Review by Rebecca Clark and Renee Clark Quade | Photos by Rebecca Clark

On February 21st, Bush took over The Vine at del Lago Casino for a completely sold-out show and from the second you walked into the venue, you could feel it. This was a room full of true Bush fans.

Bush has been around since the ’90s, and they still carry that nostalgic grunge sound that immediately transports you back to your teenage years, to the angst, the late-night drives, the feeling that music understood you before anyone else did. That energy was alive and well at The Vine.

Before the band even stepped on stage, the pre-show playlist set the tone. Older rock artists like The Prodigy and Björk filled the room. Right before Bush hit the stage, a soulful cover of “Glycerine” by “The Professor” Nick Harrison played through the speakers, which was a cool and unexpected way to spotlight the song and subtly usher in the night’s set.

As the band began to take the stage, drummer Nik Hughes built the tension perfectly. He tapped out notes, paused, smirked at the crowd, and let the anticipation simmer. He even stood up behind the kit at one point, making animated faces at the audience. His energy was intense but playful, the kind that instantly locks you in.

Bush wasted no time kicking things off strong with their heavy hit “Everything Zen” off their iconic debut album Sixteen Stone. From the first riff, the room exploded. Lead vocalist Gavin Rossdale had the crowd jumping up and down, and he matched their energy with every leap during his guitar riffs. Rossdale truly throws himself into their songs physically.

What makes Bush’s live show hit so hard is the chemistry within the band itself. Lead guitarist Chris Traynor perfectly complements Rossdale’s guitar playing; the two flow seamlessly, locking into riffs like second nature. Traynor plays with an intensity that’s impossible to ignore, feeding off the crowd as he moved across the stage, pointing directly at fans and giving their energy right back. His presence keeps the crowd amped up from start to finish.

Bassist Corey Britz is another driving force behind the band’s live sound. His backup vocals add depth and power throughout the night, but it’s his bass playing that makes the songs feel heavier and more urgent live. The opening notes of “Heavy Is the Ocean” were especially intense, you could feel the low end reverberate through the room, making the track land even heavier than on record.

As much as the classics fueled the crowd, the heart of the night belonged to their newest release, I Beat Loneliness, which is arguably Rossdale’s most vulnerable body of work to date. He even mentioned how difficult it is to build a setlist with such a deep catalog, but as a longtime fan, the balance felt right. They gave us the hits while still carving out space for what feels like a new chapter.

New tracks including “The Land of Milk and Honey,” “I Am Here to Save Your Life,” “Scars,” and the title track “I Beat Loneliness” sounded massive live. Sonically, they still carry that classic Bush grit, but lyrically they dig deeper. With everything happening in the world, and within these songs themselves, you could feel Rossdale pouring his heart out on that stage. There’s a rawness to this album that sheds light on his inner world, and seeing those songs performed live made them hit even harder.

One of the most powerful moments of the night came right before “Flowers on a Grave.” Rossdale paced the stage, scanning the pit like he was choosing his landing spot and then he did exactly what fans hoped he would. He jumped off the stage and climbed directly into the middle of the crowd.

Rossdale is known for getting into the audience, but this time felt different. He positioned himself right in the heart of the pit, and fans were incredibly respectful making space for him, hugging him, dancing with him. It’s one of the coolest things he does during a live show, but at this performance, it felt more meaningful. The interactions felt genuine. You could see how loved he is by his hardcore fans, and how much they cherish those up-close moments. It’s easily one of the best parts of a Bush show.

After weaving through the crowd and finishing the song toward the back of the venue, Rossdale made his way back to the stage, alone. No guitar. No band. Just a single spotlight and a starburst of light behind him.

In that quiet moment Rossdale sang a stripped-down version of “Swallowed,” asking fans to lift their phone lights into the air. The arrangement felt almost gospel-like, soft, cinematic, nearly angelic. “Swallowed” has always been a fan favorite, but this reinvention made it even more intimate. After being physically in the crowd moments earlier, this felt like an emotional closeness, a quieter, more spiritual connection.

Throughout the night, Rossdale paused to speak to the audience, always gracious and full of praise. He’s soft-spoken and genuinely thankful, and the admiration between him and the fans is clearly mutual.

The band made their final return with “More Than Machines” and “Comedown,” wrapping the night in a wave of grit, nostalgia, and pure adrenaline.

Bush has been around for decades, but they still know exactly how to put on an amazing show. Rossdale is an impeccable frontman of the band. Whether you’ve seen them one time or multiple times, they make every performance feel unique. Between the timeless music, the seamless musicianship, and Rossdale diving headfirst into the crowd to connect face-to-face with fans, this is a band that continues to prove why they remain a must-see live act.

Setlist:

Everything Zen
Quicksand
Machinehead
The Land of Milk and Honey
Identity
I Am Here to Save Your Life
Scars
Glycerine
Heavy Is the Ocean
Come Together (The Beatles cover)
I Beat Loneliness
Flowers on a Grave

Encore:
Swallowed (short solo version – Gavin solo, gospel-like arrangement)
More Than Machines
Comedown

Bush Photo Gallery