Rock Resurrection Tour
Saint Asonia, Theory of a Deadman, Skillet
March 18th, 2023
Baxter Arena
Omaha, Nebraska
Despite the tour’s name, tonight’s concert would prove that rock is far from dead. It didn’t matter that the windchill drove the temperature below freezing, thousands of eager fans started lining up hours before the doors were even opened. The Rock Resurrection Tour would be hot enough to melt the ice and snow covering Omaha on a cold winter day. It’s been a few months since rock and heavy metal played at Baxter Arena, so we were ready for a night of loud, heavy music to rock the roof off the arena!
As with the rest of the tour, veteran hard rock juggernaut Saint Asonia would be opening this evening’s show. For those of you that don’t know, Saint Asonia features founder and former Three Days Grace frontman Adam Gontier, and Staind guitarist/founding member Mike Mushok. Unfortunately, extenuating circumstances have prevented guitarist Mike Mushok from appearing on this tour. While Mushok was missed, guitarist Tavis Stanley of Adelitas Way, and Art of Dying was brought in to fill in for this run.
Saint Asonia hasn’t played the Omaha Metro Area since their debut performance in 2015, when the band was on tour with Seether. Gontier is no stranger to Omaha though. His previous band, Three Days Grace, had made numerous appearances in the Omaha Metro Area between 2004-2011. The band used their time on stage to highlight tracks from throughout their catalogue, as well as fan favorites from Three Days Grace, and the critically acclaimed duet between Gontier and Apocalyptica.
Theory Of A Deadman released their latest 8th studio album, Dinosaur, just the day before tonight’s Nebraska show. The band hasn’t played Omaha since 2011, with tonight’s show marking their 4th performance in Omaha since 2009. The crowd was incredibly receptive to Theory of a Deadman’s high energy performance. The crowd sang along to every song that played, including their special mash-up of fan favorite cover songs. TOADM skipped the high theatrics though and focused on bringing the hard rock to their hour plus long performance.
Vocalist Tyler Connolly commented about the bands love for hockey. He proceeded to go on about how much Omaha loves their winter sports as much as their hard rock music after finding out there was a Curling Tournament going on in the arena’s ice rink at the same time the band was playing.
SKILLET is always a welcomed sight in Omaha. Tonight marks the band’s first performance in Omaha since their appearance at Sokol, rebranded The Admiral, in February 2020. This evenings show will be their 11th performance in the Omaha Metro Area since 2007. After seeing the band live, its no wonder why they’re two-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated, Pandora Billionaires Club members, and multi-platinum-certified.
There’s a reason why Skillet are one of the best-selling rock bands of the 21st century, and it’s their passion for a live concert experience. Participation is mandatory at a Skillet concert. The stage changed from dark to blue with visuals on the screens and Jen Ledger made her way up to take her seat on her drum throne. Seth Morrison entered next to take his position at his microphone as he got comfortable. Kory Cooper made her gracious entrance soon followed by John Cooper. The energy just erupted through the arena as Feel Invincible began! I felt I couldn’t take a breath between captures due to how much energy was vibrating from the bass through my feet. The energy was unmatched, from the band and the crowd. Every word being screamed behind me matched every word happening in front of me. It was unreal! The band continued on into Rise which was met with even more energy than the prior track. The band then exited for a little wardrobe change and instrument change out. John Cooper was then fitted with arm cannons while on the stage. He went into a few verses of Surviving the Game. When the tension in the room was at 100%, he set off the arm cannons to shoot out an aggressively amazing mist that added to the intensity of their presentation! Skillet brought a hot set list to warm up an already bitterly windy and cold city. They aren’t afraid to give the crowd their heart in every song. The message overall for Omaha was a message of love, strength, and empowerment which is a message I think a lot of folks could use to hear right now.
This is what a concert should be. Regardless of race, religious or political views, cis gender or transgender, music is a uniting force. Sing along loudly to your favorite songs. Dance like no one is watching. It gives us the chance to forget about all the bullshit going on in our lives and, if even just for a few hours of reprieve from the real world, to focus on the music that makes our lives better.
Words from Adam Tibbott, and D. Ryan Clutter