MusINK – OC Events Center, Cosa Mesa, CA 3/16
By Robert Fayette
The ninth consecutive MusINK Festival combined the groups of music, tattoos and cars. Held at the OC Events Center in Costa Mesa, CA, the three-day festival brought out excitement from a variety of levels from all ages.
Friday kicked off with performances from Yelawolf, The Transplants and Snoop Dogg. Travis Barker of Blink 182 who has taken over as the presenter of the festival treated fans to a showcase of his legendary drumming talent in two performances with Yelawolf and The Transplants. Amidst technical difficulties, Yelawolf delivered an exceptional performance prior to smashing the DJ equipment across the stag. The Transplants showcased their combination of punk rock and and rap rock in an hour long performance that further created excitement that singer and guitarist Tim Armstrong (Rancid) built while interacting amongst the fans inside The Hangar. As advertised, Snoop Dogg delivered the hits and numerous covers. The rapper, who has maintained legendary status since debuting in the 90s, ushered in multiple clouds of smoke and a feel-good vibe prior to closing out his set with a Bob Marley cover.
Saturday evening shifted over to the music scene that appealed to rock fans. Whittier-based Plague Vendor performed a brief 20-minute set. Known for an exceptional stage presence within the indie rock community, the group did well warming up the crowd for what was to come. Anytime that Taking Back Sunday comes to your town, you know that you will be in store for a high-energy performance originating from lead singer, Adam Lazarra. With over a decade of music in their career, the Long Island, NY natives treated their rabid fans to a 40-minute performance highlighted by their 2006 hit, “MakeDamnSure.”
There is no denying that The Deftones were the act to see during MusINK. The Sacramento veterans showed no signs of rust in their first performance of 2016. They opted to open up the performance with “Swerve City” which found lead singer Chino Moreno on the guitar, prior to getting into his routine on the legendary song, “Around the Fur” from their 1997 studio record of the same name. The group which was often and unusually trapped in a musical period of rap rock and nu metal only continue to get better with each record that they release. Gore (due out April 8th) is the bands eight studio release and first since their 2012 release, Koi No Yokan. The evening saw the live debuts of “Doomed Used” and “Prayers/Triangles” that are a welcome to their library. “Rocket Skates”, “My Own Summer (Shove It)” and “Knife Party” rocked The Hangar, while their most successful song to date, “Change (In The House of Flies)” brought the biggest response perhaps for the entire weekend. After exiting the stage, The Deftones reappeared to close out their performance with their 1995 hit, “Engine No 9.”
Sunday’s lighter crowd was very apparent as the festival came to a close. Punk rock veterans, Face to Face briefly warmed up the crowd highlighted by their career defining, “Disconnected.” The hometown heroes, Atreyu who returned after a 5-year hiatus with their studio record, Long Live connected with their longtime and newly born fans with a great variety of songs. “Doomsayer” opened up the performance as quickly as lead singer Alex Varktazas found his way to the stage barrier and fans at one point singing with a puppet version of a Sesame Street character that a fan brought with them. Ask any fan of Atreyu, and they will tell you that “Right Side of the Bed” took the band to great heights in 2003 following the release of The Curse, that saw many fans, including myself waiting in a lengthy just to meet the band.
Closing out the weekend festivities were Circa Survive fronted by Anthony Green. The Philadelphia natives brought an energetic performance of hits and energy from Anthony Green as he made his way from side of the stage to the other. “Living Together” and “The Difference Between Medicine and Poison is in the Dose” and set closer “Get Out” brought along many moments of appease and crowd participation prior to the conclusion of the weekend.
Official MusInk Site
By Robert Fayette
The ninth consecutive MusINK Festival combined the groups of music, tattoos and cars. Held at the OC Events Center in Costa Mesa, CA, the three-day festival brought out excitement from a variety of levels from all ages.
Friday kicked off with performances from Yelawolf, The Transplants and Snoop Dogg. Travis Barker of Blink 182 who has taken over as the presenter of the festival treated fans to a showcase of his legendary drumming talent in two performances with Yelawolf and The Transplants. Amidst technical difficulties, Yelawolf delivered an exceptional performance prior to smashing the DJ equipment across the stag. The Transplants showcased their combination of punk rock and and rap rock in an hour long performance that further created excitement that singer and guitarist Tim Armstrong (Rancid) built while interacting amongst the fans inside The Hangar. As advertised, Snoop Dogg delivered the hits and numerous covers. The rapper, who has maintained legendary status since debuting in the 90s, ushered in multiple clouds of smoke and a feel-good vibe prior to closing out his set with a Bob Marley cover.
Saturday evening shifted over to the music scene that appealed to rock fans. Whittier-based Plague Vendor performed a brief 20-minute set. Known for an exceptional stage presence within the indie rock community, the group did well warming up the crowd for what was to come. Anytime that Taking Back Sunday comes to your town, you know that you will be in store for a high-energy performance originating from lead singer, Adam Lazarra. With over a decade of music in their career, the Long Island, NY natives treated their rabid fans to a 40-minute performance highlighted by their 2006 hit, “MakeDamnSure.”
There is no denying that The Deftones were the act to see during MusINK. The Sacramento veterans showed no signs of rust in their first performance of 2016. They opted to open up the performance with “Swerve City” which found lead singer Chino Moreno on the guitar, prior to getting into his routine on the legendary song, “Around the Fur” from their 1997 studio record of the same name. The group which was often and unusually trapped in a musical period of rap rock and nu metal only continue to get better with each record that they release. Gore (due out April 8th) is the bands eight studio release and first since their 2012 release, Koi No Yokan. The evening saw the live debuts of “Doomed Used” and “Prayers/Triangles” that are a welcome to their library. “Rocket Skates”, “My Own Summer (Shove It)” and “Knife Party” rocked The Hangar, while their most successful song to date, “Change (In The House of Flies)” brought the biggest response perhaps for the entire weekend. After exiting the stage, The Deftones reappeared to close out their performance with their 1995 hit, “Engine No 9.”
Sunday’s lighter crowd was very apparent as the festival came to a close. Punk rock veterans, Face to Face briefly warmed up the crowd highlighted by their career defining, “Disconnected.” The hometown heroes, Atreyu who returned after a 5-year hiatus with their studio record, Long Live connected with their longtime and newly born fans with a great variety of songs. “Doomsayer” opened up the performance as quickly as lead singer Alex Varktazas found his way to the stage barrier and fans at one point singing with a puppet version of a Sesame Street character that a fan brought with them. Ask any fan of Atreyu, and they will tell you that “Right Side of the Bed” took the band to great heights in 2003 following the release of The Curse, that saw many fans, including myself waiting in a lengthy just to meet the band.
Closing out the weekend festivities were Circa Survive fronted by Anthony Green. The Philadelphia natives brought an energetic performance of hits and energy from Anthony Green as he made his way from side of the stage to the other. “Living Together” and “The Difference Between Medicine and Poison is in the Dose” and set closer “Get Out” brought along many moments of appease and crowd participation prior to the conclusion of the weekend.
Official MusInk Site
