Mammoth
Against the blistering temperature of a Palm Desert landscape, and within the greatness that is Acrisure Arena, three distinctly talented rock bands truly brought on the heat. Creed’s “Summer of ‘99” North American tour made a stop in Coachella Valley and featured the talents of Daughtry and Mammoth.
The concert commenced with Mammoth taking center stage, offering a riveting preview of what was in store. The members making up this powerhouse of a band included Wolfgang Van Halen, Frank Sidoris, Jon Jourdan, Garrett Whitlock, and Ronnie Ficarro. Their upcoming album “The End,” was promoted greatly throughout their segment and is slated to release on Oct. 24, 2025. In building up anticipation for their album, Mammoth also released two singles this year, “The End” and “The Spell.” For those who appreciate rock and all that it embodies as a genre, this album is one to wait for with bated breath.
Mammoth
Through hazy blue lights, Chris Daughtry, Brian Craddock, Marty O’Brien, Anthony Ghazel, and Elvio Fernandes appeared, fists held high in greeting. Maddening yet comforting, their music swelled with emotions and strength. They began their act with two songs, “The Reckoning” and “The Day I Die.” “Palm Desert, how ya’ll doing tonight? You look beautiful! You bring your singing voices with you tonight? You feel like singing with us?” Daughtry asked. From the moment a familiar synth droned throughout the arena, people knew which song the band was covering–”Seperate Ways” by Journey.
“Last year, we released an EP called ‘Shock to the System.’ We were very fortunate enough to have not only our first number one in rock radio with this EP, but two back-to-back with this next song,” Daughtry said. “This goes out to anyone who has experienced loss, heartbreak. Maybe you have been through the darkness, maybe you are there right now. Maybe you have made it out on the other side. I’m here to tell you, as someone who has been there, there is always light on the other side of the darkness.” The song was titled “Pieces,” which touches upon overcoming the traumatic memories that threaten to shatter us.
Creed
“Thank you so much for being so generous while we beat you over the head with these new songs. What do you say we take it all back to where it started in 2006?” Daughtry said before singing, “It’s Not Over.” Afterwards, the lights dimmed low, and all of the musicians dispersed. All except Daughtry himself. He stepped out of the darkness, carrying an acoustic guitar with him. He took a moment to check in with the audience, encouraging them to make some noise for Mammoth. For his next song, he would need some help. “I would like to introduce you to my beautiful daughter, Adalynn Rose,” Daughtry said. Receiving a massive wave of applause, she crossed the stage to meet her father, a handheld microphone in her grasp. “Everybody, my baby girl. Say hello to Palm Desert!” Adalynn smiled, saying hello.
Together, they sang “Waiting for Superman,” a song about a girl waiting for her hero to appear. It was a lovely change in pace, an endearing duet between father and daughter that finished with a tight embrace. “Alright, how am I supposed to follow that?” Daughtry asked, shining with jubilance. “Tell you what, we can dim these lights, and you all get out anything you have that lights up. You can be the light show on this one.” Within moments, Acrisure was aglow from thousands of lights, setting the scene for “Home.”
Creed
“The Dam” was a return to formula, a jumpstart after a moment of serenity. The band launched headfirst into a larger sound, eliciting feelings of being swept up by a powerful wave. A flash flood so intense, unable to find the surface of the water. Daughtry was a motivating frontman, encouraging the crowd to sing along for the next song. He demanded to see how loud they could be, to show Creed what was in store for them. “Over You,” a song about thriving despite a failed romance, resonated with the masses. Those in the pit were fueled by his fierce delivery of the lyrics, raising their middle fingers to the sky.
“This next song is about the struggles and resistance, the criticism even, that we all face when we decide to be an individual in this life. We decide to listen to our own voice; we decide to forge our own identity based on what’s in here, not what’s out there. There’s always going to be someone telling you something that they think is better for you. Saying this is who you should be, what you should do, who you should love, what you should believe, what you should do with your body. It’s all noise; it’s all bullshit. If you can silence that noise for a moment, you might hear your own voice. The one that screams, ‘Fuck that! This is my life, and I get to choose how I live it!’ Are you with me, Palm Desert?” Daughtry shouted, beginning to sing “Heavy is the Crown.” Afterwards, their act would end with the piece “Artifical.”
Creed is a paradigm of worthwhile rock, a band full of seasoned professionals who delivered a liberating experience to ticket-holders. Scott Stapp, Mark Tremonti, Brian Marshall and Scott Philips were packed with talent. The band was backgrounded by abstract visuals of a crow soaring through a crimson valley, and streaks of scorching fire. Cameras were rolling, and Stapp’s various rings glinted under stagelights. “Bullets” was their first song of the night, a ferocious command that blasted ears and shook the walls.
“How are we doing Palm Desert? It’s so good to be here with you. Tonight, we want you all to come with us through a musical experience that describes the human experience. Not just as we live it in the physical realm, but as we experience it in the spiritual realm. It’s time to get locked in. Come with us,” Stapp said, standing over the audience as an object of worship. The energy in the room was gritty and full of feeling. From “Ode,” to “Torn” and “Are You Ready,” their setlist demonstrated what makes the band stand out.
“Every night, we dedicate this song to our dear friend, Brad Arnold from 3 Doors Down. He is battling stage four cancer. Brad’s a warrior; he’s a fighter,” Stapp said. “But I think behind every true warrior and fighter is the spirit of a child. A child with a heart that has no fear, that believes they can do anything they set their mind to. But slowly, as we grow, life beats us down, and we begin losing that childlike innocence. We can’t let this world take it from us. We have to reclaim it because it’s powerful. It connects us not only with ourselves, but it keeps us connected to the spiritual realm. Hold onto it. Don’t ever let it die.” Stapp’s sentiment transitioned into “Never Die,” which was followed by “My Own Prison.”
“I think it’s time we sing a song about prisons. This song is about the prisons we create within our minds. The self-inflicted cell we impose upon ourselves because we get caught up in failure, mistakes, betrayal, pain, hurt, and loss. Anything that robs us of joy and peace is robbing us of life itself. There is nothing that can separate you from grace. There is nothing that can stop you from waking up tomorrow, breaking out of that prison changing your life. I know because I’ve been there. Our life is not about our setbacks, our life is about our comebacks. We can come back over and over and over again. But always keep that prison in your rearview mirror to remind you that you don’t ever want to go there anymore. Let’s talk about it,” Stapp said, singing “My Own Prison.” Though softer at the start, its intensity was quick to ramp up.
Daughtry
After “Face to Face” and “Say I,” Creed welcomed the members of Mammoth and Daughtry back on stage. There was a lot of love to be seen up there. It was revealed that Stapp’s birthday was only a day away, and to celebrate, everyone cheerfully sang “Happy Birthday” for him. But that was just the beginning of the fun, as the band informed the crowd that they would be giving away a guitar that night. They intended to give it away to the person who had the most Creed spirit in the building, wondering which person was going to give it their very best and outshine the rest. Not a single observer let their enthusiasm go unnoticed, with many of the women in the pit sitting on the shoulders of their men.
Though the band recognized that everyone in the building deserved the guitar, Stapp was selected to pick a winner in light of his upcoming birthday. Chuckling into the microphone, he spotted a young boy close to the stage. He had found their winner. The boy was ushered onstage, and asked to tell his name, Asher. Cheers roared, aloft across the heads of the attendees. “That’s what it’s all about,” Stapp said, beaming, knowing the memory of returning home with the guitar would be with that boy for many years to come.
Daughtry
“We live in a world that actively finds reasons to divide us. Things have been carefully constructed to create ideological differences so we go here, here and here. All of us with ideological barriers that can’t accept this group, or that group. It’s crazy, man. We can’t let them win, because there’s power when we come together as one voice, one people, demanding change and a better life. We can sit idle and let life happen, or we can change. We can do it one person at a time or we can collectively unite and demand change. Tonight, let’s let the world know what Palm Desert thinks about unity!” Stapp cheered out as everyone lifted their hands, extending one finger for the fittingly named song “One.”
Stapp shared that “What’s This Life For,” was inspired by a teenager who committed suicide before their life was just getting started. “They decided they wanted to check out instead of live. If there is anyone out there who has those thoughts, who is in a struggle–keep fighting, hold on. I’ve been there, and I can tell you, don’t give up. Fight another day. It is strong to ask for help. We weren’t meant to live this life alone. We were built for community and family. Don’t give up, because I promise the clouds will part. The sun will rise, and you will find what your life is for.” His supportive words naturally transitioned to the song.
Daughtry
Just like Daughtry before him, Stapp beckoned everyone with a phone to turn on their lights for a light show. He wished for the light everyone created to represent the hope and love that they experience, that it lives on inside them. He wished for others to pass on that light to everyone they came in contact. The final songs of Creed’s setlist were “With Arms Wide Open,” and an encore performance of ”Higher.” To learn more, please visit https://daughtryofficial.com/, https://mammoth.band/, or https://creed.com/.