Shinedown with Papa Roach and Asking Alexandria
Big Sandy Superstore Arena
Huntington, West Virginia
February 24, 2019
Photos and review by Tom Biggs
©2019. Please DO NOT copy or use without permission.
Yes, another SOLD OUT show at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena, not sure what they’re putting in the water out that way but its working! If I had to venture a guess though I’d say Shinedown, Papa Roach and Asking Alexandria had a lot to do with tonight’s sell out!
Asking Alexandria kicked off this night of music and quickly had the huge crowd rockin and rollin! Starting the set off with Into The Fire from their 2017 release Asking Alexandria followed by Where Did It Go from the same release. Following those two up with Run Free from 2013’s From Death to Destiny. The majority of the set list was comprised of tracks from that 2017 release including the last song of the 9 song set Alone In a Room. They left the crowd ready for Papa Roach and Shinedown!
Papa Roach wasted no time giving the West Virginia crowd what they wanted, kicking the night off with one of their biggest hits Last Resort! They are a Grammy nominated band that has been cranking out music since 1993, so they know what to give a rowdy sold out crowd! They gave them hit after hit, Between Angels and Insects, Scars then throw in some songs from their brand new release Who Do You Trust like the title track Who Do You Trust, Not the Only One and Renegade Music. Unfortunately, I wasn’t approved to shoot their set so I don’t have any images to share, but they put on a great show!
The stage was cleared and a large white curtain was hung, it was time for Shinedown to rein fire down on Huntington and the Big Sandy Arena! With an extremely loud explosion the curtain dropped and Shinedown launched right into Devil then Diamond Eyes (Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom).
With 13, yes 13 number one hits on Billboards Mainstream rock chart the guys in Shinedown know what the fans want and they gave it to them on this night. Not only do they know how to rock they are some cool cats as well, singer Brent Smith in particular. Before the next song Brent asked the crowd to look to their left and right and shake that person’s hand, as the crowd did that he did one of the coolest things I’ve seen a front man do at a show, he walked out on the center section of the stage and shook every security person and photographers hand that was in the pit.
There’s a cool picture of him shaking my hand, like I said one of the coolest thing I’ve seen a front man do. Back to the songs Enemies, Monsters and Black Soul where the next three with Bully ending a nine-song group before the band made their way out to the end of that center section of stage for 6 more songs that included The Crow & Butterfly and Simple Man. Back to the main stage for three more songs closing the night out with Sound of Madness and Brilliant. With that a killer 18-song set came to an end. If you get a chance to see this tour, take it!
As I said at the beginning of this article this was a sold out show, the third sold out show for the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in as many months. With two potentially sold out shows upcoming the Big Sandy Superstore Arena has found something that’s working. If you’re in the area go check out a show there, you will not be sorry!
