George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
Thursday, May 14, 2015 ~ The Vogue, Indianapolis, IN ~ All Images by Keith Griner, PHIERCE PHOTOGRAPHY
Thursday, May 14, 2015 ~ The Vogue, Indianapolis, IN ~ All Images by Keith Griner, PHIERCE PHOTOGRAPHY
Hundred Dollar Car – A band that drives Americana sounds with a jam band sensibility.
Check them out after the Widespread Panic Floppers Ball in Orange Beach at The Hot Spot at the Wharf. 10-2ish
The band consists of Clay Connor (Bass), Jon Cook (piano), Chris Byant (guitar), Johnny Mullen (guitar), Thomas Jenkins (fiddle), and Dave McDonald (Drums)
You can also catch them at any of their upcoming shows:
May
22 – Hot Spot (Panic after party) 10-2
23 – Happy Harbor (Mothership) 7 pm
24 – Garage 5-9
29 – Night Reef 9-1
30 – Hot Spot 9-1
June
2 – Ginny Lanes (DMB after party) 9-1
4 – Happy Harbor 6-9
5 – Undertow 10-2
6 – Moe’s Orange Beach 3-6
6 – Ginny Lanes 9-1
19 – Garage 9-1
20 – Moe’s Orange Beach 3-6
20 – Night Reef 9-1
25 – Ginny Lanes 9-1
26 – Night Reef 9-1
27 – Happy Harbor (Mothership) 7-10
July
3 – Happy Harbor (Mothership) 7-10
9 – Pleasure Island Tiki Bar
16 – Ginny Lanes 9-1
17 – Happy Harbor (Mothership) 7-10
24 – Night Reef 9-1
25 – Pleasure Island Tiki Bar 5-9
30 – Ginny Lanes 9-1
31 – Garage 9-1
Promo Photo By Beth Childs
Shaky Knees 2015 ~ May 8-10, 2015 ~ Atlanta, GA
Written by: Mike McDermott
Photos by: Kristi Reinhardt
Atlanta’s place on the musical map has long since been secured, as its proximity allows the city to serve as a sort of music hub of the South. Many musical flavors come together in a melting-pot of styles which makes for a great market to throw a music festival, of which Atlanta has plenty. The resurgence of Music Midtown in 2011 seems to have set an inviting precedent as new festivals are popping up on the radar every year. From Counterpoint to Sweetwater’s 420 Fest to the EDM spectacle that is Tomorrow World, Atlanta has much to offer in the way of festivals. Enter Shaky Knees, which after three years of success and steady growth has silenced anyone critical of its profitability.
After relocating for the second time Shaky Knees has grown from a two-day festival across three stages to a three-day festival spanning five stages. From 10,000 attendees per day, to 20,000 per day, this year’s installment is expected to tally 30,000 fans per day to Atlanta’s Central Park. Offering a healthy mix of all things alternative, Shaky Knees showcases the whole spectrum of indie/alt-rock by bringing approximately 75 bands to town, which doesn’t even include the late-night shows set at various clubs around town.
Friday’s lineup was nothing short of spectacular. Early afternoon highlights include Tennis on the Buford Hwy Stage, The Kooks on the Peachtree Stage and Wavves on the Boulevard Stage to name a few. Mac Demarco’s gig on the Ponce De Leon Stage was also a stand-out performance, as the band played a very comprehensive set. The crowd was even treated to a tongue-in-cheek rendition of Coldplay’s “Yellow” while mending a broken guitar string. Mac’s entire setlist is as follows:
The early evening timeslot featured Manchester Orchestra and Kaiser Chiefs, but one of the most difficult decisions of the weekend came in choosing to see either TV On The Radio, Death From Above 1979, or The Mountain Goats. Once settled into TVOTR’s performance however, it was hard to think of anything else. The band was clearly basking in the momentum from dropping their latest album Seeds which has been dominating college-radio charts across the country; however, their set was freshly diverse and represented a healthy mix of their whole catalogue:
As the evening progressed, Atlanta’s own Mastodon graced the Peachtree Stage with their heavier metallic sound, followed by a notably vintage highlight of the weekend: Pixies. One of Shaky Knees’ finer qualities is their ability to capture every era of alternative rock as opposed to strictly booking fresh young acts, a certain homage of sorts. In years past names like Violent Femmes and The Replacements have represented this classic-alt-rock niche, while Pixies maintained the tradition this year with a powerhouse set of nostalgia. They even threw in a Jesus and Mary Chain cover, but also played a few tracks from their 2014 release Indie Cindy to keep things fresh.
The headlining performance on Friday was mesmerizing, as The Strokes dusted off their gear for the first time in many months. This show was certainly a treat for fans of the New York City outfit as they are only scheduled to play a few North American performances this year, all of which are in festival settings. Not only did they bring the noise to the “capital of the south”, but they busted out a few rarities. “You Talk Way Too Much” off of their sophomore album Room on Fire was played for the first time since 2004, while “Vision of Division” was played for the first time since 2010. The band even treated the crowd to a live debut of “All the Time”, from 2013’s Comedown Machine. Another notable highlight of the set came when the band brought out Mac Demarco to help with what is easily their biggest hit to date, “Last Nite”. Full setlist is as follows:
SaturdayDay Two of Shaky Knees packed quite a punch. Early afternoon sets from Speedy Ortiz, Palma Violets, Viet Cong and Real Estate kicked the day off smoothly. Atlanta’s own self-proclaimed power-punk faction The Black Lips turned things up a notch on the Ponce De Leon stage, while The Devil Makes Three turned things down with their bluegrass-y country influence. It was a pleasant dichotomy; both extremes of the spectrum if you will, which is a perfect example of the variety that Shaky Knees has to offer.
One of the bounciest sets of the day came from Irish punk-rockers Flogging Molly. A better day-drinking soundtrack could not be found on this Saturday, as testament to their 2009 album “Drunken Lullabies”. Following Flogging Molly’s fast, fun performance on the Peachtree Stage was a notable highlight of the day; Neutral Milk Hotel. With a small cult-like following, Jeff Mangum’s eclectic indie rock entourage showcased their unique and experimental sound. It was hard to lose interest in this set as the band was constantly exchanging instruments in between songs. It was clear by their reception that their reunion in 2013 was a great decision. Their full setlist is shown here:
As the evening rolled on, Social Distortion saturated the airwaves from the Peachtree Stage, while Milky Chance rocked the Boulevard Stage, followed by Wilco on Ponce Stage. The Chicago syndicate is known for their blend of alternative, country, and Beatles-esque pop/rock, often times bordering on the experimental. An example of this would be their song “Via Chicago”, during which the country-style ballad veers off into a hailstorm of percussive cymbal splashes, while lead Jeff Tweedy keeps the same verse progression. The effect of these dueling rhythms and emotions was palpable. When the percussive onslaught would cease, returning to the slow pace of the tune, the audience went wild. It truly was a remarkable musical gimmick. The entire set flowed wonderfully, and stretched over an hour long:
Wilco proved to be a tastefully appropriate choice for supporting headlining act The Avett Brothers, as both outfits share in some musical influences. The Avetts are known for their wildly diverse blend of country, folk, rock, bluegrass, and even punk. Their live performances have been known for showcasing a certain level of raw energy that isn’t usually associated with bands of their style. If they play a show without breaking at least one string, something is very wrong. Ultimately graced with the two-hour headlining slot, The Avetts proved their worth on Saturday night breezing through a thorough examination of their repertoire:
SundayThe final day of Shaky Knees was full of exciting highlights. The weather was wonderful, which marked the first rain-free weekend in the festival’s history. Early afternoon performances offered a wide mix of music ranging from Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s New Orleans-born jazz, to Canadian classic-rock-revivalists The Sheepdogs. Old 97’s and Best Coast proved to be entertaining attractions, while Cincinnati’s Heartless Bastard set on the Buford Hwy Stage showcased the talented vocal styling’s of lead singer Erika Wennerstrom.
One of the afternoon’s standout performances came when Philadelphia lo-fi indie-rockers Dr. Dog took the Peachtree Stage. Dr. Dog have been compared to The Beatles in their writing structures, as vocalist/bass player Toby Leaman and vocalist/guitar player Scott McMicken have shared a sort of Lennon/McCartney relationship since they were middle-schoolers. Their studio work reflects carefully constructed songs with vintage sounding audio quality, utilizing similar studio tricks as The Beatles did before them. Dr. Dog’s vocal abilities give so much body to their sound as each member of the band adds a harmonizing layer behind the lyrical melodies. The band’s cover of Architecture in Helsinki’s “Heart it Races” has even earned more YouTube hits than the original version. Their recent live release Live at a Flamingo Hotel demonstrates the difference between their studio work and their live energy as they embrace some of the jammier elements on-stage. Full setlist is as follows:
As early evening approached, Animal Collective’s Panda Bear dropped some crazy beats on the Buford Hwy Stage while Trombone Shorty brought some brass-y funk to the Ponce Stage. A major highlight of the evening (and festival) came in the form of alt-country rocker Ryan Adams. After securing the launch of his career in the band Whiskeytown, he later went on to play with The Cardinals which is where he gained most of his success, firming up his identity as a musician. Ryan Adams stormed the Peachtree Stage which was decked out with 80’s video game machines, an American flag with a peace sign where the stars should be, but most noticeably were the monster Fender stacks that amplified the band across the field. Some highlights from his set included a Mother’s Day tributary cover of Danzig’s “Mother” (which was surprisingly spot-on) as well as a version of “New York, New York” featuring famed rock photographer Danny Clinch on harmonica. His hour-long set is shown here:
The 7:45 timeslot presented the same classic Shaky Knees dilemma: who to see? On the one hand was Old Crow Medicine Show, while on the other was recently reformed British shoegaze rock group Ride. Ride is credited for blazing the trail for groups such as Oasis, and have been defunct for the last 20 years. Their recent announcement to come out of hiding and play a handful of shows earned the attention of every major promoter in the U.S., as they were not on the initial Shaky Knees lineup when it was released. Their addition to the festival, much like Pixies’ presence, is a clear-cut salute to the yesteryear of alt-rock.
The final performance of the festival was simply jaw-dropping, both visually and audibly, as Australian psych-rockers Tame Impala closed out the weekend. The production quality was top notch and truly embraced all aspects of psychedelia. Hot off releasing the epic 8-minute single “Let it Happen” from their forthcoming album Currents, Tame Impala has found a niche that blends psych-indie-rock with elements of electronica. The result is something entirely unique, as the band is cognizant of how the mind perceives sound, often utilizing this knowledge to play tricks on the listener’s ear. Such is the case on their new aforementioned single.
There were moments during their set where the drummer’s beat seamlessly transformed from an organically produced drum beat from a live drum-kit to the beat of an electronic dance music DJ. Embracing aspects of jam-rock, many of Tame Impala’s live renditions stretched well longer than the album versions, often detouring into uncharted territory. Their single “Elephant” from their sophomore release is a great example of this as the band veered away from the song’s structure, employing a well executed time-change that made the audience question if they were still even playing the same song or if they had segued into a new track. Ultimately Tame Impala was the perfect choice for Sunday headliner, as they milked every bit of their timeslot. Full setlist is seen here:
Ultimately, after three years of healthy growth, it’s pretty much official: Shaky Knees IS Atlanta’s rock festival. They have done more than simply gain market share, they have accomplished what many festivals strive for yet fail to do: create a brand name. The Shaky Knees lightning bolt is more than just a logo, it is a symbol that reflects festival founder Tim Sweetwood’s vision to bring nothing but alternative and indie-rock’s finest to our great city for one weekend every May. There is a reason Shaky Knees has attracted the national media attention that it has, and that reason is the aforementioned vision, of which Shaky Knees has remained true to for three years and counting. It’s hard to imagine how next year’s festival could possibly top this amazing weekend, but Atlanta has faith that this new-found tradition is here for the long haul.
All images by Joey Pye, Staged Right Photography and Design
Wilco with Steve Gunn
Iroquois Amphitheater Louisville, Kentucky
May 8, 2015
Written & Photos by Tony Vasquez
Photo gallery: Wilco
Photo gallery: Steve Gunn
Mikael Jorgensen at the Iroquois Amphitheater in Louisville, Kentucky shot by Vasquez Photography
Night two of our back-to-back coverage of Wilco’s spring 20th Anniversary tour. Tonight the show takes place at the beautiful Iroquois Amphitheater in Louisville, Kentucky. We arrive early enough to catch the opening four-piece band Steve Gunn. Before they wrap up their set Steve mentions that the crowd is in for a treat tonight because they have been touring with Wilco for a few dates and “they have been crushing it.”
Two songs really stick out from their great opening set. First is the track “Mily’s Garden” which has a layered guitar melody that seems to be an exploration of sound, its texture building and its depth and space expanding. With a great line that resonates in my mind “Your faith is savaged, and your mind is damaged. You’re more than halfway there” this song becomes a memorable moment of the night.
Jeff Tweedy at the Iroquois Amphitheater in Louisville, Kentucky shot by Vasquez Photography
The other stand out song is “Tommy’s Congo” which appears as the last track, Way Out Weather, released on their album Paradise of Bachelors. It again has the complex, guitar-driven soundscape.
Wilco takes the stage opening their show with “Less Than You Think,” a song that hasn’t made many set lists over the past few years. This is a great sign of what is to come. With the band having such a deep catalog the crowd is in store for a great time with over 30 songs to be played.
One of my personal favorites “Camera” makes an early appearance in the night. Being a photographer, the lines, “I need a camera to my eye, to my eye, reminding which lies have I been hiding which echoes belong,” really hits home.
Glenn Kotche at the Iroquois Amphitheater in Louisville, Kentucky shot by Vasquez Photography
The stage lightning for the entire show, arranged by Jeremy Roth, is brilliant. This couldn’t be more evident than on the song “Art of Almost.” The lightning is spectacular and really enhances the crowd’s musical experience of Nels Kline’s amazing guitar shredding and Glenn Kotche’s awesome drumming.
A few songs later on the song “Sunken Treasure” the crowd erupts when Tweedy does a live edit of the line, “I’ve been blamed for rock and roll.” The crowd is truly enjoying the evening at this point.
The typically outspoken Tweedy is unusually quite, but he does manage a few moments to talk with the crowd. Before the band plays “Impossible Germany,” Tweedy gives a birthday shout out to Mike “the sexy librarian.” Tweedy seems confused by the dedication but he plays along with it.
Pat Sansone at the Iroquois Amphitheater in Louisville, Kentucky shot by Vasquez Photography
The band plays two encores with the first including “Kingin” from Being There and “I’m a Wheel” from A Ghost is Born. The band leaves the stage once again, giving the crew time to set the stage up for a special acoustic encore. The band replaces the electric instruments with Jeff and John’s acoustic guitars, Pat’s banjo, Nels’ dobro, and Mikael’s melodica. It was a special ending to a great evening with this amazing band. If you haven’t seen them live in a while be sure to catch them on this 20th anniversary tour over the summer. The tour includes their own music festival, Solid Sound, at MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA next month. For details go check out their website: http://wilcoworld.net.
Set list
Less Than You Think
Handshake Drugs
Camera
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
Art of Almost
Panthers
Hummingbird
Sunken Treasure
Secrets of the Sea
Heavy Metal Drummer
I’m the Man Who Loves You
Either Way
Hotel Arizona
Jesus, Etc.
Born Alone
Via Chicago
Airline to Heaven
Impossible Germany
Box Full of Letters
Red Eye and Blue
I Got You (At the End of the Century)
Dawned on Me
Encore:
Kingpin
I’m a Wheel
Encore
A Shot in the Arm
California Stars
Too far Apart
War on War
New Madrid (Uncle Tupelo)
Give Me Back the Key to My Heart (Doug Sahm cover)
Misunderstood
Wilco
Murat Theatre at the Old National Centre
Indianapolis, IN
May 7, 2015
Written by Mike Foreman
Photos by Tony Vasquez
Photo gallery: Wilco
With Wilco having 20 years of stage history and a well-established fan base, the Murat Theatre at the Old National Centre was truly the best venue for me to catch my first Wilco show. I don’t think there’s another large space within Indy that would’ve been more perfect for me to grasp and understand what an amazing live show this band can put on. It’s a spacious theater that still has the intimacy needed for a band like this to connect with its audience. I could tell that Jeff Tweedy delights in the conversations he can have with his audience, but it might be more of a symbiotic necessity; this audience needed the connection just as much as Wilco did.
The show began with “Via Chicago,” and it got me thinking right from the beginning. Did I just hear him say “I dreamed about killing you again last night and it felt alright…?” Humph, ok. Not the first lyric I thought I’d hear out of his mouth. This is going to be a blast!
John Stirratt at the Murat Theatre in Old National Centre in Indianapolis, IN shot by Vasquez Photography
After a couple more songs, I hear a familiar intro!! The drum beat that trips over itself! Those alarm clocks! The lights are drifting across the grey rock-like stage backdrop and I feel as if I’m descending down into a cave and “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” pulls me in a thousand different directions all at once. It’s such a loosely tight methodical song that it sort of puts me into a trance until Tweedy tips his hat at the words “Hello!”
“Poor Places” jams into “Art of Almost” and I’m thoroughly engaged with the scene! The band is hitting on all cylinders now and I’m on a space trip watching the head banging silhouettes on stage. The crowd responds with a deafening roar after the long jam of “Art of Almost.”
As any with any good musician they understand how timing and balance should work. The flow of set list is no exception to this rule. “Either Way” is a great way to bring us back down to Earth. This is a Sky Blue Sky staple and what a joy it is to hear it live.
Before “Jesus, Etc.” Jeff Tweedy expressed his heartfelt appreciation by thanking everyone and everything he could think of. He also told the audience to “Go thank yourselves!”… Maybe he was planting a subliminal seed to be proud of ourselves for straightening out the Religious Freedom Act. This song also prompted a lot of audience sing-a-long and Tweedy said that it was one of his favorite sounds on Earth to hear people singing together.
Jeff Tweedy at the Murat Theatre in Old National Centre in Indianapolis, IN shot by Vasquez Photography
The band ripped into “Hotel Arizona” as their first tune of the first encore. In the song Tweedy sings, “That’s all there is,” which must have been the queue for Nels Cline to have his 20th seizure of the night. I mean, the guy was convulsing and choking the neck of his guitar so hard that it was screaming, in a good way.
After closing the first encore with “Monday,” the band came back out for a second encore, but this time, they decided to ditch the cords and amps for a 5 song acoustic set. The audience went bonkers and the anticipation was felt throughout the theater. They also changed the stage lights to mimic a night sky of stars and had me feeling like I was watching a late night pick-a-long bonfire jam. This was a real treat, even for the most seasoned Wilco fan, and I understood that I was watching something special that night. They played the Uncle Tupelo tune “We’ve Been Had” but it felt fresh and fun. Wilco ended the acoustic encore, and night, with “A Shot in the Arm” which was completed by the audience singing along “What you once were isn’t what you wanna be, anymore.”
I’m grateful for this fun-filled night and I’m beholden to the band, the venue, the audience, and my friends for the experience. I have a greater appreciation for one of my generation’s most successful and true American bands. They’ve defied definition and made a believer out of me. Before this night, Wilco was an acquaintance and I was a part time fan, but now I just want expand my Wilco experience and grow as a listener. What I once was isn’t what I wanna to be, ANYMORE!
Pat Sansone at the Murat Theatre in Old National Centre in Indianapolis, IN shot by Vasquez Photography
Set list
Via Chicago
Handshake Drugs
Camera
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
One Wing
Panthers
Hummingbird
Poor Places
Art of Almost
Either Way
Secrets of the Sea
Heavy Metal Drummer
I’m the Man Who Loves You
Jesus, Etc.
Born Alone
Dark Neon
Impossible Germany
A Magazine Called Sunset
Airline to Heaven
Red Eyed and Blue
I Got You (At the End of the Century)
Dawned On Me
Encore:
Hotel Arizona
Monday
Encore:
Misunderstood
Casino Queen
We’ve Been Had
War On War
California Stars
A Shot in the Arm
Cuko Rakko Music and Arts Festival ~ May 1-3rd, 2015~ Horse Pens 40 ~ Steele, AL
Written and Photos by: Cassidy Taylor
On the first weekend in May, 2015, music and arts festival Cuko Rakko took place at beautiful Horse Pens 40 in Steele, AL. The main stage was set up in front of a huge rock garden perfect for climbing and listening to the music at the same time. I was amazed by the acoustics back in the rocks. It was perfect for people of all ages who enjoy good music, activities, hand crafted art, and good people.
Saturday fell perfectly in line with the day and time. It started off with some folk rock and blues from singer/songwriter Taylor Hollingsworth. As the sun was beginning to go down we got touched by the ideas of love and community from Reggae band Natti Love Joys. Getting into the night we heard from cbdb who performed a whirlwind of improvisational genres. They got everyone on their feet and took us on a journey through their free-form jams and brought you right back, just like any good jam band should. Next that night we had Bit Deff, an energetic DJ with a very modern sound that fit perfectly with the glow sticks and flashing neon lights dancing around the crowd.
Sunday was spent just like it should with fellowship throughout the entire camp grounds. 7 a.m. yoga, breakfast, then Curtis Jones, Primal Roots and Matt Mundy bringing us the gospel through classic Bluegrass. We finished our trip with Harkestra, a southern dance band who had the Cuko Rakko Players join them along with many other musicians from the weekend. They put the feelings of peace and acceptance down in everyone’s souls, a great way to finish off my weekend.
Our very own Joey Pye chats it up with Danny Hutchens regarding all things Bloodkin.
For all things Bloodkin, please visit: bloodkin.net
UPCOMING TOUR DATES
Welcome To Rockville ~ April 25-26, 2015 ~ Jacksonville, FL
Written by Jessica Morano
Photos by Joey Pye
Welcome to Rockville…or Welcome to Rainville?? April 25 and 26th some of the heaviest bands came to Jacksonville, Florida for the annual Welcome to Rockville festival. The party kicked off Friday night at the Landing downtown. Unlike previous years, this pre-party was free for anyone to attend instead of just those who purchased a ticket to the festival. The pre-party kicked off with performances by Scare Don’t Fear and Jacksonville locals World Gone. 36 Crazyfists got the crowd moshing with a huge pit forming just minutes after their set began. Swedish band Avatar brought special guests on stage. Performers from Hellzapoppin Circus Sideshow joined them for their song “Smells Like a Freakshow”. Lead singer, Johannes Eckerstrom dressed up like a Circus ring leader and was definitely the most entertaining front man of the evening. When the freak show was over, Nonpoint performed classics “Bullet with a Name” and “What a Day:” The night closed out with rap/rock group Hollywood Undead. It was hard not to dance during their set. They brought 10 year old fan, Xavier, on stage to introduce the song “Comin’ In Hot” making the young boy’s night something to remember for years to come.
Saturday marked the official start of the festival. World Gone gave a strong performance despite having performed the night before. Bands Red Run Rising, Like A Storm and Stars in Stereo also put on stellar performances and prepared fans for a weekend of heavy metal. That was until Mother Nature stepped in. The festival had to be postponed twice due to severe thunderstorms and a tornado warning, a first in Rockville history. Fozzy, Scott Weiland and fan favorite Hollywood Undead were forced to cancel their sets while fans huddled under the nearby overpass. Once rain stopped fans got muddy in Periphery’s mosh pit, but then another storm halted the concert for a second time. Gates reopened just in time for Halestorm, Ministry and Suicidal Tendencies, but The Devil Wears Prada’s gear was completely destroyed by the rain leaving them unable to perform. Next up was Slayer who as one fan put it “Owned Rockville”. They performed songs such as “Postmortem”, “Hate Worldwide” and finished with “Angels of Death”. Then came Mr. Controversy himself, Marilyn Manson. This was his first time performing in Jacksonville since his arrest in 1994. He opened with the song “Deep Six” off his new album The Pale Emperor. He kept his set pretty tame compared to past performances. He told the crowd that he wrote the song “Beautiful People” while in Jacksonville and then dedicated it to the people of Duval. Manson’s encore was the hard hitting “Irresponsible Hate Anthem”. When the song was over, he dropped the mike and simply walked off stage. Classic Manson. Welcome to Rockville veteran headliners Korn wrapped up the first day. They played their entire self-titled album much to their fan’s delight. Even Mr. Manson was spotted side-stage watching the show.
By Sunday all the rain and bad weather was gone. Met Park started rocking early with bands The Sweet Escape, From Ashes to New and ’68. Japanese band Vamps were extremely energetic as was newcomers Starset. Heavy metal chicks the Butcher Babies returned to slay concert goers with songs “Goliath” and a perfect cover of ZZ Top’s “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers”. Motionless In White also returned this year and delighted the crowd with their hits “Unstoppable” and “Devil’s Night”. Next up was Hatebreed, one of the heaviest bands of the afternoon. Breaking Benjamin also put on a solid performance. Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators were definitely the highlight of the afternoon. From start to finish the crowd was singing along to classic Guns N Roses songs like “You Could Be Mine” and “Paradise City”. Sunday night ended with strong sets by both Papa Roach and Godsmack. Headliners Slipknot amazed fans. They played hits such as “Psychosocial”, “Wait and Bleed” and closed out the night with “(sic)” and “Surfacing”. Fan Angie DePaolis said, “Slipknot delivered a powerful performance. One that was easily enjoyed by old and new fans alike”.
Even with the weather delays on Saturday, the 5th year of Rockville turned out to be a huge success. Sunday’s show was completely sold out leaving some fans out of luck when trying to buy tickets at the gate. New this year was the Risk Interactive Graffiti art installation. This gave concert goers the opportunity to leave their mark by adding to the huge graffiti wall on display. Also, band Metalachi performed at the Tequila World tent throughout the day. Margaritas flowed as they played covers of some classic rock songs with a little Latin flavor added. They were definitely a welcomed surprise, hope to see them at future Rockville festivals. Crazy Dave’s Music Experience returned again this year. Fans were able to play some of the guitars on display as well as participate in meet and greets with stars such as Chris Jericho of Fozzy and Corey Taylor of Slipknot. With the Welcome to Rockville festival getting bigger and heavier each year, the diverse crowds keep growing with it. The continued growth of this festival is a sure thing and its draw is sure to put Jacksonville back on the map for big name shows. This is a festival that should not be missed.
April 17-19, 2015 ~ Atlanta, GA
A Photo Gallery
Photos by Lucas Armstrong