By Yuri Woodfall – Soundcheck Entertainment
Creed’s return to Edmonton last night felt less like a concert and more like a full-scale revival. Rogers Place was buzzing before the lights even dimmed, with fans clutching beers and belting out 20-year-old memories. By the end of the night, there was pyro, singalongs, and more cell phone lights than a Taylor Swift show — proof that the late-’90s arena rock flame still burns bright.
The evening opened with Mammoth WVH, Wolfgang Van Halen and his band reminding everyone that the family tree still grows strong. His set was polished, heavy, and just the right amount of flashy without ever feeling like he was trying to be that Van Halen. Big Wreck followed, led by Ian Thornley, who continues to prove he’s basically Canada’s answer to Chris Cornell with a Telecaster. By the time they finished, the crowd was warmed up and more than ready for Creed to step into the spotlight.
And oh, did they ever. The night exploded with Bullets, complete with pyro that probably set off alarms somewhere in Leduc. From there, it was a mix of early fan-favourites like Ode and Torn, reminding everyone that Creed wasn’t always just about soaring ballads — they had some serious teeth, too.
When Are You Ready hit, the energy doubled. Stapp’s voice, gritty but controlled, cut through like it was still 1999. Never Die and My Own Prison pulled the crowd into the darker, more brooding corners of their catalogue — proving the band still balances heavy and heartfelt with ease.
Freedom Fighter and Say I kept the pyro crew busy, while What If had fists pumping and a few voices cracking in the singalong. In a surprise twist, they tossed in a guitar giveaway, making one lucky fan’s night a little louder (and probably their neighbours’ nights, too).
Things took a heartfelt turn with One and What’s This Life For, before the arena lit up with thousands of phone lights during With Arms Wide Open. For a few minutes, Rogers Place looked less like a hockey barn and more like a galaxy of nostalgia.
The climb continued with Higher, the song that once dominated radio so hard it practically had its own office chair. Last night, it still felt untouchable, with the crowd screaming every word like they’d been rehearsing for decades.
The encore brought it all home — One Last Breath and My Sacrifice, both delivered with maximum pyro and maximum emotion. It was a finale so big you half-expected angels to descend from the rafters.
By the time the lights came back on, Creed had proven that nostalgia doesn’t have to be passive — it can be loud, fiery, and alive. Was it cheesy? Absolutely. Was it over the top? Of course. But did Rogers Place eat up every second of it? Without question.
