Four bands. One epic night of rock!
Headbanging and hair windmilling is not for the weak. I discovered this the hard way this morning after an incredibly energetic night at the Moody Center watching a truly amazing line up of some of the most iconic rock bands of our generation. Hinder, Hoobastank, Seether and Staind performed back-to-back, delivering nothing but epic rock ballads and ‘hell yeah’s!”
HINDER
Hinder was a special favorite of mine for the night. Beautiful, atmospheric pink and orange lighting warmed up the stage displaying a grandiose gradient of sunset colors alongside lead singer, Marshal Dutton. Dutton kept consistent eye contact with me throughout the show, making for some epic photos. With a shorter than usual set, Hinder started out the night with “All American Nightmare”, placing their iconic, “Lips of an Angel” in the middle of the set while closing out to “Get Stoned”.
HOOBASTANK
Hoobastank was insanely memorable; frontman Doug Robb moved all across the stage like a pinball machine. They used an elevated platform, which made Robb look like a giant while he was front and center on the stage.
Starting out with “Same Direction”, Hoobastank made their way through the set and once they reached America’s favorite song, “The Reason”, Robb made his way into the pit singing to everyone in the crowd. I also can’t forget to mention that Robb came down before the set and shook everyone’s hands in the front row. That gesture, paired with singing in the pit, proves how genuine Hoobastank’s performance is for their fans.
SEETHER
Seether had the best lighting production on stage. Beautiful hues of blue and pink mixed with fog created gorgeous silhouettes behind the band members. Frontman Shaun Morgan had the best mic stand decor, which featured some punked-out baby doll toys decked on the stand. Starting with “Because of Me”, Seether’s set was our pick of the night due to how the band uplifted everyone and got the masses off their feet.
Especially during “Fine Again,” we noticed the togetherness shown across the entire venue. Ending the set with “Remedy”, Seether left the stage with the crowd extra excited about the last act, the headliner: Staind.
STAIND
25TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
Opening with some footage recorded over two decades ago commemorating their 25th Anniversary tour, Staind had the entire crowd jumping and crowd surfing until the very end. Security was ready to provide aid and a safe landing to any crowd surfer in the pit, which is just one of the many reasons why we love the Moody Center! Frontman Aaron Lewis knew exactly who he was last night. He walked the stage with grace and confidence, looking like he was exhaling and inhaling, taking in everything that lay before him. An arena full of screaming fans singing the lyrics until they couldn’t take another breath. He walked to the side stage and would close his eyes and smile, showing true gratitude for the life he had been given.
Starting with “Open Your Eyes,” Staind’s guitar player, Mike Mushok had the pit going wild, myself included. Mushok knew the chords like the back of his head and that’s all we really could see from him since he headbanged for the entire set! I was in awe of how much hair he could thrash around all while playing a perfect set! One of the most memorable band members throughout the 4 sets was definitely Mushok and his headbanging. Performing crowd favorites such as “Right Here” and “So Far Away,” the crowd was more than satisfied at the end of the night.
FROM A BASEMENT TO ROCK LEGENDS
Before becoming one of the defining names of early-2000s rock, Staind began in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1995. The band grew out of the local music scene, with vocalist Aaron Lewis and guitarist Mike Mushok among its founding members, alongside bassist Johnny April and drummer Jon Wysocki in the original lineup. They spent their early days rehearsing in Mushok’s parents’ basement and playing local bars, mixing original songs with covers influenced by bands like Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Stone Temple Pilots.
Their breakthrough arrived with Break the Cycle in 2001, an album that reached five-times platinum certification and introduced a wider audience to songs like “It’s Been Awhile,” “Fade,” and “Outside.” More than two decades later, those songs continue to connect with fans who grew up with Staind and a new generation discovering their music.
