Creed - Live in Grand Rapids
November 19th, 2024. A rather drab day full of dim skies and wet pavement in the 616 area of Michigan but there is still plenty of fun to be had, plenty of smiles to share, and plenty of songs to be played. The Van Andel Arena located in the heart of Grand Rapids is buzzing with a calm yet anticipatory energy as the front doors open up to concertgoers ranging from those who splurged on vip pit tickets to those who are to be seated way up in the 200 sections, the “nosebleeds” as many call it. Bootleggers selling knock off tour tee shirts crowd the sidewalks of Fulton Street, security guards roam and chatter amongst eager fans, and a surprising amount of college students congregate whilst warming up with an expected song for the night: One Last Breath. We are all impatiently excited to be taken higher with arms wide open and soon enough, Creed will help us accomplish that.
Credited as a leading group for the 1990s post-grunge era of mainstream music, Creed has been a large force in the genres of rock and christian music since their debut in 1996 and even after 28 years, the band is still traveling far and wide to bring nights of revelry to major cities across the globe. Creed’s current lineup is composed of the original four: lead singer Scott Stapp, guitarist Mark Tremonti, drummer Scott Philips, and bassist Brian Marshall alongside touring rhythm guitarist Erick Friedman and this year, they are playing shows through their Are You Ready Tour with supporting acts 3 Doors Down, Finger Eleven, Sevendust, and Mammoth WVH.
On Tuesday night’s show in Grand Rapids, 3 Doors Down and Mammoth WVH opened up for Creed. Having grown up with the music of Van Halen, it was extremely surreal to see Wolfgang Van Halen in the flesh and it was even more glorious to see how humble of a showman he is, as he didn’t even mention the fact that he comes from one of the greatest guitarists of our time. Mammoth WVH brought the thunder in full force with their gritty and powerful sound, which was most impressive considering they had a 30 minute set. Mammoth WVH was followed by 3 Doors Down, who had a larger set of 45 minutes. 3 Doors Down presented a much more alternative sound off the beaten path of rock music through their works such as Landing in London, It’s Not My Time, and the timeless masterpiece, Kryptonite. Though a little too preachy for my taste, they did their job of hyping the packed arena up for the main attraction.
Bullets off of the 2001 album Weathered opened up Creed’s set at around 9:30 P.M. and from the first moment Scott Stapp graced the stage dressed in a plethora of glam (rings, bracelets, you name it), the audience was absolutely hooked. I’ve never seen such a peaceful crowd at a rock show but the crowd really showed their true colors as the band worked their way through their setlist composed of their biggest hits such as My Own Prison, Say I, and What’s This Life For. It was a very warming feeling of community that I didn’t quite expect as an outsider and that feeling was only amplified at the halfway point of their performance during What If, where they held a contest to see who was the most wild and passionate in the crowd. Still remaining respectful, the audience, specifically those in the pit and floor sections, turned their energy way up and the winner, a woman named Cynthia dressed in an I ♡ Creed tee shirt from the merch stand, was escorted up onto the stage where she was gifted a hug from each member (minus Scott Phillips) and a polished electric guitar.
Despite that heartfelt moment, I would say the highlight of the night was definitely towards the end when the group busted out their all-time hits that have served as a soundtrack for multiple generations. With Arms Wide Open and Higher closed out the main set, wrapping the arena in a friendly ambience despite the spiked intensity of either song. The encore had a similar vibe as they played One Last Breath (my personal favorite) and My Sacrifice. Frontman Scott Stapp really did a fantastic job of introducing each song this night with a motivational cadence, describing their shows as a journey to the metaphysical and spiritual realms due to the transcendent power of music that can heal. I believe this is what made the end of their performance so sacred because under his guidance, four rock songs elevated themselves into a cause for celebration and unity.
After Creed’s show in Grand Rapids, the band still has several more tour dates across North America in cities such as New York, Allentown, Orlando, Las Vegas, and more with their respective opening acts mentioned previously. Tickets are selling fast with a handful of shows already sold out but I urge you to catch a show if you’re able, it is a refreshing experience of balance and great music compared to much of the toxic concert culture that has been growing across multiple genres.