Shinedown Takes Over Rupp Arena For "Dance Kid Dance" 2025 Tour, 5.2.25

​By: Evan J. Thomas

Shinedown has solidified themselves as one of the top live shows in rock music after their magnificent show Friday night at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY.  I had the opportunity to photograph the show but due to the restrictions of where I was allowed to photograph from.  The soundboard on the floor is never ideal when you have to shoot through the GA crowd standing in front of you with hands raised and phones in the air.  Despite that blip on the radar it was an incredible show.

Country artist Morgan Wade opened the evening as she was donning a Kentucky Wildcats #1 jersey while strolling around the stage.  Wade’s music was what you would expect to hear while walking down Broadway street in Nashville and stopping in a joint for a drink.   

Hard Rock/ Metal stalwarts Beartooth took the stage next and blew away the masses with an intense and engaging set.  I first saw Beartooth in 2015 at the now defunct Carolina Rebellion and fell in love with their music.  Ripping through banger after banger of classics and new tracks, the boys from Columbus, OH were full throttle ahead putting on an in your face, raw and electrifying performance.  Frontman Caleb Shomo made lots of new fans as he engaged with the crowd nearly between every song.  At one point, Shomo walked to the middle of the Y shaped stage and took in the throngs of fans singing back at him as he seemed to get a bit emotional.

Beartooth Playlist
The Lines
The Past Is Dead
Sunshine!
ATTN.
Disease
I Was Alive
Might Love Myself
The Last Riff
You Never Know
Riptide
In Between


It was almost 9pm and the energy for the emergence of the main act, the before mentioned Shinedown.  I first say Shinedown in 2010 and Friday was my 4th time seeing Shinedown and every time they just blow me away.  The stage wet up was dynamic as it was shaped like a Y so each member could walk towards the center of the floor and then out to either the left or right of the venue.  It made it more intimate and you were close each time one would stroll over.  What blew me away was the pyro as there was a bevy of fire that would shoot up from the well placed spots on the main stage as well as the center of the Y and not only that there was 4 fireball shooters that shot out from above the band as you feel the heat rocking Rupp Arena.


Singer Brent Smith personality shines throughout, right before belting out one of their most recent singles “Three Six Five”, Smith asked the crowd if they had recently lost anyone.  I had lost my mother recently as she passed away 7 weeks earlier in March due to her battle with cancer.  As Smith brought that up my emotions were all over.  I get emotional at shows, if the song means a lot to me then the water works begin.  “Get Up” and “A Symptom of Being Human” are also songs that hit hard.  Shinedown also makes sure to go all out as they blow the masses away with bangers like “Cut The Cord”, “Sound of Madness” and one of my personal favorites “Planet Zero”.  The 18 song set was filled with the bands 20+ year catalog and at one point during a rendition of “Simple Man” Smith had the horde in full throat singing at the top of their lungs.  I absolutely loved it and would see Shinedown any chance I can get.  As I had mentioned previously, they to me are easily a top 3 all time must see concert!!  Don’t miss your opportunity to see Shinedown during this tour.


Shinedown Setlist:
Dance, Kid, Dance
Asking for it
Cut The Cord
If You Only Knew
Devil
Three Six Five
Enemies
Call Me
Get Up
Misfits
Fly From the Inside
Diamond Eyes (Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom)
A Symptom of Being Human
Planet Zero
Simple Man (Lynyrd Skynyrd Cover)
Monsters
Sound of Madness
Second Chance
​

"Three Six Five"