Lit Up: Shinedown Incinerates Target Center for Minneapolis Concert

From copious fire to wild visuals, deafening music to slowed-down ballads, rock superstars Shinedown delivered a spectacle of a show. And a peek at a tour they wanted to do five years ago.

Their peculiar opening had a person in a suit with a television as a head, a motif seen in the band’s recent art. As it danced to portions of Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer”, the head began to flicker with television clips. As did screens on the stage. Then, Shinedown grabbed the stage by the throat.

From the opening of their 2025 song “Dance, Kid, Dance”, the capacity crowd was met with explosive energy and LOTS of fire. The Y-shaped runway stage was instantly utilized, bringing all band members (except the drummer) right up to the audience. “Devour” and “Cut the Cord” delivered more fist-pumping and fist-punching rock. It was a lot to handle, but it still felt personable.

Yet the band isn’t touring in support of a new album, save for the two new songs released earlier this year (“Three Six Five” was also performed). From a press release, they promised to deliver “megawatt sets from all acts, including fan-favorite hits and classics”. The latter could not have been more accurate.

The end of the runway served as a B-stage, where the band moved some instruments for a stripped-down performance complete with disco balls hanging from the lights. Lead singer Brent Smith said the band wanted to do a “deep dive tour” five years ago, but could not (pandemic?). During this set, they bantered about old songs, even using an iPad for lyrics to a tour debut of “I’ll Follow You”. A song Smith said was likely the one Shinedown song you got married to.

During this time, Smith discussed Musicans on Call, a charity that “lifts the spirits of patients” through music. Because, as Smith pointed out, “musicians are people, and that’s how we’re all connected”. So far, over $300,000 has been raised through the tour.

This moment in the concert felt right…a reflective and personable moment with slowed-down songs. Members joked with the crowd and signed autographs. When the band moved back to the full stage, they alternated from “Diamond Eyes” to “Symptom of Being Human”. “Planet Zero” to an abridged cover of “Purple Rain” that went into “Simple Man”. It felt too jarring. And while the second stage did not need to be utilized, grouping the songs’ paces would have felt more fitting.

Opening the evening was Morgan Wade. While considered a country singer, her rock influences clearly shone. An instrumental version of Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer” played on Wade’s entrance. She wore a KISS shirt. She covered Radiohead’s “Creep”. And her closing song “Wilder Days” fused guitar riffs from Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man”... likely as a tribute to the late singer Ozzy Osbourne.

Also opening was Bush, returning to Minneapolis for the third time in two years. While performing their 90’s alternative hits like “Machinehead” and “Greedy Fly”, they also performed several tracks from their 2025 album I Beat Loneliness. The title track and “The Land of Milk and Honey” were highlights from the new release.

Even a more recent song of theirs, “More Than Machines”, was a highlight, powered by absolutely rocking guitars and lead singer Gavin Rossdale’s impassioned vocals. As well as its timely relevance to current events. And they closed their entertaining set by keeping classic hits fresh. “Glycerine”’s second verse was done solo a cappella. And “Comedown” added an extended guitar solo.

By the time Shinedown’s pyro-filled closing happened, bolstered by the tracks “Monsters” and “Sound of Madness”, the “Saturday Night crowd on a Monday” (according to Smith) was left scorched, electrified, and thoroughly filled with power rock. Luckily, Target Center still stands for a summer filled with more concerts that bring the heat.