Shinedown at Hertz Arena on May 28, 2026

The Dance, Kid, Dance Tour Act II

Estero, Florida

Photos by Laura Fox

Review by Dave Fox

Thursday, May 28 was a special day for Shinedown and their fans - the band dropped their eighth album, EI8HT, at midnight after their spectacular show at Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida.

After a high-energy set by Black Stone Cherry, a dramatic set by Coheed and Cambria, rock tunes spun by DJ Rock Feed, and a little dance by a character called TV Man, Shinedown took the stage under cover of darkness. Hertz Arena then erupted with the sounds of "Safe and Sound," one of the first singles from EI8HT.

Shinedown then proceeded to play 18 more songs that showcased some of the best songs of their 25-year history, plus some surprises, including a VERY special guest.

Brent Smith, who is a great showman in addition to being a talented and versatile vocalist, led the show with his commanding, dramatic stage presence. His vocals were spot-on, as usual. His heartfelt introductions and stories between songs made the show feel intimate and personal even, in the arena setting.

As veteran Shinedown concertgoers, Laura and I both noticed how much Zach Myers has grown as a performer. Rarely looking at his guitar, he engaged with the crowd throughout the set. Myers also completely nailed the vocals during the first surprise of the night: a solo version of "Kryptonite" in a touching tribute to the recent passing of Three Doors Down's lead vocalist and founding member Brad Arnold.

Barry Kerch, whose kick drums were adorned with disco-ball graphics to match the multiple disco balls hanging from the rigging, played flawlessly as his dreads whipped wildly around his head.

Eric Bass (who produced "EI8HT," by the way), was in full beast mode during the heavier songs,. Although he usually bounces and jumps during Shinedown sets, he seemed to be even more energetic than usual - for good reason!

The energy throughout the set was high, even during the ballads. Smith, Myers and Bass rarely stood still, often changing places with and playing alongside each other and Kerch on multiple stages. You can tell the four of them are good friends as well as bandmates; their chemistry made the choreography look effortless.

The biggest, and most exciting surprise of the night came when Blackfoot and Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Rickey Medlocke joined Shinedown on stage for their cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man." The crowd went nuts and all four members of Shinedown were as amped as we've ever seen them as the living guitar legend played alongside them. Here's a brief clip shared by DJ Rock Feed:

Rickey Medlocke with Shinedown

The third surprise of the night was when Black Stone Cherry's lead vocalist Chris Robertson hopped on stage to help Smith sing "Sound of Madness," the second-to-last song of the set. Robertson's gruffness contrasted nicely with Smith's silky smoothness during the iconic tune.

One of the best things about a Shinedown show is the production. The sound was expertly mixed while lights, pyro, flash-bangs, disco balls and more were perfectly synced as the band played their hearts out to their loyal and devoted fans. Shinedown's Dance, Kid, Dance tour has been everything we've come to love and expect from one of our favorite bands.

For more tour dates, merch, and to get your own copy of EI8HT, click here:

shinedown.com

Here's the latest Shinedown video, "Young Again," released on 05/29/26: