Shinedown – Target Center – Minneapolis MN – July 28th 2025

By Kyle Hansen 2 weeks ago

Live Nation and Target Center present Shinedown with special guests Bush and Morgan Wade

Review and photos by Kyle Hansen

Morgan Wade’s set on July 28 at the Target Center confirmed what fans have known for years: she doesn’t need theatrics to own a stage—just a voice that cuts straight through the noise. Slotted early in the evening as part of Shinedown’s “Dance, Kid, Dance” tour, Wade brought something raw and grounded that offered a stark and welcome contrast to the night’s louder acts.

From the moment she stepped on stage, clad in black denim and that signature don’t-mess-with-me stare, Wade let her music do the talking. Her vocals were smoky, weathered, and unflinching—especially on 2 AM in London, where the hush that fell over the arena made the Target Center feel like a dive bar at closing time. That’s her gift: intimacy on a large scale.

The crowd, a mix of curious Shinedown fans and loyal Wade followers, leaned in by the third song. Wilder Days got the biggest crowd response—hands in the air, lips moving in unison—and it’s clear the song’s aged into a kind of anthem for the emotionally bruised and unapologetically nostalgic.

Though her set clocked in under an hour, there was no filler. Even songs like Obsessed and Take Me Away, which could fade into standard pop-country hands elsewhere, carried an edge thanks to Wade’s delivery—equal parts resignation and defiance.

Sound and staging:
No flashy lights, no choreography—just a tight four-piece band and vocals front and center. The Target Center’s acoustics can be tricky, but her sound mix was surprisingly clean for an opener. The reverb helped rather than hurt, adding atmosphere without drowning her words.

Morgan Wade proved that vulnerability and grit can fill an arena. For fans of singer-songwriters who don’t water down their edges, this was a quietly stunning performance. While some in the crowd came for the hard rock, Wade left with more than a few new fans who came for loud guitars and stayed for honest storytelling.

Even after three decades, Bush still knows how to hit hard, lean into the moment, and deliver a set that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Opening with a wall of sound and swagger, Gavin Rossdale and company reminded Minneapolis that they’re not here to coast on 90s fame — they’re here to light it up.

The band opened with newer material — most likely Scars or Nowhere to Go But Everywhere, both from their recent catalog — but the tone was immediate: thick guitar, tightly controlled chaos, and Rossdale’s voice punching through the mix with confidence.

By the time they hit Machinehead, the crowd was fully on board. That riff still stomps, still rips, still makes people move. Bush played it like they were in a club, not a massive arena.

Standout tracks included:

  • Everything Zen — Still jagged, still weird, still gripping.

  • The Chemicals Between Us — Moodier than the studio version; the live drums and synth washes gave it punch.

  • Glycerine — Performed solo with Rossdale and a spotlight. The whole arena went silent. Still devastating.

  • Comedown — A perfect closer, hitting that emotional peak with sonic weight.

Gavin Rossdale remains a force of nature. Shirt damp, mic in hand, he roamed the stage like a man possessed. His charisma hasn’t dulled; if anything, it’s aged into something sharper — a mix of rock star confidence and genuine intensity.

At one point, he ventured into the crowd during Flowers on a Grave, making the arena feel suddenly intimate, like a basement show from the early days.

The rest of the band was rock-solid: tight rhythm section, muscular guitars, no overplaying. Everything supported the voice and the songs.

Bush drew both longtime fans and some younger faces — some likely there for Shinedown or Morgan Wade — but by the midpoint of the set, the entire arena was with them. You could feel the shift from polite interest to full-body head-nodding when Swallowed kicked in.

Their blend of grunge, post-punk, and industrial textures has aged surprisingly well. Even the new songs — which carry more emotional weight and darker production — felt at home with the classics.

Bush’s 2025 live show isn’t just a throwback — it’s a reminder of how a rock band can grow without losing its punch. If you came for nostalgia, you got it. But if you stayed for the intensity, the vulnerability, and the volume? You walked away satisfied.

Shinedown brought their arena‑level rock energy to Minneapolis with no shortage of power, passion, and crowd engagement. Delivering an evening that balanced polished production with raw emotion, they reminded everyone why they’ve remained a mainstay in modern hard rock.

🎶 Setlist & Musical Flow

The set likely opened with a new‑era track like Far From Heaven or Peaceful Heart, signaling growth without giving up the edge. From there, the band launched into fan‑favorite staples like:

  • Devil — full of heavy hooks and punchy riffs.

  • I’ll Follow You— tour debut.

  • Cut the Cord — explosive and anthemic.

  • Purple Rain— everyone loves a Prince cover.

As usual, the closing stretch included Monsters, Sounds of Madness and Second CHance.

🔥 Performance & Production

Frontman Brent Smith commanded the stage, his leathery vocals cutting through layered guitars and fiery lighting. Shinedown’s stage presence felt cinematic: synchronized visuals, rising platforms, and a sound mix that packed clarity without losing grit.

Smith’s moments out of the spotlight—like an acoustic Simple Man —added genuine emotional weight amid the loud production.

Their band—tight rhythm, soaring lead, relentless drums—fueled a seamless transition between arena rock and intimate lyricism.

🎉 Crowd & Atmosphere

The Target Center crowd was fully invested—“cut the cord” chants, arms raised during choruses, phone lights lit for slower numbers. Shinedown excels at turning arena-size into intimacy: fans weren’t just watching; they were part of the show.

Mixing younger fans drawn by newer anthems with older fans who came for 2000s classics made for a generational cross-section audience united by the band’s energy.