Indianapolis, IN. – It was a brisk Friday evening in Indianapolis but that did not discourage fans old and young from coming out to Old National Centre for a hot night of rock-n-roll with Theory of a Deadman and opener Black Stone Cherry. As the crowd lined-up and stretched around the parking lot, you could feel the anticipation of the show building while fans patiently waited through the Covid protocols and security checks to get inside. A quick glance around at the t-shirts told you that there were just as many fans there to see the opening act as was there to see the headliner…and it didn’t take long to figure out why.
With the Beastie Boys “So, What’Cha Want” playing as the band’s walk-on music, Chris Robertson (lead vocals, lead/rhythm guitar), Ben Wells (lead/rhythm guitar, backing vocals), John Fred Young (drums, percussion, backing vocals) and Steve Jewell (bass, backing vocals – sitting in for Jon Lawhon indefinitely) otherwise known as Black Stone Cherry, hit the stage full throttle with their fan favorite “Me and Mary Jane” and they were just getting started. The power packed 45-minute set told you everything you needed to know about the boys from Edmonton, Ky. – These are rockstars in the making, even though they’ve been paying their dues since the early 2000’s; they were giving everything they had and ready for everyone else to catch up!
The room was full and the crowd was energized as Black Stone Cherry highlighted tunes off their 2020 album, Human Condition, while still getting in fan favorites including “Blame It on the Boom Boom”, “White Trash Millionaire” and a terrific, rock-driven version of Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason” that you can find on the Deluxe Edition of their newest album! The band will be out touring through June with headlining shows, along with select dates coming up with TOAD, Daughtry and SevenStones before heading overseas to rock Europe. Make sure to check their website for upcoming dates.
Set List: Black Stone Cherry
- Me & Mary Jane
- Burnin’
- Again
- Ringin’ In My Head
- Line I Roll
- Give Me One Reason (Tracy Chapman cover)
- Blame It On The Boom Boom
- White Trash Millionaire
- Lonely Train
Next up was headliner Theory of a Deadman featuring members Tyler Connolly (lead vocals, lead/rhythm guitar), Dave Brenner (lead/rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Dean Back (bass, backing vocals) and Joey Dandeneau (drums, backing vocals). It has been just over two years since their most recent album Say Nothing (Atlantic Records) had been released but due to the pandemic the Indianapolis date set for May 2020 was cancelled. TOAD was able to get some shows in during 2021 despite all the road blocks and reschedules that Covid presented, but the Indy date was not one of them. Finally, fresh off a break and coincidentally their first show of the new year, Theory was back in Indianapolis.
After a quick set change that allowed fans to grab a beverage and hit the merch table, Theory took the stage to the roar of a full room. Kicking the night off with top singles from their 2011 release The Truth Is…, TOAD continued to thrill fans of all ages as they worked their way through all 7 of their studio albums. It was like a live version of a “greatest hits” album; reminding you just how many hit singles Theory has had over the last twenty-three years (yep, I said 23 years!) You could tell the band was having fun on stage and with the crowd – playing little snippets of cover tunes throughout the night, leading the crowd in a sing-along of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” – Tyler even pulled his cellphone out at one point to record the crowd in the room. Overall, it was a great night of good, old-fashion rock and roll that anyone of any age could appreciate. It felt good to be back enjoying live music! Standing at the back of the room looking around at the full Egyptian Room, I could tell I wasn’t the only one that felt that way…
Set List: Theory of A Deadman
- Lowlife
- Bitch Came Back
- Blow
- World Keep Spinning
- Santa Monica (followed by a snippet of “Nutshell” – Alice In Chains cover)
- So Happy
- Wicked Games (Chris Isaak cover)
- Straight Jacket (followed by a snippet/crowd singing of “Don’t Stop Believing” – Journey cover AND “Jump” – Van Halen cover)
- Nothing Could Come Between Us
- Not Meant To Be
- History Of Violence
- Angel (followed by a snippet/crowd singing of “Friends In Low Places” – Garth Brooks cover
- Hate My Life
- Rx (Medicate)
- Bad Girlfriend (followed by a snippet of “Paradise City” – Guns and Roses cover)
Theory of a Deadman will be out touring through March on the Say Nothing Tour before heading overseas for a quick June run then coming back to the U.S. for July Festivals! Be sure to click here to check show dates near you (including select dates with 10 Years and Eva Under Fire) along with all things Theory including some sweet merchandise!
Show Date: 02/11/2022
