A dapper Scott Weiland and fellow Stone Temple Pilots members took the stage on Saturday, relaxed and comfortable in front of 30,000 people, as if they have been on tour for months. What fans came to see was STP’s first show in eight years. The reincarnated band headlined the first night of the Rock on the Range festival in Columbus, Ohio.

Weiland, alongside drummer Eric Kretz, bassist Robert DeLeo, guitarist Dean DeLeo, played “Big Empty” as the opening song, and followed with some of the band’s greatest hits, including “Creep,” “Interstate Love Song” and “Plush”, which were big crowd favorites.

The mood of the set was mellow and it had an “it’s nice to be back” feeling to it, as STP presented a sophisticated, almost grown up image in front of cheering fans. The previous bands on the bill, especially deeply emotional rockers Staind, fast-strumming Killswitch Engage and hard-hitting Disturbed took the stage before Stone Temple Pilots and raised the energy just enough for the crowd to be excited for the reuniting headliner.

The first day of Rock and Roll was finished, and the fans learned that General Admission seats for the second day had been sold out. A fitting end to a great day of music was the beginning of a new era, starring one of the greatest rockers from the 90’s, Stone Temple Pilots, which all the bands on the bill drew inspiration from.