Mystic Lake Casino Hotel Presents Skillet with 10 years.:
Review and Photos by Brian Underhill
It has been almost 6 months since Skillet last invaded MN. The last time Skillet was in town, they were with Theory of a Dead Man and Saint Asonia at The Armory in Minneapolis, MN, on November 10th, 2023. I had seen Skillet once prior to this show, several years ago, before I became a Concert Photographer. When the opportunity arose to photograph Skillet and 10 years at Mystic Lake Casino and Hotel in Prior Lake, MN, I knew I had to take it. Sometimes, bands can bring a sense of emotion to you and give you a great feeling to the music, and that happened at this show.,
10 years always delivers; whether someone is seeing them for the first time or for the tenth time, they know how to put on a rock show. They seemed to have solidified themselves going forward with this lineup. Brian Vodinh and Matt Wantland, being the only original remaining members, have found the missing pieces for the band. This lineup consists of Jesse Hasek-lead vocals, Brian Vodinh-lead guitar, Luke Narey-Drums, Matt Wantland-rhythm Guitar, and Chad Grennor-Bass. They performed hits including, The Shaft and Novocain, and even slipped in a cover of Nirvana’s Heart Shaped Box. They rocked all the way and ended their set with Wasteland and Shoot It Out. They sure know how to get the crowd rocking and had a very powerful set.
The set change took about 20 minutes; giving the fans time to visit the merch booths or get refreshments. When the intermission music stopped, people started to return to their seats, although they all stood. With a sold-out show, the house was packed. There was not one person standing still. Then, the headliners took the stage. John Cooper-Bass Lead Vocals, Korey Cooper-rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, Jen Ledger-Drums-Co Lead vocals, and Seth Morrison-guitar tore the roof off Mystic Lake Casino and Hotel. Right off the bat, the crowd was focused and set. The house lights, the tour production, and the stage presence with the drum riser were all the beginning of a fantastic show. Skillet started off with Feel Invincible, then continued with hits from their catalog, including Awake and Alive and Monster. They were having so much fun and loved the vibe of the crowd so much that they did an encore with The Resistance.
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This was a fun shoot for me as I have never been to Mystic Lake Casino and Hotel. They have a great setup and in-house production as well. The sound and lights were great value as you are able to hear a clean and crisp sound. Not only that, but the in-house crew with the video projectors were also following every cue as to where the artists were at. They also have a camera above, so you have an aerial view looking down at the stage. It was a great time and a fun experience.
