Bush Bares Its Soul at Boardwalk Rock

by Dave Parsons

Boardwalk Rock isn’t a festival copycat; it’s a trend setter. Set up directly on the inlet area at Ocean City, MD, lining the Atlantic Ocean, it is something to behold.  Wooden slats creaked beneath the feet of 50,000 fans, already bouncing to pre-show DJ beats the moment the gates opened.

High on thousands of those folks’ list of must-see bands was Bush.  Formed in London in 1992, they carried the post-grunge torch through the 90s.  Their debut album in 1994 was the fastest-selling British debut since Elton John.  Unlike American grunge, which was dark and full of cynicism, Bush offered redemption. They disbanded in 2002, reunited in 2010, and by 2025, they had refined an art that is hard to find in today’s music.

Opening with Everything Zen, it was clear that frontman Gavin Rossdale came to lead the party.  Wearing camo pants, a black tank top, and a smile 3 miles wild, you could tell he was having a great time.  When he sang, the moment I learned truth could hurt so much, the crowd’s response wasn’t nostalgia, but remembrance. He looked older, but this was part of their ingrained memories. The connection was instant as he said  Ocean City, you feel like a homecoming, before launching into Machinehead.

Bullet Holes brought a surprise moment as Rossdale jumped off the stage and became his own hype man, standing on the barricades, while fans held onto his legs, leaning out as far as he could.  The deep path down the center extended back about halfway through the crowd, and a lot of fans near the center had a chance for a quick fist bump.  By the time he made his way back on stage, the audience was fully connected.

This interaction continued throughout the set, as Rossdale worked the entire length of the stage, showing love to those in the crowd who had obviously devoted so many years to the music.  Standing at the barrier in the front, a shirtless fan had a Bush logo tattooed on his chest. He caught Rossdale’s attention for a second, pointed at his tattoo during Swallowed while tears ran down his cheeks. Rossdale tapped his chest at the gesture, cementing the moment in that fan’s mind forever.

After More Than Machines, the volume dimmed for a brief moment—Rossdale spoke of the show being toward the end of their tour, and how much it meant for them to be there. He was holding his guitar in his arms, as if remembering an old friend, and strummed the opening chords to Glycerine.  Rossdale didn’t need the band, as the crowd sang every word, every sigh, every pause. Couples kissed, and friends leaned into each other. 

Then the band returned, and they launched into Comedown, closing the set with the same aching tension that’s always made Bush more than just a radio band. When Rossdale roared the final chorus, I don’t want to come back down from this cloud, it didn’t feel like nostalgia—it felt like he was speaking the truth of the moment.  As the band left the stage, a teenage boy high-fived his dad. It was that kind of night.

And this is why Boardwalk Rock matters.  It’s not just about booking big names, it’s giving a new audience exposure to bands they wouldn’t know about otherwise.  It transforms music into memories.  Performances by legacy acts like Bush are proof that rock still matters, still moves, and still means something when it comes from the right place.

Bush Setlist – Boardwalk Rock, Ocean City, MD – May 17, 2025

1. Everything Zen
2. Machinehead
3. Bullet Holes
4. Flowers on a Grave
5. The Chemicals Between Us
6. 60 Ways To Forget People
7. Swallowed
8. Little Things
9. More Than Machines
10. Glycerine
11. Comedown