GODSMACK brought The Rise of Rock World Tour to Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia on Sunday, May 10th, 2026, delivering a full night of rock that covered a wide range of sounds, generations, and fanbases. With DOROTHY opening the show, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS stepping in as direct support, and GODSMACK closing the night as headliners, this was more than just another summer rock package. It felt like a celebration of where rock has been, where it still stands, and why fans continue to show up for bands that know how to command a stage.
The night opened with DOROTHY, who wasted no time bringing that Southern rock swagger and blues-soaked attitude to the stage. There has always been something magnetic about Dorothy Martin as a frontwoman. She carries that old-school rock-and-roll presence with a voice that can go from smoky and soulful to full-blown powerhouse in a matter of seconds. There is a definite Stevie Nicks-style mystique in the way she moves and holds the crowd, but DOROTHY never feels like a throwback act. They take that classic rock spirit and push it through a modern, gritty, hard-rock filter.
Their eight-song set gave the early crowd exactly what they needed to get locked in for the night. Songs like “Down to the Bottom,” “Bones,” “Rest in Peace,” and “Raise Hell” hit with that mix of attitude, groove, and raw vocal fire that has helped DOROTHY carve out their own lane. The band sounded tight, confident, and road-tested, with the kind of chemistry that makes even a shorter opening set feel bigger than its runtime. Nick Perri, Eliot Lorango, and Jake Hayden gave the songs plenty of muscle behind Martin’s voice, letting each chorus land with weight while still keeping the performance loose and alive.
View the full DOROTHY photo gallery here:
https://infraredmag.com/photo-gallery-dorothy-live-at-jiffy-lube-live-in-bristow-va-on-sunday-may-10th-2026/
After a brief stage change, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS took the stage and immediately shifted the atmosphere. You could feel how many people in the crowd were there for them just as much as the headliner. Their following stretched across generations, with kids barely old enough to know the history standing next to fans who have lived with these songs since the ’90s. That is the thing about STONE TEMPLE PILOTS — their catalog still connects because the songs were never built on nostalgia alone. They were built on hooks, groove, mood, and a strange kind of beauty that has always separated them from a lot of their peers.
Formed in San Diego, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS have one of those catalogs that can move from heavy alternative rock to psychedelic textures to arena-sized singalongs without feeling forced. At Jiffy Lube Live, they leaned into that legacy with an eleven-song set that reminded everyone just how many massive songs they have. “Wicked Garden” hit with that familiar early-’90s punch, while “Big Bang Baby” brought a brighter, more playful energy. Then came moments like “Plush,” “Sex Type Thing,” and “Big Empty,” the latter still carrying that dark cinematic weight fans remember from The Crow soundtrack.
Jeff Gutt has the difficult job of standing at the front of a band with a massive legacy, and he handled it with confidence and respect. He did not come off like someone trying to imitate the past. Instead, he gave the songs the space they needed, letting the melodies breathe while still bringing enough edge to keep them dangerous. Dean DeLeo and Robert DeLeo remain the backbone of the band’s signature sound, with those instantly recognizable guitar tones and bass lines weaving around each other in a way that still feels completely unique. Eric Kretz held it all down with that steady, driving feel that gives STONE TEMPLE PILOTS their swing and weight.
What stood out most during their set was how alive the songs still felt. These were not museum-piece performances. The crowd responded like the music still mattered because it does. You could see people singing every word, throwing hands in the air, and having those personal memory moments that only bands with this kind of catalog can create. STONE TEMPLE PILOTS delivered a set that honored their history without feeling trapped by it, and by the time they left the stage, Jiffy Lube Live was fully warmed up and ready for the headliner.
View the full STONE TEMPLE PILOTS photo gallery here:
https://infraredmag.com/photo-gallery-stone-temple-pilots-live-at-jiffy-lube-live-in-bristow-va-on-sunday-may-10th-2026/
Then came GODSMACK.
Before the band even hit the stage, the anticipation was already building. A massive black curtain with the GODSMACK logo hung across the stage, keeping the crowd waiting for that first explosive moment. As always, AC/DC’s “For Those About to Rock” played over the speakers, turning the pause before the set into part of the show itself. By the time the song ended and the curtain dropped, GODSMACK came out swinging at full force, instantly proving why they have remained one of modern rock’s most reliable live acts for decades.
There is something about a GODSMACK show that feels built for the big stage. The riffs are heavy, the choruses are huge, and the band knows exactly how to pull the crowd into every moment. Their sixteen-song set moved through different eras of their career, giving fans a wide look at where the band started, where they have been, and where they stand now. Tracks like “You and I,” “Straight Out of Line,” “When Legends Rise,” and “Cryin’ Like a Bitch!!” gave the show that hard-hitting, chest-thumping energy that fans came for.
Sully Erna remains one of rock’s most commanding frontmen. He knows how to talk to a crowd without killing the momentum, and he knows when to let the music speak for itself. One of the more personal moments came when he brought out a guitar that had clearly seen better days. He explained that it was one of the first guitars that helped start GODSMACK, the kind of instrument tied to the early foundation of the band and songs like “Voodoo.” It was a cool moment because it gave the show some heart beyond the pyro, lights, and heavy riffs. It reminded everyone that even massive bands start somewhere, usually with a beat-up guitar, a handful of songs, and the belief that something bigger is possible.
The band also dropped in a cover of THE BEATLES classic “Come Together,” giving the set a little curveball while still keeping the mood heavy and crowd-friendly. GODSMACK has always had a strong sense of rhythm and groove beneath the aggression, so that song fits them better than some might expect. They do not just play it like a cover. They make it feel like it belongs inside their set.
One of the biggest crowd moments of the night came when Sully brought two young boys on stage and told the crowd that this was the future of rock. It was one of those moments that could have easily felt forced with another band, but here it came across genuine. Seeing kids on stage singing along with a band like GODSMACK in front of a massive crowd says a lot about the staying power of this music. Rock is not dead. It is being passed down. You could feel that in the crowd, too — parents with kids, older fans, younger fans, longtime diehards, and people who may have been seeing them for the first time all feeding into the same energy.
Musically, GODSMACK sounded massive. Robbie Merrill brought that thick low-end punch that gives the songs their heaviness, while Sam Koltun handled the guitar work with power and precision. Wade Murff kept the drums locked in with the kind of force a GODSMACK set demands, giving every song the backbone it needed to hit the back of the venue. This is a band that understands pacing. They know when to hit hard, when to pull back, and when to let a crowd sing something back at them.
The encore brought one of the night’s most emotional moments with “Under Your Scars,” a song that has become deeply connected to mental health awareness and The Scars Foundation. In a set full of hard rock anthems, that moment gave the night a different kind of weight. It was not about volume. It was about connection. Fans sang along, phones lit up, and for a few minutes, the show became something bigger than entertainment. It became a reminder that music can still meet people in the places where they are hurting.
Of course, GODSMACK closed strong with “I Stand Alone,” one of those songs that still hits with the same force it had when it first became an anthem. It was the perfect final statement for a band that has spent decades proving exactly that. GODSMACK stands on their own because they have built a catalog, a live reputation, and a fanbase that continues to show up. At Jiffy Lube Live, they did not just headline a tour package. They owned the night.
View the full GODSMACK photo gallery here:
https://infraredmag.com/photo-gallery-godsmack-live-at-jiffy-lube-live-in-bristow-va-on-sunday-may-10th-2026/
By the end of the night, The Rise of Rock World Tour felt like exactly what the name promised. DOROTHY brought the fire early with a soulful, Southern rock edge. STONE TEMPLE PILOTS reminded everyone why their songs still carry so much emotional and generational weight. GODSMACK closed it out with a full-scale rock show built on power, connection, and legacy.
For more information on all three artists, check out their official websites and social media platforms, and make sure to learn more about The Scars Foundation.
