Concert Review: Shinedown (Lenovo Center)

BY MAUI CABRAL

Raleigh got rocked on Thursday night. The Lenovo Center was packed, and you could feel the anticipation buzzing through the building before the lights even dropped. I’ve been lucky enough to shoot a lot of shows lately, but this one was special, the kind of night where you leave the venue still vibrating with energy.

The evening kicked off with Bush, and let me tell you, hearing Gavin Rossdale’s voice live after all these years was surreal. There’s a certain grit in his tone that just hits different when you’re standing there in front of the stage, camera in hand. They rolled through their hits, "Machinehead," "Comedown," and of course "Glycerine," and every single one landed like a time machine. You could see people of every age in the crowd singing word for word, proving just how timeless their music really is. As a photographer, capturing those moments from such a legendary band felt like checking something major off my bucket list.

But then the lights dimmed, the pyro went off, and the night truly shifted gears, because it was time for Shinedown. These guys don’t just headline... they command, and put on a damn show! Brent Smith came out with that larger than life presence, and from the first note he had us. His vocals are unmatched--powerful, sharp, and emotional all at once. Zach Myers shredded through riffs that felt like they could split the building in half, while Eric Bass and Barry Kerch locked everything down with thunderous rhythm.

What stood out wasn’t just the music, but the connection. Shinedown has this way of making an arena show feel personal. Thousands of people were screaming back the words to "Second Chance," fists in the air during "Sound of Madness," and completely locked in on every word of "Daylight." It wasn’t just a concert, it felt like everyone in that room was part of something bigger, like a family.

For me, standing there with my camera, it was everything I love about this work. From Bush’s legacy-driven set to Shinedown’s explosive and emotional performance, this night had it all. Raleigh showed up, the bands delivered, and I left knowing this one would stick with me for a long time.

[message]

JOSH "MAUI" CABRAL

Hey! I'm Maui. Originally from Queens, New York, now making Raleigh, NC my new home. I'm a touring photographer and Nomadic Motorcycle Rider, obsessed with seeing the world through different lenses!

Read Maui's posts here