August 3 2024 - Diary of an Ardent Fan

I was taken back in time when I went to see Creed, 3 Doors Down, and Finger Eleven.

This tour is called the Summer of 99.

I was in high school in 1999 and these three bands were HUGE then.

And they’re still doing well now.

The first band, Finger Eleven, started the night with a solid, rocking set.

I was actually surprised I knew as many of their songs as I did. Quite a few hits.

The band includes original members Scott Anderson (Vocals), Rick Jackett (Guitar), James Black (Guitar/Vocals), Sean Anderson (Bass) and Steve Molella (Drums, who joined in 2013).

They really rocked and I’m glad I saw them.

They have a new album coming out in 2025 (they played one song Adrenaline from it at the show) and I look forward to that.

Next up was 3 Doors Down. I only knew of their hits (Kryptonite, Loser, and When I’m Gone), but they played quite a few songs, even a new song, and definitely sounded very good.

The band includes Brad Arnold (Vocals), Chet Roberts (Lead Guitar/Vocals), Chris Henderson (Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals), Greg Upchurch (Drums), and Justin Biltonen (Bass).

As good as they were, though, I was anxiously awaiting the main event, which was Creed.

This was their first tour since 2012 and I must say if appearances are true, they are really back this time.

The band is still the original lineup (Scott Stapp on Vocals, Mark Tremonti on Guitar and Vocals, Brian Marshall on Bass, and Scott Phillips on Drums) but also includes for the tour guitarist Eric Friedman to fill out the sound when Mark plays leads.

Honestly, I liked Creed when they were arguably the biggest band in the world in 1999, 2000, and 2001, but I also didn’t worship them either.

But when they reunited in the late 2000s and made an incredible album (Full Circle in 2009) I got more into them.

I missed them on tour then and hoped that someday they would reunite again.

Aside from Scott Stapp, who still has a solo career (just put out a great album called Higher Power) the rest of the band has been the band Alter Bridge for 20 years with Myles Kennedy singing and playing guitar with Mark, and Mark has a solo band (Tremonti) and also now sings Frank Sinatra songs and does Sinatra concerts too.

So, they have all been busy, but the hope always was that they would reunite as Creed.

Long story short made longer, Creed did reunite for two Creed Cruises, both of which sold out quickly. They then announced this tour and many of the dates, including this one, sold out.

They have an arena tour booked in the fall, and hopefully this is the start of another great chapter in the Creed story.

They looked and sounded great. They appeared to be having fun. The crowd loved them. It was a great rock show.

These guys are really really good live. Go see them if you can.

I hope they will make more Creed music someday, while also maintaining all of their other music pursuits.

Rock on guys.