Shinedown Continues Rise To The Top

By Kelly Hines, NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- Despite a recent rise in popularity, hard-rock band Shinedown isn't satisfied.

The Florida-based group, which performed to an energetic soldout crowd at Cain's Ballroom on Friday night, is best known for hit "Second Chance," a song about following dreams.

For Shinedown, the dream is about reaching the top. The group, formerly only an opening act, has headlined tours in the U.S. and Europe this year, and usually performs at larger venues than Cain's.

"A lot of the venues, we have moved up, depending on the market," drummer Barry Kerch said. "It really depends where we go and what the demand is. Most of the time, though, we've had to bump it up, which is great. That means business is good."

The band was formed by front man Brent Smith in 2001. Since then, Kerch says, its members have matured as musicians.

"I think it's just been a natural progression, and Shinedown's just getting better and better, and hopefully it continues to do that," Kerch said. "You look at bands like U2 or Aerosmith or even AC/DC, they've really figured it out that they can have the longevity and such an amazing career, and they reinvent themselves, but it still sounds like them. A lot of bands have a hard time doing that, and hopefully we can achieve that. That's definitely a goal."

Shinedown plans to continue touring and will return to Tulsa because of its loyal following, Kerch says. When the band took the stage Friday night, concert-goers went wild.

"Being up on stage, it's the best drug in the world," Kerch said. "It really is. You don't need anything but that crowd. Nothing feels like that, and I can't describe it.

"You get on stage and could be having the worst day and feel horrible, you can be hung-over from last night, as soon as you hit that stage, it all goes away and you're just having a good time."