Three distinct voices of modern rock assembled Thursday night, September 17, at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA: Dorothy’s blues-soaked hard rock, the unmistakable alternative-rock legacy of Stone Temple Pilots, and Godsmack’s rock-radio assault as part of the band’s 2026 Rise of Rock World Tour. The first leg of this arena assault kicked off way back in May and runs through late October, concluding in Uncasville, CT.
Honda Center has always been a spectacular place to attend a concert, but with the recent renovations and add-ons, it is now better than ever. Dorothy opened the evening with a spectacle of blues-driven hard rock, with vocal centerpiece Dorothy Martin delivering a soulful, gritty performance full of rock ‘n’ roll swagger.
Opening a show like this is never an easy assignment, but from the first verse of “Down to the Bottom,” she immediately had all captivated and without a doubt amassed many new fans as a result—definitely an artist to further explore if not familiar with Dorothy’s discography.
Stone Temple Pilots need no introduction. The band that initially rose to fame as part of the grunge explosion of the early 1990s dominated radio and MTV for that decade, and remains active and relevant in 2026.
This is no nostalgia act, as vocalist Jeff Gutt has injected a new energy into the band with his own identity while respectfully honoring the legacy of the late Scott Weiland. Along with original members Erik Kretz on drums and brothers Robert and Dean DeLeo on bass and guitar, respectively, the band continues to deliver quality performances nightly.
All the songs you connected with at some point in your life were played, from the opening note of “Dead & Bloated” to the closing note of “Sex Type Thing.” Fans relived the soundtrack to their youth over and over again. Gutt hopped off stage and stood on the barrier up close and personal with the fans during “Down,” which was a highlight for those right up close, lots of high fives and fist bumps with Gutt.
The band was active and having fun onstage; you could feel the good vibes with lots of smiles and interactions throughout the set. Stone Temple Pilots completed their task: kick ass, get the fans loud and rowdy, and primed for Godsmack.
After AC/DC’s “For those About to Rock (We Salute You)” blasted through Honda Center, Godsmack hit the stage, opening with “Surrender” and “You and I” from 2023’s Lighting Up the Sky with heavy riffs and plenty of Boston attitude. Frontman Sully Erna has the kind of commanding presence that fully captivates the audience with his larger-than-life personality, hard-hitting vocals, and guitar mastery.
Alongside Erna is fellow founding member Robbie Merrill on bass, and there are a couple of new additions that include Sam Bam Koltun (former Faster Pussycat and Dorothy) on lead guitar, who replaced Tony Rombola in 2025, and the legendary drum wizard Mike Mangini (former Dream Theater), who jumped in after Shannon Larkin’s departure.
While it’s always disappointing to see beloved band members depart, this lineup is a beast. Koltun’s guitar mastery shines bright as this young gun fits the Godsmack mold perfectly, and obviously, with Mangini, you have one of the best in the business.
It was one arena anthem after another on this night as every song had a chorus made for a crowd to shout back to the band. About halfway through the show, Erna put down the guitar and transformed into a full-on lead vocalist, actively covering every inch of the stage. A cover of The Beatles’ “Come Together” was played, and then things slowed down slightly with “Love-Hate-Sex-Pain” and then a moody version of “Voodoo” followed by the highlight of the show—“Batalla de los Tambores”—Battle of the Drums.
A second drum kit appeared onstage with Erna on one and Mangini on his kit as the two delivered a killer demonstration of their skills back and forth, ending with a medley of “Back in Black,” “Walk This Way,” “Enter Sandman,” “Moby Dick,” and “Tom Sawyer,” as both drummers pound the skins in unison. This is always a super fun part of a Godsmack show, and Sully Erna can easily be a drummer for any band.
The main set ended with “Whatever,” which had the loudest response from the crowd all night, and even a small mosh pit erupted. Mid song, Erna called out all the young fans in attendance, praising the future of rock ‘n’ roll, then had the arena shouting “Go Away” during the final chorus. A three-song encore followed as Koltun brought out the acoustic six-string for “Under Your Scars,” then into “Bulletproof” and a spectacular ending with a high-energy version of “I Stand Alone.”
Yes, this was a night of three bands playing loud music, but also a reminder of how many different directions rock music can take while still sharing the same basic ingredients: guitars, attitude, and a connection with an audience. Dorothy brought the elegance and soul. Stone Temple Pilots brought the history. Godsmack brought the arena thunder.
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS
DOROTHY
