It was opening night on Saturday, February 21st, for Three Days Grace and their Alienation Tour.
Fans began filling the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum long before the doors opened at 6 pm. Anticipation ran high with one of rock’s most well-known bands set to embark on a tour that was very heavily sought after for many concert-goers when it was announced last year. At the time of the show, it was close to being sold out, and I would not be surprised if it reached that mark. Fort Wayne, Indiana, fans were ready to party, and what a party they had.
The night began with The Funeral Portrait, who took the stage around 7 pm. The Atlanta-based band has been gaining significant momentum lately, particularly following their collaboration with Ice Nine Kills on “Suffocate City.” Their set, which included “Dark Thoughts,” “Generation Psycho,” and “You’re So Ugly When You Cry,” handled themes of mental health and resilience with powerful resonance.
Each song resonated powerfully with the audience. Having seen them previously at Ice Nine Kills’ horror convention in 2024, I found this performance equally exceptional; they certainly have the presence of a headlining act, so do not be surprised to hear them on the radio more and to see them headlining arenas in the near future.
Next was I Prevail. Despite the 2025 departure of Brian Burkheiser, the band’s energy remains incredible. I was interested to see how Eric Vanlerberghe would manage the balance of clean and screamed vocals live, and the new structure worked remarkably well. With Dylan Bowman providing seamless backing vocals, the transition felt natural.
Featuring pyrotechnics, impressive guitar riffs, and constant movement, accompanied by a setlist of hits including “Bow Down “, “Violent Nature“, and the live debut of “God“, the set maintained the high energy the band is known for.
Their sound—a blend of metalcore, pop-punk, and post-hardcore—translated perfectly to the stage. The fan engagement was just as I remembered it.
It was especially notable to see their cross-generational appeal among the crowd. When I was in the pit taking photos, I looked back at one point and saw kids and teens singing back to the band. When your music can hit multiple generations, you know you have done something right in your career.
Three Days Grace made their long-awaited appearance to a loud ovation that rocked the coliseum from the basement to the ceiling. After two incredible performances, the fans were warmed up and ready for the main event.
I have been a fan of this band since their song, “I Hate Everything About You,” from their debut album. I remember hearing it from my older brother, who was listening to it on one of those first-generation iPods. It is a band that I can distinctly remember bringing me into the rock scene and discovering more bands, like rock legends Linkin Park. Being able to photograph them and just be at one of their concerts to be able to bring this review to you is a surreal moment.
TDG made a setlist that I feel was perfect. They ran through songs like “Dominate“, “Pain,” and “Mayday.”
“I Hate Everything About You” made me tear up as expected. As I mentioned, that song has a really significant meaning to me, especially now that my brother has passed. I did, however, bring a little piece of him with me to experience it as well. “Apologies” was fun to listen to the crowd sing back to, and “Animal I Have Become” was electrifying to see live, even in the photo pit.
Any speculations I had about seeing TDG have a dual vocal lineup were easily squashed by song two of the show. I feel like it made the dynamic of the band even better. The set takes you on a journey from the era of Adam Gontier to when Matt Walst took over when Adam left in 2013, and then the duo era of today, when Adam came back.
Hearing “Lifetime” live for the first time in an acoustic setting was eye-opening too. Not only for the song, but also for how they went about it. The scene was back “from their roots” with a starry forest backdrop. Adding to the effect of stars was when the fans turned on their phone lights, adding a fully immersive night sky look.
Some twenty years later, they still have that magic that little 11-year-old Kyle heard and still has as a fan. And it just isn’t me, but much like I Prevail, their fans span generations. Their music speaks to people. It creates waves of emotions. They can keep things fresh and keep up with the trends, but still keep their classics alive.
This was only the tour’s first stop, so they are just getting started. Make sure you come out to see them!
