LIVE and STP Bring Back Memories to Mansfield
On a brisk September evening as the summer concert series’ wind down at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, music fans were treated to a memorable night of alternative rock celebrating the 30th anniversary of iconic albums with the Jubilee Tour. This venue is a vast outdoor amphitheater known for hosting a wide range of concerts, performances, and events. Situated roughly 30 miles south of Boston, this lively venue accommodates around 19,900 guests, featuring both covered pavilion seating and an expansive lawn area, perfect for those who prefer a more laid-back, picnic-like concert experience. This concert featured a dynamic lineup of post-grunge and straight up rock, beginning with Soul Asylum, followed by Stone Temple Pilots, and culminating with the headliner, Live. Each band brought its own unique energy to the stage, making for a varied and hard-hitting show.
First up we were gifted Soul Asylum with current members Dave Pirner (lead singer and rhythm guitar and only original member), Jeremy Tappero (bass), Ryan Smith (lead guitar), Michael Bland (drums). They are an American alternative rock formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1981. The band is best known for their 1993 hit single "Runaway Train," which won them a Grammy Award and brought them mainstream success. The band has released 12 studio albums and their new album Slowly But Shirley will be released on September 27, 2024. The band delivered a high-energy set that energized the early crowd that decided to come out to support the openers. Soul Asylum's performance was a nostalgic journey through their post-grunge sound. The band had raw and unfiltered energy as they powered through hits like "Black Gold" and "Misery." Their dynamic stage presence set a high bar for the evening, showcasing their enduring talent and connecting with the audience through both their upbeat tracks and poignant ballads.
Soul Asylum delivered a high-energy set that immediately got the early crowd’s blood pumping. Soul Asylum's performance was a nostalgic journey through their post-grunge sound. The band’s raw and unfiltered energy was palpable as they powered through hits like "Black Gold" and "Misery." Their dynamic stage presence set a high bar for the evening, showcasing their enduring talent and connecting with the audience through both their upbeat tracks and poignant ballads. Despite many changes in the lineup over the years the chemistry among the band members was well evident. Michael’s drumming was tight and powerful, driving the songs forward with precision. Jeremy on bass provided a solid foundation, while Ryan’s guitar work added a fresh edge to the band’s sound. Together, they created music that was both polished and raw, a perfect match for Dave’s gritty vocals.
Next up we knew we were in for a treat. We were getting Stone Temple Pilots (STP). This band is an iconic American rock band that emerged from the grunge and alternative rock scenes of the early 1990s. Known for their dynamic sound, blending grunge, hard rock, and alternative rock, STP quickly rose to fame and left an unmistakeable mark on the music industry.
Stone Temple Pilots was formed in 1989 in San Diego, California, although its roots trace back a few years earlier. The band originally began as Mighty Joe Young, with Scott Weiland on vocals, Robert DeLeo on bass, Dean DeLeo on guitar, and Eric Kretz on drums. The group started playing in local clubs, gradually developing a distinctive sound characterized by heavy guitar riffs and Weiland's powerful, often gritty vocals. STP's debut album, Core, dropped in 1992 and quickly became a major hit. It produced iconic singles such as "Sex Type Thing," "Plush," and "Creep," which not only topped rock radio charts but also earned the band a Grammy Award for "Best Hard Rock Performance" with "Plush." Core was a commercial powerhouse, selling over 8 million copies and solidifying STP's status as one of the top bands of the grunge era.
Their sophomore album, Purple, released in 1994, further solidified their status. With tracks like "Vasoline," "Interstate Love Song," and "Big Empty," Purple showcased the band's ability to blend hard-hitting rock with melodic hooks. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and received critical acclaim for its more diverse sound and lyrical depth. This is one of my favorite albums and hooked me as a fan for life. The band unfortunately went on hiatus in 2002. During this time, members pursued other projects, with Weiland joining supergroup Velvet Revolver, and the DeLeo brothers forming the band Army of Anyone.
In 2008, Stone Temple Pilots thrilled fans by reuniting and launching a successful reunion tour. This comeback led to the release of their self-titled album in 2010, which included the single "Between the Lines." However, despite the reunion's initial success, underlying tensions persisted, culminating in Scott Weiland's official departure from the band in 2013.
Following Weiland's exit, STP brought in Chester Bennington from Linkin Park as their new lead vocalist. Bennington injected fresh energy into the group, resulting in the release of the High Rise EP later that year. Unfortunately, due to his commitments with Linkin Park, Bennington left STP in 2015, leaving the band once again in search of a frontman.
In 2017, following an extensive search, Stone Temple Pilots welcomed Jeff Gutt, a former contestant on The X Factor, as their new lead vocalist. With Gutt joining the lineup, the band released their seventh studio album, also self-titled, in 2018. The album was well-received, praised for maintaining the band’s signature sound while showcasing Gutt's distinct vocal style.
Stone Temple Pilots took the stage to a roaring crowd. The hit the ground running opening with “Meatplow” and following up with “Vasoline”. The band, renowned for its grunge-influenced rock and hits like "Plush" and "Interstate Love Song," which drew massive cheers from the crowd, with fans singing along to every word. The audience was swept up in the band's electric performance, marked by Jeff Gutt’s distinctive voice, which continued to resonate through the iconic riffs of the 90s. Stone Temple Pilots’ performance was a testament of their longevity despite struggles over the years. The voice of Weiland seems to shine through Gutt’s voice. The similarities are very evident and it was a great choice as a replacement. I honestly felt the energy of Weiland shining his own light through the fog and lights of the show.
The highlight for me besides hearing all the classic STP songs has to be Richard Patrick making a surprise guest appearance. The day after the show Filter, Patrick’s band was performing at the same venue. STP invited him out to perform “Hey Man Nice Shot”. I absolutely love this song. One of my favorite Filter songs. It was almost a complete reunion of Army of Anyone, too bad Korn wasn’t in town yet (coming soon) so Ray Luzier could join. The crowd went wild when Patrick grabbed the microphone. I knew exactly what was about to happen. The song was pulled off without a hitch. Patrick in his older age hasn’t lost his touch. The Deleo brother’s added their own spin on the song somehow making it sound like an original STP track. Great job.
As the last notes of STP’s “Sex Type Thing” faded which featured Tommy Henriksen of Alice Cooper on bass the crowd went wild. It was a set full of hits that delivered to the crowd exactly what they had come out for. We wanted a night full of familiar tracks and that is exactly what we got. During the set change the crowd was still going crazy over what they just witnessed. Many people were happy about the guest appearances and we have to say that satisfied our taste for STP! Thank you!
Next up and the final act of the night was Live. The band was formed by high school friends in 1989 in York, Pennsylvania. They initially called themselves "Public Affection" which would later become “Live”. Many changes would happen over the years leaving Ed Kowalczyk (lead singer, rhythm guitar) as the only remaining original member. Do not let that sway you from this band. The band puts on one hell of a show. Secret Samadhi (1997) was one of the first CD’s I ever bought. I feared that disc out. I had that on replay for years. When any of those tracks pop up on one of my playlists I still go crazy. It was a joy to hear these songs live as this was my first time seeing Live. The nostalgia brought me back to school and all the memories I had while these songs were playing. That CD led me to discovering their old music and I became a casual fan for life. More recently with their tour being announced it revived that inner desire to get back into their music.
Live came out swinging starting off with “Top” and “All Over You” and the crowd immediately went nuts. Live brought a sense of introspective grandeur to the night. Their set was a masterclass in emotional intensity and melodic rock. The band’s energy was a mix of heartfelt introspection and powerful rock dynamics, creating an experience that drew the crowd into their world. During the lulls of the music the crowd would not stop screaming for more. The crowd came out to rock and that they did. Live’s performance was not just a showcase of their greatest hits but a reaffirmation of their enduring appeal over the years. The band closed out the night with their massive hits “I Alone” and “Lightning Crashes”. These songs were a perfect selection to close out a night of great rock music. Walking out of the venue everyone was talking about how great of a show it was. We agree that this was a magical night of music. Like others that were there we were able to reflect on the past and reminisce on music that we lived with through important times in our lives. I have to urge you to go out and BUY. THE. TICKET.
Click HERE to see more photos of Live from this show!
Click HERE to see more photos of STP from this show!
Fri Sep 6 Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center +
Sun Sep 8 Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage #
Tue Sep 10 Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center #
Wed Sep 11 Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island +
Sat Sep 14 Milwaukee, WI @ American Family Insurance Amphitheater +
Sun Sep 15 Indianapolis, IN @ Ruoff Music Center #
# Stone Temple Pilots closes show
+ +LIVE+ closes show
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