Shinedown Takes Over Treasure Island on a Perfect Minnesota Night

Photojournalist: Sophia Bronwyn

If I had a nickel for every time I had to bring my dad to a Shinedown concert, I’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.

On a beautiful Friday evening, my dad and I made the roughly hour-long drive from the Twin Cities to Welch, Minnesota, for Shinedown’s stop at Treasure Island Amphitheater, with From Ashes to New and Coheed and Cambria joining the lineup. Normally, my dad’s role at concerts is fairly simple: drop me off and let me disappear into the crowd for a few hours. But after immediately getting stuck in the parking situation and hearing rumors of food trucks, we decided to bring him along for the adventure.

Neither of us had been to Treasure Island before, and the sheer size of the venue was slightly overwhelming. People were everywhere. While the venue lists a seated capacity of around 16,000, I found myself wondering whether that includes the lawn because, from where I was standing, it genuinely felt closer to 20,000-plus people.

I also went into the night not being particularly familiar with either of the opening acts, which made the evening an unexpected opportunity to discover some new favorites.

From Ashes to New immediately blew me away. I found myself completely captivated by the dynamic between the two singers, their fun use of masks, and the energy they brought to the stage. Their drummer was especially energetic, adding another layer of excitement to an already high-energy performance. Within minutes, I was completely invested in the set.

Then came the realization that I had just brought my “classically trained” dad, his words, not mine, to a metal concert.

While his reaction may have provided some entertainment throughout the evening, From Ashes to New was a genuine highlight for me. Going into the show with very little familiarity with the band and leaving wanting to hear more is one of my favorite things about live music. Sometimes the best discoveries are the ones you don't plan on making.

Coheed and Cambria were up next, bringing a different sound and energy to the evening. The New York band delivered another strong set and continued to build the momentum toward Shinedown. Once my time in the pit was up, I decided to take a chance on the mini donuts. The lines were still long, but even away from the stage, the music could be heard throughout the venue, making it easy to feel like I wasn't missing out.

When I returned to the crowd, Claudio Sanchez was playing a 12-string guitar. I was thoroughly impressed. It's those little unexpected moments that can make a live performance memorable, and watching Sanchez work through the instrument was one of those moments for me.

Then came Shinedown.

The band opened in a similar fashion to their previous Dance, Kid, Dance Tour, starting the night with “Safe and Sound.” From there, they delivered the kind of massive, polished performance you'd expect from a band playing to an amphitheater filled with thousands of fans.

One of the most touching moments of the evening came when Brent Smith paused to address the crowd before “Three Six Five.” He asked everyone to think about the people in their hearts who are no longer with us before the song began. In the middle of such a large and energetic show, the moment felt surprisingly intimate. It was a simple gesture, but one that gave the song an added emotional weight and created a moment of reflection for the entire crowd.

I was hoping to hear Shinedown's new song “Burning Down the Disco,” but the set still offered plenty of surprises. The band incorporated several covers throughout the night, more than I was expecting, but it was hard to complain when they brought their own personality to them. “Purple Rain,” in particular, was a fun choice, and there's something special about hearing thousands of people come together for a Prince song.

The collaborations with Coheed and Cambria were another highlight. Shinedown brought Claudio Sanchez back to the stage for “Your Love” and “Go Your Own Way,” giving the evening a few unexpected moments that made the already diverse lineup feel even more connected.

The night ended in typical Shinedown fashion with “Second Chance,” a fitting closing song that had the crowd singing along as the evening came to an end.

For an outdoor concert, we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. The weather was perfect, the amphitheater was packed, and the combination of three very different bands created a night that offered something for everyone. Treasure Island's enormous size certainly took some getting used to, but there was something exciting about seeing such a massive crowd gathered together for a night of live music.

What I appreciated most about the evening was how much it managed to surprise me. I went in knowing very little about the opening acts and walked away with a new band to explore. I got to see Claudio Sanchez play a 12-string guitar, hear Shinedown put their own spin on familiar covers, and experience a genuinely touching moment with Brent Smith and thousands of other fans.

And, of course, I got to bring my dad to another Shinedown concert.

Two nickels. Still weird.

SHINEDOWN