Concert Review
Creed
Daughtry
Mammoth
Friday July 11, 2025
Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview
Syracuse, NY
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
It was a hot sticky night out at Empower FCU Amp last night. There was not a ticket to be had. When the venue announces on their Facebook page, “If you do not have a ticket, do not come to the venue, you know a show is completely sold out. You couldn’t fit another person in with a shoehorn. The closer you were to the stage the hotter it seamed. Regardless Creed, Daughtry and Mammoth delivered a solid night of music that left the crowd begging for more.
Creed made their first Syracuse appearance since 1999. That and the fact that this years tour is a continuation from 2024 when they reunited after being apart for twelve years aided ticket sales for many who never got to see the band before. A twelve year absence in the music industry is a significant amount of time to be inactive. The bands deep, rich catalog is just one reason why the band has been filling venues.
The band itself these days still boasts the core lineup of vocalist Scott Stapp along with guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips. Eric Friedman rounded out the lineup on stage at Empower. Tremonti, Marshall and Phillips of course are also in Alter Bridge, the band they started when Creed went their separate ways in 2004.
The band had the crowd right from the first notes of “Bullets”. I was surprised by the set list as the band chose to save most of the bigger hits for later in the set. While the band seems to be on fire on stage they gave the crowd what they wanted. I am not sure what the future holds whether we see another tour or new Creed music down the road is anyone’s guess. It is amazing how much the band accomplished with just four studio albums. The encore of “One Last Breath” and “My Sacrifice? was worth the price of admission alone. Let’s hope next time is a lot sooner than twelve years.
Daughtry played in the middle of the bill. Initially 3 Doors Down was to be on the bill but they had to bow out due to medical issues with vocalist Brad Arnold sadly. The first surprise of the evening occurred when Anthrax lead singer Joey Belladonna came out and sang Separate Ways with Chris Daughtry. It sounded fresh especially when Daughtry announced that they performed with no rehearsal. Daughtry would go on to play a solid near 60-minute set featuring Daughtry staples.
Opening the show was Mammoth the rock band fronted by Wolfgang Van Halen, the son of guitar legend Eddie Van Halen. He played a short but powerful set featuring a pair of cuts that will be appearing on his upcoming album The End due October 24.
Photo Galleries
Creed
Daughtry
Mammoth
Set Lists
Creed
Bullets
Ode
Torn
Are You Ready?
Never Die
My Own Prison
Wrong Way
Say I
What If
Faceless Man
One
What’s This Life For
With Arms Wide Open
Higher
Encore
One Last Breath
My Sacrifice
Daughtry
The Reckoning
Changes Are Coming
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
The Day I Die
Over You
Away From The Sun
Home
The Dam
Pieces
Heavy Is the Crown
Artificial
Mammoth
The Spell
The End
Don’t Back Down
Another Celebration
Take A Bow
