Godsmack Knocked Out Chicago During Their, “The Rise of Rock,” World Tour

June 20th 2026

Bringing together 3 generations of hard rock, Godsmack returned to Chicago at the iconic outdoor Credit Union 1 Amphitheater, for their “The Rise of Rock,” World Tour. Along with them came co-headliner, Stone Temple Pilots and special guest Dorothy. 

The night was as young as it was warm as fans lined up at security donning Godsmack and other hard rock centered shirts. Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, located in Tinley Park just southwest of Chicago, has been one of the Midwest's largest outdoor concert venues since opening in 1990. The venue was designed to bring large-scale concerts and music festivals to the Chicago area, and with a capacity of nearly 29,000 people, including both reserved pavilion seating and lawn it certainly had the space to. 

Over the years, the amphitheater has undergone several name changes reflecting sponsorship agreements, becoming the New World Music Theatre, Tweeter Center, First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, and finally Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in 2023. Now owned and operated by Live Nation, the venue has hosted generations of legendary artists including Cher, The Grateful Dead, Kiss, Paul McCartney, Janet Jackson, and countless others. More than three decades after its debut, Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre remains one of the largest and most recognizable outdoor music venues in the outer Chicago area, continuing to attract the world's biggest touring acts every summer.

And touring acts it has attracted as American rock band Dorothy took the outdoor stage. Formed in Los Angeles in 2014, Dorothy built a following by mixing classic rock, blues, and soul with a unique blend of styles and influences. Dorothy is led by vocalist Dorothy Martin and backed by drummer Jake Hayden, guitarist Sam Bam Koltun, and bassist Eliot Lorango. The band broke through with early singles like Wicked Ones and After Midnight before releasing their debut album, Rockisdead, in 2016. The record introduced listeners to Martin's gritty vocal style and helped establish Dorothy as one of the rising names in modern rock.

The band has continued to grow through albums like 28 Days in the Valley and Gifts from the Holy Ghost, the latter drawing from Martin's personal experiences with addiction and recovery. On stage, Dorothy has earned a reputation for energetic performances. Driven by Martin's commanding stage presence and powerful vocals, Dorothy commanded fans who screamed songs back, cheering as she touched on personal tribulations, and gave her horns on her way out. Whether playing theaters or major rock festivals, the band brings the same intensity that has made them a favorite among fans of modern hard rock.

Next on the bill was Stone Temple Pilots aka STP,  one of the defining rock bands of the 1990s. With the release of their debut album, Core, they found themselves rising the charts. Led for years by the late Scott Weiland, the band found massive success through albums like Purple and hit songs including Plush, Interstate Love Song, and Vasoline. After Weiland's departure and later death, the band welcomed vocalist Jeff Gutt in 2017, beginning a new chapter while original members Dean DeLeo, Robert DeLeo, and Eric Kretz remained at its core.

On the Rise of Rock Tour, Stone Temple Pilots continued to lean into the songs that made them famous while giving Jeff Gutt room to make the material his own. Their set at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre on June 20 fit perfectly between Dorothy and Godsmack, delivering a mix of grunge staples and polished musicianship that kept the crowd engaged from start to finish.

With the following setlist that built energy the rest of the night, it was no question why they were where they were:

1. Dead & Bloated

2. Wicked Garden

3. Vasoline

4. Big Bang Baby

5. Down

6. Lounge Fly

7. Big Empty

8. Plush

9. Interstate Love Song

10. Crackerman

11. Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper

Heart

12. Sex Type Thing

And then it was the headliner. The stage was covered with a large curtain donning the Godsmack logo, fans chatting and growing excitement for the upcoming act. And as quick as it was put up, the sheet flew down and the stage exploded with a flurry of light as fans screamed for the one and only Godsmack.

Formed in 1995 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Godsmack rose to prominence during the late '90s with a heavier take on hard rock and alternative metal. Fronted by Sully Erna, the band built its reputation through albums like Godsmack, Awake, and Faceless, producing radio staples such as I Stand Alone, Voodoo, and Awake.

With more than a dozen number-one Mainstream Rock singles, Godsmack has remained one of the genre's most successful acts for nearly three decades despite lineup changes in recent years. Their setlist was as heavy as it was iconic and it went as follows:

1. When Legends Rise

2. You and I

3. Cryin' Like a Bitch!!

4. Straight Out of Line

5. Awake

6. Surrender

7. Keep Away

8. Love-Hate-Sex-Pain

9. Voodoo

10. Batalla de los tambores

11. Whatever

Encore:

12. Under Your Scars

13. Bulletproof

14. I Stand Alone

Closing the night at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, Godsmack brought the biggest production of the evening, pairing heavy riffs with arena-sized visuals and the commanding stage presence Sully Erna has become known for. Their live shows are built around crowd participation and nonstop energy, making them a fitting headliner for the Rise of Rock Tour and an explosive finish to the June 20 lineup.