Text & Photo by: Karie Henkel. Full photo gallery at the bottom of this article. Special thanks to Live Nation.

What an incredible night it was on Saturday, September 26th, 2026, at Ruoff Music Centre in Noblesville, Indiana. With a completely sold-out venue and the moon just as full overhead, Staind, Seether, Hoobastank, and Hinder heated up the cool, crisp air. I’ve seen sold-out shows before at Ruoff, but this night felt even more packed. There was a line on the freeway just to take the exit to the venue. The crowd packed into the lawn all the way up to the fence; aisles were overcrowded, and everyone was hyped up.

Hinder, an American Rock band formed in Oklahoma, opened the night and took us on a trip down memory lane. They took the 2000s and threw nostalgic feelings right at us! Noblesville got the rock party started right away. They played their hits like “Lips of an Angel” and “Get Stoned”, of course. The crowd was loud. It’s incredible how music can remind us of old feelings and take us back to a time when things were different. Maybe that time was hard, and it got you through, or maybe it was a time when less was needed from you, an easier time, a younger time. For me, Hinder takes me back to my early twenties. For sure, the millennials in attendance were in their happy place. Watching the younger ones in the crowd enjoy it as I did back in the day really made me happy.

Overall, they had a lot of energy, were engaging and sounded really great live. Their set was interesting to look at with lots of visuals, but not too distracting from the talent of the musicians.

Hinder (Photo: Karie Henkel | @twistedkeyimages)

Up next was Hoobastank. They jumped right into the time machine and kept us in our feelings and memories of younger times. There were many drives to high school with “The Reason” playing on full blast back in my earlier days. I had never seen Hoobastank live before, so this was a thrill and an honour to photograph them. They had high expectations to meet, and I’d say by how pumped and loud the crowd was, they exceeded what was expected of them. Lead singer Doug Robb was interactive and playful with the crowd. He took a moment to point out a long-time fan of the band who was wearing a bright, sparkling rainbow birthday sash. Gesturing for a time-out, he then pointed directly at them and said, “I see you! Sparkly rainbow vest, or whatever, yes!” I just so happened to capture the time-out gesture in a photograph. Those small interactions with the fans really matter. They may be small, but to the fans it’s one of the greatest things that could happen to them. I love how when I post photos from the shows that I cover, the fans see moments that I capture that mean the entire world to them.

That results in connecting me with new people, and I get to learn a little about a stranger. I love how music connects us.

Hoobastank (Photo: Karie Henkel | @twistedkeyimages)

Seether, originally Saron Gas (until 2002) and founded in South Africa in 1999, took the stage next. In the year 2002, right where the first two openers had dropped us off at, Seether gained widespread popularity, especially in North America when “Fine Again” won over the hearts of all the rock-and-roll-loving people of the time. Two years later, “Broken” amplified their success even further. They have been a staple in the rock and hard rock fans’ playlists ever since. Having only ever heard their album/recorded versions, I’d say their live performance did not let me down. I loved the creepy microphone stand with the baby heads and the Jigsaw character from the movie Saw. Although their sound fits the vibe for being part of the soundtrack to the Saw movie franchise, they have not been a part of the soundtracks. They do have music in Freddy vs. Jason and The Punisher, though! I love a good horror movie, and I love a good rock band, and I love it more when they use good music for good movies. For a while, I wondered when Shaun (lead singer) would turn up the energy and shake his hair around. Although I would have been pleased and captivated just by watching him stand completely still the whole entire set, my heart and the crowd were pumping when he let loose and got into it with some headbanging and shreds. If you thought they would take us back to reality, you’re wrong, because we stayed in our memories and soaked up every last drop of their set. I did not want it to end. They left us back in time, waiting patiently (or impatiently) for Staind.

Seether (Photo: Karie Henkel | @twistedkeyimages)

It’s been a while since Staind first stole our hearts, but through all the years, they have never broken us. A huge part of so many of our formative years, Staind has been with us through so many struggles, growth, finding ourselves, losing ourselves and learning to be ourselves. The energy for Staind was off the charts. The crowd filled the whole venue. If any more were in attendance, the fences at the lawn could have fallen down. The amount of energy packed into that place was unreal. Not only did we remember our own lives and memories, but we also remembered the ones we have lost along the way. They performed “Something to Remind You” with the lights down, an intimate spotlight on Aaron, and a beautiful slideshow playing behind. Not only the souls of the living, but the souls of the never-forgotten were there. They played “So Far Away,” “Right Here,” “Outside,” “For You,” and so many more. Staind’s performances always feel like the hug you didn’t know you needed. There were tears. Staind will do that to you. It’s music that you feel. Aaron Lewis, even after all of these years, still sounds so good. What I noticed, even before Aaron mentioned it, was the large number of children and very young adults who were there, loving Staind. The music has come full circle, including new generations that will love Staind and pass the music down even further.

They are legendary. Thank you to Staind for being what we have all needed for so long.

Staind (Photo: Karie Henkel | @twistedkeyimages)

STAIND

SEETHER

HOOBASTANK

HINDER