The Summer of ‘99 Tour isn’t just a throwback; it’s a “full-circle” moment… See what I did there? What started as 90s car radio staples and billboard toppers have now become the soundtrack to a generation’s trip down memory lane. Over the years, Creed somehow went from topping Billboard charts to becoming an internet meme. Creed's return to the stage felt a little less like a comeback and more like a victory lap. They’ve come back around, solid as ever. For many of them, it’s not just a concert. It’s reliving high school. It’s burned CDs. It’s the feeling of driving around town with the windows down and "My Sacrifice" blasting, and judging by what appeared to be a sold-out show at Pinnacle Bank Arena, the fans had not lost their love for the music in the slightest over the past 25 years.
Kicking things off was Mammoth WVH, fronted by Wolfgang Van Halen. …yes, that Van Halen. There’s something cool about seeing the son of a rock legend hold his own in front of a crowd that’s here for a different kind of show. His set was short, but it hit hard. No gimmicks. Just tight musicianship and enough energy to set the tone for a great night ahead.
Daughtry felt like the perfect middle set. It bridged the gap between the younger vibe Mammoth WVH kicked things off with and the pure late 90s nostalgia Creed brought to close the night. I always thought of Daughtry as one of the lighter, more “pretty boy” bands of the area, but I was pleasantly surprised by how hard-hitting their set was. Songs like "It’s Not Over" and "Home" had the whole arena singing along, and it was clear a lot of people in that crowd had core memories they were reliving through the music.
When Creed finally hit the stage, you’d never guess they spent over a decade apart. It’s been 15 years since they last played together—but you wouldn’t know it. To be fair, each member has been very active with other projects since then, so it should have been no surprise that from the first notes, the band sounded locked in, sharp, and genuinely fired up to be back. Arguably in the best professional shape of their lives.
This wasn’t just a band rehashing old hits. It was a performance that carried dynamics, diversity, energy, and full production. When I say production, I mean multiple giant video walls towering above, a huge circle truss full of upstage lighting, fire, cyro... all the works. The band wasted no time getting the crowd hyped as they opened with one of their heaviest songs, "Bullets." Afterwards, Stapp told the audience they are here to take you on a spiritual human experience. The setlist balanced crowd-pleasers like "Higher" and "With Arms Wide Open" with a few deeper cuts that longtime fans clearly appreciated. While the nostalgia was heavy in the air, the band’s energy felt surprisingly current. Creed proved they’re not just living in the past. They can still hold their own with today’s younger acts and probably outplay a good share of them as well.
