SHINEDOWN brings the heat to the Target Center!

CONCERT PHOTO GALLERY :: SHINEDOWN, BUSH, MORGAN WADE
Target Center, Mpls
July 28, 2025
Photos by Brett Zisler

SHINEDOWN made their long awaited return to Minnesota last Monday at the Target Center in Minneapolis bringing their "Dance, Kid, Dance" Tour to town! SHINEDOWN brought BUSH and MORGAN WADE along on this leg of the tour along with all the pyro they could fit in the Target Center. SHINEDOWN impressed the crowd for their entire 2 hour set which brought the newest songs "Dance, Kid, Dance" and "Three Six Five" fitting in perfectly with classics like "Devour", "Enemies" and "Sound of Madness"! SHINEDOWN even threw in a cover of Prince's "Purple Rain" for good measure!

BUSH got the crowd fired up and ready to go playing a few of the new songs from their recently released album "I Bet Lonliness" along side the classics from "Sixteen Stone".

MORGAN WADE started off the night bringing a different vibe and made some new fans!

SEE MORE of BRETT's PICTURES from SHINEDOWN, BUSH and MORGAN WADE HERE!

DISTURBED IS STILL SPREADING THIS SICKNESS 25 YEARS LATER

CONCERT REVIEW :: DISTURBED, THREE DAYS GRACE, SEVENDUST
Target Center - Minneapolis, MN
March 6, 2025
Photos and review by Brett Zisler

It’s hard to believe that 25 years ago, OzzFest was making its mark as the summer tour king and helping break bands into the mainstream. That year had its fair share of new and up & coming bands, but one group with their unique sound stood out from the rest. Chicago’s DISTURBED released their major label debut THE SICKNESS, set out to dominate the hard rock scene.

On a Thursday night in downtown Minneapolis, MN, the sold out crowd gathered at the Target Center in anticipation of hearing the album that brought Disturbed to the masses and made them a household name. With a video playing on the large white curtain before they took the stage showing the band over the years, it was hard to believe that Disturbed was celebrating 25 years of THE SICKNESS. The crowd growing more and more riled up as the curtain slowly rose as frontman David Draiman was wheeled out to center stage wearing a straight jacket and mask.

Hearing those songs again just reminds you of how much of a staple Disturbed has been over the last two and a half decades. David Draiman worked the crowd on the ramp extending out from the stage as the band went into the fan favorite, “The Game.” All credit to the crowd, they brought their singing voices in full force for the show. As fire blew from the back of the stage towards the rafters of the Target Center, the excitement level rose. Watching Disturbed go into “Stupify,” the song that for many was the first they heard by Disturbed, solidified the direction the show would be going. The fans grew more and more frenzied as “Down With the Sickness,” went through its intro and legendary breakdown.

Disturbed put together a solid show honoring 25 years of the Sickness along with an 8 song mini-“best of” set including their new single “I Will Not Break,” that the crowd hung on by every lyric. Closing out the show with “The Light” and “Inside the Fire,” seemed like the perfect way to wrap up the night of metal.

With 25 years under their belt and numerous sold out shows on this tour run, it’s not hard to believe that there is still a long and bright future ahead for the band. The question is, do we see them with other metal acts and hit stadiums in the US in the near future? Only time will tell. By the reaction of the crowds on this tour run, the fans will be ready and waiting!

SEVENDUST kicked off the night with an awesome 6 song set highlighting the early part of their carrer with "Black", "Denial" and the always epic closer "Face to Face"!

SEE MORE OF BRETT'S PHOTOS FROM DISTURBED, THREE DAYS GRACE AND SEVENDUST HERE!

SLIPKNOT brings the Roadshow to Minnesota!

CONCERT REVIEW :: SLIPKNOT, IN THIS MOMENT, WAGE WAR
Target Center in Minneapolis, MN
April 9, 2022
Photos by Brett Zisler
Review by Nick

It has been 7 years since SLIPKNOT has last been to the Twin Cities area at Northern Invasion for the festival's first year. Crowd anticipation was at a fever pitch on Saturday night for the long awaited returned of the masked 9 from Iowa.

The 9 wasted no time coming out full throttle with "Disasterpiece" from Iowa. No easing in to things, this was full on going for the throat .. the only way that Slipknot knows how. Following up with a crowd favorites with “Wait and Bleed”, “Sulfur” and “Before I Forget” before giving the crowd a breather just for a moment. Corey teasing the new album that’s forthcoming before going in to a ripping “The Chapeltown Rag” from that upcoming album.

The set design was the same that Slipknot has been using since the beginning of the We Are Not Your Kind touring cycle. First of all, it’s massive. Second, they didn’t get tour everywhere before the quarantine so might as well keep using it and show it off some more. A setup of this size couldn’t have been cheap to make so might as well keep using it and get some more miles off of it with the multiple levels and walkways for all the members of the 9 to cause chaos on. It did make me miss having all 9 on the same level running in to each other like back in Somerset on Ozzfest ’99. Clown and Tortilla Man made use of every single inch of space that layout encompassed. Sid was running around to as many areas as he could before having to run back to his turntables. Corey, Mick and Jim handled the front of the stage like warriors on the front line.

Strange to think that this was the first time Minnesota had heard “Unsainted”, “Solway Firth” and “All Out Life” live seeing how those have been out since 2019, all 3 standout tracks in the set. Let’s give it up for the dad that has his kid on his shoulders in the pit during “The Heretic Anthem”! If this was that kid’s first show, he’s never gonna forget that. There was a handful of people in the pit who created a barricade so that he wouldn’t get hurt and pit moshed around them. One of the coolest things I’ve seen at a show in a long time. They did make it pretty close to the front and Corey gave him a shout out from stage during the encore.

**SPOILER ALERT**

Vman was standing just above Jay’s drumset during “The Devil in I” and I remember thinking “He’s awfully close to the fire shooting off at the back of the stage”. Vman was wielding a bass that had it’s own flame thrower attached! Fire was coming from different angles on 3 different levels. Now that’s a Slipknot show! If I can’t feel the heat coming from the stage, I would think I was at the wrong show. This was a crowd full of Slipknot show veterans. As they knew all the cues before they were happening even impressing Corey as they knew when to sit down during “Spit It Out” he didn’t even have to ask.

The only negative to the song selection on this run is having “Snuff” and “Vermillion” back to back brings the show down a little BUT it gives Slipknot a breather before they unleash the end of the set. I would’ve liked to hear more from We Are Not Your Kind as it would’ve been great to have “Nero Forte” in there. Slipknot are still putting on a 2 hour show and that in itself is worth applauding.

This was the best I’ve seen Slipknot in a long time, they were recharged and ready to bring the same amount of carnage as they did back in ’99. Every single member of the 9 were the MVP’s of the show bringing equal amounts of intensity to every possible corner of the arena. If you get a chance to catch the second leg of the Knotfest Roadshow in May and June with Cypress Hill and Ho99o9, do not miss out. This is Slipknot in it’s finest brutality.

SEE MORE OF BRETT'S PICTURES FROM SLIPKNOT HERE!

KORN, CHEVELLE and CODE ORANGE bring the heavy back to the Target Center

CONCERT REVIEW :: KORN, CHEVELLE, CODE ORANGE
Target Center - Minneapolis, MN
March 26, 2022
Photos by Brett Zisler
Review by Nick

KORN brought their Requiem Tour to the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN with a strong tour lineup featuring CHEVELLE and CODE ORANGE! This was the best I've seen KORN in years! Opening with "Forgotten", one of the many strong new songs from Requiem, you could sense it in the crowd they were happy to see KORN again and KORN was happy to see the fans again. Smiling faces from all the band members. Going in to an early showing of "Got the Life" and "Here to Stay" got the crowd moving and we knew KORN wasn't messing around with this set.

"Start the Healing" from Requiem showed up next before KORN dug deep into their back catolog to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Untouchables by playing a deep cut "No One's There". I'm not sure they ever played that one live. A definate treat for the hardcore fans in the crowd. Right after that Jonathan came out with the bagpipes for "Shoots and Ladders" and the crowd came unglued. "Lost in the Grandeur" sounded fantastic with the set so far showing off each member on top of their game. Especially Ray Luzier on the drums! How he can throw sticks up and not miss a cymbal crash is beyond me. Highlight of the night just watching Ray play.

"Falling Away From Me" never gets old in the set, sounds just as good as it did live in 1999. The new single "Worst Is On It's Way" showed up next, featuring Jonathan's signature scatting on it. I may be of the small percentage of the audience who could have used more new songs. KORN has too many hits to play in a set without making it a 3 hour show closing the main set with "Coming Undone" and "Freak on a Leash".

The addition of Ra Diaz on bass filling in for Fieldy was infectious. Ra just smiling ear to ear the entire set clearly enjoying his time playing in the band. Jonathan sounding the best he has in years, same with Munky's background vocals. Head and Munky absolutely crushing their guitars the whole entire set. KORN definately is on top of their game on this tour supporting their best album in quite sometime. To be fair, The Nothing was a pretty great album as well ... no "Cold" or "You'll Never Find Me" in this set list though. Closing out with a fantastic drum solo from Ray in to the legendary "Blind". That's how it's done! KORN took the audience back and showed them how it's done once again.

CHEVELLE had a hits filled set list playing about everything you would want them to play. Opening with "An Island", "Door to Door Cannibals" and "Self Destructor" before letting the foot off the gas pedal for a moment before going into a crowd approved version of "Vitamin R (Leading Us Along)". Not a band to ever talk a whole lot between songs, Pete got in a good dig on someone in the crowd telling him he's number one.

CHEVELLE has always been a band locked into a groove together and this is no different between Pete and Sam with the latest addition Kemble on bass. "Face to the Floor" and "The Clincher" rocked as hard as ever. They got a big crowd sing along with "Send the Pain Below" and "The Red" from Wonder What's Next before closing out their set with the latest and probably best song in years "Mars Simula". So good to see Chevelle live again.

CODE ORANGE had the tough job of opening the night to a crowd that mostly did not know who they were. The band took that job on head first putting them thru everything that CODE ORANGE is in their 30 min set. Comming out with probably their most friendly song the latest single "Out For Blood" before taking a huge 180 into the punishing "Forever". The Target Center hasn't seen a band this heavy in a long time. Jami making full use of the stage and running every inch of it as his territory. Reba showing off how much of a badass she is crushing it on the guitar and vocals during "Sulfur Surrounding". Here's where I definately missed "Bleeding in the Blur" but CODE ORANGE wasn't letting the crowd off that light. Bassist Joe Goldman stalking every inch of that stage like the AEW wrestler he should be. The addition of Mud Max Portnoy on drums brings the band to a whole new heavy unleashing the full potential of power this band can unleash. Shade got to unleash a few extra instrumental elements in to the show allowing a breather in between songs. "Spy" and "Swallowing the Rabbit Hole" closed out the set allowing guitarist Dominic Landolina to destroy his end of the stage. I can't wait to see CODE ORANGE release this new fury in a smaller venue hoepfully soon as they are right now on their own headlining tour.

SEE MORE OF BRETT'S PICTURES OF KORN HERE!

SEE MORE OF BRETT'S PICTURES OF CHEVELLE AND CODE ORANGE HERE!

PHOTOS :: ASKING ALEXANDRIA @ Target Center 3/11/19

ASKING ALEXANDRIA
TARGET CENTER - Minneapolis, MN
03/11/19

SEE MORE OF BRETT's ASKING ALEXANDRIA PHOTOS HERE!

REVIEW :: SHINEDOWN Brings the Fire to the Target Center

SHINEDOWN, PAPA ROACH, ASKING ALEXANDRIA

Target Center - Minneapolis, MN

March 11, 2019

Review and photos by Brett Zisler

This past Monday night in downtown Minneapolis definitely had a different vibe as the legions of fans made their way into the Target Center. And for good reason. Shinedown’s ATTENTION ATTENTION World Tour made its way into Minnesota and brought along friends Papa Roach & Asking Alexandria to perform to the masses. This night marked almost three years since the band last played the metro area (Northern Invasion 2016) and the energy level from both Shinedown and the fans could not have been higher.

Shinedown started off their set with a thunderous boom as the large white curtain separating the band and their fans fell to the arena floor as they opened with “Devil,” the band’s first single from their 2018 release, Attention Attention. With fire shooting off behind the band during the song’s chorus, it was clear the fans were going to be in for a sensory overload for the night. Lead by the vocals of Brent Smith and the pounding drum beats from Barry Kerch, Shinedown powered their way through hits like “Diamond Eyes” and “Enemies.” Guitarist Zach Meyers & bass player Eric Bass added so much energy to the live show experience as they roamed the stage side to side singing along with the crowd word for word.

It was very evident that Shinedown has an extreme amount of pride in their new album ATTENTION ATTENTION, and it came through as they performed singles “Monsters” and the ever so inspiring “Get Up.” To be able to easily insert these new songs within some of the fan favorites “Unity” and “I’ll Follow You,” only shows the growth of this band over their last six albums. As the time came for the band to venture into the crowd onto their smaller stage, you could see how much this band genuinely enjoys what they do. With a never-ending sea of lighters and cell phones illuminating the Target Center, Shinedown weaved their way into classics “45” and the popular rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” as the crowd of over 10,000 sang along.

As the show came winding down to the end, Shinedown left nothing behind in giving their fans “Cut the Chord” and “Sound of Madness.” The energy level given by both the band their fans felt like the beginning of the show all over again. And personally, that is what Rock N’ Roll is all about. Fun. The age range of this show were kids in their early teens to the older beer drinking fans with Iron Maiden t-shirts on. All left with the same feeling of enjoyment as Shinedown closed their 18 song setlist with their uplifting new song “Brilliant.”

One thing was for certain passing through the halls of the Target Center after the show, Shinedown will always have a loyal fanbase in Minneapolis. “I wish they could have played all night” and “When do you think they will be back? We have to go!” were the common conversations being had. Shinedown is a band that has worked hard at perfecting their craft. From writing songs that resonate with fans worldwide, tours that seem to hit all over the world, but most of all, give their fans a live rock and roll show they will never forget.

CHECK OUT MORE OF BRETT'S PHOTOS FROM SHINEDOWN AT THE TARGET CENTER HERE!