As featured on Amps & Green Screens.

RED BANK, NJ (SEPTEMBER 11, 2016) – 3 DOORS DOWN have teamed up and hit the road with POP EVIL and RED SUN RISING on the Us and the Night Tour in support of their March release of the same name. Eight dates in, the tour stopped at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ for a sold-out night of rock on September 11.

After hitting the ground running with “Still Alive” from the new record and “It’s Not My Time” from the self-titled release from 2008, 3 DOORS DOWN mixed in numerous crowd favorites and newer songs to keep the Red Bank crowd happy. The middle part of the night’s set saw the band rattle off a collection of greatest hits including “Let Me Go”, “Away From the Sun”, “Duck and Run”, “Let Me Be Myself”, and “The Road I’m On”.

Let’s be clear: you would never know it has been sixteen years since the release of debut album The Better Life. The fans never skipped a beat singing along with singles “Be Like That”, or fan favorite and set closer, “Kryptonite”. It was as if lead vocalist Brad Arnold was merely leading a sing-along with a thunderous echo throughout the night.

Starting off the encore one of of the group’s most famous hits in “Here Without You” was a great way to reel the crowd back in after the break. With cellphones in the air, taking pictures and recording the moment at hand – fans were not going to leave unhappy. Following up the Away from the Sun smash-hit was “Loser”. After this, fans could tell the night was quickly coming to a close. No one wanted the show to end, but the manner in which it did was a truly fitting send off for the band and fans alike.

Events taking place on September 11 throughout the United States have a grand patriotic theme. 3 DOORS DOWN made sure this concert was no different with video screens on stage showcasing American flags as well as numerous video packages of service men and women interacting with the band. “Like we do at every concert, we send this one out to everyone who serves or has served this great country of ours. God Bless America.” proclaimed Arnold during encore finale “When I’m Gone”. Throughout the years, there is no doubt that 3 DOORS DOWN has been one of the bigger supporters of our troops across the globe and it truly showed on this night.

Michigan natives POP EVIL served as direct support. Lead vocalist Leigh Kakaty, guitarists Davey Grahs & Nick Fuelling, bassist Matt DiRito, and drummer Hayley Cramer make up the 5-piece band that amped up the crowd with singles such as “100 In a 55” and “Trenches” which have been featured heavily on the radio over the past few years.

Engaging the crowd and getting them ready for the night ahead of them is one of the jobs of an opening band. Kakaty running from one side of the stage to the next with his long hair surely captured the attention of the Red Bank crowd. Energy is contagious and when someone is giving it their all like he does, it’s easy for the crowd to get riled up.

As 3 DOORS DOWN showed later in the evening, events on September 11 hold a special place in the heart of every American. The POP EVIL frontman dedicated “Torn to Pieces” to America by saying, “Let’s never forget and remember how great this country is.” With the sold-out crowd on their feet singing along, it truly created a moment for everyone there to remember forever.

Show opener RED SUN RISING have had their 2015 release Polyester Zeal explode over the last year off the success of multiple singles including “The Otherside”. While some people were still filing in, the band tore through a ferocious, animated set, which included other hits such as opener “Push”, “Amnesia”, and “Emotionless”. The Ohio-based rockers are a force to be reckoned with and will continue to gain steam and be featured on a radio near you soon if they are not already!

3 Doors Down

Pop Evil

Red Sun Rising