GODSMACK Concert Review Talking Stick Resort Amphitheater Phoenix, AZ 09-12-26

2 hours ago

3 min read

Concert Review and Photos by Roc Boyum

GODSMACK Concert Review Talking Stick Resort Amphitheater Phoenix, AZ_09-12-26

Godsmack’s “The Rise of Rock” World Tour 2026

On Saturday, September 12, Godsmack’s “The Rise of Rock” World Tour 2026 took over the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheater in Phoenix, AZ, attracting a near-capacity crowd. The event featured special guests Stone Temple Pilots and Dorothy.

Opening Acts

Dorothy

The show kicked off with the heavy rock artist Dorothy, who, along with her band, delivered a powerful performance blending blues, southern rock, swagger, and just the right touch of mysticism. This showcased why Dorothy is considered one of today’s most sought-after artists.

Stone Temple Pilots

Following Dorothy, the direct support act, Stone Temple Pilots (commonly known as STP), wowed the audience with an exhilarating 11-song set filled with their greatest hits. As the band played each classic tune, the crowd enthusiastically joined in, singing along to every iconic lyric.

GODSMACK

Before Godsmack took the stage, the PA system blared AC/DC’s classic “For Those About to Rock,” capturing the spirit of “The Rise of Rock” World Tour.

On this tour, the band has kept fans on their toes by altering their setlist each night, drawing from their extensive musical repertoire. Notably, they welcomed new guitarist Sam Bam Kolton (from Faster Pussycat) and drumming virtuoso Mike Mangini (of Dream Theater). Mangini joined the tour on June 12, 2026, stepping in without any rehearsals after the sudden departure of touring drummer Wade Murff.

Godsmack consistently puts on an outstanding live show, and this lineup truly stood out. The band remained faithful to the contributions of the original members, skillfully playing their iconic parts while also highlighting the talents of two seasoned professionals; new guitarist Sam Bam Kolton and drumming virtuoso Mike Mangini. In doing so, they honored long-time members Tony Rambola on guitar and Shannon Larkin on drums.

The band featured a 14-song set of fan favorites that included “When Legends Rise, “Cryin’ Like a Bitch!!, Love-Hate-Sex-Pain”, and of course the much-anticipated drum duet by singer Sully Erna and Mike Mangini.

The band introduced the drum duet with a now classic Neil Peart video where Neil talked about the importance of the drum solo to the addition of a live performance.

For this duet Erna played percussion instruments while Mangini interplayed with his drum kit. Both drummers showed off their talents while weaving through numerous classic song snippets including, AC/DC’s "Back in Black,” Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way,” Zeppelin’s “Moby Dick,” Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” and a rippin’ snippet of Rush’s "Tom Saywer" with the classic Neil Peart drum fills.

For the song “Whatever,” Erna has occasionally invited several young individuals and aspiring musicians from the audience to join the band on stage, as he did this night. This practice serves to connect generations and pay tribute to the future of rock musicians, highlighting the importance of audience engagement.

The band concluded their regular set with an outstanding cover of The Beatles’ “Come Together,” which kicked off with a brief excerpt from Zeppelin’s "Stairway to Heaven." They then wrapped up the night with a three-song encore featuring an acoustic rendition of “Under Your Scars,” followed by “Bulletproof” and “Stand Alone.”