The sixth annual Rock on the Range, which I now believe is the biggest pure rock festival in America, took place in Columbus, Ohio, this past weekend. This is the second year that that festival opened up on a Friday. There were a few tribute bands and the up and coming Foxy Shazam.
On Saturday, we had the opportunity to talk with some of the artists. You can expect interviews from members of Saturday’s headliner Incubus, Rival Sons, a member from Shinedown and Five Finger Death Punch as well. We were also able to photograph the main stage acts (minus Adelitas Way), including Halestorm, Theory of a Deadman, Chevelle, Slash, Five Finger Death Punch, Shinedown, and Incubus. We covered the Jagermeister Stage earlier in the day as well.
Five Finger Death Punch was the band who grabbed the headlines from Saturday’s bands as the security was doubled and photographers were escorted out after two songs because of safety concerns due to the insane amount of crowd surfing. The energy and the overall quality of the band’s performance is what fans were raving about shortly after their set. Vocalist Ivan Moody played to the crowd by announcing that they “doubled the security for us” and then asked the individuals in the crowd to shake the persons hand next to them. This was to show fan unity and that it’s not all rough and tumble when the band performs.
Halestorm’s following seems to be growing and growing as they were first time performers on the main stage. Incubus’ first appearance ever at Rock on the Range went over extremely well as they were the perfect fit to close day two (2) of this year’s Rock on the Range festivities. With Brandon Boyd’s vocals and the ever so steady and underrated guitar playing of Mike Einziger, I was extremely impressed by the passion and sound that came from the band’s hour and 15 minute set.
During the third and last day, we concentrated on checking out as many bands as we possibly could. Our day included covering the following main stage artists: Escape the Fate, The Darkness, Volbeat, Mastodon, Megadeth, Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie. We also checked out FYE Stage artist Down and Jagermeister Stage artists Eve to Adam, Soil, James Durbin and Lacuna Coil. Both Rob Zombie and Lacuna Coil also had to have photographers escorted away after just two songs because of the amount of crowd surfing that was going on.
I must admit, I didn’t know what to expect from The Darkness. The recently reunited band with brothers Justin and Dan Hawkins along with drummer Ed Graham and bassist Frankie Poullain gave the US crowd an amazing spectacle for sure. They were one of the highlights of the entire weekend’s list of performers. Phil Anselmo led Down through a powerful set which included a tribute to Dimebag Darrell with a song called “Lifer.” Marilyn Manson started his performance while it was still daylight, which seemed odd, just like him and his performance. So it all went to plan perhaps for Marilyn, as he kept stating during his set, “Ohio’s favorite son!” Rob zombie closed the festival with almost exactly the same show as when he appeared back in 2010.
This year’s lineup has been stronger than years past and I think the attendance and overall reaction from fans attests to that fact. Another well run year from all the ladies at AEG and both publicists who were in charge of the media outlets. I, personally, also liked the way they made more room at the Monster Energy Stage and hope they do that with the FYE stage, if possible, for next year.
Shinedown Set List:
Sound of Madness
Diamond Eyes (Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom)
Enemies
If You Only Knew
Nowhere Kids
The Crow and the Butterfly
Unity
Devour
45
Bully
Simple Man (Lynyrd Skynyrd cover)
Second Chance
Fly From the Inside
Incubus Set List:
Privilege
Megalomaniac
Adolescents
Pardon Me
Anna Molly
Are You In?
Circles
In the Company of Wolves
Drive
Consequence
Nice to Know You
Switchblade
Wish You Were Here
Sick Sad Little World
Marilyn Manson Setlist:
Hey, Cruel World…
Disposable Teens
The Love Song
No Reflection
mOBSCENE
The Dope Show
Rock Is Dead
Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode cover)
Tourniquet
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)(Eurythmics cover)
Antichrist Superstar
The Beautiful People
Rob Zombie Setlist:
Jesus Frankenstein
Superbeast
Scum of the Earth
Living Dead Girl
More Human Than Human(White Zombie cover)
Drum Solo
Never Gonna Stop (The Red, Red Kroovy)
Sick Bubble-Gum
Demonoid Phenomenon
Mars Needs Women
Pussy Liquor
Thunder Kiss ’65 (White Zombie cover)
Star Spangled Banner Guitar Solo
Dragula
We would like to thank Kirstyn Schwartz and Chamie McCurry from AEG, Marcee Rondan from MSOPR and Kristine Ashton-Magnuson from Ashton-Magnuson Media for allowing BackstageAxxess to review the show.
