Welcome To Rockville 2015 – Metropolitan Park, Jacksonville, FLA 4/15
By: Leslie Elder Rogers
Day 1 – April 25th
I arrived at the park with bad weather looming above but ready to rock it out without worry. The lineup for this weekend was sick beyond question with Marilyn Manson and Korn being todays’ headlining bands. This was enough to fulfill the dreams and fantasies of many concertgoers but their prequel included some awesome bands such as Of Mice and Men, World Gone, Nonpoint, Suicidal Tendencies, Halestorm, Slayer and many others. The storms that came through today got the best of many concert participants and attendees. Twice during todays’ events, the crowds were rushed out of the venue and asked to seek shelter in their cars or under the overpass which consumed about 3 or more hours of the day, pushing the schedule in a terrible direction and terminating the sets for several bands. Many people were livid that they missed bands they came to see but for safety reasons, this was a must. The storm was bad enough that The Devil Wears Prada lost all of their equipment as a result of the winds and rain. Among the bands that were unable to play were Hollywood Undead, Fozzy, Exodus, Beartooth, and Scott Weiland. I was very excited to see Hollywood Undead but thankful for the opportunity to see their set during the pre-party Friday night. My first stop was Nonpoint today. Elias and the guys know how to throw down a damn good show. As they stepped onto the stage, the energy was already pumping through the crowd. It was definitely the right day to start the set with “What A Day”. It was nice to see Nonpoint on one of the main stages as they truly deserve the recognition. Their latest album is proof of that. Of course, they couldn’t leave the stage without performing their current hit “Breaking Skin” which is an amazing song that has taken off in an awesome way. Our weather delay hit as we headed to the Hollywood Undead stage and everything stalled. It seemed like time stood still as we all huddled in groups within the large mass of thousands of people. Rain blew in from the sides, heavy winds threatened the pull tent awnings off all around us but the majority of the crowd stuck it out. Finally we were allowed back in and straight to Of Mice and Men we went. I’ve never seen them perform live so this was a great experience for me. The sheer personalities that come out on stage is enough to draw you in, to make you a fan even if you didn’t really know them before. Even after the delay in starting, their energy level was extreme and it brought the somewhat defeated crowd back to life very quickly as they bounced back and forth across the stage, singing and playing their hearts out. Halestorm was next on my list. I am an avid Lzzy and Arejay Hale fan and was so ecstatic to see them up close and personal this time. As we stood there waiting for their set time to begin, yet another weather warning was brought our way and once more we were all asked to clear the venue area to wait it out. The crowd was growing even more agitated as they chanted “Rain or Shine” throughout the overpass. Echoes of unhappy people continued to fill the air as they begged for the show to go on while across the River a small tornado was touching down. The biggest drawback to being stuck under the overpass was the inability to sit due to all of the water rushing through. Having wet, muddy feet was a very uncomfortable feeling. There were no vendors selling drinks or snacks under the overpass which sucked for those of us stuck there. Finally after about an hour this time, we were rallied back up and into the venue. Halestorm’s set time was already over so I didn’t even venture back to that stage. Instead, I found myself eagerly awaiting the arrival of Suicidal Tendencies. Moments before Suicidal was scheduled to play, I received a text from a friend that Halestorm was on stage and about to play but I knew there was no chance I’d make it to them in time to photograph them like I desperately wanted to. Suicidal put on a great show. Even after all these years, “Cyco Mike” takes the stage by storm and commands the shit out of the screaming fans. The crowds love him and his ability to keep the energy going. Mosh pits and crowd surfers are very common during ST concerts due to the fast paced music that gets the blood flowing and adrenaline pumping. This day was no different aside from the large quantities of mud. No one cared. They pushed and shoved and got slammed, the harder and the dirtier, the better. It was a wild ride to say the least. The festival offered many varieties of foods and drinks, including the ever so popular “Monster Energy” drinks that were, as always, offered free if you drank them inside the booth. The food vendor lines were depressingly long most of the day. We stood in line for over 40 minutes at one point just to get a $15 chicken on a stick (or whatever it was called). The flavor was fine but the wait and the cost was slightly exaggerated in my opinion, more so than the prior years I’ve been to Rockville. I’m certain that the multiple weather delays were a big hindrance which caused the backup of patrons waiting for food when finally able to come back in. As I waited for headliner number one, Manson, I watched the crowd steadily growing in masses all around. By now, all of the smaller bands had finished their sets and everyone was trying hastily to find that “perfect” place near the Jack Daniels stage and concert area so not to miss this highly anticipated performance. The photographers found it extremely hard throughout the day to maneuver through the crowd to the photo pit at this stage. With all the issues of the day and the impending possibility of yet more bad weather, the fans were desperate to see Manson and the thought of people trying to squeeze through them agitated them even more. What made it worse was the 6-8 inches of mud that literally engulfed your feet as you attempted to squeeze through the crowd. It was an experience for sure. Manson entered the smoke filled stage swinging his microphone as he belted out “Deep Six”. The crowd screamed enthusiastically. Their howls and the shrieks were potent and strong. This was proof that he’d be well worth wading through the crowd and mud for, right? Manson is very dramatic on stage, maybe even slightly too much so. It seemed to preoccupy him somewhat on stage as he made his way back and forth through the smoke and lights. Of course he had to perform ‘Beautiful People”, “Sweet Dreams’ and his very stagy portrayal of “Personal Jesus” with pulpit and sermon to boot. It was a good set but after the show, I heard multiple fans express their disappointment; some even going so far as to say that he wasn’t right for the festival at all. My personal opinion is that he fit right in and it was a worthy performance. Up next is KORN and they do it right. I can’t give anything but positive feedback on KORN. Jonathan Davis always commands that damn stage like a boss and with his entourage of musicians, Fieldy, Munky, Brian “Head” and Ray, their show always kicks ass. Of course, this show was to embrace and showcase their first album in full as a 20 year Anniversary tribute. The feeling and emotion that is illustrated on Jonathan’s face as he delivers the lyrics to each and every song are immensely intense. You can feel your heart beating in your chest as the band passionately performs each drum beat and each guitar riff. Every note is significant and when the bagpipes come out, the sensation that overcomes the fans is colossal. Before a mind blowing performance of “Daddy”, Jonathan performed “Blind”, “Faget”, and my own favorite, “Shoots and Ladders”. The thing is, KORN pleases the crowd with every ounce of his ability. They ended their set with three of their most well-known songs “Falling Away From Me”, “Here to Stay”, and the awesomeness known as “Freak On a Leash”. To say that this performance was epic is an understatement. KORN has a following that is undeniable. Day one and done. Ready for round two.
Day 2 – April 26th
All of the sun that avoided the venue yesterday has found its’ way to us today. Today would be much more promising. The line-up today was crazy with a TBA still not confirmed as we arrived; though many concert goers had a good idea of who it would be as a result of a slight err in posting on an Instagram pic previously (which was quickly removed once people started to question it). Due to the overlap in many set times, I knew I would be hard pressed to cover each and every band I wanted to cover so I made my list accordingly. Yesterday was such a confusing day. I was not having that today. First on my list today was Islander. This band already has a huge following and with its’ ties to the cause’ of “The Whosoevers” and the people who are involved in that movement, Islander is embarking on an amazing journey as a band. Mikey started off right away motivating the crowd by putting himself out there in the middle of them; he knows how the fans like this interaction. His time walking atop the crowds’ hands was short lived as he ended up in a laying position that threatened his ability to perform so he was quickly pulled back toward the stage by security. He stumbled slightly as he made his way back to the stage but this unplanned and unscripted blunder made the show all the better. Thanks for keeping it real guys. We appreciate that. Surely they will graduate to one of the main stages very soon because clearly they have the drive to push forward and endure. I had to sacrifice seeing Young Guns and Vamps in order to make it to the mystery band that had finally been confirmed as Nothing More. This is a band that I’d missed twice now and refused to miss capturing again. Even entering the stage was a show as we watched the bands members lead the way, hands in the air, pumping up the crowd as the beckoned for louder screams. Jonny ran onto stage shirtless, as we have all become accustomed to and immediately started pounding the drums of the bassinator. What an energetic man to watch on stage. He continued with the song “Christ Copyright” and then right into “Mr. MTV”, which has become a huge hit already on Octane. You can visually see the passion that they have when performing. Their ability to express the hurt, the pain, and suffering along with the fight to overcome through the lyrics they create is beyond belief. They have touched so many lives and inspired so many people through the struggle that is exposed in the song “Jenny”. They are a brilliant, creative and amazingly talented band. I recommend everyone see them live. Motionless in White was next on my list. All I can say is WOW. This band has come a long way in the past couple of years. They came to Rockville in 2013 and played on the up and coming stage. I cannot even say I knew who they were then which breaks my heart to admit. Last year at Rockville their set time conflicted with another that I wanted to cover so I missed all but their last song. Rockville 2015, nothing was keeping me from MIW. They came on stage painted up and dressed in costumes as we should expect. Energy exploded in the crowd as the surfers went wild. As they ran back and forth across the stage it was clear to see why this band has broken out and become so damn popular. They play to the crowd, for the crowd, with such vigor. They almost seem to have a magical ability on stage to make the fans forget everything else around them. I watched in awe of this band as they thanked the fans for their support over the years and they expressed their appreciation for getting them where they are today. They made it to the main stage in only two years as a result of that support. Keep up the massive tunes MIW. We love you. Ok, so for everyone who has not seen In This Moment, I have to say, Maria Brink and her band and dancers really put on a hell of a show. She is so dramatic and so intense. We’ve all seen her pics and her videos I’m sure, but watching her live is visually inspiring. The wardrobe changes, the props, the facial expressions and body movements…yes, she truly encompasses what it means to put on an entertaining “show”. The music and lyrics give us anger, spite and some definite crazy, and when you add in her ability to mesmerize the fans, In This Moment becomes a complete package. One of the most anticipated sets of the day was Breaking Benjamin since they’ve “reformed” and released their new album. The crowd was massive and steadily growing as they waited for the band to hit the stage. As a long time BB fan, I was so glad to see this turnout of support for them. As they performed, there was an undeniable dedication to this band amongst the fans. Everyone was singing right along with all of the lyrics to old and new. As Ben sang “Failure” from the new album, the crowd screamed and yelled with elation. The crowd surfers were in abundance today at every set so far. Great job BB. You’ve proven over and over that you are a band that can stand the test of time. It was a childhood dream to see Slash perform on stage. I’ve followed his music through prior bands since I was a teenager. Combining his massive guitar style with the vocal ability and range of Myles Kennedy is remarkable and has created a heck of a following already. Watching the chemistry of these two on stage alongside the rest of the band, it’s clear that they know what importance each members plays. They wrestle back and forth between guitar riffs and solos and lyrical theatrics as Myles hits notes that some would consider unattainable. At times they seemed to distort the sound emerging from the speakers. Several covers of Guns & Roses songs were performed as well as “Bent to Fly” and “World on Fire” which are tracks from their album release. It was a brilliant combination. Jacoby Shaddix and Papa Roach took the stage and owned the hell out of it. They started off strong with “Face Everything and Rise” from their recent album release and stayed strong. They’ve been through their share of struggles too but they are proving that they can do exactly what their album title says. They played many of their most popular songs including “Scars” and “Last Resort”. When all is said and done, Papa Roach can still rock the stage and create a hell of a good time for the fans. I couldn’t let Godsmack pass me by and their set was another amazing concert for the day. The backdrop and lighting was very appealing. They kept the crowd motivated with the power and control they brought to the stage during “1000HP” and “Cryin’ Like a Bitch”. Their strength was undeniable as they belted out “Something Different”, Voodoo”, and “Awake”. Sully’s voice is unmistakable. He has a true gift and utilizes it to its fullest capacity. They ended with a fan favorite, “I Stand Alone”. There were no disappointed faces that I could see as I quickly made my way to Slipknot. Oh, Slipknot. The band everyone was here to see. Corey Taylor himself could not have asked for a better turn-out of fans. People were moshing and surfing and jumping and screaming before their set even started good. Slipknot represents everything that is expected in a heavy metal band. They are hard-core; melt your face metal, but not death metal. They bring a variety of faces to the stage through their multiple masks and ever changing appearance. You can’t ask for more than a band that can melodically soothe the soul with low key anthem type songs to fast past, bang the hell out of your head, fists pumping in the air songs like “Custer”. They are all about the performance and the metal scene while creating a true fandom. They created a festival, Knotfest, in honor of their name and I vow to one day make it to one of them. In addition to “Custer”, some other songs they performed were “Psychosocial”, “The Devil In I”, “Wait and Bleed”, “Before I Forget”, “Spit it Out” and “The Negative One”. They had the fans on their feet (and off their feet jumping up and down) screaming and shouting every lyric. I’d say that the ground was shaking but it was just the sound you’d hear as all bodies were up in the air and then down hitting the surface with their feet, over and over. Not sure it gets any better than this. It seemed that every bit of energy the fans had throughout the weekend had been saved for this very moment. It was an awesome sight watching the crowd react and interact as Slipknot tore it up. The fans were crazy during their performance. Not bad crazy. That’s the neat thing about these festivals. As crazy as people are, there is still a huge amount of respect for each other while there. There are those that get quite drunk and lose all hold on reality but as a whole, the crowd doesn’t seem to intentionally want to cause’ harm or anxiety to anyone around them. It’s all about having a damn good time, raising some loud metal hell, drinking and enjoying the bands you’re there to see and the music they so generously perform for you. This was a crazy ass weekend when you throw in the “predicted” but unwanted weather and the bands that didn’t play as a result, but when you add in the bands that did play, who played their ever loving hearts out; they rocked the stages with such aspiration and commitment. This weekend was not a failure. It was proof that in the midst of shit being thrown at you that you don’t desire, you can still overcome it and have one hell of a good time. Rock on Rockville. Here’s to the next round in 2016.
Welcome To Rockville Site
By: Leslie Elder Rogers
Day 1 – April 25th
I arrived at the park with bad weather looming above but ready to rock it out without worry. The lineup for this weekend was sick beyond question with Marilyn Manson and Korn being todays’ headlining bands. This was enough to fulfill the dreams and fantasies of many concertgoers but their prequel included some awesome bands such as Of Mice and Men, World Gone, Nonpoint, Suicidal Tendencies, Halestorm, Slayer and many others. The storms that came through today got the best of many concert participants and attendees. Twice during todays’ events, the crowds were rushed out of the venue and asked to seek shelter in their cars or under the overpass which consumed about 3 or more hours of the day, pushing the schedule in a terrible direction and terminating the sets for several bands. Many people were livid that they missed bands they came to see but for safety reasons, this was a must. The storm was bad enough that The Devil Wears Prada lost all of their equipment as a result of the winds and rain. Among the bands that were unable to play were Hollywood Undead, Fozzy, Exodus, Beartooth, and Scott Weiland. I was very excited to see Hollywood Undead but thankful for the opportunity to see their set during the pre-party Friday night. My first stop was Nonpoint today. Elias and the guys know how to throw down a damn good show. As they stepped onto the stage, the energy was already pumping through the crowd. It was definitely the right day to start the set with “What A Day”. It was nice to see Nonpoint on one of the main stages as they truly deserve the recognition. Their latest album is proof of that. Of course, they couldn’t leave the stage without performing their current hit “Breaking Skin” which is an amazing song that has taken off in an awesome way. Our weather delay hit as we headed to the Hollywood Undead stage and everything stalled. It seemed like time stood still as we all huddled in groups within the large mass of thousands of people. Rain blew in from the sides, heavy winds threatened the pull tent awnings off all around us but the majority of the crowd stuck it out. Finally we were allowed back in and straight to Of Mice and Men we went. I’ve never seen them perform live so this was a great experience for me. The sheer personalities that come out on stage is enough to draw you in, to make you a fan even if you didn’t really know them before. Even after the delay in starting, their energy level was extreme and it brought the somewhat defeated crowd back to life very quickly as they bounced back and forth across the stage, singing and playing their hearts out. Halestorm was next on my list. I am an avid Lzzy and Arejay Hale fan and was so ecstatic to see them up close and personal this time. As we stood there waiting for their set time to begin, yet another weather warning was brought our way and once more we were all asked to clear the venue area to wait it out. The crowd was growing even more agitated as they chanted “Rain or Shine” throughout the overpass. Echoes of unhappy people continued to fill the air as they begged for the show to go on while across the River a small tornado was touching down. The biggest drawback to being stuck under the overpass was the inability to sit due to all of the water rushing through. Having wet, muddy feet was a very uncomfortable feeling. There were no vendors selling drinks or snacks under the overpass which sucked for those of us stuck there. Finally after about an hour this time, we were rallied back up and into the venue. Halestorm’s set time was already over so I didn’t even venture back to that stage. Instead, I found myself eagerly awaiting the arrival of Suicidal Tendencies. Moments before Suicidal was scheduled to play, I received a text from a friend that Halestorm was on stage and about to play but I knew there was no chance I’d make it to them in time to photograph them like I desperately wanted to. Suicidal put on a great show. Even after all these years, “Cyco Mike” takes the stage by storm and commands the shit out of the screaming fans. The crowds love him and his ability to keep the energy going. Mosh pits and crowd surfers are very common during ST concerts due to the fast paced music that gets the blood flowing and adrenaline pumping. This day was no different aside from the large quantities of mud. No one cared. They pushed and shoved and got slammed, the harder and the dirtier, the better. It was a wild ride to say the least. The festival offered many varieties of foods and drinks, including the ever so popular “Monster Energy” drinks that were, as always, offered free if you drank them inside the booth. The food vendor lines were depressingly long most of the day. We stood in line for over 40 minutes at one point just to get a $15 chicken on a stick (or whatever it was called). The flavor was fine but the wait and the cost was slightly exaggerated in my opinion, more so than the prior years I’ve been to Rockville. I’m certain that the multiple weather delays were a big hindrance which caused the backup of patrons waiting for food when finally able to come back in. As I waited for headliner number one, Manson, I watched the crowd steadily growing in masses all around. By now, all of the smaller bands had finished their sets and everyone was trying hastily to find that “perfect” place near the Jack Daniels stage and concert area so not to miss this highly anticipated performance. The photographers found it extremely hard throughout the day to maneuver through the crowd to the photo pit at this stage. With all the issues of the day and the impending possibility of yet more bad weather, the fans were desperate to see Manson and the thought of people trying to squeeze through them agitated them even more. What made it worse was the 6-8 inches of mud that literally engulfed your feet as you attempted to squeeze through the crowd. It was an experience for sure. Manson entered the smoke filled stage swinging his microphone as he belted out “Deep Six”. The crowd screamed enthusiastically. Their howls and the shrieks were potent and strong. This was proof that he’d be well worth wading through the crowd and mud for, right? Manson is very dramatic on stage, maybe even slightly too much so. It seemed to preoccupy him somewhat on stage as he made his way back and forth through the smoke and lights. Of course he had to perform ‘Beautiful People”, “Sweet Dreams’ and his very stagy portrayal of “Personal Jesus” with pulpit and sermon to boot. It was a good set but after the show, I heard multiple fans express their disappointment; some even going so far as to say that he wasn’t right for the festival at all. My personal opinion is that he fit right in and it was a worthy performance. Up next is KORN and they do it right. I can’t give anything but positive feedback on KORN. Jonathan Davis always commands that damn stage like a boss and with his entourage of musicians, Fieldy, Munky, Brian “Head” and Ray, their show always kicks ass. Of course, this show was to embrace and showcase their first album in full as a 20 year Anniversary tribute. The feeling and emotion that is illustrated on Jonathan’s face as he delivers the lyrics to each and every song are immensely intense. You can feel your heart beating in your chest as the band passionately performs each drum beat and each guitar riff. Every note is significant and when the bagpipes come out, the sensation that overcomes the fans is colossal. Before a mind blowing performance of “Daddy”, Jonathan performed “Blind”, “Faget”, and my own favorite, “Shoots and Ladders”. The thing is, KORN pleases the crowd with every ounce of his ability. They ended their set with three of their most well-known songs “Falling Away From Me”, “Here to Stay”, and the awesomeness known as “Freak On a Leash”. To say that this performance was epic is an understatement. KORN has a following that is undeniable. Day one and done. Ready for round two.
Day 2 – April 26th
All of the sun that avoided the venue yesterday has found its’ way to us today. Today would be much more promising. The line-up today was crazy with a TBA still not confirmed as we arrived; though many concert goers had a good idea of who it would be as a result of a slight err in posting on an Instagram pic previously (which was quickly removed once people started to question it). Due to the overlap in many set times, I knew I would be hard pressed to cover each and every band I wanted to cover so I made my list accordingly. Yesterday was such a confusing day. I was not having that today. First on my list today was Islander. This band already has a huge following and with its’ ties to the cause’ of “The Whosoevers” and the people who are involved in that movement, Islander is embarking on an amazing journey as a band. Mikey started off right away motivating the crowd by putting himself out there in the middle of them; he knows how the fans like this interaction. His time walking atop the crowds’ hands was short lived as he ended up in a laying position that threatened his ability to perform so he was quickly pulled back toward the stage by security. He stumbled slightly as he made his way back to the stage but this unplanned and unscripted blunder made the show all the better. Thanks for keeping it real guys. We appreciate that. Surely they will graduate to one of the main stages very soon because clearly they have the drive to push forward and endure. I had to sacrifice seeing Young Guns and Vamps in order to make it to the mystery band that had finally been confirmed as Nothing More. This is a band that I’d missed twice now and refused to miss capturing again. Even entering the stage was a show as we watched the bands members lead the way, hands in the air, pumping up the crowd as the beckoned for louder screams. Jonny ran onto stage shirtless, as we have all become accustomed to and immediately started pounding the drums of the bassinator. What an energetic man to watch on stage. He continued with the song “Christ Copyright” and then right into “Mr. MTV”, which has become a huge hit already on Octane. You can visually see the passion that they have when performing. Their ability to express the hurt, the pain, and suffering along with the fight to overcome through the lyrics they create is beyond belief. They have touched so many lives and inspired so many people through the struggle that is exposed in the song “Jenny”. They are a brilliant, creative and amazingly talented band. I recommend everyone see them live. Motionless in White was next on my list. All I can say is WOW. This band has come a long way in the past couple of years. They came to Rockville in 2013 and played on the up and coming stage. I cannot even say I knew who they were then which breaks my heart to admit. Last year at Rockville their set time conflicted with another that I wanted to cover so I missed all but their last song. Rockville 2015, nothing was keeping me from MIW. They came on stage painted up and dressed in costumes as we should expect. Energy exploded in the crowd as the surfers went wild. As they ran back and forth across the stage it was clear to see why this band has broken out and become so damn popular. They play to the crowd, for the crowd, with such vigor. They almost seem to have a magical ability on stage to make the fans forget everything else around them. I watched in awe of this band as they thanked the fans for their support over the years and they expressed their appreciation for getting them where they are today. They made it to the main stage in only two years as a result of that support. Keep up the massive tunes MIW. We love you. Ok, so for everyone who has not seen In This Moment, I have to say, Maria Brink and her band and dancers really put on a hell of a show. She is so dramatic and so intense. We’ve all seen her pics and her videos I’m sure, but watching her live is visually inspiring. The wardrobe changes, the props, the facial expressions and body movements…yes, she truly encompasses what it means to put on an entertaining “show”. The music and lyrics give us anger, spite and some definite crazy, and when you add in her ability to mesmerize the fans, In This Moment becomes a complete package. One of the most anticipated sets of the day was Breaking Benjamin since they’ve “reformed” and released their new album. The crowd was massive and steadily growing as they waited for the band to hit the stage. As a long time BB fan, I was so glad to see this turnout of support for them. As they performed, there was an undeniable dedication to this band amongst the fans. Everyone was singing right along with all of the lyrics to old and new. As Ben sang “Failure” from the new album, the crowd screamed and yelled with elation. The crowd surfers were in abundance today at every set so far. Great job BB. You’ve proven over and over that you are a band that can stand the test of time. It was a childhood dream to see Slash perform on stage. I’ve followed his music through prior bands since I was a teenager. Combining his massive guitar style with the vocal ability and range of Myles Kennedy is remarkable and has created a heck of a following already. Watching the chemistry of these two on stage alongside the rest of the band, it’s clear that they know what importance each members plays. They wrestle back and forth between guitar riffs and solos and lyrical theatrics as Myles hits notes that some would consider unattainable. At times they seemed to distort the sound emerging from the speakers. Several covers of Guns & Roses songs were performed as well as “Bent to Fly” and “World on Fire” which are tracks from their album release. It was a brilliant combination. Jacoby Shaddix and Papa Roach took the stage and owned the hell out of it. They started off strong with “Face Everything and Rise” from their recent album release and stayed strong. They’ve been through their share of struggles too but they are proving that they can do exactly what their album title says. They played many of their most popular songs including “Scars” and “Last Resort”. When all is said and done, Papa Roach can still rock the stage and create a hell of a good time for the fans. I couldn’t let Godsmack pass me by and their set was another amazing concert for the day. The backdrop and lighting was very appealing. They kept the crowd motivated with the power and control they brought to the stage during “1000HP” and “Cryin’ Like a Bitch”. Their strength was undeniable as they belted out “Something Different”, Voodoo”, and “Awake”. Sully’s voice is unmistakable. He has a true gift and utilizes it to its fullest capacity. They ended with a fan favorite, “I Stand Alone”. There were no disappointed faces that I could see as I quickly made my way to Slipknot. Oh, Slipknot. The band everyone was here to see. Corey Taylor himself could not have asked for a better turn-out of fans. People were moshing and surfing and jumping and screaming before their set even started good. Slipknot represents everything that is expected in a heavy metal band. They are hard-core; melt your face metal, but not death metal. They bring a variety of faces to the stage through their multiple masks and ever changing appearance. You can’t ask for more than a band that can melodically soothe the soul with low key anthem type songs to fast past, bang the hell out of your head, fists pumping in the air songs like “Custer”. They are all about the performance and the metal scene while creating a true fandom. They created a festival, Knotfest, in honor of their name and I vow to one day make it to one of them. In addition to “Custer”, some other songs they performed were “Psychosocial”, “The Devil In I”, “Wait and Bleed”, “Before I Forget”, “Spit it Out” and “The Negative One”. They had the fans on their feet (and off their feet jumping up and down) screaming and shouting every lyric. I’d say that the ground was shaking but it was just the sound you’d hear as all bodies were up in the air and then down hitting the surface with their feet, over and over. Not sure it gets any better than this. It seemed that every bit of energy the fans had throughout the weekend had been saved for this very moment. It was an awesome sight watching the crowd react and interact as Slipknot tore it up. The fans were crazy during their performance. Not bad crazy. That’s the neat thing about these festivals. As crazy as people are, there is still a huge amount of respect for each other while there. There are those that get quite drunk and lose all hold on reality but as a whole, the crowd doesn’t seem to intentionally want to cause’ harm or anxiety to anyone around them. It’s all about having a damn good time, raising some loud metal hell, drinking and enjoying the bands you’re there to see and the music they so generously perform for you. This was a crazy ass weekend when you throw in the “predicted” but unwanted weather and the bands that didn’t play as a result, but when you add in the bands that did play, who played their ever loving hearts out; they rocked the stages with such aspiration and commitment. This weekend was not a failure. It was proof that in the midst of shit being thrown at you that you don’t desire, you can still overcome it and have one hell of a good time. Rock on Rockville. Here’s to the next round in 2016.
Welcome To Rockville Site
