Article and Photos by: Kimmi Taylor

Baltimore, MD – There may be plenty of shows happening across Baltimore tonight, but this one is clearly the most anticipated and the most attended. Long before the doors open, a line of eager fans wraps around the entire CFG Bank Arena, a sight that feels increasingly rare in today’s concert landscape. But tonight is different. Fans have turned out in force to see their favorite veteran Canadian rock band, Three Days Grace, as they bring their highly anticipated Alienation Tour to the city. The energy in the crowd is unmistakable, with devoted listeners ready to celebrate the band’s decades of hard-hitting rock and anthemic choruses.

The Funeral Portrait

The night kicked off with an energetic set from The Funeral Portrait, whose alternative rock sound quickly got the crowd on its feet. They opened their set with a striking cover of ‘Mad World’ by Tears for Fears, setting an atmospheric tone that immediately captured the audience’s attention. Lead singer Lee, known for his dramatic stage presence, captivated the audience with soaring vocals and expressive movements with other band members that commanded attention from the moment he stepped onstage. The lighting and visuals added to the immersive experience, bathing the venue in eerie hues that complemented the band’s gothic aesthetic. Bassist, Robert even took a moment to lean over and play with a security guard’s hair, drawing laughs from the crowd. Fan were treated to an eight-song set with their favorites like “Holy Water,” “Dark Thoughts,” and “Suffocate City.” What a way to start off the night.

Sleep Theory

The moment the lights dimmed, the track “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus blasted through the arena as the band’s intro music, instantly sparking cheers and dancing. Sleep Theory wasted no time cranking it up with their hit song, “Fallout.” They are a newer band that has been gaining significant traction over the past couple of years. Lead singer, Cullen, shared stories, expressed gratitude to their fans, and even took time to interact with the audience, making the night feel intimate despite the grandeur of the venue. The setlist consisted of old and new favorites, including hits such as “It’s Over,” “Gravity,” and “Static.” The crowd shows their appreciation with fist pumps, crowd surfing, and cheers. Judging from those reactions, it would seem they have a solid fanbase already or have captured many new fans tonight.

I Prevail

As if the crowd hadn’t already proved how excited and ready they were for this concert, their energy levels resumed and even increased the second I Prevail took to the stage. At 9 PM, the room goes dark, and the band’s choice of intro music “Clint Eastwood” by the Gorillaz, begins to play. Throughout the night, I Prevail played many popular crowd favorites as well as many of their more obscure songs. With fists pumping and the whole crowd at CFG Bank Arena chanting “Hey” in unison, during the legendary cover of “Sad But True,” by Metallica, marked the transition to the back half of their forty-five-minute set. Following “Rain,” drummer, Gabe commanded the stage during a thunderous drum solo, driving the audience wild with each pounding beat. The setlist was an emotional rollercoaster, seamlessly blending haunting melodies with explosive breakdowns. Coupled with the pyrotechnics, heavy riffs, and growling vocals, I Prevail reached the pinnacle of hardcore energy.

Three Days Grace

Anticipation builds as the crowd waits for the band to finally hit the stage. The moment the lights dim, cheers erupt as Three Days Grace take the stage and launch straight into their newest single “Dominate,” from their recently release cd, Alienation. From the moment they took the stage, charismatic the lead singer duo, Adam and Matt, captivated the audience with their magnetic presence and confident vocals backed by an engaging stage presence as they walked down the cat walk.  The energy levels surged as the band pumped new and old hits into the crowd, starting off with “I Hate Everything About You” and “Painkiller” and concluding with “Never too late” and “Riot.” Midway through their set, the stage was transformed into a warm campfire scene, with the band strumming acoustic guitars and creating a moment of intimate connection with the crowd. Another surprise, but on a more somber note, Adam opened the second set with an a cappella solo of “Here Without You” by 3 Doors Down, paying tribute to their singer, Brad Arnold, who recently passed after a long battle with cancer. The heartfelt performance left the audience deeply moved. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Around 12am, after a long 23-song set list, the house lights come on, and no one really wants to go, but they are talking about how great this show was.

The tour is in the US until May 12th, so check out the dates and see if they’re coming near you.