Skillet Rocks Out for CFAW
Alive — the most effective word to describe Skillet’s concert at Liberty last Friday night, Oct. 29. After 18 months of rescheduling and replanning, the excitement, energy and sound emanating from the Vines Center was alive as concertgoers felt the music pounding in their chests.
Skillet’s performance was part of the first CFAW weekend of the fall 2021 semester.
Whether they were students, CFAWs, siblings or parents, fans of all ages and backgrounds were present for this event. The crowd was jumping, clapping and screaming with such joy and passion that lead singer John Cooper said that the arena was much louder than he had expected.
Skillet, the alternative Christian rock and metal band, has been active for 25 years in the music industry. The quartet band rocks in a way that blends the metal genre of music with Christian worship, and it has continued to build a steady following with each album release. The band has various achievements throughout its career, such as topping the Christian Albums Chart in 2019 with its album “Victorious” and reaching No. 2 on Billboard’s 200 with its song “Awake and Alive.”
Skillet performed a balanced set of songs that was comprised of newer releases to classic gems, from “Surviving the Game” to “Whispers in the Dark.”
The message that Skillet communicated through its music was one of encouragement and empowerment for the audience. After the COVID-19 pandemic had upset many of the band’s plans, Cooper explained that no one is alone and everyone has lost or missed so much for over a year.
“Music makes people feel better,” Cooper said.
He reminded the audience that despite the fear the pandemic has created, they can conquer it. Cooper went on to remind the audience that God assures us that we were not given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind — we can overcome the world because it is God’s dominion.
The opening band, Ledger, prepared the audience for the message that Skillet would be performing through its set. Lead singer Jen Ledger, also the drummer for Skillet, hoped for the audience to be fearless and encouraged them through the event as she sang the song “Bold.”
Residential student and longtime Skillet fan Caleb Smith came away from the concert with a newfound sense of inspiration and excitement.
“This is a Christian band that defies expectations … and that’s what inspires me,” Smith said. “People who can create and also worship the Lord, that is something that I feel was the overarching theme — that you can defy expectations, stand up for yourself and, ultimately, just rock out and have fun.”
Skillet ended the night with the song “Rebirthing,” and the crowd responded with a wildfire of energy. Cooper gave credit to his fellow band members as the song ended and wished Liberty a good night, and the band proceeded to walk off the stage as the lights went dark.
Instead of loud and chaotic chatter flooding the Vines, the only concentrated sound people could hear was the crowd pounding the stage, screaming and chanting “one more song” repeatedly. The chanting transformed into cheering as music blasted out and the phrase “this is the resistance” was spoken.
Skillet returned to the stage one last time and performed the song “The Resistance” as the crowd went wild.
Skillet will be releasing its new album “Dominion” Jan. 14, 2022. Information on the band can be found on Spotify, Instagram or the band’s website Skillet.com.
Tso is a feature writer.