No one knows exactly what their future holds, and when January 1st rang in the New Year I had no idea that 2022 was going to be the most epic concert year that I have ever had. This calendar year has afforded me the opportunity to see some musical legends and my favorite bands, and to have been approved with photo credentials for more shows than I have ever been credentialed for.
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I discovered new bands that expanded my musical horizons even further. I met many new rock friends and shared time with friends old and new at shows throughout the year, across the country and on the high seas.
You might ask me if I am able to pick a single favorite show or band out of my epic year’s adventures. My first answer would be that every single show I saw kicked ass in its own right. Then I started debating if I could somehow quantify each show across multiple variables to see if there was in fact a mathematically proven top show of the year.
I kept getting stuck debating on what weight would each variable hold, and how out of town shows would potentially skew results as it does add an extra level of excitement to travel for a show which usually involves going to a new venue.
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After some contemplation, a new Excel spreadsheet and a few conversations with my concert going brethren, I came to the conclusion it is a personally subjective outcome and that traveling for a show would indeed skew the outcome. I counted too many variables between the ones that I came up with and the suggestions of my friends added in and returned to my initial answer that EACH. AND. EVERY. SHOW. KICKED. ASS!
2022 summarized numerically: 37 shows 26 credentialed shows and 2 shows I was able to bring my camera. 2 shows I got denied (both Iron Maiden) and 7 shows I didn’t try for credentials. 169 band performances 6 different states 14 different cities 18 different venues and 2 cruise ships 11 new venues I had never been to
My first show of the year was in early February at the sail away party for my annual excursion on the Monsters of Rock Cruise. Axeman extraordinaire Adrien Vandenberg was the headliner and it had been over thirty two years since his last performance in the United States. I was astounded at his jaw dropping playing ability as a teenager in the mid-1980s and to see and capture with my lens this man absolutely shredding right in front of me were moments of pure joy. And this was just the first show of the year!
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He also played twice on the Monsters of Rock cruise so three times within less than a week I witnessed a true master of his craft at work.
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The Monsters of Rock Cruise was beyond awesome seeing forty two performances over five nights and alongside a good friend who is a Jedi behind the lens and one of my photography mentors (Obi Wan). New friends were made as have been every music cruise I have ever been on. One as a result of me going “Hey, that is a cool t shirt – can I take a photo?” Even though I now abstain from indulging, that conversation has me an honorary member of the “Heavy Metal Beer Club”. Just that simple exclamation and question has led to a great friendship with a great metal and beer loving couple who live in Arizona.
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Many great bands were seen onboard, some newly discovered as well as many I was very familiar with. This was also my first exposure to the Van Halen tribute band Nerd Halen. I shot their meet and greet photo experience and I had in front of the front row access for part of their pool stage show that both Obi Wan and I were still talking about weeks later and we both proclaimed as our favorite show of the cruise. I cannot wait for the cruise in 2023 as it is an incredibly stacked lineup.
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A week after the cruise returned I flew out for my first ever visit to Las Vegas for my tenth time seeing Metallica and was a promised metal quest fulfilled for the Chief Metal Maiden’s first Metallica show. That the show was in Sin City was an added bonus! Thankfully no bail money was required.
Gretta Van Fleet was one of the openers and it was my first exposure to their music beyond what I had heard on terrestrial radio. I would for sure like to see them again and as a headliner. Crazy to see one of my local friends out there at the show, but we metalheads roll deep and travel for what we love.
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Two weeks after Metallica I went with another friend and Jedi behind the lens photography mentor (Lord Nikon) to see Tesla at the Strawberry Festival. While I was not credentialed for this show, their security does not check for cameras so I brought mine, shot the whole show from my seat and ended up posting over a hundred shots.
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The Cannibal Corpse show was my friend’s teenage daughter’s first ever concert (and her idea for them to go) and a people watching old mine. I witnessed a very interesting ‘exchange’ (that needs to stay unwritten) between a guy and his wife/girlfriend during one of Cannibal Corpse’s more anatomically graphical songs. Um, if you catch me at a show ask me about this story lol. Thankfully, while my friend’s teenage daughter also witnessed this said unmentionable exchange, I am beyond certain she had absolutely no idea what the band was singing about and I confirmed after the show that she is not scared for life.
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The Cult sounded phenomenal and Ian Asbury still has an amazing voice. A one hundred percent amazing show in a nearly acoustically perfect venue. I so look forward to seeing them again.
Cruise to the Edge was an absolute blast, Obi Wan and I worked as part of the meet and greet photography team. We had a balcony cabin (my first time ever on my seventeenth overall and sixth music cruise) and woke up to paradise out the sliding door each morning. My first time ever with “Production” credentials. Which means there is no three song limit from the photo pit (which is the norm with media credentials) and I shot on stage with the bands at various times for the first time ever. Initially that was a terrifying experience as I took each and every step up there carefully, as I did not want to trip over a wire and bring the show to a halt. Shooting on stage turned out to be the most exhilarating experience I have ever had doing concert photography.
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A special shout out filled with much appreciation to the Spicy Ginger for having us along on board. Overall I saw forty six performances (including the sail away party), Obi Wan and I each did four meet and greet shoots and again, new friends were made.
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Jackyl was a fun show and also a people watching gold mine given the venue. I have always loved this band and every time I have seen them live they put on a great, very highly spirited rock n roll show, and this night was no different.
Shooting the Pussy Riot show was an experience. To say I was expecting an actual band to play, when the emcee of the night said we were minutes away from Pussy Riot hitting the stage and me only seeing a table at the back of the stage with a laptop on it I turned and asked Obi Wan “Where’s the drum kit?”
Let us just say I have a newfound enjoyment of electronic music after seeing this show. It was very hypnotic, sensual and angry all at the same time. It was a heightened crowd and ‘band’ as the show was the headliner show of the local Pride Festival. The major abortion ruling had just rippled through the nation earlier that day so hence my description of the anger I felt from the band but they used that to bring solidarity to the crowd and it was just a powerful evening in many ways.
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Def Leppard/Motley Crüe/Poison/Joan Jett at Wrigley Field was an out of this world show, trip, and experience. For the review I wrote as a fan in the stands I came up with what I consider as my best title ever with “Pour Some Shout at the Devil on Me”.
A shout out of appreciation to my boss for the tickets, as much as I thought Motley Crüe kicked ass, I, the Chief Metal Maiden and those around us were in agreement that Poison stole the show.
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Volunteering to photo the Girls Rock St. Pete end of camp concert was an unexplainable experience for the fact that some of these girls had never picked up an instrument before the Girls Rock camp started a week ago and here they were on stage performing to a packed courtyard at Jannus Live.
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Obi Wan and I each submitted hundreds of shots and the reception and pure gratitude we received in return has us both anxious to volunteer again and photo as much of next year’s camp as possible in addition to the finale concert. This is a great organization and there are chapters all over the country. Girls Rock!
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Lord Nikon, his wife and another friend did a road trip to see Tom Kiefer Band/LA Guns/Faster Pussycat at The Ranch in Fort Myers. It was a huge venue inside with a bar along the wall all the way around and a giant ‘dance’ floor in the middle as it was apparent from all of the signed guitars on the wall it was mostly a county music venue.
Conversation on the drive home included both how great the show was as well as how cool that venue was, how great the sound system there was and we all vowed to keep an eye on their event calendar.
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Anthrax/Black Label Society/Hatebreed – Before we even went into the show I was in the presence of the Holy Quartet of Jedi photographers (Joel, Steve, Mark, Lord Nikon). While I and several other photographers were not approved to photo Black Label Society somehow we all got to shoot the whole set, while we all had the normal three song limit for the opener and headliner).
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With the stage height only coming up to my waist at the House of Blues in Orlando, I got some of the best shots of any show I have ever photographed during their set (you should see the Holy Trinity’s collective jaw dropping shots – Lord Nikon did not photo).
It was a killer show and a fun, literal at the last minute road trip with Lord Nikon as I did not even get the approval that I was credentialed until 3:30 PM the day of the show and then had to make the trek from Tampa over to Orlando as doors opened at 6 PM. So worth it!
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More appreciation goes out to the Spicy Ginger as she invited Obi Wan and I to the Monsters on the Mountain festival. Over the three day period I saw twenty eight performances, did five meet and greet shoots and met one of the most interesting, friendly and personable guys ever.
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For simplicity and to protect the identities of the innocent, I will call him Sparky and let me just say, within a few minutes of getting in for a ride in his (I have free candy but I am not a serial killer stalker) van, meeting and chatting with him it was like we had been friends for decades. I cannot wait to hang with you again Sparky! It has been great to keep in touch with you and follow your cross country adventures.
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Obi Wan and I hope this festival returns to Gatlinburg again next year so we can put a day on either side of the festival to explore and photo the area. For this trip we didn’t arrive until after 2 AM the morning of the festival (Friday), each ‘worked’ almost forty hours and had an airport pick up at 5:15 AM on Monday. Such a fun trip and Sparky was only one of the new friends I met.
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Seeing Paradise Kitty and The Iron Maidens in Milwaukee was the record breaking show for the year and it was not even September yet. This was my twenty sixth show of the year, breaking my previous record attained in 2014.
The Maidens sounded awesome and even played the hardly ever performed live “Rime Of The Ancient Mariner” which clocks in at over thirteen minutes. The Kittens rocked the house and the whole night again solidly proves that Girls Rock!
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What I called and considered the Tour of Biblical Proportions, Testament/Exodus/Death Angel absolutely obliterated the ground in and around Jannus to where I witnessed a portal to Hell open up in the mosh pit.
Another people watching gold mine show, this was another show where I had to remind myself that I am not skilled enough to headbang and take (good) photos at the same time.
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Iron Maiden in Chicago was the longest wait in between ticket purchase date and the show date I have ever had to withstand (non-pandemic related or rescheduled). Ten months since the charge hit my credit card to the time the Chief Metal Maiden, two of our ‘Lake Bluff Bubble’ peeps and I entered the United Center for what was all three of their first time seeing this legendary band. To say it was an awesome show was an understatement.
The set list was pure brilliance, a great time was had by all in our group and I still had the local Tampa show to look forward to in two weeks.
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The Iron Maidens at OCC Roadhouse had the same people watching gold mine qualities as this venue always has. This time here my view was from side stage as we were allowed to photo the whole show from inside the crowd and the Maidens put on another stellar performance. They really mixed up the deep cuts of their set list from only a few weeks ago.
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Iron Maiden in Tampa I guess technically was a longer wait from ticket purchase to the show but you get the idea it was a long wait. This show was a reunion of three buds, Timbro, The Foz and it and was Timbro’s son’s first ever concert. We reminisced about how Timbro’s first concert was with The Foz and I back in 1987 (Motley Crüe and Guns n Roses).
The sound quality of this show was far better than in Chicago and to where I would say the best ever sounding show I had ever seen at that venue. Four of my last five shows were Iron Maiden related, and three of them were in October so instead of Rocktober I referred to it as Maiden Month. One other item to note was this show was the 139th and final performance of the ”Legacy of the Beast’ tour that started in 2019 and of course was pandemic delayed.
I had attended the opening night of the North American leg in Sunrise, FL in 2019 and got to close out this tour with a treasured, highly detailed, ‘Easter egg’ filled Iron Maiden event shirt commemorating the tour itself. Only time in my life I have ever bought four shirts at the same tour (three online, saving that hour long wait in the merch line) and for the one I got in Tampa, when I popped out quick during one of the songs and came home with fabric gold!
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Twist of the dial with a (mostly) reggae show in Virginia. While the trip also included a Lightning hockey game and some sightseeing, the chance to catch an out of town show was high on the list and much appreciated. The show was super chill with some extremely talented musicians. A nice change of musical pace. Definitely more reggae shows in my future.
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The Scott Stapp show was the other where I was not photo credentialed for but still was able to bring my camera. I had won tix for a section in front of the VIP section (SVIP – a new higher priced category I had not yet heard of) and this eventually got me on the rail up front. Scott still has his amazing voice, it was perfect weather for an outdoor show, and I got some great shots.
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Seeing W.A.S.P. in Orlando was the culmination of a teenage dream so many years ago to see them live. Life and their tour dates never matched up until this tour was announced and not quite as long of a wait as Iron Maiden, but we bought the tix back in January.
An epic road trip which finally introduced Lord Nikon to The Foz and the show was beyond epic in itself. This time I only have to wait a mere seven days to see them again!
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W.A.S.P. in Chicago may be the epic adventure of the year. Lord Nikon’s connections back home got us tickets to the sold out show on the first of the only back to back stops on their tour. Then prior to the Saturday show he and I both got to watch a bit of the W.A.S.P. sound check and also check out the Arcada Theatre.
He and I agreed that this was the coolest venue either of us had ever been to. Then we got to hang out for the Armored Saint sound check before returning to the venue a few hours later for the sold out show we originally bought tickets and planned the trip for. It was concert history for me as it was the first time I had seen the same band for three concerts in a row and my third time seeing W.A.S.P. within a week.
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Cannibal Corpse once again decimated and laid waste to Jannus and by far it was the darkest show I saw of the year as one of the opening bands literally had the crowd chanting “Hail Satan.”
There were dozens of people there proudly displaying their face corpse paint and upside down crosses on their foreheads. Thankfully this show was on a Saturday night so it was not too long before I could get to church and repent. I saw all four bands and did not understand a single word being sung. That is awesome!
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Jinjer was freaking amazing– I had never heard a band sound so good at Jannus. P.O.D. certainly has me as a new fan after hearing more beyond just their radio tunes. To say that Tatiana mesmerizes me is an understatement and my review of the show spawned this literary gem of me describing her on stage.
She transitions from that super sweet girl next door with a smile that will melt your soul to an alluring succubus that will rip your f*cking heart out just for the fun of it. I already yearn for my next Jinjer show.”
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I would say it is hard to put into words the experiences I have had this year, but here we are almost thirty three hundred words later. All I can say is wow! What an amazing year.
My favorite show of the year? It has to be seeing Metallica in Las Vegas. It is Metallica. It is Las Vegas. They finally hit double digits in my overall count. A promise was fulfilled to the Chief Metal Maiden for her to see them for her first time. The week leading up the show was a whirlwind tour of the city and part of the Grand Canyon. The show itself was absolutely awesome as those guys are still kicking ass.
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Months prior when I bought the tickets Ticketmaster received much ire from me as we should have had great seats, but one of the infamous Ticketmaster SNAFU errors put me back in the queue at the time of purchase. Still, it was freaking Metallica in Vegas and if tomorrow they scheduled another concert there I would find a way to make it!
Serious contenders for show of the year has to include Anthrax/Black Label Society/Hatebreed (for the photo experience I had). Both Iron Maiden shows (Tampa for the sound quality, but also for the band to put out what I think is their best ever event shirt). Def Leppard/Motley Crüe/Poison/Joan Jett (for the epicness of the whole trip, the venue and the show).
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Tom Kiefer Band/LA Guns/Faster Pussycat (for how fun the adventure was and how killer all three bands sounded) and the second day of Monsters of the Mountain which had me seeing a Ratt iteration for the first time since 1991 and Queensrÿche kicking ass. I could add in several more shows here – seriously, the whole year kicked ass.
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All three festivals I attended (two of them cruises) were the funnest times ever (I say that about every music cruise). Great people, great friends, great bands and great destinations. Good times.
My favorite newly discovered band is Nerd Halen, by far. I got to see two of their shows and I shot their meet and greet sessions on the Monsters of Rock Cruise and at Monsters on the Mountain.
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Their performances are musically so spot on accurate, entire Van Halen career spanning and with the mixed in comedic gold of lead singer Hal Sparks I was laughing my ass off and headbanging through both of their shows.
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Both of their shows left Obi Wan and me still talking about it days and weeks later, and they were months apart. After getting to spend some time with them in and around the meet and greet shoots I count them all as new friends and say that they are the nicest, most humble guys you could possibly meet.
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What a year. And 2023 is already looking pretty kick ass as at the time I conclude this I am booked on three more music cruises, have tickets to three shows and my friends and I always have eyes and ears out for announced tours.
To see my favorite concert photos of the year go here.
To see the list of shows and bands I saw in 2022 go here and start with show number 255.
The Stadium Tour Review from a Fan in the Stands by Randy Cook
Never in my life had it taken three years from the date of a concert announcement for the day of the show to finally arrive but that is where I find myself this July 8th morning. The “Stadium Tour” featuring co-headliners Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe with supporting acts Poison and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts was originally announced in 2019 to commence in 2020.
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Well, we all know the world as we knew it in 2019 came to an abrupt stand still in the Spring of 2020 with the arrival of the Covid pandemic. The tour dates were rescheduled to 2021 in the hope that some sort of normalcy would return by then, but alas the pandemic held on longer than any of us wanted. When the tour dates were rescheduled a second time to 2022 my initial thought was ‘Lord, please let this finally happen!’.
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I think rockers everywhere held their breath as the days got closer to the tour start and we all exhaled a sigh of relief once the first few shows on the tour actually happened. I was not able to attend the show closest to me in Orlando, but by my standing as the official/unofficial Chief Metal Officer of the company I work for, my boss was able to secure me two tickets to the show in Chicago.
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The day of the show finally arrives and I find myself sitting in a Lake Bluff, IL coffee shop awaiting the arrival of our company’s official/unofficial Chief Metal Maiden. Once she completes a half day of work we can figure out our best way to commute to Wrigley Field. There we will rejoice with over 40K of our rock-n-roll brethren and witness this concert that I have been so excited to see for over three years.
The moment of departure arrived and now came the difficult part especially for an out of towner. Even though the Maiden lives in the northern suburbs, rarely has she ever made the trip to the ballpark via the train. After calculating the trip from the Metra to the purple line, then over to the red line which would deposit us right next to Wrigley Field, I made the command decision to take the Metra to the closest stop to Wrigley and then Uber the rest of the way. Problem solved!
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With a stellar lineup of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Poison, Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe, by my math these four iconic bands have an astounding collective 172 years of rock-n-roll history behind them from each band’s origins. Let me say that again – 172 years of combined history. Never before had I seen a show with so much history involved. Maybe the Rolling Stones, but that would be only if you added up the band member’s age.
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Opening the show and hailing from literally all over the globe (Poland, Hawaii, Los Angeles, Argentina, and Dallas), Classless Act was on stage first and sadly because they played so close to the doors opening I do not think many people had the chance to really check them out beyond hearing them while in line at the merchandise tables, myself included.
I am certain their blend of tasty rock riffs were heard by thousands and from what I could hear this band certainly deserves more of my future attention. From the things I have heard from friends, it will not be long before Classless Act is doing a headline tour of their own. I was able to catch a few quick glimpses of them and they looked like they put on a lively set even though they were only allotted 20 minutes based on the set times I had seen for the day.
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As Joan Jett & The Blackhearts took the stage I would say the crowd was already maybe at like 60% of the capacity, not bad for being such an early start. This was my fifth time seeing her and her band. Every single show of hers I have seen is a walk down memory lane for me as her “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” release was the first ever musical purchase this young future Chief Metal Officer ever made on this earth.
Every song in her twelve song set list had people up from their seats and dancing in the isles (actually every band did!). As expected, with such an extensive discography to choose from, her set was mostly a greatest hits show and I was familiar with, pleased to hear and rocked out with every note she played.
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Up next were the masters of glam metal, Poison, and from the first note of their set it was obvious how badly these guys had wanted to get back playing in front of a live audience and did everything they could to show how much fun they were having on stage performing for us. It was my second time seeing Poison and as soon as the band started everyone was up in their seats and fists were in the air, horns too, as the band took us through a nine song set.
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The stands were I would say near 90% full by now and every song was a crowd favorite. The band’s acoustics were spot on which is hard to do in such a large stadium, they really sounded near crystal clear. Lead guitarist C.C. DeVille played a touching tribute of ‘Eruption’ and pointed to the heavens for Eddie Van Halen, and think every phone in the stadium was in the air when they played ‘Every Rose Has it’s Thorn’, their monster ballad that has lived on in all of its glory and agony all of these years.
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After a brief intermission, smoke machines near the stage and arranged around the baseball infield fired up this massive cloud just as news alerts flashed on the screens to announce the entry of the true bad boys of makeup and hair driven heavy metal. As Mötley Crüe hit the stage we were still obscured from that insane amount of smoke they poured in, but the sound was unmistakable that we had entered the ‘Wild Side’ to start off.
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Next up was an immediate walk down memory lane for me as the band blasted out ‘Shout at the Devil’ I went back in time to my second ever concert – seeing the Shout at the Devil tour in Tampa in 1984. This band and I have some history as this was my sixth time seeing them.
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While I am a huge fan of the band and they freaking sound as tight as ever, in my opinion lead singer Vince Neil has always struggled live when I have seen them and that is not a knock, but just something I have come to expect is all. And Mick Mars, the guy in such excruciating pain from his long time back issues, at age 71 is still out there just slaying on his guitar – I saw so many people playing air guitar to his solos.
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Every song of their fifteen song set list (which included a pretty kick ass medley as their discography has too many songs to try and fit into one show, so the medley was perfect, playing parts of ‘Smokin’ in the Boys Room’, ‘Helter Skelter’ and their cover of the Sex Pistols ‘Anarchy in the U.K.’).
The band sort of relies on a huge laser, smoke and light production but they don’t really need it. Scantily clad ladies dancing and singing backup vocals complete the visual spectacle on stage, but I think the show would kick just as much ass if they just went out there and rocked.
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With only Def Leppard left to play this evening, as the time grew closer a ten minute countdown began to display on the stage screens and in unison I think everyone in that stadium counted the seconds down till these British rockers tore into and started with two songs in a row off of their just released CD.
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I mentioned to the Maiden how bold of a move it is/was to start off their set with not just one, but two songs from the new album. While everyone was on their feet the moment that countdown hit zero and the music restarted, it was apparent not everyone was familiar with the newer material. Not like their monster hits which once they came along in the set you would have thought the crowd was singing louder than the production set up if that is even possible.
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This was my third time seeing the band and they never have disappointed live. I had read that for the nights when Def Leppard was the final act (the two headliners alternate closing the show each stop on the tour) that there was a mini exodus of people leaving after Mötley Crüe but that was not in evidence this evening.
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Plugged in rock gave way to a three song acoustic portion of their eighteen song set. Def Leppard opted not for the massive smoke and lasers, relying instead on letting their music do the talking with a very simple stage layout and as with the other bands I do not think there was a single person in their seat. The band sounded great and the Maiden and I were not alone in singing along with their anthemic hits.
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In conclusion, it was a stellar night of some rock-n-roll that is very close to my heart. These are the bands that I grew up listening to and following (hence mentioning my first musical purchase and second concert). While the peeps around us, the Maiden herself, and several of my friends who have seen earlier stops on this tour had the consensus that Poison stole the show, my favorite was seeing Mötley Crüe.
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Sure, their piped in smoke obscured the stage more than once, but their early releases are so ingrained in my musical roots that they are certainly near the top of my all-time favorite bands. I can say that every band this evening totally kicked ass and this concert is easily among my favorites I have ever seen. Do not hesitate if you are on the fence to see this show. If there is still a date scheduled near you I am certain you will have an incredible experience seeing this rock history laden tour!
Tesla, Joan Jett & Styx at the Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre
It was a hot Father’s Day Night on Sunday in Tampa but it wasn’t just because of the Florida summer heat. Styx with Joan Jett and Tesla brought their highly-anticipated tour to the Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre to a packed house and a very crowded lawn area.
Todd Sucherman and Ricky Phillips-Styx (Photo-Travis Failey)
Tesla opened the show promptly at 7 and got the crowd warmed up by playing most of their well known hits with a sound that separated them from most of the “80’s bands.” Yes, Tesla struggled during the grunge years, but they never completely faded out, as they consistently toured with other bands like Def Leppard. There was a short time when members went out and did their own projects or took a break, but even when there was a short hiatus, Tesla never completely disbanded.
Frank Hannon-Tesla (Photo-Travis Failey)
Tesla with a black and white “30 Years” backdrop and video screens behind them, opened with a surprising selection, “I Wanna Live” from their 6th studio release, Forever More. It caught me by surprise because if you weren’t a big Tesla fan, you weren’t familiar with the deep cut. The audience then got their vocal chords warmed up during “Hang Tough” and “Heaven’s Trail” as they joined vocalist Jeff Keith, not only during the chorus, but throughout both songs.
Jeff Keith-Tesla (Photo-Travis Failey)
Tesla then slowed it down a bit as guitarist Frank Hannon broke out the acoustic guitar during “What You Give” and arguably their biggest hit, “Love Song.” Tesla also performed two of their hit cover songs, “Signs” and “Little Suzi.” I never knew that “Little Suzi” was a cover, but the song was originally performed by the short-lived band PH.D in 1981.
Frank Hannon-Tesla (Photo-Travis Failey)
Hannon was amazing once again. When he wasn’t playing the acoustic guitar, his black Gibson was his axe for the evening, and he showcased his chops during the solo on their finale, “Modern Day Cowboy.” You may not hear his name mentioned in conversations like a Zakk Wylde or a Eddie Van Halen, but when you say Frank Hannon to other guitarists or musicians, you hear a lot of , “Hannon is one of my favorite players.”
Dave Rude, Brian Wheat & Frank Hannon-Tesla (Photo-Travis Failey)
After “Modern Day Cowboy,” Tesla walked off the stage and waved to their fans. A new album is scheduled to be released soon, and for the fans who wanted more, a headlining tour will soon follow.
Jeff Keith-Tesla (Photo-Travis Failey)
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts were up next as the sun set over the Amphitheatre. Joan Jett, a Class of 2015 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, wore black from neck to toe with silver stars, and played 16 songs. Of those 16 songs, they performed 8 cover songs with 5 of them being big radio hits for the band.
It was a no-frills kind of stage setup and show. Just Joan and the Blackhearts doing what they have done since 1979, which is playing kick-ass, punk-infused rock-n-roll.
The Blackhearts opened their set with “Bad Reputation,” which was recently used by Ronda Rousey as her UFC walk-up music. The Runaways classic, “Cherry Bomb” and Gary Glitter’s “Do You Wanna Touch (Oh Yeah),” got the crowd’s fist in the air and bodies dancing in the seats.
A familiar face then appeared on the video screens as segments from the Michael J. Fox movie “Light of Day” played. The Blackhearts played the title track that was originally written by Bruce Springsteen.
The energy in the crowd dropped off a bit and the show lost some momentum during “Fake Friends,” “Love is Pain” and “The French Song”, but Joan Jett and the Blackhearts saved the best for last.
After “Love is all Around,” the crowd was back with the jukebox hit, “I Love Rock and Roll” followed by “Crimson and Clover” than the self deprecating “I Hate MySelf for Loving You.” The band finished off their set with the Sly and the Family Stone classic, “Everyday People.” I heard some scuttlebutt in the crowd about Joan Jett’s set being too long, particularly for a Sunday Night show, as Styx wouldn’t hit the stage until after 9:30 pm.
Todd Sucherman-Styx (Photo-Travis Failey)
After a brief stage changeover, drummer Todd Sucherman led Styx out on stage while “Overture” played in the background. Styx started their set with “Gone Gone Gone” and then Tommy Shaw took over the lead vocal duties from Lawrence Gowan on the 80’s rock classic, “Blue Collar Man.” After the bombastic “Grand Illusion,” Gowan showcased his skills on the piano and lead vocals during the rock ballad, “Lady.”
James Young and Ricky Phillips-Styx (Photo-Travis Failey)
The party-like atmosphere continued with “Rocking in Paradise” as Gowan sported a top hat and guitarist Tommy Shaw and bassist Ricky Phillips ran all over the multi-leveled stage. Styx also used the huge video screens which incorporated different lighting schemes and backdrops for each song.
Tommy Shaw asked the crowd how many newbies were in the crowd, and surprisingly, there were a bunch of hands in the air. Shaw then talked about their recent release “The Mission” being the band’s 6th concept album, and then played 2 songs from it, “Radio Silence” and “The Outpost.”
James Young-Styx (Photo-Travis Failey)
Sandwiched between the two new songs, guitarist James “JY” Young took center stage during one of the heavier songs of the night, “Miss America.” Switching between Gowan, Shaw, and Young on lead vocals kept the crowd fired up all night, and Styx’s performance never achieved stale status.
Lawrence Gowan-Styx (Photo-Travis Failey)
After “Come Sail Away,” Styx took a brief break then surprised the crowd once again by playing “Mr. Roboto” from the 1983 release Killroy Was Here. Styx has been playing “Mr. Roboto” in its entirety on this tour for the first time in 35 years. Shiny metal robot heads flashed all over the video backdrops as the crowd joined in the song’s chorus, singing “Domo Arigato,” which means thank you in Japanese.
Tommy Shaw-Styx (Photo-Travis Failey)
As some of the crowd dispersed into the parking lot, Styx closed their 16 song set with Tommy Shaw on vocals during their biggest hard rock hit, “Renegade.” The song was a perfect track to end their show and has been the finale in Styx’s set for years.
As the lights came back on and we walked through the crowd, I heard a bunch “thank-yous” from some of the men to their wives and kids. It seems that Styx, Joan Jett and Tesla not only put on a great show, but the show also served as a perfect Father’s Day gift of Rock and Roll for a few lucky fathers in Tampa Bay.
For additional tour dates:
http://styxworld.com/tour
Additional Show Picture by Travis Failey
Ricky Phillips-Styx (Photo-Travis Failey)
Dave Rude-Tesla (Photo-Travis Failey)
James “JY” Young-Styx (Photo-Travis Failey)
Lawrence Gowan-Styx (Photo-Travis Failey)
Tommy Shaw-Styx (Photo-Travis Failey)
Brian Wheat-Tesla (Photo-Travis Failey)
Frank Hannon-Tesla (Photo-Travis Failey)
James Young & Tommy Shaw-Styx (Photo-Travis Failey)
With over 10 million albums sold, 15 Grammy nominations, and pupils such as Kevin Cadogan, Steve Vai, and Kirk Hammett, it’s safe to say Joe Satriani not only is an amazing musician, but he knows talent when he sees it. Accompanied by John Petrucci and Phil Collen on the US leg of the G3 tour, these three guitar legends tolled into Saint Petersburg, FL on the 3rd of February.
While in the eyes of many, the Mahaffey Theatre is a venue to take in plays, or more ‘classical’ forms of music, these three shredded their way through a three and a half hour show cranked up to 11.
With Phil Collen (of DefLepperd) taking the opening slot, this show was kicking off with a lot of promise. Chipping away at the chords as if they were kindling, and accompanied by some of his bandmates from Delta Deep, including Debbie Blackwell-Cook, they blistered through a half hour set. This set was nothing more than an appetizer of what was to come. Very limited actual singing, just face melting chords, that left the crowd simply mesmerized.
John Petrucci is literally a legend in his own right. A graduate of the Berkley School of Music, he is also one of the few guitarists to utilize a seven sting guitar as his average axe. To say he takes full advantage of the seventh string would be the understatement of the century.
With some of the fastest picking fingers in music today, an ear for rhythm and arrangement John brings a taste of the riffs of the 80’s back to life. Accompanied by some of his bandmates from Dream Theater including drummer Mike Mangini, John showcased why he has been asked to join G3 almost every tour. Highlights from his set included the main theme from Hans Zimmer’s “Wonder Woman” and “Jaws of Life”
What can I say about Joe Satriani? This is a man who regularly picks his guitar strings with his teeth. A man who is considered to have a PhD in “Whammy Barology”. Suffice to say, when it comes to playing the guitar, Joe is the textbook definition of ‘the man’.
With keyboardist/guitarist Mike Kenneally, bassist Brian Beller and drummer Joe Travers backing him up and keeping up with his jaw dropping tempo changes and riffs, this set left no stone in the jamming spectrum unturned. Going from speed metal to simple melodies, this set completed everything you could expect to end the evening.
The set included 6 songs from Joe’s new release What Happens Next and was closed with 2 fan favorites and classics in “Always With Me, Always With You” and “Summer Song”
But wait! There’s more!! Rolling almost seamlessly right into the full G3 jam session, Joe and his band were rejoined by John, Phil, and Debbie. With the entire audience on their feet the whole time, they played back and forth, while utilizing the incredibly broad vocal range from Debbie.
These three covered a broad spectrum of tastes while keeping up with one another. Yet the most sensational part would be a rendition of ‘Superstitious’ that lasted well over 10 minutes. For such a variety of playing styles and musical backgrounds, they play together like a well-oiled machine. If you only decide to see one tour this year, this would easily be in my top 5 choices. It’s truly hard to beat this type of musical variety, and quality of entertainment on one ticket.
Jonny Hawkins-Nothing More ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Were you ready to rock? Because tens of thousands of fans got their rock on at this year’s 5th Annual Fort Rock music festival on April 29th and 30th, at JetBlue Park. The event was produced by Danny Wimmer Presents and AEG Live, and is part of the World’s Loudest Month Festival Series. This year’s sponsors included: Monster Energy, Bud Light, Southern Hospitality Concessions, FYE, and Jakprints.
( Photo-Travis Failey )
The weather was both beautiful and brutal all weekend. Both Saturday and Sunday saw temperatures into the mid 90’s, mostly sunny skies, with a killer breeze keeping things tolerable. It also helped that security was spraying the crowd (and the photographers) with the hose during the heat of the day. I gotta say that security, D.A.K., did a fantastic job keeping the crowd safe and were there to catch every crowd-surfer, no matter what their size.
( Photo-Travis Failey )
This year’s lineup featured bands spanning from the 1980s to the present. There was something for everyone this year, and the crowd contained a good number of Gen Xers and Millennials and Generation Zers, a/k/a teenagers. Despite the heat, many in the crowd proudly wore their favorite black t-shirts, and because of the heat, many in the crowd wore their bikini tops. People were scattered throughout the park, lounging on blankets, relaxing in the VIP tents.
This year’s festivities again included the huge misting fans in the VIP tents and in the shaded area in the back of the park. There were food offerings for everyone from Vegetable Noodles to Elephant Ears. The beer was flowing and the water was cold.
Shaun Morgan – Seether ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Unlike previous years, this year’s festival had an impressive crowd by 12:30 pm. JetBlue Park was set up with two stages, each right next to the other. This was a great set up for the fans and the media. One band played on the right stage, while the next band set up their gear on the left stage. So obviously, this meant that there were no set time overlaps. I think that this is important because I don’t think that anyone should have to choose between bands.
( Photo-Travis Failey )
Because if you did have to choose, you would most likely pick the band you already like/know. But I love these festivals because some of the most memorable sets were performed by bands that I have never seen play before, and I might not even know one song from them. This year’s lineup was so diverse (genre-wise), you couldn’t help but be introduced to at least one new band.
Caleb Shomo – Beartooth ( Photo-Travis Failey )
After Felicity and Cover Your Tracks opened Saturday’s festivities, Beartooth’s Caleb Shomo took the stage at 1:30 and ordered the crowd to “Push the aggression out!” Shomo has been named one of Alternate Press’ Best Screamers in Modern Metalcore, (2nd actually) and he didn’t disappoint on Saturday. Beartooth also showcased powerful backup vocals by Taylor Lumley and Kamron Bradury. Beartooth ended the set with its current hit, “Hated,” and with that, Saturday was off and running.
Chris Motionless – Motionless in White ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Motionless in White burst out on stage with their 2013 hit, “A-M-E-R-I-C-A” and followed that up with their new release, “Loud (Fuck It)” from Motionless’ fourth album, Graveyard Shift. This was a great strategy because it really got the crowd pumped up during the brutal 2 pm Florida sun.
( Photo-Travis Failey )
Devin ‘Ghost” Sola broke out a new costume like he does every tour and self-proclaimed “White Boy,” Chris Motionless, professed his love for the Florida sun all while keeping the adrenaline pumped up for the next band, Nothing More.
Devon “Ghost” Sola – MIW ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Nothing More took the stage and opened with their hit “This Is the Time.” They showcased a new one-of-a-kind drum riser/mic stand for singer Jonny Hawkins, and treated the crowd to a new song, “Ripping Me Apart.”
Jonny Hawkins-Nothing More ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Nothing More has spent the last few months in the studio recording, and I can’t wait to see what their next album will bring. Jonny and guys closed with “Salem” and as the crowd screamed “Burn the Witch!” we looked out over the massive audience, and WOW! What a huge contrast from their sparsely attended performance at Welcome to Rockville back in 2014.
Mark Vollelunga – Nothing More ( Photo-Travis Failey )
In this Moment and Maria Brink have been touring non-stop for the last few years and are veterans of the World Loudest Month Festival scene. They brought all the bells, whistles and … well, knives again this year.
In This Moment ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Even though it was a shortened set, it was a strong set featuring “Blood,” “Black Widow,” and “Whore,” providing the Fort Rock fans with a memorable daytime performance by In This Moment.
Randy Weitzel – In This Moment ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Travis Johnson – In This Moment ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Of Mice & Men inspired the appearance of beach balls and the Fort Rock crowd was introduced to their new singer, Aaron Pauley. Pauley replaced Austin Carlisle who was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome and is now living in Costa Rica.
Aaron Pauley – Of Mice & Men( Photo-Travis Failey )
Of Mice and Men’s dual axe-attack was in full effect as guitarists Alan Ashby and Phil Manansala traded off leads during “Bones Exposed,” “Real,” and their most recent single, “Pain,” off their 4th studio album, Cold World.
Alan Ashby – Of Mice & Men ( Photo-Travis Failey )
There was a buzz backstage and in the crowd for the next band who absolutely crushed the Rockville stage in 2014. Alter Bridge, out of Orlando, formed after Creed disbanded, shredded through their set which featured hits “Addicted to Pain,” “Isolation,” and their most recent single, “Show Me a Leader,” from 2016’s the Last Hero release.
Myles Kennedy – Alter Bridge ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Myles Kennedy once again proved that he is one of the best singers in the industry and that what you hear in the studio is what you hear during a live performance, which is rare these days.
Brian & Myles – Alter Bridge ( Photo-Travis Failey )
The evening finally began to cool down and with sundown looming; the hitmakers portion of Saturday’s Fort Rock lineup was at hand.
Matt Walst – Three Days Grace ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Three Days Grace opened it up, and former lead singer of My Darkest Days, Matt Walst, really killed it. Every song of Three Days Grace’s 10 song set was a radio hit. The crowd sang with Walst throughout, and he is fronting Three Days Grace as if he was there from the jump.
Matt Walst – Three Days Grace ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Despite the 90 degree temperatures, Walst came out in a leather jacket and engaged the fans during “I am Machine,” “Animal,” & “Chalk Outline.” Walst got a lucky break in the music industry by landing with a monster band and he is taking advantage of it. His talent is shining through with his brother Brad sharing the stage with him.
Three Days Grace ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Seether started the show 5 minutes early, which pretty much never happens in rock and roll, and opened with “Gasoline.” About ten minutes into the set, a full set of lights toppled over on to the stage, nearly crushing their guest lead guitarist, Clint Lowery, from Sevendust! Luckily tragedy was averted, and honestly, the seasoned band didn’t even miss a beat.
Clint Lowery – Seether ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Backstage crew tries to pick up the fallen light rig ( Photo-Travis Failey )
This was Seether’s first stop on their new tour, promoting their upcoming album, Poison the Parish, which comes out on May 12th. Even though Seether doesn’t put on an extravagant stage show, the band’s talent more than makes up for it.
Shaun Morgan – Seether ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Just like Three Days Grace, every song that Seether played was a radio hit and had the crowd singing in perfect harmony throughout its impressive 10 song set that included “Fake It,” “Words as Weapons,” and concluded with Seether’s latest release, “Let You Down.”
Jacoby Shaddix-Papa Roach ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Saturday was the third time that veteran rockers, Papa Roach, graced the Fort Rock stage. Papa Roach was in a perfect time slot as the sun started to set. Again, Papa Roach killed it with a hit-filled set, but a personal highlight of Papa Roach’s set was seeing Maria Brink come on the stage to join Jacoby Shaddix to perform their 2015 collaboration, “Gravity.“
Jacoby Shaddix-Papa Roach ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Speaking of Shaddix, he is a fireball of energy every time he hits the stage. Other mentionable highlights from Papa Roach’s set included “Scars,””Last Resort,” and “Getting away with Murder.”
Pete Loeffler – Chevelle ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Chevelle was up next and their spot in the lineup, preceding the headliner, Def Leppard, was somewhat surprising to me. But once they started playing, I remembered how many hits Chevelle had! Chevelle had the first light show of the day, and it did not disappoint.
Pete Loeffler – Chevelle ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Sam Loeffler – Chevelle ( Photo-Travis Failey )
( Photo-Travis Failey )
Def Leppard had the honor to close out Saturday’s lineup. In talking to several people, I found that there were contrasting opinions regarding Def Leppard being the headliner on Saturday as the day’s previous bands had recent releases, and Def Leppard hasn’t really been active since the late 1980’s/early 1990’s. In any event, it was a sharp contrast to last year’s closers, Shinedown and Disturbed.
( Photo-Travis Failey )
Def Leppard opened with “Let Go” then “Animal” from Hysteria. Their next song, “Dangerous,” from their self-titled new release, was a surprising choice. Joe Elliot thanked the crowd for listening to the new song while acknowledging that most festival crowds just want to hear the hits and promised that they would provide the crowd with the hits for the rest of their set.
( Photo-Travis Failey )
A notable highlight from Def Leppard’s set was the phenomenal guitar playing by Phil Collen. In my opinion, Collen has been an underrated guitarist. I hope that Cullen will get the recognition that he deserves as he participates in the next version of G4 with Joe Satriani.
Def Leppard played 17 songs and finished Day One of Fort Rock with two classics from Pyromania, “Rock of Ages” and “Photograph.”
Jonny Hawkins-Nothing More ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Saturday’s Fort Rock experience included a high dose of modern rock with a dash of the 80’s. How would Sunday’s lineup match up with Saturdays? You’ll just have to stay tuned for Part 2 of our coverage from Fort Rock.
Maria Brink – In This Moment ( Photo-Travis Failey )
( Photo-Travis Failey )
Mark Tremonti – Alter Bridge ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Dale Stewart – Seether ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Ben Anderson – Nothing More ( Photo-Travis Failey )
Phil Manasalsa-Of Mice & Men ( Photo- Travis Failey )
Valentino Arteaga – Of Mice & Men ( Photo- Travis Failey )
Get ready to rock: Fort Rock that is! The festival is back for its 5th year, 2nd as a two-day event. It’s produced by Danny Wimmer Presents and AEG Live, and is part of the World’s Loudest Month festival series.
Fort Rock is South Florida’s Biggest Rock Festival and will take place on April 29th and 30th, at JetBlue Park, located at 11500 Fenway S. Drive, Fort Myers, Florida. Jacksonville’s sister festival, Welcome to Rockville, takes place the same weekend. It’s an all-ages event. Rain or shine, monsoon, whatever. Doors open at 11:00 am, and there is no reentry.
Myles Kennedy-Alter Bridge (Photo-Travis Failey)
“We can’t wait to party and kick off the World’s Loudest Month by celebrating five years in South Florida at JetBlue Park this April,” said Clay Busch, Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships for festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents.
This year’s lineup has something for everyone with a band that was huge in the 80’s, Def Leppard headlining Saturday Night and a rejuvenated Soundgarden headlining on Sunday.
Def Leppard has been touring consistently over the last few years and their stop in Tampa last year proved that they still have what it takes. A much maligned Joe Elliot was great on vocals and the show was a party full of hits from both the past and present.
(Photo-Travis Failey)
Chevelle is going out in support of their new release The North Corridor and Fort Rock will be their second stop of the tour which will span the U.S. from Florida to Oregon. The Chicago-based band has sold over4 million albums and they are looking to equal the success of their last release, La Gorgola, which hit number one on the rock charts.
In This Moment (Photo-Travis Failey)
Papa Roach, are back at Fort Rock to perform their catalog of hits spanning 20 plus years of playing together. Vocalist Jacoby Shaddix is a powerhouse on stage and whether you love the band or not, Shaddix gives the crowd a great performance every time out.
Jacoby Shaddix-Papa Roach (Photo-Travis Failey)
Other bands performing on “Non-Stop Saturday” include The World’s Loudest Month veterans and hitmakers, Alter Bridge, Seether, Three Days Grace, In this Moment, Motionless in White and San Antonio’s Nothing More.
Nothing More will be back out on the festival circuit after being in the studio working on their much-anticipated follow-up to their breakout self-titled release. Can these guys keep up the momentum that they have gained since opening for Adrenaline Mob a few years back and their epic performance at Aftershock? Let’s hope so as they are a great group of humble guys.
Jonny Hawkins-Nothing More (Photo-Travis Failey)
Beartooth formed in 2012 from could be the breakout band of this year’s festival season. The Ohio natives have been getting some great feedback and airplay on Sirius/XM Octane with the single “Hated” and after opening for Slipknot and Suicidal, it’s their time to take a bite out of the industry.
Cover Your Tracks gets the opening slot on Saturday looking to get the early crowd geared up for a Monster Energy weekend of music at Jet Blue Park in Fort Myers.
Shawn Morgan-Seether (Photo-Travis Failey)
Sunday’s artists will provide diverse genres of music at the two stages at Fort Rock as elements of punk, grunge, alternative, progressive and metal will be represented.
Soundgarden will headline Sunday and they will have a tough act to follow as there is a huge buzz about the upcoming festival appearances of Maynard and the guys in A Perfect Circle. The band has stated that they have been working on new material and could tour with a new release, but with the recent Tool dates being announced, the band could be in for another long hiatus after this 22 tour dates run that starts on April 6th in Vegas ends on May 7th in Los Angeles.
Other bands on the Sunday schedule include past performers at Fort Rock, The Offspring, The Pretty Reckless and the spacemen themselves, Starset.
Taylor Momsen-The Pretty Reckless (Photo-Travis Failey)
Some of the festival’s virgins on Sunday’s schedule are The Eagles of Death Metal, Mastodon and the anticipated performance of Highly Suspect. Highly Suspect has been all over the rock and alternative charts and were nominated for back to back Grammys: Best Album in 2015 for Mister Asylum, and in 2016 Best Song for “My Name is Human.”
On Sunday, the day crowd will experience a more aggressive style of music, as In Flames and All That Remains will be providing plenty of music to mosh to. Last year the Anthrax and Megadeth pits were huge and I think this year’s bands will give those pits a run for their money and we may even see a “Wall of Death.”
(Photo-Travis Failey)
Mastodon will be providing a style all their own. Bassist, Troy Sanders summed it up when he stated that Mastodon’s music has progressive rock, with bits and pieces of thrash and punk, plus psychedelic-ness sprinkled throughout.
Troy Sanders-Mastodon (Photo-Travis Failey)
Rounding out the lineup are the Eagles of Death Metal, (who do not play death metal), English alternative artists Dinosaur Pile-Up and Goodbye June. I anticipate that Goodbye June is going to impress everyone who makes it out to see their early set on Sunday, just like Red Sun Rising did last year.
Brian Marshall & Mark Tremonti-Alter Bridge (Photo-Travis Failey)
Miles Kennedy from Alter Bridge: “We’re stoked to be kicking off the World’s Loudest Month at Fort Rock with Alter Bridge. It’s gonna be epic so don’t miss it!”
“We are thrilled to return to Fort Rock,” The Offspring singer, Dexter Holland, said in a December 2016 press release. “Florida crowds are some of the best in the world!”
All ticket sales include a $.25 charity fee that will benefit a local music-related charity. Personal lockers will be available. Multiple ATMs will be available inside the venue. The venue is handicap accessible.
Barry Stock-Three Days Grace (Photo-Travis Failey)
Things you can’t bring in: Coolers, outside food/beverages, video cameras, Go Pros, audio recording devices, laser pointers, laptops, drones, chairs, umbrellas, beach balls, backpacks, bags, weapons, drugs, pets, chains, or spikes (got all that?) Here’s morehttp://fortrockfestival.com/info/#faq
Do bring: Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, cell phones, binoculars, earplugs, blankets/towels, small purse or hand-held clutch, small/medium sized clear plastic bag, one-gallon re-sealable zip top bag, and a clear or mesh drawstring bag.
(Photo-Travis Failey)
Some personal suggestions from a seasoned veteran: Get yourself a cool towel like this kind from amazon or Wal-Mart.
Another suggestion is to bring an extra shirt and socks. You will sweat a ton and a change of clothes will be refreshing. I would definitely suggest a locker. http://fortrockfestival.com/info/#lockers
There will be great food available, even healthy options, and of course Budweiser and Monster Energy Drinks. Other sponsors for the event are Southern Hospitality Concessions, FYE, and Jakprints and the security guys are the best at what they do to keep you safe.
We hope that you can join us for another amazing weekend full of music at the 5th Annual Monster Energy Fort Rock Festival. It’s a festival that you won’t soon forget.
