By Josie Mannon, Music Staff
Sep. 2 , 2026
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. (WMUL-FM) —Welcome to Cutting -Edge Encore! I’m Josie Mannon, a freshman at Marshall University and a new volunteer at WMUL-FM. Last weekend I attended a concert headlined by heavy metal band Mötley Crüe with opening acts from hard rock band Tesla and rock band Extreme. Although they all had their peaks in their careers during the 1980s-90s, today, crowds still fill the audience.
The Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana, lit up on the evening of Aug. 28. When I arrived, hundreds of fans were following in around me from teenagers to older individuals. It was clear Mötley Crüe had reached multiple generations with their audience, not only being popular in their prime.
Once I made it in, I avoided the multiple alcohol stands and headed straight for one of the merch tents. There I bought a white t-shirt with a red and blue graphic of a clown in the center, with the statement “Mötley Crüe, the return of, Carnival of Sins” above and below it.
After the excitement of getting my new shirt, I made it to my seat a little after Tesla started their opening performance. I was right behind the pit, being closer than expected to the stage. Tesla performed most of their hit songs, including “Love Song,” that was released in 1989. The crowd around me harmonized with Jeff Kieth, the lead vocalist of Tesla, making a magical, unreal environment. It was clear the crowd around me had meaning behind this song and a deep connection to Tesla’s music.
Once Tesla finished their set, Extreme took the stage for their performance. Before the concert, I wasn’t very familiar with Extreme and their music, but their amazing visuals grabbed my attention instantly. A cartoonish kid danced across the screens behind the band, lip syncing to their songs. I later found out this was Kid Ego based on their song, “Kid Ego,” in the album Extreme. Aside from the visuals, Extreme played their hit songs, including “More Than Words,” which was released in 1990. Gary Cherone, lead vocalist for the band, especially impressed me during this song. He hit each note with intention, making it a memorable and incredible moment for me. The band was an amazing way to finish the opening of the concert, getting me extremely excited for Mötley Crüe.
Finally, at around 9 p.m., a giant circus tent enclosed the stage and lit up with a red light. A video started playing of a creepy ringmaster stating, “Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Carnival of Sins.” Then, “Red Hot,” in the album Shout at the Devil, by Mötley Crüe started playing. As the curtains opened, Nikki Sixx (bass), Tommy Lee (drummer), Vince Neil (lead vocalist), and John 5 (guitarist) flooded onto the stage.
Mötley Crüe played a total of seventeen songs that night according to David Niederhoffer in an article on Just Jared. Including their top hits, “Kickstart My Heart” (Dr. Feelgood), “Home Sweet Home” (Theatre of Pain), and “Girls, Girls, Girls” (Girls, Girls, Girls), all of them were released between 1985 and 1989. Along with the songs, the visuals were beyond impressive. Tommy Lee performed his famous “moving” drum solo by, instead of spinning in a cage like in the 80s, drumming on a platform that just lifted his kit up. As a huge fan of Mötley Crüe and Tommy Lee, I found this especially cool even though he wasn’t going upside down. Furthermore, towards the end of the show flames and fireworks struck the stage right in front of where Tommy was drumming. Making the audience even more fired up and excited.
The part I value the most from the concert, however, is when the band introduced the song, “Home Sweet Home.” It started with Nikki Sixx speaking to the audience one-on-one. He shared his background, the band’s upbringing, and that it is important to never give up on your dreams. Then Tommy appeared next to him, sitting in front of a piano where he played the first notes to “Home Sweet Home.” I found this moment especially memorable since the audience got a personal moment with members of the band. Furthermore, “Home Sweet Home” is one of the bands’ most meaningful songs, being described as a “power ballad” by Tina Benitez-Eves in an article on American Songwriter.
To close out the performance, Mötley Crüe thanked the audience for their support and ended with a bow. Furthermore, before Tommy left the stage, he had an interactive moment with the audience that really showed how much the band values their fans. Overall, I would say the return of Carnival of Sins has been an amazing success. Mötley Crüe, Tesla, and Extreme had an unforgettable show, bringing all their energy for the audience. Impacting teenagers, young adults, and older generations that grew up with them. As Nikki Sixx said during his personal time with the audience, “It’s multigenerational.” Showing how they are keeping that legacy of rock legends alive.
Keep on the lookout for more Cutting-Edge Encore, as I will be attending another concert this month!