Greg Upchurch, drummer for 3 Doors Down, knows a thing or two about the flow of a set list and how it translates to fan excitement. As a veteran performer whose A-list rock credentials include keeping the beat for Puddle of Mudd, a band he helped found, and working as the touring drummer for Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell, Upchurch delights in keeping the crowd bopping. Now that the band has released its new album, “Time of My Life,” that’s easier than ever.
“It’s great because we’re doing five or six songs from the new album and then we do the hits. We don’t play those exactly like [we recorded them, so they stay fresh],” he said. “This band is known for its ballads, but I don’t put many ballads on the list. We try to keep it pretty up-tempo.”
| Onstage |
| 3 Doors Down |
| When: 7 p.m. Sunday |
| Where: DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW |
| Info: $43.50; 202-397-SEAT, ticketmaster.com |
That’s always been the case for the band, which first broke into rock consciousness in 2000 with the hit “Kryptonite,” which was recorded as a demo for local play when it caught fire. The band then signed a record deal and its debut album, “The Better Life” was the 11th-best-selling album of 2000 and certified six-times platinum. Every since, the band has had the magic touch, turning virtually everything it records into chart toppers.
The great news for fans is that as much as the band members work, playing about 300 shows a year as well as recording, they also pace themselves a bit, taking downtime at home between shows as often as possible.
That keeps them fresh for the stage and often leads them to jump into covers such as the rock classic “Breaking the Law” by Judas Priest. As much as the crowds cheer, it does sometimes take them a few minutes to place the songs.
“Some of the fans are really young and they don’t know the songs,” Upchurch said.
No matter, though. The fans, he said, take any shifts in stride and he can often see them singing along after just a few minutes.
“We did a show in Phoenix that was at a [14,000-seat] venue and we were by ourselves without an opener,” he said. “We were really nervous looking at it wondering how we could fill those seats. … When we went out, there were tons of fans and it looked nearly full. That felt really good.”
