CONCERT REVIEW
Skillet
Orlando, FL / 10.24.19
__________
It's been said wisely many
times before (by me), if
you're gonna get on stage,
you darn well better have
something to say. Skillet
do have something to say.
And they just might crack
a couple of your ribs while
they're saying it.
__________
Be sure, I've appreciated the music of Skillet and have admired their consistent, rock solid faith message throughout the last 20 years or so. However, in the spirit of full disclosure, I'll confess regrettably, that I only saw the band live for the first time, last night at Orlando's House of Blues. This past summer, I saw KISS in concert for about the 25th time. Truth be told, Skillet "out KISS'd" my life-long kabuki-faced heroes soundly — in terms of onstage charisma, song power, sonic energy, and production factor. Honestly, all they were missing was a pair of glittery space boots, a studded leather codpiece and an impostor wearing cat makeup. But I digress.
Packed with amps, ramps, risers, enormous LED displays, AND hydraulic lifts, the Skillet stage show was massive, to say the least. In fact, I was perplexed by how such an arena-caliber production could be crammed into the modest-sized, 2,000-person capacity venue.
 |
| THE OTHER "DYNAMIC DUO" Guitarist / keyboardist Korey Cooper and frontman / bassist John Cooper. |
"How ya feelin', Florida?" Bursting with rock-ribbed energy, founding frontman / bassist, John Cooper greeted the band's faithful flock in short order — leading his five-piece crew through a triple threat opening, including a pair of classics, "Feel Invincible" (2016) and "Not Gonna Die" (2013), as well as "You Ain't Ready," a standout track from the band's latest record, Victorious.
Anyone who, like myself, naively expected the petite Korey Cooper to simply be a "cute" side-chick would sadly have been mistaken. Amid clouds of smoke and walls of pyro, the purple-haired, tattoo-covered guitar ace hit the stage with all the intensity of two sacks of M-80s. Stomping about wildly and shaking her head uncontrollably, Korey commanded the stage like a deranged mental patient — a non-stop, turbo-charged performance that would have left Angus Young a bit breathless and completely envious. My primary personal concern as I shot the show from behind the security barricade was that if I allowed Korey to get too close, she might feel compelled to rip out my larynx. I'm thrilled to report, I left the photo pit with all of my aging organs intact.
Beating her shiny white Pearl kit like a freaking beast while simultaneously providing her signature-style back-up vocals, drummer, Jen Ledger's monstrous performance truly proved to be a tour de force. At one point, Ledger left her perch atop the lofty riser to actually jump into the crowd and pass a pair of drumsticks to a gal named Annette — an aspiring young drummer who was celebrating a birthday. Equally impressive were the heart-stopping performances from official perennial guitarist, Seth Morrison and longtime touring member, cellist, Tate Olsen.
Anyone who, like myself, naively expected the petite Korey Cooper to simply be a "cute" side-chick would sadly have been mistaken. Amid clouds of smoke and walls of pyro, the purple-haired, tattoo-covered guitar ace hit the stage with all the intensity of two sacks of M-80s. Stomping about wildly and shaking her head uncontrollably, Korey commanded the stage like a deranged mental patient — a non-stop, turbo-charged performance that would have left Angus Young a bit breathless and completely envious. My primary personal concern as I shot the show from behind the security barricade was that if I allowed Korey to get too close, she might feel compelled to rip out my larynx. I'm thrilled to report, I left the photo pit with all of my aging organs intact.
Beating her shiny white Pearl kit like a freaking beast while simultaneously providing her signature-style back-up vocals, drummer, Jen Ledger's monstrous performance truly proved to be a tour de force. At one point, Ledger left her perch atop the lofty riser to actually jump into the crowd and pass a pair of drumsticks to a gal named Annette — an aspiring young drummer who was celebrating a birthday. Equally impressive were the heart-stopping performances from official perennial guitarist, Seth Morrison and longtime touring member, cellist, Tate Olsen.
 |
| Jen Ledger: Occupation - Badass! |
Noticing an abundant crop of kids and families in attendance, the ever-engaging ringleader, John, commented that the teens and tweens "must have the coolest parents in the world." He suggested further how "the world would be a cooler place if all parents took their kids to Skillet shows."
The fairly even, career-spanning, 75-minute set featured a slew of staples, both old and new. But despite their chart-busting hits and retina-burning production, what makes Skillet important is their message. Leading into a recent favorite, "Victorious," John reminisced about listening to his Metallica cassettes back in the day, offering, "That's what music does — it makes you feel good." Reflecting further on the tragic suicide of Linkin Park frontman, Chester Bennington, he added, "For those who say, music is all I have, you are not alone. God loves you." Another powerful moment brought the articulate frontman to comment on a recent personal tragedy during the intro to "Hero," confessing how what gives him hope is his "hero," Jesus Christ.
The fairly even, career-spanning, 75-minute set featured a slew of staples, both old and new. But despite their chart-busting hits and retina-burning production, what makes Skillet important is their message. Leading into a recent favorite, "Victorious," John reminisced about listening to his Metallica cassettes back in the day, offering, "That's what music does — it makes you feel good." Reflecting further on the tragic suicide of Linkin Park frontman, Chester Bennington, he added, "For those who say, music is all I have, you are not alone. God loves you." Another powerful moment brought the articulate frontman to comment on a recent personal tragedy during the intro to "Hero," confessing how what gives him hope is his "hero," Jesus Christ.
 |
| Guitarist Seth Morrison and cellist Tate Olsen. |
Another show highlight (aside from Korey and Tate both being hoisted into the air via twin hydraulic lifts), was when members of Orlando's WJRR radio staff came onstage to present Skillet with a huge plaque to commemorate sales of more than three million copies of the band's hit single. "Monster."
A slice of personal philosophy — I believe Skillet's music succeeds famously when so much contemporary Christian music fails miserably because Skillet's music has the balls to be real, to be honest — sometimes to even be ugly. Simply put, Skillet's music has the balls to have balls.
In sum, I've not seen a live rock show this exciting in a VERY long time — high-energy, entertaining, and spectacular, from start to finish. And along with the 2,000 other Panheads, I left the venue feeling moist and satisfied.
SKILLET SET LIST (10.24.19)
01. Feel Invincible
02. Not Gonna Die
03. You Ain't Ready
04. Whispers in the Dark
05. Legendary
06. Awake and Alive
07. Back From the Dead
08. Save Me
09. Hero
10. Undefeated
11. Victorious
12. Comatose
13. Monster
14. The Resistance
-Christopher Long
(October 2019)
__________
- A SHOT OF POISON -
"10th Anniversary Edition"
(2020)
__________
- SUPERSTAR -
__________
- SHOUT IT OUT LOUD -
(2014)
__________
- C'MON! -
(2012)
