Day 3
The third and final day of Rock on the Range 2018 began with a welcome surprise; a suddenly clear weather forecast! As it turns out, rain and storms held off and the day went on without a hitch! I began coverage on the Monster Main Stage, checking out the recently rescheduled performance from Them Evils as they kicked off at noon. Them Evils have just released their latest EP “Rollin’ Stoned and Livin’ Free.” I was excited to catch this performance, and I’m glad I was finally able to. This back delivers such a refreshing blend of groovy hard rock and attitude. Keep a lookout, as they’ll only get bigger from here.
From there, I quickly ran to the Zippo Encore Stage to catch Stitched Up Heart. This is an act I’ve heard plenty of buzz about; but hadn’t yet had the opportunity to see live. As I’ve learned so many times, I’m glad I made the effort to hustle over to see their act. Vocalist Alecia “Mixi” Demner fronts a solid act, which had an unbelievable crowd already piled in for their 12:00pm set time.
Next, I ran back to the main stage to catch Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown. This is another act that’s had some real chatter over the last year or two. Fortunately, I was well aware that these guys were onto something before I made it over to their stage. As expected Bryant and company delivered a solid performance of hard rock. I would expect to see them back at Rock on the Range sooner than later.
For the second time this weekend, I was able to make my way back to the Zippo Sessions Acoustic Stage for another intimate performance from Them Evils, who had barely just wrapped up their performance on the main stage. It’s always been my opinion that any band who can convincingly perform their music in an acoustic setting must be on to something. If I didn’t stress it enough already, these guys pull it off. Don’t let them pass you by.
Next up was Shaman’s Harvest. This was another act I’ve heard a lot of excitement about, so I was thrilled to finally catch a set from them. They brought a fun brand of straight-ahead rock to the stage. Shaman’s Harvest are currently out in support of 2017’s album “Red Hands Black Deeds.”
A back to back set at the main stage was up next, as I ran back over to catch Red Sun Rising and I Prevail. Red Sun Rising was up first, who are currently touring in support of their brand-new release, “Thread.” This band has been up-and-coming for some time now; and got every bit the reception they could hope for as an early act on the main stage. I Prevail followed shortly after, where they upped the intensity a bit, performing various tracks from their first two albums.
I headed back to the Zippo Encore Stage for Code Orange. This was one of the few acts I caught this weekend that I knew absolutely nothing about. Code Orange was probably one of the most intense performances of the weekend, full of dark and heavy riffs, aggressive vocals and all the stage jumps you could ask for.
The Used was up next on the Monster Main Stage. This was another act I was really excited to check out. They’ve been on the scene since 2001 and have provided a number of solid radio hits over the years. As it turns out, they bring a solid live show as well. They opted for some of their harder hits including “Pretty Handsome Awkward” and “The Taste of Ink” and provided as much punch as possible in their 40-minute set.
The back and forth between stages continued as I ran back over to the Zippo Stage for Baroness. I’ve caught them a few times over the years and was interested to see what this years’ performance would bring. It was immediately evident that this band had really evolved. Their set was fully engaging and they had the crowd rocking. If you were thinking of catching a live Baroness show, definitely check them out.
Stone Temple Pilots were up next on the main stage. This was easily one of the most highly anticipated shows of the weekend, as they returned with new singer Jeff Gutt. It seemed to be a trend this weekend, that we saw bands returning to Rock on the Range with new vocalists. In every case, the new lineup was outstanding. There was no greater example of this than with Stone Temple Pilots. The band re-emerged with a near-headlining position at the festival and deserved every bit of it. While some found it a little uncomfortable to see their new vocalist appearing and sounding so much like the late Scott Weiland; Jeff Gutt is a star front-man in his own right. I can’t wait for another opportunity to see this band and the new life they have!
My last trip of the weekend over to the Zippo Encore Stage was for BABYMETAL. This act has build quite the following around the world, and I was thrilled to be able to go and see what it was all about. While the music was entirely in Japanese, the language of rock is pretty easy to understand. Most notable was the clear change in direction from a very bright and pop-metal act, to a much darker performance. BABYMETAL is one of those acts where it will be of great benefit to dive into the store behind their music, as they entire act is committed to telling it.
Once again, I returned to the main stage for the last pairing of headliners for the year. Tonight, it featured Godsmack and Tool. Godsmack are back, having just released their latest album, “When Legends Rise.” They wasted no time firing things up, kicking off with the album’s title track “When Legends Rise,” immediately followed by “1000hp.” Godsmack always make for a welcome performance at Rock on the Range, and this year was no different. They pack all the pyro and energy you could want in a single set. This time, delivering classics including “Cryin’ Like a Bitch,” “Voodoo” and “Awake.”
The festival was closed out by Tool, featuring Maynard James Keenan’s second performance of the weekend. They took the stage with almost no stage lighting, including a complete absence of the video screens that had been used all weekend. This marked Tool’s first trip to Rock on the Range, and the buzz couldn’t have been bigger. Keenan took the stage in riot gear, which has become his standard stage attire in recent years. They performed a dozen selections, including the hits “Schism,” “Ænema,” and Stinkfist.” There is huge anticipation for Tool’s upcoming record, with no details as of yet. Given that their last release was 2006’s “10,000 Days,” it seems the hope of a new release might just be inevitable.
After three days of running around the festival grounds and catching close to forty live performances, it’s clear this might have been the greatest overall weekend at Rock on the Range yet, at least in the five years I’ve been attending.
The festival organizers continue to up the ante every year, bringing on new food vendors as well as adding additional amenities every year. Maybe it was just me, but cell phone reception was better than ever! While the weather can be unpredictable, the team one-site did another excellent job of balancing a massive list of performers with fan safety, which always comes first.
With twelve years of Rock on the Range in the books, the big question that’s asked every year is “How can they top that?” Year after year, I’ve learned to just accept that they will. This festival is every bit as much about the experience as it is the acts that perform. Hard rock and heavy metal has seen the summers in the US transform from touring festivals like Mayhem, Uproar and Ozzfest into destinations like Rock on the Range, Welcome to Rockville and Carolina Rebellion. I’ve come to appreciate this European-style festival circuit so much more. I already can’t wait until next year!
