Stone Temple Pilots absolutely lit up Concrete Street Amphitheater on November 6, 2025, and man… what a night. The last time I saw them was way back in 1993 at the old Memorial Coliseum (RIP to that legendary building). I still remember being completely floored by the power of their sound—like they punched a hole straight through my teenage brain and rewired it with pure rock.
Fast forward to tonight: the vibe was electric from the moment we walked in. My wife, my friends, everyone around us—you could just feel the excitement in the air. The Toadies came on right before STP and did exactly what a great opener should do: warm up the crowd with high-energy rock and get everyone loosened up and singing along.
Then STP hit the stage… and it was like the whole venue took a collective breath and jumped straight into the deep end.
They kicked things off with “Wicked Garden,” and the place instantly erupted. That gritty, chugging guitar and heavy groove had everyone moving. Jeff Gutt nailed the vocals, and the crowd shouted the “Burn Your Wicked Garden” line so loud it felt like the amphitheater walls were shaking. A little later they rolled into “Interstate Love Song,” and the energy shifted into something warm and nostalgic. The second those opening chords hit, everybody was singing. Like, no hesitation—just thousands of voices joining in on one of the smoothest, catchiest melodies of the ’90s. And when they dropped into “Dead & Bloated,” it got downright primal. The crowd yelled the “I am…..” intro with the force of a small army, and the whole place pulsed with that sludgy, heavy groove. You could feel it in your chest.
They kept the momentum going all night, pulling hits from every era of their career. Some songs brought back memories that hit like a wave—some fun, some bittersweet. Jeff took a moment to honor Scott Weiland, and the whole crowd went quiet in that special, respectful way you only get when everyone shares the same history with a band.
Between the massive sing-alongs, the thunderous applause, and the nonstop energy from both the band and the crowd, the night just kept leveling up. And of course, they closed things out with “Sex Type Thing,” which blew the roof off the place (figuratively… but barely).
When it was all over, we were sweaty, tired, and completely fired up. Everyone walked out with that buzzing, adrenaline-soaked feeling you only get after a truly great concert. Honestly, it was one of those nights that’s going to stick with all of us for a long, long time.
Buy Stone Temple Pilots music and merch here:
https://amzn.to/4iiAina
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY RENE BOTELLO
Follow his work here: