(This is part 2 of our coverage of the 2008 Rockstar Mayhem Festival. Part 2 can be viewed here.)
I'm not quite ready to say that the Rockstar Mayhem Festival has taken the place of Ozzfest as the premier summer metal festival, but I will say that Sharon and Ozzy need to turn around and take a look at who is running full force behind them, because Rockstar is right on their asses, and seems ready to take over the pole position.
Making my through the sea of Slipknot shirts and over to the Hot Topic Stage, I couldn't help but feel the electricity in the air. The kids were excited. There was so much going on and so many bands to see that it was hard to keep track of it all. Looking at the schedule, however, I knew I was going to be checking out Black Tide, a band of teenage metal heads who have been creating quite a buzz lately.
Hailing from Miami, Florida, Black Tide delivered the goods with a thirty-minute set of inspired New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Although they were experiencing a few sound problems, the band made the most of it, and proceeded to win the crowd over with their no-bullshit attitudes. Although I was stoked to both hear "Shockwave" and "Warriors of Time" (both off the band’s debut album, Light From Above) it was a cover of Iron Maiden's "Prowler" that sealed the deal for me as to just how good these kids really are. I love that this band was part of the festival and that they were able to play to so many people. And it is so refreshing that in today's world of bullshit music that Black Tide proudly carry the metal torch. These kids totally get it, and it's going to be exciting to watch them over the years.
Next up for me was Airbourne, who were playing just a few feet away over at the Jägermeister stage. I gotta admit that I really didn't know too much about this band before catching their set, but by the time they wrapped up I was TOTALLY loving them. Kind of a thrashier version of Bon Scott-era AC/DC, Airbourne flat-our kicked ass and I would honestly have to say that their performance was my favorite of the entire day. Not only did they rock the huge crowd that had gathered to see them, they also totally entertained with their enthusiasm and showmanship. After taking pictures of them I decided I needed to get out of the photo pit and into the mass of people so I could just watch them. Luckily I got out just as singer/guitarist Joel O' Keeffe shook up and punctured a can of beer and held it high over his head as it sprayed out into the crowd. If you haven't yet heard this band, you need to go and pick up their latest album, Runnin' Wild, as well as go see them when they hit your town.
After two killer sets on the support stages, it was time for me to get over to the main stage and check out Mastodon, who were the first of the four bands on the big stage. Although they are no strangers to outdoor festivals, I personally have only seen these dudes play in small clubs over the years, so it was a bit of a surreal experience to see them play on such a big stage—not to mention during daylight hours. I was still pretty impressed with them and thought this very well might have been the "heaviest" I have ever heard them sound. Both singer/bassist Troy Sanders and guitarist Bill Kelliher covered the entire the stage, and together with guitarist Brent Hinds (who was thrashing so much that he lost his glasses at one point) and drummer Brann Dailor (who was behind his Randy Rhoads inspired kit) the band cranked out a pretty brutal set of sludgy-nwobh. And although I always love seeing bands in small little sweat boxes, I have to say that Mastodon seems to have taken it to the next level, and will hopefully continue to play to so many people, and get the recognition they deserve.
After witnessing yet another awesome set and taking yet another three hundred pictures or so, it was time for a much-deserved beer or two. After flashing my "All Access" pass, I followed the lead of a friend, and the two of us made our way down to the backstage area. As we sat back and enjoyed both our beers and the nice whether in the company of some old school Bay Area thrash legends, we talked about our favorite moments of the day so far, yet at the same time realizing that although we had already taken it quite a bit of music already, there was still plenty more to come….
Rockstar Mayhem Festival (info and tour dates):
http://www.mayhemfest.com
Artists:
http://www.mastodonrocks.com
http://www.airbournerock.com
http://www.blacktidemusic.com
