REVIEW BY AMBER MILLER
98.9 The Rock Rockfest May 11, 2013 – Kansas City
It’s Rockfest; what can you say? Every year 98.9 the Rock puts together a line-up of bands to play the largest one-day music festival in the country. Every year they are met with the Naysayers. I would challenge any individual to put together a better show given the following criteria: The bands must be currently on tour. They must have had a new release in the last two years. They must be willing to work for reduced fees. Lastly, the line up must be able to draw 55K people. Now go. Do it. Don’t like the line up? Don’t like the crowd? Hate porta potties? Then this is not the place for you. Don’t like it? Don’t go, pretty simple. Better yet, don’t buy a ticket and then go out and complain. My only complaint is that Captain Morgan was a sponsor and there was not a drop of it on site.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about the good stuff. What they did do this year is bring a healthy line-up of up and comers to the second stage. Bands that are out promoting themselves, bands who are working hard to increase their fan base. With that, the second stage was packed with power and energy. Heavens Basement opened the second stage. They are a band from the UK and put on a fantastic set. Eye Empire, now this band is fun to watch. They have played small venues here in Kansas City and have quite the following in town, and it showed, as the crowd for their set was one of the biggest for the second stage. Aranda hailing from Oklahoma City has to be one of the happiest groups witnessed. They bring a funky rock kind of sound that makes you want to get moving. Young Guns, wow. These guys hit the stage with an energy that was more than engaging; high voltage is a bit of an understatement. They put on a set that was solid in both vocals and music. Now I have to buy their album. Even better I can see myself if the photo pit in the picture they have on their website. Red Line Chemistry these hometown boys know how to play up their hometown fans. They played all of their hits, and new material from their album that is set to be released today. Sorry, In this moment Not sure how I missed this set. Kill Switch Engage but on one of the heaviest sets of the second stage. Powerful vocals lead you through their dark and pounding sounds that is aggressive and melodic. Personal opinions aside Device made quite the entrance and followed it with a strong set. There was a bit of controversy over them headlining the second stage, however they proved them selves and many walked away with a different opinion than they showed up with. The sound is a bit more industrial than people are use to hearing from Disturbed. The highlight of their set was the duet of David Draiman and Lizzy Hale who covered the Ozzy Osbourne and Lita Ford duet Close My Eyes Forever.
Now we move on to the main stage. What a great line-up for the main stage. For the most part it is the cream of the crop of commercial rock. With that said I think there are a few exceptions and All that Remains is one of them. They don’t strive for cookie cutter music and lyrics. Because of that, they may have gained a few new fans out there. Sevendust is an amazing band. They have persevered over the years and worked themselves up to the main stage. There are not enough kind words to say about this band and their new album Black out the Sun. They opened with Decay and it set the tone for the whole set. La Jon Witherspoon brings raw emotion and life to the songs like few people can achieve in the industry. Halestorm is another band that has gained popularity slowly but surely. Lizzy Hale pounds you with solid vocals with lyrics that draw in scorned lovers the world over. Volbeat is another exception to commercial rock. These guys played the second stage last year and brought it back this year with more energy tighter sound and new songs. They played all the favorites for sure, but they took a bit of a chance on this new album and it seems to transfer well to the stage. It’s a toss up between Volbeat and Sevendust for the performance of the day. Papa Roach, admittedly never really was a fan. What he does well though is perform; he can get a crowd going with the best of them. He spent almost an entire song in the crowd allowing his adoring fans to see and hear him up-close. Seether from South Africa always knows how to put together a set list their fans will love. Their stage presence is a bit lethargic though. Then there is Alice in Chains. One of the thinnest crowds ever witnessed for a Rockfest headliner. They played the old the new and everything in-between. They opened with Them Bones and brought the eerie sound of the late Layne Staley. Their set list included:
Them bones, We Die Young, Hollow, Check My Brain, Your Decision, Down in a Hole, Stone, No Excuses, Rooster, Angry Chair, Man in the Box, and Would.
In closing, Rockfest is an amazing day of bands doing what they love to do, stepping over passed out drunks, and laughing at the guy who just took off his backwards hat to reveal that the only thing on his head that is not lobster red is his forehead. Till next year enjoy! Live life and Rock on.