LIVE SHOW REVIEW AND PHOTOS: SCOTT STAPP

New England Concert’s Bernie Goulet would bring yet another powerhouse into southern New Hampshire’s premier rock club with Creed frontman Scott Stapp. With acts that include Buckcherry, John 5, Tom Keifer, the late Scott Weiland and now Stapp playing to sold-out crowds there is no doubt The Jewel Nightclub of Manchester, NH provides the biggest names in rock in an intimate, affordable setting. Head over to the Jewel website to see their calendar of upcoming events: http://www.jewelnh.com/.

Now, onto this evening’s main event: Scott Stapp. Having made his way onto the scene in the mid-nineties as one of the founders of Creed with whom he would record four studio albums with, they would accumulate staggering sales of nearly 30 million albums. At the turn of the century, Creed would go on indefinite hiatus as Stapp struggled, as many musicians do, with addiction. On his path to recovery, he would go on to produce two solo albums with his debut, The Great Divide, achieving platinum status. Between the recording of his debut and sophomore solo records, Creed would reconvene around 2009 to release their fourth studio album and subsequent tour. With tensions still high, Stapp would once again set out on his own this time dealing with a new set of demons that would become very public. He would later be diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. Today we see a rejuvenated Scott Stapp, with the answers to the questions that were holding him back. On this evening he would show us just where those answers have led him: on a path back to the top.

After having the opportunity to speak with Scott earlier in the day, I could already tell that this evening was going to be great. He sounded strong, confident and well-composed. This was a person that gave not an indication of past struggles, but a bright future. Unsure of what to expect, I was set at ease after speaking with him. As the show got underway and Stapp made his way to the stage, the crowd provided a roar that I’m sure he was very familiar with: the roar of excited fans. With a smile on his face he would lead us down a path of his biggest Creed hits as well as his solo material (I have to be honest being such a big Creed fan, I didn’t not pay much attention to his solo material due to my disappointment over their uncertainty.) That was a mistake on my part, as his solo work is every bit as good at his work with Creed. It contains the intensity and emotion that his prior band’s compositions did. A note to Creed fans: you will love Stapp’s solo work. As the set came to a close I was happy to have seen this great frontman perform at the level he did with my only disappointment coming from the short 13 song setlist – but well worth the price of admission. Definitely a tour you don’t want to miss! After all these years Scott Stapp looks and sounds great. And if you were like me and sat on the sidelines for his solo work, get in the game and pick up a copy of The Great Divide and Proof of Life and also be on the lookout for his new project with Art of Anarchy along with Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, Disturbed bassist John Moyer and the Votta brothers: Jon & Vince – I anticipate a great record from them in the fall. Scott Stapp is back!