SHINEDOWN LIVE AT THE MODESTO CENTRE PLAZA IN MODESTO, CA ON 3/8/16

LIVE WITH THE SOUND OF MADNESS

Shinedown is a band formed in Florida in 2001 who released their debut album ‘Leave a Whisper’ in 2003. It wasn’t until the release of their third album ‘The Sound of Madness’ in 2008 that I would become an instant fan. With Shinedown out on tour to promote their fifth studio album “Threat To Survival”, this was a great opportunity to finally catch the band live. I was able to do so on March 8th when the band made their stop at Northern California’s Modesto Plaza Center.

As Shinedown hit the stage, they proved to be a band filled with high energy as singer Brent Smith came out wearing sunglasses and a trucker cap pulled down low in a stance ready for battle as he belted out “Crying Out” and “Fly From the Inside”. Shinedown’s guitarist Zach Myers took a more laid back approach but lets his guitar do the talking. I was really impressed with bassist Eric Bass and drummer Barry Kerch as the bands rhythm section because they were spot on all evening.

On this night Shinedown were definitely a well oiled machine as they played and interacted with the crowd throughout the entire evening. There were several sing-a-longs to their commercial hits like “Diamond Eyes (Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom)” and “The Crow & The Butterfly” which is one of my favorites. The band knew how to work the crowd with newer songs and the earlier hits that made the band who they are today. Shinedown gave us “Through The Ghost”, “State of My Head” and several other great songs but it was “Second Chance” that was the one I was waiting for and Shinedown did not dis- appoint. As the evening came to a close, Shinedown finished the night with “Sound of Madness” which left everyone knowing that they just witness one incredible show.