Skillet at House of Blues in SC
Supported by Ledger and From Ashes To New
by Sarah Carmody
Disclaimer: BtS has stopped covering concerts during the quarantine. This concert was on March 7, 2020
I have been to the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach so many times to photograph shows and it never disappoints. The parking lot is packed, and people are walking up to the venue at sunset with clear excitement across their faces to see the show. Fans wrapped around the building in a line, waiting to get in to see Ledger, From Ashes To New, and of course the main event Skillet! As we wait for the doors to open and the sea of people to rush to the barricade to get that coveted front row spot, you hear the line of fans chanting and yelling in excitement.
The venue plays music as people pour in and the anticipation grows for the night to start. Many people, myself included were curious to see Ledger perform. The stage is set and then the house lights go down, the music fades out and its go time! Lead vocalist Jen Ledger who is also a long time drummer for Skillet got everyone’s hearts racing with their action-packed 30-minute set. Ledger was full of energy and a great band to get everyone off their feet and going for the night! Fans chanting Rampage in anticipation of song, in hopes they would get to hear it. It’s no secret Jen is a total badass behind a drum kit but she wowed the crowd as a frontwoman, always moving and interacting with the fans. Definitely a band I would love to see again, make sure you take the time to listen to them, Sound of the Warrior is a fan favorite as well as mine!
I have not gotten to see From Ashes To New in about a year and they left the crowd on the edge of their seats! The energetic combo vocalist Matt Brandberry and Danny Case hit the stage with a huge presence. Co2 Cannons and drummer Mat Madiro up on a towering riser immediately get the crowd pumped to jumping up and down with the band before the music even starts. It is so clear how much being on stage means to them as they interact with the fans throughout the set, even to a point of vocalist Matt Brandberry throwing the mic down to a fan to sing part of a song titled “Crazy” while they played an acoustic guitar. They made it a point to connect with the crowd, opening up about real issues they have experienced. Vocalist Matt opening up about his panic attacks in-between songs and how he struggles with the same issues everyone else does and they are not alone. Fans singing along to their favorite songs, and you can just see huge smiles sweep across the bands' faces hearing their lyrics being sung loudly and proudly from their fans. Ending the set with a fan favorite “Through it all” leaving everyone wanting more and the buzz of the night intensifying.
With every piece of equipment removed from the stage in preparation for Skillet the fans' eagerness grows. They kick off the set with “Invincible” and the crowd explodes singing every word along with the band. So much is happening all at once, strobes, intense energy from the band, and then you notice these towering screens behind the band constantly changing to each song and adding to the stage presence. Skillet has a very larger than life stage with an incredible light show along with those screens and of course their cellist Tate Olsen on these incredible growing risers placed on either side of well-known drummer Jen Ledger. During the set guitarist Korey Cooper and Tate Olsen perform from the risers as they take them sky-high. The band performs so many incredible songs like “Whispers in the Dark”, “Fight Back”, “Back From the Dead”, their song that landed them on WWE’s last season “Legendary”! During “Alive” you see Jen Ledger come out from her kit and sing with Vocalist John Cooper. As well as a jaw-dropping drum solo mid-set from Jen Ledger with a spotlight on her and the crowd loves it, cheering her on the whole time. I have always enjoyed it when bands talk in between songs and share personal stories with the fans. John Cooper makes it a point to talk about how music has always been a huge part of his life. How when he was younger he would rush home to his room to throw on his huge headphones to jam out to Metallica. He also goes on to say “Every single person is valuable” which is so powerful and a fantastic message to be putting out especially considering what is happening in today’s society. It is evident that Skillet cares about their fans and appreciates their support. If you have not seen this band live you are truly missing a fantastic show that you won’t be able to stay seated for.
