Warming up
the crowd Monday, July 28, 2008BY BARRY FOXOf The Patriot-News
The combination of 3 Doors Down, Staind, Hinder and Jet Black Stare, which came to Hersheypark Stadium last night, is an odd one.

After more than three hours of the sledgehammer hard rock (in varying degrees of quality) of the trio of openers, headliners 3 Doors Down took the stage with the most accessible and radio-friendly set of the night.

With its list of hits -- "Kryptonite," "Let Me Go," "Be Like That," "Loser" -- it came as no surprise they are the most polished act on the tour.

Make no mistake, 3DD can turn on the rock. There's just no comparison with their much harder-edged tour mates, and that difference is somewhat jarring.

For example, Jet Black Stare played first, led by shaven-headed Rod Black, who stalked the stage, bringing all he had to each song in a loud, fast, muscular 20-minute set.

They were followed by the equally hard-sounding Hinder, which also provided some of the night's comic relief, some intended, some not.

Frontman Austin Winkler, whose mic stand was decorated with red, white and blue bras, does not do subtlety. "Stand the [expletive] up!" and "Feel free to get a little [expletive] crazy" were some of Winkler's crowd instructions.

At one point, in a classic Spinal Tap-esque moment, he asked, "Havin' a good time, Philly?" For the record, he did correctly identify the concert city as Hershey in every other reference.

Despite those minor missteps, Hinder was at the height of its power and talent on "Lips of an Angel" that featured all thundering drums, pounding bass, searing guitar and Winkler's vocals done with a maniacal grin plastered on his face.

But it was Hinder's no-need-to-interpret anthem "Get Stoned" that was clearly the crowd favorite of the night.

And while most people paid their money to see 3 Doors Down, Staind provided unquestioned extra value to each ticket.

Saying very little, vocalist Aaron Lewis was the eye of the rock storm, emoting lyrics amidst the mayhem of his band mates -- who generated more volume and heat than should be possible for three musicians.

Guitarist Mike Mushok thrashed so hard throughout the set that he seemed to defy the flexibility limits of the human spine.

But it was Lewis who was the most mesmerizing person of the night. He looks and sounds like he's revealing something deep or exorcising something with each song.

In front of a giant video screen projecting shapes and patterns, Lewis was serious and focused, an artist doing important work, while projecting authority and a quiet charisma.

With 3 Doors Down's explosive set (fireworks went off periodically), the combination of these four bands might be somewhat at odds stylistically, but it most likely will be the concert bargain of the summer.

quote:

Originally posted by *Lisa*(AKA) ADDICTEDtoStAiND:
Guitarist Mike Mushok thrashed so hard throughout the set that he seemed to defy the flexibility limits of the human spine.

I LOVE IT!

Just got back from the show(my first Staind show) and it was amazing. The boys rocked the house! I'm a pretty big 3 doors down fan too, and I would say Staind blew them all away tonight.

Can't wait to go back to another Staind show.

i agree with that review....didnt love jet black stare, but they weren't horrible.

as weird as hinder is, they're good live and they get the crowd into it.

staind was great tonight, and aaron singing turn the page was probably the hi-lite

im a huge 3dd fan as well, so i thought they were also excellent, and contrary to what has apparantly happened at other shows, people did not swarm for the exits after staind and it was a pretty full crowd for 3dd.

and yes, i was decked out in a staind 3/4 t-shirt, a staind wristband on one wrist, and a 3dd wristband on the other (even though everyone here hates those things and thinks they're gay haha).

I caught a Hinder drumstick, so i was using that the rest of the time as a prop to get even more involved in the songs haha...i had an incredible time tonight, just a great night of music and a major hi-lite for me... hope everyone else who went had fun too.

last night was a great show it was my first time ever seeing staind and they were amazing i don't really have any complaints about the night at all i got a bunch of videos from the show that i will be putting on youtube today if you would like this link just let me know

sure

I only went for Staind - my first Staind show, and it WAS AWESOME. I agree that Aaron shows so much emotion with each song - it's awesome. Best act of the night imo!

http://www.youtube.com/notionocean

theres the link to the videos i took from last nights show i also have videos on there from a breaking benjamin concert and seether concert i took a total of 8 videos from last nights show i put 2 up so far i will be putting the rest on today i hope you enjoy them

thanks for the videos...i still cant get over this show... flat out awesome! if you have any for the other bands that'd be cool to see too. what a great night

you are welcome sorry i only took 8 videos and they were all of staind it was a great night

Great show last night! I have to agree with the reviewer - Staind was the best by far IMO. We moved way back to sit down for 3DD (because my back was hurting) and we did see tons of people leaving after Staind. By 10:00, half of the people had left. Maybe not people who had good spots on the floor, but people who were back farther and those in the seats. It was a Sunday night and a lot of people had to get up for work. It was not a packed crowd, either. They only sold three sections of seats and only maybe 1/3 of the floor. Nowhere near the seats that sold old last summer (30,000) for Staind/Nickelback/Daughtry. This show was nothing compared to that crowd. Once again, it was a Sunday night and a lot of people aren't willing to go to work Monday morning after being out that late. It was close to 1:00 by the time we got to bed. Made for a L O N G day at work today!! Well worth it though!! Can't wait to do it again!!

Staind was amazing as usual, the meet and greet was cool, aaron was more then pleased with the package i gave him lol. i got some pics and video from the show, and something for everyone to enjoy once i finish editing and cutting the audio into tracks you will be able to hear the whole show, the quality is not bad at all!

looking forward to it tbo. and would love to get my hands on that packaage you gave aaron haha

yeah he had a smile on his face the whole time after i gave it to him. then it made me laugh cuz the singer from hinder fucked up when he was doing something and he said "dont ever smoke aaron lewis's Weed" so ive been wondering if it was fromthe package cuz that shit was fucking amazing

hahaha that's awesome. im glad you f'd that queer up.

the shit i got right now is pretty stellar, i must say. i've been getting it for a couple months now (i have a really good hook up as of late)...probably the best i've ever had. i wonder how it compares to yours...

we need to hang out for real tbo

well if all else fails, i guess there is always AC this year, since i know what you fucko's look like this time around i will make sure it happens.

quote:

Originally posted by tbo_belowsixth:
well if all else fails, i guess there is always AC this year, since i know what you fucko's look like this time around i will make sure it happens.

I actually was going through my texts the other day, and saw a few from you from AC, T-Bo. I feel so badly, but I swear if I could call you (or text, even though I don't have a text plan), I would have. But, somehow, somewhere, I must have went through a magnetic field that f'd up my phone AND all my camera cards w/my having to reformat them all. And, the whole time I was there, I had no idea what was f'ing them up, why I couldn't use my phone, etc lol. I actually thought I just had no reception anywhere there for like a day or 2, and WAS pissed about it, but I just chalked it up to that hahahaha.

i have all the videos up from the show on sunday you can check them out at

www.youtube.com/notionocean

enjoy!

quote:

Originally posted by why_so_serious?:
i have all the videos up from the show on sunday you can check them out at

www.youtube.com/notionocean

enjoy!

Cool videos the sound quality isn't all that great. It's drowned out by the bass I had the same problem when I saw them at the Delaware State fair on my camera. Still good job on posting thanks man!

quote:

Originally posted by tbo_belowsixth:
well if all else fails, i guess there is always AC this year, since i know what you fucko's look like this time around i will make sure it happens.

Aww we're so lucky to be called fucko's! haha