Skillet – Uptown Theater – Minneapolis MN – October 16th 2026

Skillet, Escape the Fate & Autumn Kings Uptown Theater— Minneapolis, MN

Show Date: October 16, 2026
Tour: Comatose 20 Years, Still Screaming
Photos and Written by Brian Underhill

Some nights are about more than just listening to live music. They are about the atmosphere, the volume, the energy, and the experience of seeing great rock bands share the same stage. On October 16, I headed to the Uptown Theater in Minneapolis for a night featuring Autumn Kings, Escape the Fate, and headliners Skillet. With three bands bringing their own styles of hard rock and alternative metal, this was a show I was looking forward to experiencing.

From discovering the music of Autumn Kings to catching up with Escape the Fate after years away and finally watching Skillet bring its signature production to the stage, the night had plenty to offer.

Autumn Kings Get the Night Started

Autumn Kings kicked off the evening and immediately gave me a reason to pay attention. It’s always great when an opening band does more than simply warm up the crowd and leaves you wanting to hear more. Autumn Kings impressed me, and their set was a strong way to get the night moving.

One of the songs that stood out to me was “Gone, Gone, Gone,” which has been gaining radio airplay. But there were several other tracks I enjoyed throughout the set, including “Sleep When I’m Dead,” “Snake Charmer,” “Only Human,” and “Youngbloods.”

“Snake Charmer” especially caught my attention because of its connection to anime. The song draws inspiration from Attack on Titan, which gives it an interesting connection between heavy music and anime culture.

I always appreciate discovering different influences in rock music, and Autumn Kings gave me plenty to enjoy. They made a strong impression on me and proved to be a worthwhile addition to this lineup. After their performance, I was glad I had the opportunity to see them live.

Escape the Fate Bring the Intensity

Escape the Fate was another major reason I wanted to attend this show. I hadn’t seen these guys in a long time—not since the Warped Tour days, when I first started following the band. Seeing them on the same bill as Skillet was an opportunity I didn’t want to pass up.

Their set included songs such as “Last Goodbye,” “Money, Power, Fame,” “Gorgeous Nightmare,” “Broken Heart,” “This War Is Ours (The Guillotine II),” and “One for the Money.”

Escape the Fate delivered a great performance, bringing together the aggressive guitars, memorable choruses, and alternative-metal sound that have made the band recognizable to its fans. It was good to see them back on stage doing what they love.

Over the years, the band has experienced lineup changes and its share of highs and lows. That’s part of the history of a group that has been around long enough to see different chapters of its career unfold. Despite those changes, I felt the band still had that recognizable Escape the Fate sound—and the current lineup sounded great.

What I enjoyed most was seeing them perform again after so many years. There is something special about revisiting a band you remember from an earlier time in your life and finding that the music still connects with you. Escape the Fate elevated the experience for me, and their performance made me appreciate the opportunity to see them again.

Skillet Take Center Stage

When it was time for Skillet to take the stage, the night reached its high point for me.

The band brought its Comatose 20 Years, Still Screaming tour to Minneapolis, celebrating the legacy of its influential album Comatose. For longtime fans, this was more than an ordinary setlist. It was an opportunity to revisit music that has remained an important part of Skillet’s history.

During the show, John Cooper shared some memories about the early days of the band and the making of that first record. He talked about how the experience could have been the end of the road for them. Putting together a first album and getting through the accompanying touring cycle was a grind. He recalled handling merchandise and driving the bus himself, on top of everything else that came with keeping the band going.

The wear and tear of the road had taken its toll, and there were moments when the band felt burned out and defeated. But with a positive outlook, support, and a belief in what they were doing, they kept pushing forward. The album eventually took off, and the rest is history.

I enjoyed hearing that story because it was a reminder that even bands we see performing on a big stage have to work through difficult times to get there. The success we see today came from years of hard work, determination, and continuing to believe in the music.

The Production, Lights, and Signature Stage Presence

Skillet’s production was top-notch. Having covered the band before, I recognized the signature stage presence that has become part of its live identity. They know how to put on a show, and the production helped bring the music to life.

One of the details I always notice is drummer Jen Ledger’s elevated position behind the kit. Sitting high above the stage, she has a commanding view of the audience while remaining a major visual part of the performance.

The lighting was bright and colorful, complementing Skillet’s dramatic sound and stage presence. The large letter “S” positioned at the center of the stage served as a recognizable visual centerpiece, tying the production together.

The band also made an immediate impact with its use of cryo jets, or CO₂ cannons. They fired during the first three songs—“Rebirthing,” “The Last Night,” and “Better Than Drugs”—and returned later in the show. The blasts added another layer of intensity to an already powerful opening.

It was the kind of production that suited Skillet perfectly. The combination of lighting, stage design, heavy instrumentation, and theatrical effects made the performance feel like a complete live experience rather than simply a band playing through a setlist.

The Songs That Made the Night

The Comatose celebration brought plenty of familiar Skillet material to the forefront. Songs such as “Rebirthing,” “The Last Night,” and “Better Than Drugs” helped launch the performance with plenty of energy.

The set also brought back some of the songs I know best from when I first started listening to Skillet, including “Feel Invincible,” “Awake and Alive,” “Hero,” and “Monster.”

Those are the kinds of songs that remind me why I’ve continued listening to the band. They combine heavy riffs with powerful vocals and memorable choruses that translate exceptionally well to a live setting.

The crowd was loud and singing along, adding to the atmosphere inside the venue. Hearing fans join in with the music is one of my favorite parts of a concert, especially when a band has a catalog full of songs people have connected with over the years.

For me, Skillet was the highlight of the night. The sound was excellent, the production was impressive, and the band delivered the kind of performance that makes you appreciate the difference between listening to recorded music and experiencing it live.

Three bands. One stage. A loud night of rock and metal in Minneapolis.