SOLD OUT: A Saturday at ArtPark

A great bill of rock music made its way through WNY this past Saturday night.

Bush, Jerry Cantrell, Candlebox, and Bones UK played a sold-out show at Artpark in Lewiston, NY. Even though there was rain in the forecast, there wasn’t a drop of wet besides the sweat of the brow on all the artists who performed.

First up was UK Bones. As they took to the stage, rhythm guitarist and vocalist Rosie Bones asked the crowd, “Are you ready to get boned?” She was accompanied by lead guitarist Carmen Vandenberg and drummer Heavy, and they went into what was called an intro jam. The trio made the most out of their 25-minute set by cramming in seven songs. Without a bass, they still sounded heavy and were able to create their own unique sound. They are gearing up to release a new studio album called ‘Soft’ on September 13th, so check it out.

Candlebox was up next. It's been many years since I saw the band live. Even though the band released their first self-titled album back in 1993, the band has announced that this is their farewell tour. They have gone through some lineup changes but are still led by vocalist Kevin Martin. Martin asked the crowd, “Is it okay if the band could concentrate on playing the older stuff?” Of course, the crowd gave them a resounding yes back! Besides a few technical issues at the very beginning of the set, I thought Candlebox smashed it live. Martin went on and gave one of the most memorable vocal performances I have seen in a very, very long time. Martin killed it on every song and held a note on “Far Behind” that it seemed it lasted for eternity. It was simply mouth-dropping. It wasn’t him just screaming; his range was high, clean, and powerful. He also tossed out a few signed drumsticks and quite a few guitar picks a couple of times.

If this was send off, then Candlebox can be proud they went out in tip-top fashion!

This was Jerry Cantrell’s second trip to the WNY area in a year and a half’s time. This time there were a few lineup changes made. Zach Throne came in to do the rhythm guitar, and Roy Moroga handled the drums. They also added a keyboardist to help fill in the sound. Cantrell will release his fourth solo album titled ‘I Want Blood’ on October 18, 2024. They ended up playing the new single “Vilified,” which has the Cantrell-esque sound and vibe to it. Even though it was a shortened setlist due to them being an opener, Cantrell still was able to have a good balance of solo material and Alice in Chains songs to keep the crowd happy.

The headliner was Bush. It’s also been quite a few years since I've seen Bush perform as well. Led by the energetic Gavin Rossdale, the band’s set was a barrage of hits and newer tracks that lasted for an hour and a half. Right off the bat, the band cranked into the song that put the band on the map in “Everything Zen.” They kept that force going with “Machenhead.” Rossdale lost the guitar to front one of their newer songs in “Bullet Holes.”

During the middle of the set, the band had fans (paid VIP’s) come to the back of the stage to watch a few songs from a bird's-eye view. Everything slowed down as the band exited, and Rossdale only remained as he sang “Swallowed.” I remember Rossdale making his way through the crowds when I saw him last. Well, he still keeps up that tradition and did so during the song “Flowers on a Grave.” It’s nice to see artists keep that simple interaction that the fans appreciate so much. They did an extended encore that consisted of 4 songs. They closed with “Comedown.”

What a great night of crock all the way around. All the bands delivered. Just a typical summer night you would wish would last forever. Great music, great atmosphere, and great weather. A triple bill combo that is hard to beat!