Concert review: Five Finger Death Punch w/ Cody Jinks & Eva Under Fire | 08.21.26, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater (with photo gallery)

Photo of Five Finger Death Punch’s Ivan Moody by Sevauna Stageman

Five Finger Death Punch’s stop at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater was definitely one of the best shows of the summer. With Eva Under Fire and Cody Jinks opening up, the lineup was a bit of a curveball being a mix of rock, metal, and outlaw country. On paper, it might have looked like an odd grouping, but by the time the night was over, it actually worked together perfectly.

Eva Under Fire got things started with a set that immediately cranked up the energy. Eva Marie completely owned the stage right away with her eight-song set. Between her massive vocals and that infectious energy, the band looked like they were born to play big amphitheaters. It’s never easy being the first of three acts, but they made every minute count and gave the early crowd plenty of reasons to pay attention. The whole set was high-energy from start to finish, and Marie’s voice was easily one of the highlights of the whole night. They put on a show that could have won over anyone who hadn’t heard of them before.

Cody Jinks took the stage and his outlaw country sound was a pretty big departure from the heavier vibes of the rest of the bill. But as he kept going, the decision to put him on this lineup started to click. Jinks brought his own kind of intensity to the show with a full hour set. He traded the rock for a grittier country feel, with an AC/DC cover (“It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)”) mid-set to keep everyone engaged. What started as an interesting choice ended up being a really nice change of pace that gave each artist their own space to shine instead of blending together.

The second Five Finger Death Punch stepped out, the energy exploded. They went straight into a relentless set, and St. Louis gave that energy right back. There was always something going on somewhere on that stage. The guys were constantly moving, the lights were going wild, and sparks were shooting into the air. If you focused on one side of the stage, you’d miss something happening on the other. For those of us in the photo pit, it was a total workout trying to keep up, but it was also a blast to shoot. Half the challenge was just deciding where to point the camera because there was action in every direction. The best thing to call it would be controlled chaos.

Ivan Moody never stopped moving. He brought this massive energy, constantly working the crowd and making sure everyone felt like they were part of the show. Seeing him live, it’s easy to see why their fans are so incredibly loyal.

The whole set was a perfect tribute to their twenty years together, balancing the old-school hits with their newer stuff. They kicked things off with “Welcome to the Circus” and worked in newer tracks like “Legacy,” but they didn’t skimp on the classics. Hearing “Lift Me Up” and “Bad Company” was amazing. There was a real shift in the vibe mid-show when they slowed it down for an a cappella version of “Remember Everything” and then “Wrong Side of Heaven.” It was a heavy, emotional moment for everyone there. Then, things got fun again when Chris Kael jumped on the mic for parts of “Enter Sandman,” “Last Resort,” and “Livin’ on a Prayer,” which really got the crowd going. By the time they hit the encore with “Under and Over It,” “Sham Pain,” and finally “The Bleeding,” it felt like a full-circle moment for the band.

By the end of the show, that unusual lineup had more than proved itself. Eva Under Fire started things with a bang, Cody Jinks provided a great change of pace, and Five Finger Death Punch brought exactly the kind of big, loud rock show their fans live for. For the thousands of people at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, it was loud, hectic, and totally over the top, exactly how Five Finger Death Punch likes to do it. | Sevauna Stageman