With a little bit of comedy and a whole lot of guitar Wednesday night, Aaron Lewis left his audience with a haunting performance not soon to be forgotten.
Lewis, front man of Staind, performed a set of 17 songs at the Center for the Arts to a full crowd of excited students.
Throughout the show the audience screamed out requests for their favorite songs. The artist answered their requests willingly, and his sarcasm kept the crowd entertained between songs.
Along with the jokes, Lewis' comical renditions of Justin Timberlake's "Sexy Back" and The Eagle's "Desperado" achieved roars of laughter.
Lewis did not rely on this tone, however. Generally the music stayed a bit depressing, especially songs in the vein of "Sober," "Nutshell" and "Black." The stage set was simple, consisting of a rug, a stool, two guitars and background lighting that featured a few minimal background designs. If Lewis was going for an intimate show, he certainly succeeded.
Lewis admitted that several songs originally written for Staind couldn't be played in the same way the full band could. However, rather than butchering those segments, he altered them to his liking, giving devoted fans something fresh to bite down on.
He also played new songs such as "Angel," but was unsure if they would be put on the next Staind record or his upcoming solo album.
"Angel" was my favorite song of the night," said Briana Martinez, a junior art history major. "I loved how he was asking himself if he was worthy of an angel, it made you want a man like that."
"If I could feel like a I'm a winner/ If I could show you how I feel/If I could take what I've been given/and not be sleeping at the wheel," Lewis sang in "Sleeping at the Wheel," a new song perfect for a college crowd where students are making so many life decisions.
The performance was the last show of the tour. Lewis was returning home to be with his daughter Zoe Jane for her birthday on Thursday, and made it very clear that he couldn't wait.
He told the audience that he was a little run-down and he appeared quite tired. By the end of the concert it seemed as if he had to work a lot harder to get the notes out, straining his voice. The guitarist ended with the Staind hit "It's Been a While," resulting in a standing ovation from the audience.
The show was incredible and promises further memorable shows should Lewis return to UB. The quality of his voice transcends all types of music.
