Creed fans sing along to their last breath at Syracuse show

Thousands of Creed fans chose to party like it was 1999 on Friday at the Empower FCU Amphitheater. 

The party for the princes of post-grunge started early in the parking lot where drinks flowed and grills sizzled long before the venue’s gates opened. The Syracuse stop on Creed’s “Return of the Summer of ‘99” Tour was also reflected in the tailgate attire as plenty of women donned ‘90s era sparkly tops and tall boots and men were outfitted with ribbed tanks and chains.

Once the sun started its slow drop along the western horizon, the 18,000 fans found their way inside to the sold-out show, filling the entire pavilion and every available square inch of the lawn overlooking Onondaga Lake.

Though Creed produced only four albums with its final release in 2008, fans faithfully showed up eager to hear the now-classics such as “Higher,” “Arms Wide Open” and “One Last Breath.”

Creed tapped a pair of opening acts with recognizable names: Mammoth featured Wolfgang Van Halen who attempted to carry on the guitar legacy of his dad Eddie, and Daughtry that rose to fame in the ‘00s thanks to lead singer Chris Daughtry’s time on American Idol. 

But with darkness setting in soon after 9 p.m., the crowd was ready for the headliner, which launched into a two-hour set with one of its hardest tracks, “Bullets.”

Decked in all black and ripped skinny jeans, Creed’s members allowed lead singer Scott Stapp to take center stage and attention with chains wrapped around his neck, belt loops and wrists as well as an assortment of large heavy rings, mirroring the crowd’s style and look.

Creed’s signature hard-rocking sound with Stapp’s belting vocals came through on tracks such as “My Own Prison,” “Say I” and “What If.”

Between every few tracks, the band played Egyptian-style instrumentals that generated murmurs from the crowd about feeling like they were in the desert. Backed by the cinematic music, Stapp spoke about the songs with preacher-like sermons with messages about never giving up or giving in to the trials of life.

Fans on the lawn bounced balloons in the air in the distant light of the stage’s pyrotechnic displays.

Creed’s saved a pair of fan favorites for the encore, directing a chorus of 18,000 voices singing “One Last Breath” that echoed through the venue. As a closer, Stapp pointed out the rising orange full moon peaking above the trees in the distance before breaking into “My Sacrifice.”

Attendees poured out of Empower FCU Ampitheater, chanting a call and response of “Hey-ey-ey-ey” as they came down from the high of Creed’s powerful rock party.