Carmel, Indiana
Photos by Laura Fox (LLFoxphotos)
Review by Madisyn Horsley
The torrential rain wasn’t holding us back last night (Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023) as die-hard Daughtry fans made their way inside to see the 2006 American Idol finalist on the first date of the Bare Bones Tour.
Accompanying Chris Daughtry on this tour is Tremonti guitarist Eric Friedman, Rock Star Academy keyboardist Elvio Fernandes, and original members bassist Brian Caddock and drummer Jeremy Schaffer. Opening for the band is rock guitarist Ayron Jones.
The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts is a stunning, cathedralesque venue located in Carmel, Indiana. The interior is decorated with white walls with gold and blue trim, and features a pipe organ and domed ceilings. Last night’s acoustics sounded incredible, the light production was spot on, and Daughtry even found himself having a little bit of candle envy of his bandmates as he looked around at the set-up on stage. The stage was set to give a low-key, intimate vibe you might find at a local café - perfect for an all-acoustic rock performance.
Daughtry gave an emotional performance, allowing him to connect and interact with his fans on each song. The band played a handful of covers, including Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game,” Johnny Cash’s “Walk The Line,” and my personal favorite, “Separate Ways,” originally written and recorded by the members of Journey. There were even a few bars of Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.” When introducing these songs, Daughtry expressed that he wished he had written them himself. You can find his duet cover of “Separate Ways” with Halestorm singer/songwriter Lzzy Hale on all streaming platforms.
The band played one of Daughtry’s personal favorites, “Breakdown” from their self-titled album released in 2006, which Daughtry wrote two years prior to his audition for American Idol. Before ending the show, Daughtry teased the audience with the announcement of a new single, "Artificial," which the band didn't play but is featured below:
Daughtry received a standing ovation for their hit song “Home,” and the crowd roared for more. They led their encore set with what Daughtry said was a nostalgic performance of “White Flag” and concluded with their hit single, “Heavy is the Crown.” As the frontman made his exit, he was sure to shake hands and snap a couple selfies with a few lucky fans.
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To learn more about The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, Indiana, click here: