From the quaint but electric Wellmont Theater in Montclair, New Jersey, comes a rock show that will be long remembered.
One of the most memorable rock bands of the mid-2000s, Daughtry, gave Montclair a show everyone would want to see on March 2.
Fans wait outside the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, New Jersey for the headliner, Daughtry.
Avery Nixon | The Montclarion
Founded by season five “American Idol” runner-up Chris Daughtry, Daughtry is a post-grunge-pop-rock band that has produced hits such as “Over You” and “Waiting for Superman.”
Not only did the headliner give an explosive performance, but so did his two openers, LYELL and Tremonti. All three acts had their own unique sound, but the performances blended together beautifully to give us a great show.
Usually I’m never a fan of the opening numbers or feel the need to watch them after the show. However, LYELL made sure that none of us left without remembering our set.
LYELL rock on stage accompanied by her guitarist (on the left) and her drummer (not on the photo).
Avery Nixon | The Montclarion
A born performer and a charming personality are the qualities that LYELL must be a star. She gave us an exceptional voice, some good jokes and a stage presence to bring the house down.
If you need new rock music, LYELL has you covered. She currently only has two songs on Spotify, but new music is coming soon like her single “Eraser” and a song that will be featured in a movie.
Daughtry’s second opener, Tremonti, continued the show with a feisty heavy metal set that kept the audience entertained the entire time.
Tremonti, founded by Creed vocalist and guitarist Mark Tremonti, provided the perfect blend of rock and heavy metal to feed off the previous act.
Tremonti frontman Mark Tremonti opens for Daughtry with his band’s heavy metal hits.
Avery Nixon | The Montclarion
Not only did they establish themselves as hardcore, but they also took the time to complete their set by handing out setlists, picks and drumsticks to fans in the audience. It’s not required to be done, but when the bands hand out memorabilia, they make fans feel loved and ecstatic for weeks with the kind gesture.
Truly, Tremonti was fun and a class act. I wasn’t a fan before, but maybe I’ll tour very soon.
Finally we reach the main attraction, Daughtry.
Electrifying, nostalgic and captivating are all words to describe what audiences saw from the band. With a mix of new music and classics, the Wellmont Theater was a real treat.
Although lead singer Chris Daughtry didn’t win or even make the top three during his time on American Idol, you were probably honored by his haunting rock vocals.
Daughtry himself is a show in his own right as he showcases the power of his voice with the perfect genre to go with it.
One of the best examples of this is Daughtry’s 2006 hit, “It’s Not Over.”
Even with their newer music, Daughtry prove time and time again that they will put you in a trance with their high level instrumentals and vocals. “Dearly Beloved,” the title track from their recent 2021 album, was one of the most exciting songs to see live.
Daughtry delivers a gripping performance of their new hits and classics.
Avery Nixon | The Montclarion
It’s always nice to see artists not stray from their roots or the genre that created them just to swap them out for cheap saturated rock-pop music that can never compete with the classics.
Just like other artists, Daughtry shone both performing and not performing their music. The lead singer was surprisingly hilarious as he sat alone on stage with dim lighting and just an acoustic guitar.
He sat on a stool and laughed at how he “used” to be recognized, sadly more according to him, by his “biggest fans” who only knew the hit song of the “Home” group. So he offered us an acoustic version of the song with his angelic voice.
Even funnier, he spent about 30 seconds strumming his guitar while singing “waiting for more phones”, saying “it’s 2022, I know you got more phones than that”, urging the audience to swing their illuminating flashlights while the ballad was being played. It was such a personal and funny moment that really connected fans to the artist on a deeper level.
Connections were a common theme of the evening. Each act created a bond with the audience that only enhanced the fan experience. All the acts were incredibly kind and charming, which made viewers feel more appreciated and loved.
Daughtry and their acts of support gave fans a night to remember for the rest of their lives.
