Rise of Rock Tour featuring Godsmack / STP / Dorothy – Syracuse, NY

Godsmack, Stone Temple Pilots and Dorothy Turn Up the Temperature in Syracuse

**Godsmack –** ***Empower FCU Amphitheater*** ***Syracuse, NY***

One of the hottest days of the year, a three quarter mile walk that left everyone drenched before the first song, diehard fans who would not let either stand in the way of a great night of rock. Dorothy, Stone Temple Pilots, and Godsmack each gave Syracuse something memorable for very different reasons.

The Rise of Rock tour reached Syracuse on a day when the weather seemed determined to test everyone before the music even started.

On one of the hottest days of the summer, so far, temperatures pushed toward 99 degrees with humidity that hung heavily over Central New York without moving. Before Dorothy, Stone Temple Pilots, or Godsmack ever stepped onto the stage, more than 12,000 concertgoers faced a winding three quarter mile walk from the box office to the Empower FCU Amphitheater. By the time most fans reached their seats, dry shirts had become a distant memory. Yet despite the conditions, the venue filled to near capacity, proving that sometimes the lineup outweighs the forecast.

Dorothy opened the evening with the kind of confidence that comes from years spent refining a sound rather than chasing one. Touring behind 2025’s The Way, Dorothy Martin showed why she has become one of rock’s most distinctive vocalists. Her voice moves comfortably rooted in blues and full throttled rock without ever sounding forced.

Alongside guitarist Nick Perri, bassist Eliot Lorango, and drummer Jake Hayden, the band leaned into classic rock swagger while giving the songs enough bite to feel current. Perri’s expressive guitar work framed Martin’s vocals rather than fighting for the spotlight, while the rhythm section supplied a muscular backbone that kept the set moving with confidence. Though their set was brief, Dorothy made good use of every minute and set a fitting tone for the evening.

**Dorothy –** ***Empower FCU Amphitheater*** ***Syracuse, NY***

Stone Temple Pilots approached the evening with the confidence of a band that knows exactly what its audience came to hear. Just over three decades removed from the albums that made them household names, the songs continue to sound remarkably fresh because they are allowed to stand on their own rather than being reshaped to fit modern expectations.

Jeff Gutt continues to occupy one of rock’s most unenviable roles. Replacing Scott Weiland was never going to satisfy everyone, yet Gutt has found his own place by respecting the material instead of mimicking it. Songs such as “Wicked Garden,” “Plush,” and “Interstate Love Song” retained their familiar character while still sounding like today’s Stone Temple Pilots rather than a tribute to yesterday’s version.

Dean DeLeo’s guitar playing remains the band’s signature ingredient. His layered phrasing and inventive chord choices still separate Stone Temple Pilots from many of their contemporaries. Alongside brother Robert DeLeo and drummer Eric Kretz, they continue to play with the ease that only comes from decades together.

One of the evening’s most touching moments arrived during “Big Empty,” dedicated to Scott Weiland. Thousands sang along despite the oppressive heat, creating one of the few moments where the weather seemed almost forgotten.

What continues to make Stone Temple Pilots relevant is their complete lack of urgency to reinvent themselves. There are no elaborate stage effects or attempts to modernize a catalog that never needed fixing. The songs remain the attraction, and judging by the response in Syracuse, that is still more than enough.

**Stone Temple Pilots –** ***Empower FCU Amphitheater*** ***Syracuse, NY***

As daylight finally gave way to darkness, a towering black curtain bearing Godsmack’s familiar sun logo concealed the stage while AC/DC’s “For Those About to Rock” echoed across the amphitheater. The anticipation had been building throughout the changeover, and once the curtain dropped, the reaction was immediate.

Celebrating thirty years as a band, Godsmack looked every bit as comfortable on stage as they did during their earliest arena tours. Sully Erna settled into the performance almost immediately, alternating between moments of intensity and relaxed conversation while making nearly eighteen thousand people feel like part of the show. At one point he acknowledged an 89 year old fan celebrating her birthday, earning one of the night’s warmest responses.

Even with temperatures refusing to let up, Erna’s voice showed little sign of fatigue. Between songs he joked about the heat, admitting that even he was struggling through it, creating another reminder that everyone inside the amphitheater was sharing the same experience.

Alongside founding bassist Robbie Merrill, guitarist Sam ‘Bam’ Koltun has settled naturally into the lineup after spending recent years with Faster Pussycat and Dorothy. His playing blended comfortably with the band’s established sound without trying to reinvent it. Behind them, Mike Mangini proved once again why his reputation as one of rock’s progressive drummers remains well deserved. His precision never came at the expense of feel, and together with Merrill the two formed the foundation that kept the entire performance moving forward.

The setlist touched nearly every era of the band’s career. Early favorites including “Keep Away” and “Whatever” stood comfortably beside newer material such as “You and I,” giving longtime fans and newer listeners plenty to appreciate.

One of the night’s most personal moments came when Erna introduced a well worn guitar that helped shape Godsmack during its earliest days. He explained that the instrument played a role in the band’s beginnings and in songs such as “Voodoo.” It was a simple story, yet one that reminded everyone that bands playing before thousands of people often begin with little more than worn equipment, a few songs, and the belief that they might become something more.

As a second kit rolled onto the stage for “The Battle of the Drums” the moment remains one of the few extended solos that never feels like filler. Erna and Mangini push each other while leaving room for humor. A dropped stick or an overthrown toss earns a grin or is met with laughter instead of an attempt to pretend it never happened. Those small imperfections make the segment feel refreshingly human.

The mood shifted again during “Under Your Scars.” Closely tied to mental health awareness through The Scars Foundation, the song created one of the evening’s quietest yet most meaningful moments. Phone lights stretched across the amphitheater as thousands sang together, reminding everyone that some songs are measured less by volume than by the memories and emotions they carry.

There was little doubt which song would close the evening. The opening riff of “I Stand Alone” triggered one final eruption as every section of the amphitheater joined Erna from beginning to end. More than 24 years after its release, the song still feels inseparable from Godsmack’s identity and remains a fitting conclusion to any set.

As the final notes faded into the humid Syracuse night, fans faced the long walk back through the grounds once again. They left exhausted, sweat soaked, and still talking about what they had witnessed. Considering the conditions, that may have been the evening’s greatest accomplishment. Even one of the hottest nights of the year could not overshadow three bands whose music gave nearly 17,000 people a reason to endure it.