3 Doors Down returns with new music and attitude

Photo by Tommy Mann Jr.

Vocalist Brad Arnold and his bandmates in 3 Doors Down return to Southwest Louisiana for a performance inside the Grand Event Center of the Golden Nugget Casino in Lake Charles, La., this Friday, June 30. Tickets start at $55 and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets.

The Record

One of the most popular bands of the 21^st century is headed back to the region for what will surely be a standing room-only concert.

The rock group 3 Doors Down returns to Southwest Louisiana for the band’s first ever performance at the Golden Nugget Casino in Lake Charles, La., at 8:30 p.m., Friday, June 30. Tickets start at $55 and general admission tickets on the floor are also available, as are a limited number of VIP packages being offered by the band at a considerable price hike.

Over the course of its career, the band has released six albums and sold more than 20 million albums around the world. The band is currently touring in support of its sixth album, “Us and The Night,” which was released in March of 2016 and debuted at number 14 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart, number two on the Top Rock Albums chart and number one on the Independent Albums chart.

3 Doors Down, which is comprised of Brad Arnold, vocals; Chris Henderson, guitar; Greg Upchurch, drums; Chet Roberts, guitar; and Justin Biltonen, bass, is looking to hit the road and excited about sharing its mission to support American veterans and its newest album with its fans.

“Having the new guys, Chet and Justin, has really added some new flavor to the band,” Arnold said in response to the diversity of music on “Us and The Night” during a telephone interview. “The music is somewhat different, but we are different now. We are in a more positive place in our lives, so we just opened up the boundaries when we were making this record.”

Although the band is still touring and has many shows scheduled for the remainder of the year, the album cycle for “Us and The Night” is winding down and Arnold has already started to turn his focus to the next album.

“I think the next record will have a lot of stuff on it that people can identify with,” Arnold explained. “I used to drink a lot, but I got sober in January of 2016 and have been since then. That is one problem I have had to deal with, and there are many other people who deal with that and a lot of other problems and addictions, so I think people will really relate with the next one on some level.”

The group recently performed at the inaugural Scars and Stripes Festival on June 3 in Las Vegas. The one day event, which also featured acts such as Asking Alexandria, Pop Evil, HellYeah, 10 Years and more, benefitted numerous Veterans service organizations in the Las Vegas-area.

“It was such a great show, but it was so hot,” Arnold said with a laugh. “I’m from the Gulf Coast, and I grew up in an area with humidity. When people say Las Vegas is a different kind of heat they are not kidding. We played at 10:30 at night and I thought I was going to burst into flames, but it was totally worth it.

“It’s an honor to be able to do what we can for our Veterans, but it’s also an obligation,” Arnold continued. “They have done so much for us. My dad was in the United States Air Force, and Chris (Henderson) was in the (United States) Navy, so I am proud to show my support for our military. We’ve played a number of shows for Veterans and our military and you will never do anything for a group of people who will appreciate you more.”

3 Doors Down is known for its great many hit songs, including well known tunes such as “Kryptonite,” “Loser,” “Duck and Run,” “Here Without You,” “When I’m Gone,” “Be Like That,” “It’s Not My Time,” “The Road I’m On” and others, so, when the band hits the road each year, it can be a bit difficult creating just the right set list for the tour.

“Every time we have a new record we want to play the newer stuff,” Arnold said with a laugh. “But it always seems like we end up cutting songs. We try to gear the set list to the show we are playing and the bands we are playing with. It makes each show different for the audience and for the band.”

Visit http://www.3doorsdown.com for more information on the band and its summer tour, and check out the venue website at http://www.goldennugget.com/lake-charles/ for more information about the Golden Nugget Casino and its upcoming entertainment schedule.