One of the hottest tour packages of 2018 would find it’s way to the small lakeside community of Gilford, NH. Located about 40 minutes north of the capital, Concord, and on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee the Bank of NH Pavilion at Meadowbrook is a newly renovated amphitheater with an 8,000 seat capacity including the lawn. A great place to see a show, enjoy a variety of food and wash it down with one of your favorite beverages, at somewhat reasonable prices (for a venue). Just make sure you have at least $10 in your wallet for the low cost, walking friendly parking or $20 for entrance side parking. After the show retire back to one of the many hotels, motels or cottages and stay a couple days – it’s worth it. On this evening it would be two of rocks biggest acts sharing the stage; Shinedown and local boys Godsmack.
Unfortunately I was unable to take in openers Red Sun Rising’s set due to traffic but I’ve seen the Ohio quintet a couple times and they put on one hell of a show. Definitely a band worth getting to the venue early for.
Shinedown would be the first of the two headliners to take the stage. Formed in the early part of the 21st century the Florida boys have become one of rocks hottest tickets. With a catalog of six studio records, over 10 million sold and twelve number one singles they’ve got the goods to deliver a killer set and they did just that.
With the sold-out pavilion now filed in Barry Kerch (drums), Eric Bass (bass), Zach Myers (lead guitar) and Brent Smith (vocals) would deliver one of the most powerful 12 song setlist I’ve witnessed. These guys must have burned 10,000 calories each they way they owned the stage. With a backdrop of lasers, lights, ramps and pyro I would say the highlight came with Myers and Smith entered the crowd playing on a small simple platform in the middle of the crowd, performing Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man”. This would wind down their set as they followed this by closing out with the monster single “Devil” off of their latest effort, Attention Attention. Just a kick-ass set from a kick-ass band, hands down one of today’s best.
Closing it out for the headliners would be hometown boys Godsmack. Formed in the mid-nineties by frontman and primary songwriter, Sully Erna in Lawrence, MA about an hour from tonight’s performance. Since their inception Erna along with bassist Robbie Merrill and guitarist Tony Rombola have been a constant with drummer Shannon Larkin rounding things out since the early 2000’s. They have sold over 20 million records worldwide, having played sold-out shows around the globe, had a string of three consecutive number-one albums and even had a day dedicated to them, “Godsmack Day”, in the city of Boston.
Whenever Godsmack play the area they bring the goods and tonight would be no different. They would come out to the title track from their latest record When Legends Rise. Through the fire and flames, lights and intensity they would give NH a strong 13 song setlist with highlights coming from another new single “Unforgettable” which included the local choir from Derry, NH who contributed to the original recording of the song and the performance of the Stevie Wonder classic “Superstition” which included Shinedown’s six-stringer Zach Myers. As I mentioned it always feels like Godsmack step it up a notch when playing the area giving the hometown crowd what they expect and more. They’ve come a long way since playing the bars of Manchester, NH but still play their hearts out like they are trying to strike a record deal.
Two of rock’s finest sharing the stage, well worth the price of admission. Be sure to catch either of these bands as they continue global domination and pick up a copy of Godsmack’s When Legends Rise and Shinedown’s Attention Attention wherever records are sold. You will not be disappointed!
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Review and photos by Brett Tully, RockRevolt journalist. All photos copyright RockRevolt Magazine.
