Review: Skillet highlights busy Winter Jam

Concerts like Winter Jam are interesting.

For $10, you get to see nine bands, an illusionist and a speaker.

Not a bad deal, especially when you consider Saturday night’s sold-out concert at The Schottenstein Center in Columbus was headlined by Skillet, whose nine-song set featured plenty of pyrotechnics, including indoor fireworks and flames shooting from the stage and lead singer John Cooper’s guitar.

“I’m not going to talk much tonight,” Cooper joked at the beginning on the concert. “I’m going to shut up and play rock and roll.”

They did rock.

From harder songs like “Whispers in the Dark,” “Comatose,” “Awake and Alive,” “Hero” to slower songs of “Those Nights,” “Lucy” and “The Last Night,” the band’s set featured songs about relationships, interpersonal and with God.

The night was hosted by Newsong. It was refreshing to see the band give back to others, from a low admission price to offering to sell its album for whatever buyers can afford and also giving an extra album for them to give to others.

This tour is perfect for those looking to hear a variety of artists you haven’t heard before. If you were looking for a long set from an artist other than Skillet, you may be disappointed.

Before Skillet, the other ten artists and speaker’s sets were all 20 minutes.

Toledo-based Sanctus Real sounds better and better each time I see them in concert. I’m glad to see them get bigger roles in larger concerts.

Peter Furler’s set was impressive and it was nice to see him performing with former Newsboys guitarist Phil Joel. I still question at times if he intends his music to sound different than the Newsboys, but even if he doesn’t, it’s OK. It still sounds good.

Winter Jam may not have been the ideal crowd for NewSong, but they won new fans with the classic “Arise My Love,” “The Same God” and “Rescue.”

I was pleasantly surprised by the work of Kari Jobe. The songwriter and worship leader was impressive with her set, closing with the stirring “Revelation Song.”

Possible audio issues made it difficult to hear Building 429 lead singer Jason Roy, which took away from their performance.

Group1Crew had an upbeat opening to the evening, but their music sounded like and reminded me more of The Black Eyed Peas, than making me remember Group1Crew.

The night included a “Pre-Jam Party” concert featuring Dara Maclean, For King & Country and We As Human.

In addition, the night also had presentations from illusionist Brock Gill and speaker Nick Hall.