Godsmack: The Rise of Rock World Tour 2026

October 13, 2026 – Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, NE

There’s nothing better than a rock show on a Tuesday night!

On Tuesday night, October 13, 2026, Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska was the setting for an awesome night of rock music featuring Dorothy and Godsmack.

Dorothy opened the show, and I was really excited for this one.

Dorothy is an American rock band fronted by singer and songwriter Dorothy Martin. The band formed in Los Angeles in 2014 and quickly started getting attention for its heavy, bluesy rock sound and Martin’s powerhouse voice.

Their debut self-titled EP arrived in 2014, and Rolling Stone named Dorothy one of its 50 Best New Artists of the year. The band followed that momentum with its debut studio album, Rockisdead, in 2016.

Over the years, Dorothy continued building a strong following with albums like 28 Days in the Valley and Gifts from the Holy Ghost. Martin has also collaborated with some major names, including appearing on Slash’s 2024 album Orgy of the Damned.

What really stood out to me, though, was the live performance.

Martin looked and sounded amazing, and you could tell she was putting her heart into every song. She has one of those voices that immediately grabs your attention, and hearing it live made me understand why so many people rave about this band.

My friend and fellow photographer Bobby had been telling me for a long time that I needed to see Dorothy live, so I was really thankful I finally got the opportunity.

Dorothy currently has over 850 thousand monthly listeners on Spotify, and that number only seems to keep growing.

Great way to start the show!

Dorothy Setlist:

Down to the Bottom
THE DEVIL I KNOW
Gun in My Hand
Rest in Peace
Medicine Man
Dark Nights
Elevate

After a brief intermission, the lights lowered and it was time for Godsmack.

A huge curtain with the Godsmack logo covered the stage, and when it finally dropped, the band broke into “Generation Day.”

The crowd went nuts.

One thing that surprised me about this show was that the entire floor was seated. That didn’t last long once Godsmack started playing, though. Almost everyone on the main floor was on their feet for most of the night.

Godsmack formed in Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1995 and has become one of the most successful hard rock bands of the past three decades.

The band was founded by Sully Erna, who originally came from a drumming background before stepping into the role of lead singer. After building a following in the Boston area, Godsmack released its self-titled major-label debut in 1998.

That album became a huge success and featured songs like “Whatever,” “Keep Away,” and “Voodoo.”

The band followed it with Awake in 2000, which debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 and eventually went double platinum. The album also earned Godsmack a Grammy nomination for “Vampires.”

Then came “I Stand Alone,” which became one of the band’s signature songs after appearing on The Scorpion King soundtrack. The song dominated rock radio and helped push Godsmack even further into the mainstream.

Their 2003 album Faceless debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and the band repeated that accomplishment with IV and The Oracle. Over the years, Godsmack has built up an incredible run of rock radio hits, including multiple songs that reached number one.

Their most recent studio album, Lighting Up the Sky, was released in 2023. Although it was originally described as the band’s final album, Sully Erna later clarified that it was more accurately the final album with that particular longtime lineup.

The band has gone through some major changes recently, with longtime guitarist Tony Rombola and drummer Shannon Larkin departing. Sam Koltun joined on guitar, while Mike Mangini began performing with the band on drums in 2026.

None of that slowed them down in Lincoln.

To say these guys know how to put on a show would be an understatement.

They were absolutely awesome.

This was a big one for me because Godsmack had been on my concert bucket list for a long time, and this was finally my first opportunity to see them live.

They didn’t disappoint!

Sully Erna owned the stage, and the band sounded huge inside the arena. The production matched the music perfectly, and the crowd stayed engaged throughout the entire show.

Before the concert, I spent some time listening to their latest live album, Live at Mohegan Sun, which definitely helped get me ready for the night. Still, hearing these songs in person is a completely different experience.

There’s a weight to Godsmack’s music that really comes alive in an arena. The guitars hit harder, the drums shake the room, and when thousands of people are singing along, it turns into something much bigger than just listening to the songs at home.

For my first Godsmack show, I couldn’t have asked for much more.

Dorothy was fantastic, Godsmack crossed another band off my bucket list, and Pinnacle Bank Arena was the perfect setting for a night of rock music.

If you ever get the chance to see Godsmack live, make sure you do.

Special thanks to their management team and Pinnacle Bank Arena for allowing me to cover the show.

Godsmack Setlist: