‘Awake & Alive’ in Omaha: Skillet Rocks Steelhouse With a Message of Hope

6–9 minutes

By Marisa Dawson

A live concert scene featuring a band performing on stage with vibrant lighting effects and a cheering crowd in front.

Three decades of music, two decades since a defining album and a message of hope brought together generations of rock fans Sunday night as Skillet headlined at Steelhouse Omaha.

The Grammy-nominated rock band brought its Comatose 20 Years, Still Screaming Tour to Omaha on October 18, joined by opening acts Autumn Kings and Escape the Fate. The concert celebrated the 30th anniversary of Skillet and the 20th anniversary of its 2006 album Comatose, performing the album in its entirety, though not in its original track order.

“Thank you for 30 years of skillet this year! We love you!” frontman John Cooper told the crowd.

The band’s performance blended the high-energy rock sound that has defined its career with quieter, more personal moments, reminding the audience that music can be more than entertainment. For Cooper, it can be a source of connection, encouragement and hope during life’s hardest seasons.

The evening opened with Autumn Kings, making their first appearance in Omaha, according to the band’s introduction. The group quickly established an energetic atmosphere, engaging the crowd and demonstrating strong chemistry onstage. After its performance, members met fans at the merchandise table.

A guitarist performing on stage with dramatic lighting, passionately playing and singing into a microphone.
A male singer performing on stage with intense energy, wearing a graphic t-shirt and a denim jacket, surrounded by colorful stage lights.
Musician with dreadlocks passionately playing an electric bass guitar on stage under blue lighting.
A drummer performing on stage with drumsticks raised, focused on playing a drum set under soft stage lights.
A male singer passionately performing on stage with a microphone, under colorful lighting.
A drummer performing on stage with a drum kit and cymbals, featuring the name 'Autumn Kings' on the bass drum.
A musician with long hair and dreadlocks squats on stage, holding a bass guitar and pointing towards the audience. Colorful stage lights illuminate the scene, with a backdrop displaying 'AUTUMN KING.'
A performer on stage raising both hands in the air, wearing a denim jacket and black shirt, with dramatic lighting creating a vibrant atmosphere.
A musician performing live on stage, singing into a microphone while playing an electric guitar. Colorful stage lights illuminate the scene, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
A male singer passionately performing on stage, holding a microphone in one hand and raising the other hand with an outstretched finger.
A male musician singing into a microphone while playing an electric guitar, illuminated by colorful stage lights.
A musician with long dreadlocks passionately playing a bass guitar on stage, surrounded by colorful stage lights.

Autumn Kings, a Canadian rock band originally from Windsor, Ontario, blends hard rock and alternative rock with soaring vocals, guitar riffs, rap influences and heavier screams. The band spent nine years releasing music independently before signing with Hopeless Records in 2024, according to its biography. Its music often explores heartbreak, isolation and anxiety, with an emphasis on overcoming difficult experiences and finding the courage to move forward. The band has released projects including Book of the Broken (2022) and Epiphanies (2026), and has toured with acts including Hollywood Undead and Set It Off. Sunday’s show marked the band’s first appearance in Omaha, where its energetic set and crowd engagement helped kick off the evening.

Escape the Fate followed with a loud, high-energy set that kept the audience moving. Crowd surfing became a prominent feature of the performance as the band played material from its newest album. Like Autumn Kings, the group remained afterward to meet fans.

A drummer performing on stage with colorful lighting, playing with enthusiasm during a concert.
A crowd at a concert enjoying the performance, with one individual crowd surfing while others reach out to support them.
A male drummer performing on stage, wearing sunglasses and a black cap, surrounded by colorful stage lighting.
A musician performing on stage with long hair moving energetically under colorful stage lights, wearing a black sleeveless shirt with tattooed arms. A drum set is visible in the background.
A singer with long hair and extensive tattoos performs passionately on stage, holding a microphone with intense expression, illuminated by colorful stage lights.
A musician wearing a leather jacket passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, captured in black and white.
Musician performing on stage with a guitar, wearing a black leather jacket, under colorful stage lights.
A musician performing on stage, passionately singing into a microphone while playing an electric guitar. The image is in black and white, highlighting the intensity of the performance.
A guitarist performing on stage with dramatic lighting and a drummer in the background, creating an energetic atmosphere.

Formed in Las Vegas in 2004, Escape the Fate has built a following with a sound that combines post-hardcore, metalcore and hard rock, balancing aggressive instrumentation with catchy hooks and melodic passages. The band gained early momentum after winning a radio contest judged by My Chemical Romance in 2005, earning an opportunity to open for the band on tour and helping secure a record deal with Epitaph Records. Its releases include Dying Is Your Latest Fashion (2006), This War Is Ours (2008), Hate Me (2015) and Out of the Shadows (2023). Known for its intense live performances, Escape the Fate brought that energy to Steelhouse Omaha on Sunday, with crowd surfing and songs from its newest album helping maintain the night’s momentum ahead of Skillet’s headlining set.

By the time Skillet took the stage, the evening had built into a celebration of rock music spanning multiple eras.

The band launched into a set featuring songs from Comatose, including “Rebirthing,” “The Last Night,” “Better Than Drugs,” “Comatose,” “Falling Inside the Black” and “Those Nights.” The album’s 20th anniversary gave longtime fans an opportunity to revisit songs that have remained meaningful long after their original release.

A male bassist performing on stage, passionately raising one hand while playing his instrument. The background features colored stage lights and another band member in the distance.
A female musician with long purple hair performing on stage, singing into a microphone while playing an electric guitar. She is wearing a stylish outfit, with a keyboard visible in the background.
Close-up of a musician with a beard singing into a microphone while playing a bass guitar, illuminated by colorful stage lights.
A guitarist performing on stage, bending forward while playing an electric guitar. The background features colorful stage lights and a drummer is visible behind the guitarist.
A male musician performs on stage with outstretched arms, holding a black bass guitar, dressed in a pinstriped blazer and shirt, with dramatic lighting in the background.
A musician with a beard performing on stage, playing an electric guitar. The background is illuminated with soft blue lighting, creating an atmospheric effect.
A bassist performing on stage in front of an audience, with dramatic lighting and a drum set in the background.
A lively crowd at a concert, with fans cheering and waving their arms, some making rock hand gestures, set against a purple-lit background.
A crowd of enthusiastic concertgoers clapping and enjoying the performance, with individuals displaying excitement and joy against a backdrop of colorful stage lighting.
A bearded male singer passionately performing on stage with a black bass guitar, illuminated by dramatic red stage lights.
A musician passionately playing an electric guitar on stage, wearing a stylish black outfit and standing on a microphone pedal board, with vibrant blue lighting in the background.
A musician with long purple hair performs on stage, wearing a white suit, and playing a black electric guitar while posing dynamically.
Musician with purple hair performing on stage, playing an electric guitar while wearing a stylish white suit.
A musician energetically playing an electric bass guitar on stage, dressed in a black suit with ripped pants, against a vibrant backdrop of stage lights.
A musician with long purple hair plays an electric guitar on stage, striking a dynamic pose with their head tilted back and the guitar held high, wearing a stylish white outfit and chunky black boots, surrounded by colorful stage lights and a visible drum set in the background.
Two musicians performing on stage with guitars under dramatic lighting.
Close-up of a microphone stand featuring a black cross design, with a purple background and soft stage lighting.
A female singer passionately performing on stage, holding a microphone with a focused expression. She has long, wavy hair and is wearing a black outfit, while a guitarist is visible in the background.
A female drummer performing on stage, energetically playing a drum set with various cymbals, illuminated by stage lights.
A musician singing passionately into a microphone on stage, wearing a striped suit jacket and a black shirt, with a vibrant light show in the background.
A male musician with a beard performs on stage, holding a microphone and a prop that emits smoke, while a female guitarist plays in the background.
A concert scene featuring a musician playing electric guitar on stage, surrounded by fans with hands raised, some recording with smartphones.
A young girl with dark hair raises her hand enthusiastically while sitting on an adult's shoulders in a crowded setting, possibly at an event or concert.

The set also incorporated music from Skillet’s other releases, including Awake and Alive, along with newer material. “Scream,” from the band’s new EP, was among the highlights, followed by an impressive guitar solo from lead guitarist Seth Morrison.

Morrison also brought a new instrument to the stage. His PRS guitar (seen below), which had debuted earlier this week on Tuesday, was used during Sunday’s performance ahead of its release.

Close-up of a musician's hand playing an electric guitar with a unique, patterned body against a colorful background.
A musician playing an electric guitar on stage during a live performance, with colorful lighting and a band setup in the background.

The combination of familiar favorites, newer music and instrumental showmanship kept the concert moving while honoring the band’s three decades of music.

Before performing “Yours to Hold,” Cooper invited the audience to embrace the spirit of an earlier era of rock concerts.

Reflecting on how the song had served as a wedding song for some fans, he encouraged the crowd to raise their phones in the air, recreating the lighter-filled arenas he remembered watching as a young fan.

“In the 80s, everybody would put their lighters up in the air,” Cooper said.

He recalled watching Bon Jovi shows and wanting to experience that atmosphere himself. Now, he encouraged the Omaha audience to create a similar moment while singing along to the power ballad. The acoustic performance offered a softer contrast to the heavier songs surrounding it, giving the audience a chance to connect with the music in a different way.

A young man crowd surfing during a music concert, smiling and enjoying the moment, with hands from the audience supporting him.
A crowd at a concert supports a person crowd-surfing, hands reaching up to catch and lift them, with vibrant stage lighting in the background.

But it was Cooper’s introduction to “Hero” that brought the evening’s most personal message.

Cooper began with humor, joking about dad jokes and the satisfaction of making his children groan at his attempts to embarrass them. The lighthearted exchange gave way to a more serious conversation about mental health, grief and the role music can play in helping people through difficult experiences.

“I want to say something serious,” Cooper said before dedicating the song to people who suffer, particularly those living with depression and anxiety.

He asked how many people in the audience had experienced a time when music helped them heal. He also acknowledged the pain of losing someone they love and the loneliness that can accompany grief.

“And sometimes you just… You feel so absolutely alone,” he said.

Cooper described music as something that helps people feel less alone, regardless of where they come from, what language they speak, their financial circumstances or their political and religious beliefs.

Silhouette of a child watching a concert with bright stage lights in the background.
A crowd of enthusiastic concertgoers with arms raised, enjoying live music.

“Music makes people feel better because life is hard and it gets us through,” he said.

Drawing from his own experiences, Cooper shared that he, too, had struggled with depression. He explained that he had begun speaking about those struggles more openly because he wanted others to understand that their experiences did not make them abnormal or alone.

“I want you to know there’s nothing wrong with you,” he said. “You are not crazy. You are not abnormal. You are not a weirdo. This is just the human condition.”

He encouraged anyone struggling to hold on, offering a message of solidarity to those who might be facing their hardest days.

“I didn’t come here to preach at you, to tell you how to live your life,” Cooper said. “But I want you to never give up on your life.”

He followed with a promise of hope: “It’s gonna get better. You can make it. I promise.”

A lead singer performing on stage with arms raised and passionately singing, illuminated by colorful stage lights. In the background, a drummer is visible, and a microphone stand with a cross design is in the foreground.
A female drummer energetically playing the drums on stage, performing with a band. The drum set features a 'Skillet' logo, and the scene is illuminated with stage lights.

Cooper then shared more of his personal story, recalling his teenage years and nights spent unable to sleep, lying awake in the darkness and wondering whether things would ever improve. He credited his Christian faith with helping him through those years, describing Jesus Christ as the source of hope and support when he felt he had none.

“It doesn’t mean that I never struggle,” Cooper said. “It just means I do not have to struggle alone.”

He explained that the song was dedicated both to Jesus and to everyone who struggles.

“It’s called Hero,” he said.

The introduction transformed the performance into something more intimate than a typical rock concert. Against a backdrop of heavy guitars and pounding drums, Cooper’s words offered a reminder that even people who appear strong can experience deep struggles — and that reaching out, finding connection and holding on to hope matter.

A musician performing on stage with vibrant purple hair, wearing a white suit, passionately playing an electric guitar under dynamic stage lighting.
A guitarist passionately performing on stage with dramatic lighting and a lively concert atmosphere.

Skillet’s Omaha performance balanced the force of its signature rock sound with the personal stories and emotions woven into its music.

The anniversary celebration honored the band’s history while demonstrating why songs can continue to resonate with listeners years after their release. For some, the night was an opportunity to revisit a favorite album. For others, it was a chance to hear familiar songs live, share the experience with fellow fans or find encouragement in a message they needed to hear.

With Autumn Kings and Escape the Fate setting the tone and Skillet closing the evening with its blend of hard-hitting rock and heartfelt reflection, Sunday’s concert offered more than a trip through the band’s catalog.

It was a celebration of 30 years of music, and a reminder of the connection that can make a song meaningful long after the final note fades.

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