Hammond, Indiana
Photos by Laura Fox
Review by Dave and Laura Fox
Shinedown is one our very favorite bands. We've lost track of how many times we've seen them live, but it's A LOT. On Thursday, July 18, 2024, we got to see them again in Hammond, Indiana, which is just outside Chicago.
The show was the first stop on Shinedown's current summer tour. They performed a free show (yes, you read that right) at the Festival of the Lakes, an event put on by the city of Hammond, Indiana, at The Pavilion at Wolf Lake. In addition to the concert, there were carnival rides, boat rides, and food and drink trucks. It was a beautiful summer night at a beautiful venue, and the place was packed with about 5,000 concertgoers. We should point out that not all admission was free; VIP and sponsor ticketholders had the closest viewing spots.
The overall mood of the evening was upbeat. The crowd had a good laugh when lead singer Brent Smith apologized for opening the show with an enthusiastic, “Illinois, how are you doing?” It then became a running joke throughout the set, with Smith repeatedly stating that Indiana was his favorite state.
Shinedown began the night with their 2018 hit, "Devil." It was a great choice - the pyro and explosions set the tone for a high-energy, dramatic show. The 14-song set consisted of a good balance of hits from their entire 21-year history. One especially poignant moment was when Smith got a little choked up when introducing their current mega hit, “A Symptom of Being Human.” Shinedown has been a strong advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, and the song is one that everyone can relate to. It was awesome to hear the crowd singing along to the chorus at the top of their lungs. One unexpected treat was a cover of Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle,” performed as an acoustic guitar duet by Myers and Bass. It was the first time we’d seen them do that and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
As always, Smith, along with guitarist Zach Myers, bassist/keyboardist Eric Bass and drummer Barry Kerch, interacted with the crowd all night. There was plenty of direct eye contact, many smiles, and true appreciation for their fans, both loyal and new. These guys are great showmen in addition to being tremendous musicians. Top that with pyro, smoke, explosions, laser lights, and huge LED screens, and you have a helluva concert experience. Whenever we looked around, people (including lots of kids) were smiling, singing, headbanging, or throwing devil horns, depending on the song. There really is unity among the Shinedown community.
It was a long night for us and we didn’t get home until after 2 AM, but we both agreed it was totally worth the drive from Noblesville to Hammond to see Shinedown live. We can’t wait for the next chance!
For more Shinedown tour dates and info, click here:
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