Godsmack at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska on October 13th, 2026.
Photos and Review by The Pit Magazine Contributor, Bob DeHart Photography
Full disclosure here, this was my first Godsmack show of any shape or form. I have a ton of friends who tell me how many times they’ve seen them and the small venues that played at back in the day. So…yes, I am late to this party. Godsmack is one of those bands that I loosely followed and enjoyed got into some of their bigger hits. Songs like Voodoo, I Stand Alone, and Keep Away were always enjoyable to me. But I was still on the fringes.
That changed in 2018 when they released the album When Legends Rise. That album became one of my favorites of that year and is one that I still listen to regularly. This has been my fist opportunity to catch them live since then. I have grown to appreciate some of the older songs more now that I have made the effort to do some deep diving.
And I will say that they were definitely wort the wait. Lead vocalist Sully Erna still sounds amazing live. And the band sounds amazing too. They have a new guitarist with the addition of Sam Bam Kolton. Sam has been around awhile playing for bands like Faster Pussycat and the opener on this night Dorothy. It was great to see Sam playing with a band as with the stature of Godsmack. He has paid his dues and is reaping his rewards. This tour is the “Rise of Rock Tour”. It was a great set with a ton of highlights, from a cover of Joe Walsh’s Rocky Mountain Way to some of hits of my favorite Godsmack album When Legends Die. And the closing song of I Stand Alone, a perfect classic to end the night.
I apologize to Sully and the guys for not joining the party sooner. I have certainly missed out on some good years. But as I usually say, better late than never. And I am happy to aboard this ride now. I look forward to my next Godsmack show. Tons of energy, loud guitars, and an amazing voice to carry you through. There is not much better than that. It’s what rock and roll is all about.
Photos by The Pit Magazine photographer, Bob DeHart Photography in York, Nebraska. ©2026.
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