Shinedown Lights Up Milwaukee on the Dance, Kid, Dance Tour

When the Dance, Kid, Dance Tour rolled into Milwaukee, it wasn’t just another Friday night—it was a full-blown rock takeover. The Fiserv Forum was packed to the rafters with fans ready to scream their faces off, chug overpriced beers, and maybe lose their voices somewhere between opener and encore. Shinedown headlined the chaos, but the night was stacked with serious talent. Bush, the ‘90s rock veterans who refuse to age like the rest of us, and Morgan Wade, who’s proving that country-rock is absolutely a thing, were set to open. The energy in the crowd was somewhere between “first cup of coffee” and “last call at the bar.” The stage was primed, the amps were cranked, and the crowd? Let’s just say they weren’t here to politely clap. Everyone knew they were in for a wild ride—and let’s be honest, no one showed up to keep things mellow. It was loud, it was rowdy, and for one night, Milwaukee was the center of the rock universe.

All Photos By: Aaron R. Shriver Photography

Morgan Wade hit the stage like she had a point to prove—and prove it she did. With a voice that’s equal parts smoky dive bar and heartbreak playlist, she opened with “High In Your Apartment” and didn’t let up. Her blend of country and rock vibes was unexpected but somehow exactly what the night needed. By the time she got to “Roses” and “Meet Somebody,” the crowd was warming up to her, which is no small feat when you’re first on the bill. Then came her cover of Radiohead’s “Creep,” a move that could’ve been risky but turned out to be a total mic-drop moment.

Click The Image For The Full Morgan Wade Photo Gallery

Wade even ventured onto the ramps extending into the pit, making eye contact with fans like she was trying to read their minds. She wrapped things up with “Wilder Days,” throwing in a nod to Ozzy Osbourne with a cheeky “Iron Man” outro. If anyone came in not knowing who Morgan Wade was, they probably left Googling her and wondering how much her merch costs.

When Bush hit the stage, the ‘90s nostalgia hit harder than a poorly-timed mosh pit elbow. Gavin Rossdale and the gang wasted no time reminding everyone why they’ve stuck around for three decades. Starting off with “Scars” from their latest album, they threw the crowd right into it. But let’s be real—when “Machinehead” dropped, it was like a time machine straight to 1994, and everyone in the room collectively lost it.

Click The Image For The Full Bush Photo Gallery

Rossdale’s energy was unreal; the man’s out here sprinting around like he’s training for the Olympics, not playing rock shows. At one point, he jumped into the crowd during “Flowers On A Grave,” high-fiving fans and making his way around the arena like he had a personal vendetta against the concept of staying on stage. He eventually made it back for an emotional solo performance of “Glycerine” before the band came crashing back in for “Comedown.” It was raw, loud, and exactly what you’d expect from a band that clearly doesn’t know the meaning of phoning it in.

Shinedown hit the stage like they had something to prove—or maybe they just like setting things on fire, literally. From the second the flames shot up during "Dance, Kid, Dance," the energy in the Fiserv Forum went from zero to absolute chaos. Brent Smith was all over the place, commanding the crowd like a rock-and-roll drill sergeant while the band blasted through hits like "Fly From The Inside" and "Cut The Cord." Between songs, Brent threw in some heartfelt moments, dedicating the night to Ozzy Osbourne, but make no mistake, this set was all about melting faces.

When they moved to the B-stage, things got personal, with stripped-down versions of "Call Me" and "I Dare You." Then, out of nowhere, they dropped “In Memory,” a deep cut that had hardcore fans losing their minds. By the time they got to "Diamond Eyes," it felt like the entire arena was one giant, sweaty sing-along. This wasn’t just a performance; it was a full-blown rock assault, and nobody in that crowd was walking out the same as they came in.

If you thought the night couldn’t get any better, Shinedown proved you wrong. They brought out some deep cuts that had hardcore fans feeling like they hit the jackpot. When Brent Smith announced “In Memory,” jaws dropped—it’s the kind of song you think you’ll never hear live again, and yet, there it was, blowing everyone’s minds. Then came the wild card: Brent’s son, Lyric Santana Smith, hopped onstage for “Second Chance.” The kid shredded like he’d been doing it for decades, and honestly, we wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up headlining his own tour someday.

And just when you thought the Ozzy Osbourne tributes were over, Zach Myers pulled the crowd into a full-on sing-along of “Mama, I’m Coming Home.” Let’s just say the Fiserv Forum was basically one big karaoke bar at that point, and no one cared if they hit the right notes. Shinedown knows how to bring the surprises, and Milwaukee got the ultimate hookup.

Click The Image For The Full Shinedown Photo Gallery

As the crowd spilled out of the Fiserv Forum, the collective vibe was a mix of “holy crap, did that just happen?” and “where’s the nearest pizza joint?” The Dance, Kid, Dance Tour wasn’t just a concert—it was a three-hour adrenaline rush that left everyone simultaneously exhausted and wired. Morgan Wade earned herself a ton of new fans, Bush proved they’ve still got the goods after all these years, and Shinedown? Well, they pretty much set the bar on what a headlining set should look like (and set half the stage on fire while they were at it). The Ozzy tributes were a perfect touch, and Brent Smith’s kid stepping in for "Second Chance" was like the cherry on top of an already ridiculous sundae. By the end, it was clear: this wasn’t just a Friday night out—it was a night that’ll live rent-free in your brain for a long, long time. Milwaukee won, plain and simple.

For More On Shinedown Click Here

Shinedown Set-List:

Main Stage

Dance, Kid, Dance

Fly From the Inside

Cut the Cord

How Did You Love

Devil

Three Six Five

Enemies

B Stage

Call Me

I Dare You

In Memory

Dead Don't Die

Main Stage

Diamond Eyes (Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom)

A Symptom of Being Human

Planet Zero

Simple Man (Lynyrd Skynyrd cover) (preceded by a snippet of Mama, I’m Coming Home by Ozzy Osbourne sung by Zach Myers)

Monsters

Sound of Madness

Second Chance (Brent Smith’s son playing guitar for the first time on stage)