PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ on June 28th
The summer is heating up and we are getting busy trekking around amphitheaters to catch all the big names in rock music touring. For some it is also the walk down memory lane. 3 Doors Down released Away from the Sun in November 2002, and it has subsequently sold 8 million copies worldwide. The LP reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 on the strength of hit singles like “Here Without You” and “When I’m Gone.” Now 21 years later band embarked in the tour to relive those days. On June 28th 3 Doors Down with Candlebox came to New Jersey’s PNC Arts Center in Holmdel.
Written by Andris Jansons
As 3 Doors Down vocalist and founder Brad Arnold said that Candlebox has been his favorite band since his teenage years. What a moment it has to be for him to be touring with them. Candlebox comes from Seattle, Washington and was formed in 1990. While considered as hard rock band it has that grunge influence, from Seattle grunge scene in the beginning of 90’s that was bustling with likes as Soundgarden, Nirvana and more. For the Candlebox this tour marks 30-year anniversary of the self-titled debut album released in July of 1993. It went to be multi-Platinum certified.
Bands set was filled with songs from that album, including – Change, Blossom, Cover Me. Candlebox also finished off the set with the probably biggest hit from it – You. It was preceded by another fan favorite Far Behind, the song that bands vocalist Kevin Martin dedicated to all fellow musicians that are no longer with us to name just a few he mentioned – Scott Weiland and Chris Cornell.
Kevin also shared touching story of the Vietnam Vet that he used to see and played the song dedicated to him He Calls Home.
For the bands rhythm guitar player Island Styles it was a homecoming as he is New Jersey native.
See full gallery of Candlebox performance here.
For me it was the second time seeing 3 Doors Down live, and it is amazing experience. The atmosphere and the connection to the fans is truly unmatched.
Band opened the set with Pop Song which was a bonus track on special edition from Away From The Sun, but never made as part of the album and as Brad Arnold said “What a great way to open the set with a song that nobody knows!”, and promptly followed with the hit song When I’m Gone and title song along with The Road I’m On and Ticket To Heaven. Then they took a step back and played Let Me Go from their third studio album Seventeen Days, before lunging back into Away From The Sun songs.
One particular song caused quite a lot of excitement. Here Without You always stirs up the crowd’s excitement, and while maybe it is not considered as big of the hits as Kryptonite and When I’m Gone it’s very melodic, sing-along friendly and has that romantic touch for all couples in the audience.
Other notable songs within the set were Duck and Run and Loser, for encore fans were treated with Landing In London and bands biggest hit Kryptonite.
See full gallery of 3 Doors Down performance here.
The tour will go on for two and a half months across the U.S. Get your tickets for a show near you here.
3 Doors Down’s 2023 US Tour Dates with Candlebox:
06/30 – Gilford, NH @ Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
07/01 – Bridgeport, CT @ Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
07/05 – Traverse City, MI @ Cherry Festival
07/07 – Huber Heights, OH @ Rose Music Center
07/08 – Grantville, PA @ Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
07/13 – Wheatland, CA @ Hard Rock Live Sacramento
07/15 – Costa Mesa, CA @ Orange County Fair
07/16 – Las Vegas, NV @ Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort
07/18 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre
07/20 – Salt Lake City, UT @ USANA Amphitheatre
07/21 – Fort Hall, ID @ Shoshone-Bannock Casino
07/23 – Great Falls, MT @ Voyagers Stadium
07/25 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
07/27 – Airway Heights, WA @ BECU Live at Northern Quest
07/28 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater
08/04 – Corbin, KY @ The Corbin Arena
08/05 – Tuscaloosa, AL @ Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
08/09 – Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP
08/11 – Southaven, MS @ BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove
08/12 – Sedalia, MO @ Missouri State Fair
08/16 – Orange Beach, AL @ The Wharf Amphitheater
08/18 – Nashville, TN @ Ascend Amphitheater
08/19 – Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
08/23 – New Orleans, LA @ Champions Square
08/25 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
08/26 – Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheater
08/30 – Simpsonville, SC @ CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park
09/01 – Charleston, SC @ Credit One Stadium
09/02 – Charlotte, NC @ Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
09/06 – Kansas City, MO @ Starlight Theatre
09/08 – North Little Rock, AR @ Simmons Bank Arena
09/09 – Brandon, MS @ Brandon Amphitheater
09/13 – Jacksonville, FL @ Daily’s Place
09/15 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds
09/16 – Boca Raton, FL @ Mizner Park Amphitheater
09/20 – Austin, TX @ Moody Amphitheater
09/22 – Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
09/23 – Sugar Land, TX @ Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
10/21 – Cherokee, NC @ Harrah’s Cherokee (“The Better Life Foundation Concert”)