrender
- Keep Away
- Love-Hate-Sex-Pain
- Voodoo
- Batalla de los tambores (drum battle)
- Whatever
Encore:
- Under Your Scars
- Bulletproof
- I Stand Alone
