ALICE IN CHAINS AT PNC BANK ARTS CENTER IN HOLMDEL
The summer has come to an end, But that does not mean the shows stop! The weather felt like a chill summer evening, and the bands that were about to hit the stage had the crowd amped and ready for one hell of a rocking night. The “American Tour 2022” featuring Alice in Chains, Breaking Benjamin, Bush, and Plush, made one of the tours final stops this past Friday night at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ.
All female rockers, Plush, opened the show, and as always they absolutely crushed it. Faith Powell is the newest addition, taking her part behind the kit now. Just as I have seen these girls in the past, they simply just KICK ASS at what they do. Bush took to the stage next, and if you haven’t seen Bush by now, what are you waiting for? Gavin Rossdale is no stranger to the public eye, from leading his band since the early 90’s to solo projects and even acting on the big screen. To see Bush come on now, put on a killer performance, and know that there are still 2 more headlining acts to follow - yes this night was going to be epic! The show just started and already we have a headliner like Bush just getting the crowd warmed up! “Machinehead”, “Everything Zen”, and “Flowers on a Grave” were some of the amazing hits played during this set. As “Glycerine” started to play, Gavin made a birthday dedicated to his Aunt Maggie to make it all that even sweeter! Jerry Cantrell would join him on stage to close out their set with “Comedown” before it would be Breaking Benjamin’s turn take over this exhilarating evening.
It was time for Breaking Benjamin to hit the stage. With the set starting with lead vocals from Ben, Keith, and Aaron, the band was giving the fans all their energy right from the start. With the explosive energy from the band and pyro being blasted off behind Shaun Foist’s kit, the cold weather had no chance in cooling off tonight’s performance! Half way through their set, Ben’s son came out to join the boys upfront with an acoustic performance of Queen’s “Who Wants to Live Forever”. The band would then continue their set playing tunes from 20 years ago up to present day releases; “Polyamorous”, “Red Cold River”, “I Will Not Bow”, and the perfect ending to a set, “The Diary of Jane”.
Now for me, to see a band that I grew up to listening as a child is just magical. Certain songs that bring up some great memories (and maybe even some that weren’t so great but gives you a good laugh), there is just no other feeling like it. Alice In Chains is one of those bands that I loved playing on my CD Player during the grunge years of my life! When their set opened with my favorite song “Again”, that feeling was just multiplied by 10! Photographing the bands you love can sometimes be hard when all you want to do is put your camera down and watch the songs being played. As great as it would have been to seen the late Layne Staley perform live, William Duvall 100% deserves his leading role within the band today. The band performed “Them Bones”, “Down in a Hole”, and “Man in the Box” as the show continued. Gavin Rossdale would make a surprise appearance and join the boys in Alice in Chains to help with vocals on “Man in the Box”. Jerry Cantrell would have some words for the crowd, and “Nutshell” would be performed next, with it being dedicated to both Layne Staley and Mike Starr. As this amazing night would be coming to an end, what better way to close out the show with not one, but three of the band’s all time classics?! “No Excuses”, “Would?”, and “Rooster” would be the trio to end this amazing night and leave us all, of course, wanting more, and knowing we made the right choice for our Friday night plans!