By PETER GRIFFIN
The lopsided amphitheatre that is Western Springs Stadium is more familiar with speedway racers than globe-trotting rock bands these days.
But that doesn't lessen its reputation as a damn good open-air concert venue - the likes of which U2 and The Rolling Stones were comfortably filling during the 90s.
Even
with distinguished friends Incubus on the bill, Flordia fourpiece Creed don't have the universal appeal to sell-out the Springs just yet.
Yet their massive guitar sound and lyrical wizardry are intoxicating to your average rock-lover.
The best bits from the band's three No 1 albums filled a long and flawless set, further enlivened by a grandoise stage set-up and fire works that German pyromaniacs Rammstein would have been proud of.
Vocalist Scott Stapp just managed to keep the same sweat-soaked shirt on all night as he poured his soul into the delivery of deeply personal numbers such as My Own Prison, With Arms Wide Open and What's This Life For?
Stapp's interjections tinged with Christian spirituality made good ammo for the cynics in the crowd, but few could unpick his performance or note-perfect vocals.
Brandon Boyd, front man of Incubus, similarly proved that having a good singer in the group can make all the difference.
The band pleased all with a set going back to their funk-metal roots.
Auckland bands Savant and Eight warmed the crowd up in supporting slots, ably replacing no-show Atlanta-based heavy rockers Sevendust.
All in all, a night of solid rock that would have had a legion of bFM listeners in nearby Grey Lynn reaching for their over-sized headphones.
