Make America Rock Again Tour hits Gas Monkey Live in Dallas, TX

The Make America Rock Again Tour is back and picking up right where it left off last year with an amazing line up going from city to city featuring Trapt, Adelitas Way(not on this stop), Drowning Pool, Sick Puppies, and Scott Stapp. Gas Monkey Live in Dallas, TX played host to this star studded line up and by the time we got there from front to back Gas Monkey was ready to rock. With the early start time and the wonderful Dallas traffic unfortunately we were not able to see the sets by Trapt and local band Messer. If you know anything about those bands, you know they brought everything they had and delivered and it was apparent by the activity of the crowd as we arrived.

Home town boys Drowning Pool took to the stage to a glorious home town welcome. A gigantic, wicked-looking backdrop set the stage for the performance that was about to take place. Since joining the band in 2012 (has it been five years already) Jasen Moreno has stepped in and, seemingly, has finally become the stop gap at that vocalist position since the death of Dave Williams. As always, Drowning Pool’s set is nothing but pure energy and as you can tell by the looks on their faces nothing but fun as they ripped through songs like Sinner, Sermon, and of course closing the night out with Bodies.

Sick Puppies, who have been nothing but road warriors these last couple of years, were next to take to the stage and keep the Gas Monkey faithful going, and that is just what they did. Although a short seven song set Sick Puppies went out there and proved once again why they are steady climbing that rock and roll ladder looking for their place on the top of the mountain. At times, it almost felt as if the Gas Monkey stage could not hold them as I think every inch of that floor was explored by the members of the Sick Puppies. Hell, I feel that if the drummer could have he would have made his kit mobile so he could move around the stage with his band mates as well. Passion, power and poise were on display the entire set getting the house ready for what was yet to come.

What was yet to come you might ask? Well, the answer is Scott Stapp. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, 2017 has been a year that has seen Scott Stapp, a man who once was on top of the world, make a comeback like so few are able to do. Coming off a successful solo acoustic tour as well as a tour and new album release with the band Art of Anarchy, Scott Stapp has resurrected himself back to being one of the most powerful, unique voices of our time. Reminding Gas Monkey where he came from a rejuvenated Scott Stapp rolled off one Creed hit after another. Like the Sick Puppies there was not an inch of stage that was safe to the soles of Scott Stapp’s boots as he worked that stage over. Not only was his body working but those vocal cords were putting on quite the show as well. Vocalists with the talent of Scott Stapp require a very strong vocal range to deliver the power that he puts on display and all vocalists will tell you they cannot do that without taking care of yourself. It is more than obvious that Scott Stapp has been focusing on taking care of himself, not just in the way he belts out ballads such as Higher and Arms Wide Open or the strength in his voice for songs like Are You Ready, it is the way he carries himself on stage. The way he gazes out upon the crowd and the smile on his face as he moves about shows a healthy, reinvigorated man who loves nothing more than being back out on a stage where he belongs. Plus, dude looks jacked! Look at the arms on that guy. A fitting end to his set is the song My Sacrifice, which with the road that he has traveled might just hold an even greater meaning to him these days.

Let’s just say that in a time where our country is in a state of unsettling chaos, there is always one thing that can and will bring us together, and that is music. So, get out there and go see this amazing line up that wants nothing more than to Make America Rock Again.