The year 2020 took so many experiences away from music lovers everywhere. In 2019, Staind played a jam packed show at Foxwoods Casino in honor of their return. They were set to play multiple festivals in 2020 and people could not be more excited. And then Covid-19 happened, and the hopes of their return was paused.
In April 2021, Staind and Danny Wimmer Presents announced two livestream events that took place a week a part from each other, on Mat 1st and May 8th. The first livestream was the pre-recorded show at Foxwoods Casino from 2019. This concert was also recorded and released as an album ‘Live: It’s Been Awhile’ which can be found on all music streaming platforms. When the show started, my first thought was “wow, I can’t wait to be able to go to a concert with a full audience”. There is something about the energy that performers feel when they are playing for an audience that truly appreciates them. Aaron Lewis is a very interesting front man to me. He is so unapologetically himself and I think that is a very special quality for a front man to have. I couldn’t stop myself from singing along to these songs I grew up listening to when I was younger. Watching Staind perform at Foxwoods Casino was the perfect preview for what it will be like to see Staind live in the future; talented musicians that seem to complete each other, fans singing and being in the moment of live music, and you can’t forget Aaron Lewis with his cigarette in hand.
The second livestream, where the band played ‘Break the Cycle’ in its entirety completely blew me away. Staind played the iconic album in an empty warehouse, where it was true to the late 90’s early 00’s rock vibes. Before the actual show starts, the bandmates talk about growing up near Springfield, Massachusetts. Mike Mushok and Aaron Lewis mentioned meeting at a Christmas party in 1993, only to not speak to or see each other for an additional year. Hearing some of the bands history in the interview before the show was extremely fascinating. They mentioned their process for writing songs, spoke about the first venue they played at, and more. It all made me feel much more connected to the band.
Once the live music started, I was immediately drawn in. These guys are such talented musicians, and all though they’re not in their 20’s anymore, they still play like they are. Aaron Lewis was back with his trademark cigarette in hand while performing the entire time. His screaming in certain songs still sounded awesome. They were genuinely just enjoying the fact that they were playing music. The fact that they played ‘Break the Cycle’ in an empty warehouse with no fans…and played it that well, really says something about the talent that these four men are able to bring to the table. It was great to see that the band has stayed true to themselves. There is something very unique about Aaron Lewis’s ability to perform. You can really feel the emotions of every song he sings, even if he isn’t the most “enthusiastic”. He draws you into his performance just by being himself.
The ‘Break the Cycle’ livestream is still available to stream now! To watch, be sure to go to Staindlive.com, where you can also purchase merchandise made especially for this two livestream events! I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed. These guys are just as good now as they were in the 90’s. I truly can’t wait to be able to see Staind at a live show!
Post by Ali Nast
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The post Staind: Two Part Streaming Event Review appeared first on Concert Crap.
