Shinedown on fire as it kicks off North American tour in Estero

Shinedown rolled out its 2019 tour with a bang Wednesday night, featuring fireballs, laser lights, cascading sparks and a few surprises.

The Jacksonville-based band kicked off its 55-city North American romp at sold-out Hertz Arena in Estero, keeping fans guessing before they began by 9:15 p.m. as a large white sheet shielded the stage. 

Then the facade fell as exploding fire shot up from the stage while frontman Brent Smith launched into one of Shinedown's biggest hits, "Devil," released last year on the band's "Attention, Attention" concept album. The band followed with "Diamond Eyes (Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom)" and "Enemies."

Shinedown lead singer Brent Smith performs, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at Hertz Arena in Estero.

Before beginning "Monsters," also from 2018, Smith asked fans to look to their left and right and greet each other. Most fans reached out to high five or fist-bump a stranger as Smith then exhorted everyone to jump, the pit in front of the stage becoming a massive mosh pit at least for a few minutes.

The night was a long-time coming for starved hard-rock fans in Southwest Florida, many disappointed after the five-year Fort Rock music festival abandoned them after 2017.

Shinedown had played Fort Rock a couple times, and the band obviously remembered the passion and love fans showed then and it continued Wednesday night.

Smith and his bandmates — drummer Barry Kerch originally from Pensacola, guitarist Zach Myers and bassist Eric Bass — began the first half of the concert on the main stage with ramps that shaped like an upside down letter "E." They used the walkways freely, especially Smith and Myers, who performed near the top of one ramp beneath large video screens that flowed images throughout the night.

Then all four carried large flashlights in near darkness as they walked to a second stage about one-third of the way into the crowd to perform.

By then, Smith had removed his jacket because it was balmy in the arena (record-breaking temperatures outside and remember the fireballs), revealing his tattooed biceps in a black muscle shirt.  

"This state of Florida means a great deal to this band," Smith said about halfway through the show. "We never take it for granted. All of you here tonight is the greatest gift we have ever been given."

Fans use their cellphones flashlights at the urging of Shinedown singer Brent Smith for the band's song "Second Chance" on Feb. 20, 2019, at Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida.

It was a moment when you sense the band genuinely appreciates its audience, and Smith and Myers began a light banter and talking to fans. He urged everyone to use lighters or their cellphones before they began playing "Second Chance" with the line "I just saw Haley's comet, shooting. She waved, said, 'Why are you always running in place.' "

"Show us what the stars look like tonight Estero," Smith said, exhorting the crowd. 

Then they performed their cover of "Simple Man" from another Jacksonville band, Rock-And-Hall-of-Famers Lynyrd Skynyrd. 

Shinedown ended its nearly two-hour set with "Sound of Madness" and "Brilliant," a fitting end to a more than four-hour show that satiated the rock appetite for the region.

Shinedown heads north to the Carolinas, Tennessee and other states and Canada. The ends in late July in Washington state. The tour dips into Florida again on May 4, when the band plays at Welcome to Rockville in its hometown. 

Shinedown performs, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at Hertz Arena in Estero.

Earlier in the evening, the English band Asking Alexandria opened followed by a energizing set from Papa Roach, which also played Fort Rock in recent years.

More:Shinedown thrilled to begin tour in home state of Florida

Papa Roach served as the perfect warmup band, with front-man Jacoby Shaddix just the singer to lead the charge. The rap metal band played for an hour, opening with its 2000 hit "Last Resort" as Shaddix talked to the audience throughout and even walked into the crowed to sing one song.

"Man, it's a great time to be alive," Shaddix proclaimed. "We're gonna take you guys back to Vacaville, California, where we started this band in 1993."

Papa Roach lead singer Jacoby Shaddix sings for thousands of fans Saturday at Fort Rock.

Papa Roach played songs from throughout its 26-year history, including tunes from its latest album, "Who Do You Trust?" that dropped in January. "Come Around" is a more mellow song for the group known for its musical intensity.

Shaddix then summed up the night perfectly:  "This is a great way to start out our tour, for real."

More:Papa Roach performed at Fort Rock in 2015