Skillet Concert (2025)

 

For whatever reason I've never gotten around to posting about this Skillet concert in 2025.  I'm a big fan and I hadn't seen them since 2018.  They were just as good now.  I love rock-n-roll and as someone who cut my teeth on 80s rock Skillet's hard rock sound with melodic tones really works for me.  Skillet sounded great.  There was no opening group which I enjoyed.  We got 18 songs and it was a blast.  The audience was really a mix.  Skewed a bit younger than me, though I wasn't the oldest by far, but the crowd seemed to come from all walks of life.  Skillet is a Christian group who doesn't hide their faith.  My favorite albums are Awake, Unleashed and Victorious.  Glad I got to see them, and it was a great experience.

I saw Skillet in Effingham, IL at a small venue which was great.  I don't see many concerts nowadays and one of the reasons is I like to avoid big cities and the hassle.  This worked out well.  The venue was easy to get in and out of and provided an excellent viewing experience.  My seats were good so no complaints here.

Not a huge production but it isn't needed.  I'm fine with just letting the band belt out favorites.  They do have a cellist play during the intro and on a few songs, they have risers and their drummer, Jen Ledger will come out front to sing on a few songs.  And she sings on many of their songs while drumming.

Band members: John Cooper and wife Korey Cooper, Jen Ledger and Seth Morrison. 

Site: Skillet.com  YouTube

Setlist: Surviving the Game, Feel Invincible, Rise, Awake and Alive, Sick of It, Legendary, Ash in the Wind, Never Surrender, Whispers in the Dark, Lions, Those Nights, Hero, Not Gonna Die, Unpopular, Psycho in My Head, Comatose, Monster, The Resistance

Skillet's 2019 Album Victorious

Skillet's Victorious CD was released in 2019.  Like it's predecessor it took time to grow on me but now I'm all in.  It's my go to for going on drives - windows down music up.  Like much of their music it has a driving undercurrent that just makes your head bob...or should I just say head bang.  From song #1 on this album, Legendary, there's some great hooks and beats throughout but Skillet stay true to their hard rock roots.  Legendary, Victorious, This is the Kingdom, Never Going Back, Finish Line,  Back to Life and the slower Terrify the Dark are my favorites but I don't click through any song on this album.  This record made it to #3 on the Rock and Hard Rock album charts.  You can hear samples of every song from the this album and all their albums here at Skillet's site.  I just wanted to share my thoughts.  This group is a good listen and great in concert.  Can't wait to see them live again.  Take a quick look at my previous posts on Skillet as well here.

Skillet Concert

I was able to take in a Skillet concert in Carbondale, IL on the 26th.  Skillet is hard rock but the really turn it up a few notches live.  I was lucky enough to snag 4th row tickets for about $72 out the door.  That included a Q&A session with Skillet and their opening act, For King and Country, before the show.  First and foremost Skillet blew me away.  It seems as though Skillet’s music was made to be played live.  The band’s energy and great music made for one of the best concert experiences I’ve ever had.  While there was some cool things like the risers raising the band into the air or the drum set moving forward this was just a rock show.  Front man John Cooper has a ton of energy which keeps the crowd going throughout the concert.  Jen Ledger provides great accompanying vocals and drumming while Korey Cooper (John’s wife) provides bass.  Seth Morrison is lead guitar and is really good.

The 14 song set list had six songs from their current album Unleashed with past albums Rise, Awake, and Comatose all well represented.  The group has charted really well on the rock charts in sales and in airplay.  Anyone who is remotely familiar with the group will recognize the songs and the hits.  I can’t argue at all with their choice of songs and really didn’t have any I thought they omitted.  Bottom line is I thought Skillet was great and the concert experience as a whole was a blast.     

Short Skillet clip.  Sound is horrible thanks to my phone but it should give you a good perspective from where I sat.

For King and Country skews more pop than hard rock but put on an awesome show.  This video is a good showing of what they do throughout the entire concert.  I knew nothing of this group going in, sans a quick internet search, but left knowing these two brothers from Australia, and their 6-man band, really know how to entertain a crowd with really good music. 

Jen Ledger, the drummer from Skillet, played a three song set as the opening opening group.  She has started a side project, Ledger, and had released and EP the week prior to the concert.  She did a great job and her music was good. 

SET LIST (ALBUM):

Feel Invincible (Unleashed)

Whispers in the Dark (Comatose)

Sick of It (Rise)

Lions (Unleashed)

Back from the Dead (Unleashed)

Awake and Alive (Awake)

Not Gonna Die (Rise)

Hero (Awake)

The Resistance (Unleashed)

Comatose (Comatose)

Undefeated (Unleashed)

Monster (Awake)

Rebirthing (Comatose)

Skillet's New (ish) Album Unleashed is a Great Hard Rocking Listen

I’m still a CD guy and purchased Skillet’s Unleashed album after getting hooked on their single Feel Invincible.  Whether online or in the car I’ve listened to Feel Invincible over and over -  a lot.  I’ve listened to the entire album many times now and I’m really enjoying it.  This takes me back to their Awake album with how easy it is to listen to the entire CD.  Feel Invincible made it to #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, their first ever to chart at #1.  It has also been used by some of the major sports leagues as part of promos and advertising.  The single Back from the Dead is featured as part of Marvel Comics’ ad campaign for their Monster’s Unleashed comic book series while the song Stars is featured on the soundtrack for the movie “The Shack”.  I missed an opportunity to see Skillet live earlier this year and I’m really kicking myself.        

I describe Skillet’s sound as driving rock –energy willing you forward with a head banging enthusiasm.  They’ve had big albums in the past with Comatose and Awake though their last album Rise didn’t have quite the same success.  Comatose brought Skillet to prominence in the rock scene with the help of singles Whispers in the Dark, Rebirthing, and Comatose leading the way.  The album Awake had their biggest hits prior to this album in Hero, Monster and Awake and Alive.  I can’t get into technical nuances of music but I know what I like and this album is very good.  If you like this album definitely check out Comatose and Awake.  Skillet is a Christian rock band but don’t let that scare you away.  This is an excellent album that should be listened to if you enjoy rock.