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Review and photos by Rob Grabowski
With the weather more reminiscent of a day in November rather than what should have been a warm August night, the recently reunited band Creed made a stop back in Chicago Sunday night. While it seemed that even though the band has only been apart for six years, did anyone really miss them? The near capacity crowd certainly welcomed them back with, excuse the pun, arms wide open.
You couldn't help but feel that after the turmoil this band went through after their last appearance in Chicago and with lead singer Scott Stapp's personal demons, that you were rooting for an underdog in a prize fight trying to regain their long lost championship title. While Creed is touring with a new CD due to be released in October called Full Circle, the night was filled with hit after hit from their recent glory days. One of the new songs, soon to be released, "Overcome," was performed early on in the set and received a warm welcome as it lived up to the traditional Creed sound. "My Own Prison" primed the crowd as lead singer Scott Stapp showed the energy and enthusiasm of a high school boy on prom night. He delivered the perfect chest-thumping rock star pose with every note he belted out and guitarist Mark Tremonti delivered his own unique style with every power chord and guitar lick. "What If" had the fist pumping crowd joining in on a sing along with smoke canons firing twenty feet in the air and Tremonti lighting the crowd up with a fiery guitar solo that finished off the song. Which confirmed, that he is the glue that holds Creed together. Stapp had the opportunity to prove how powerful and commanding his vocals are during "What's This Life For?" where he met Tremonti atop a ramp while being showered in a spectacle of sparks from overhead.
"With Arms Wide Open" and "My Sacrifice" treated the crowd to a renewed reverence for these arena rock anthems and enough pyro to rival the Dresden firebombings of World War II. Finishing off the set were "One, One Last Breath," and "Higher." Creed delivered the arena rock goods in high fashion. With the band and crowd a bit older and wiser there seemed to be a mutual respect as 12 years have passed since Creed first broke onto the scene in '97. The egos in the band seemed to have subsided with the new found understanding that fame is fleeting and the attention span of music fans is even more so. With Hoobastank opening to a 45 minute set and Creed capping off the night with 90 minutes, a good rock show is just what the crowd received. The only thing that could have made it better would be at least a two hour set from Creed. Ticket prices are going through the roof these days and if you can scrape enough cash together to not only go to the show but, purchase a $9 beverage too, you really need a value for your hard earned money and 90 minutes cuts that a bit short, but hopefully the next tour will see them break two hours. So after their six year hiatus as Creed, if the Lord can forgive perhaps Creed fans can too. |
