Live-Metal.Net - Concert Reports - Rock on the Range 2010

Rock on the Range live photo galleries:
Day 1: May 22, 2010
Day 2: May 23, 2010

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Monster Stage:
GODSMACK, THREE DAYS GRACE, RISE AGAINST, DEFTONES, PAPA ROACH, PUDDLE OF MUDD, DROWNING POOL, SEVENDUST

Kicker Stage:
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, SKILLET, HALESTORM, ADELITA'S WAY, VIOLENT SOHO, RICHY NIX

Jagermeister Stage:
HELMET, NONPOINT, JANUS, TADDY PORTER, LIKE A STORM

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Monster Stage:
LIMP BIZKIT, ROB ZOMBIE, SEETHER, SLASH, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, APOCALYPTICA

Kicker Stage:
MASTODON, COHEED AND CAMBRIA, ANBERLIN, CIRCA SURVIVE, AIRBOURNE, SHAMAN'S HARVEST

Jagermeister Stage:
MUSHROOMHEAD, TAPROOT, YEAR LONG DISASTER, NOISE AUCTION, STATE YOUR CAUSE

Rock, rock on the range
Where the hard rock and metal bands play
Where often is heard a very vulgar word
And the skies are cloudy some of the day

I have yet to figure out why this two-day rock extravaganza is called Rock on the Range or how one of the United States’ biggest annual events in rock music ended up at Crew Stadium, the home of a professional soccer team, in Columbus, Ohio. But with its fourth year now in the books, Rock on the Range is firmly established THE place for hard rock fans to assemble in late May. Two days, three stages, 38 bands, 30,000-plus people (each day) to take it all in—it all added up to one unforgettable weekend.

As festivals go, this one was incredibly well run, with the bands (except for Sunday’s headliner, Limp Bizkit, which went on 20 minutes late) starting on time and fans who were rowdy at the right spots and times but otherwise polite and respectful of their fellow concert-goers. Set times at the two side stages were staggered with the main stage, making it possible to watch an act on the Monster Stage, venture outside to either the Kicker or Jagermeister Stage, take in another band’s full set, then head back inside the stadium without missing anyone on the main stage. Vendors offering beer, soda and—most importantly—water were stationed throughout the complex and wandering inside and out of the venue, giving everyone ample opportunity to stay hydrated and/or intoxicated.

Sponsors such as FYE (which hosted autograph signings by most of the bands), Monster, Kicker, Harley Davidson and Jagermeister were onsite with tents and trailers, providing a place to go if you needed a break from the bands.

Of course, the music was what it was all about, with Saturday’s headliner Godsmack showing everyone how the big boys do it and Slash stealing the show with a career-spanning set on day two. Here are some of my observations.

• It had been nearly four years since I had seen Godsmack live, and I had almost forgotten what a great live band they are. They don’t seem to get much respect from either critics or metal fans, but they are one of the few bands left that puts on a real show. Songs from their new album, “The Oracle,” especially the instrumental title track, went over extremely well, and, as always, the drum battle between Sully Erna and Shannon Larkin was a highlight.

• Three Days Grace was one of the surprises for me. I have never paid much attention to them, but I found I knew almost every song they played. There is some comfort in that in a festival setting, and their performance rocked a little harder than I expected.

• The rise of Rise Against has eluded me somehow, so I don’t know how they got such a prominent billing.

• As expected, Killswitch Engage gave a callout to Ronnie James Dio before playing their set-closing cover of “Holy Diver.” Also, frontman Howard Jones, only recently returned to the band after sitting out most of the last tour for personal reasons, hasn’t missed a beat.

• I just don’t get the Deftones. I’ve tried. I really have. I’ve listened to everyone—especially members of other bands—talk about how great they are, but I don’t see it. Zero stage presence. A complete bore.

• Page Hamilton from Helmet just turned 50?!

• Papa Roach doesn’t do anything for me on the radio, but they always impress in a live setting.

• Nice to see such a big crowd at the Kicker Stage for Halestorm.

• Puddle of Mudd covered “T.N.T.” by AC/DC. Not a good sign, however, when a cover is the most memorable part of your set.

• Drowning Pool has come into its own with singer Ryan McCombs. Dave Williams’s ghost will always follow the band, but they’re finally moving forward musically in a good way.

• Question: How do you fire up a crowd early in the afternoon? Answer: Have Sevendust open the main stage.

• Judging from his elaborate makeup and stage clothes, Wes Borland must be more bored than ever with Limp Bizkit’s music. Fred Durst didn’t seem too excited about it either.

• Rob Zombie brought his full stage show, including robots. “Zombie no like the sun,” he said, and fortunately it finally started to set while he was on, providing needed relief from Sunday’s heat.

• Every song Seether played was a hit single.

• Mastodon: Another band I keep hearing is great but I don’t get much from.

• Slash still has it. And so does singer Myles Kennedy, who pulled off songs by Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver, and from Slash’s new solo album. A fun set, and I hope to catch Slash on a headlining tour sometime soon.

• The Jagermeister Stage was the place to be when Ohio’s own Mushroomhead went on. I can’t say I remember much of their music, but their show—complete with masks, makeup and water-filled drums—was insane.

• Bullet for My Valentine is officially a big name in heavy music. They flat-out rocked the Monster Stage.

• Like Bullet, Five Finger Death Punch is a rising force in metal, and they delivered the most intense set of the weekend. Frontman Ivan Moody implored the fans and security to get along and berated individual members of the event staff who did not follow his direction.

• Is there a band out there that’s more fun than Airbourne?

• There’s always room for cello. This probably was not the best setting for Apocalyptica, but I’ll take their version of “I Don’t Care” over the one Three Days Grace played a day earlier.

SEVENDUST: Splinter, Black, Driven, Pieces, Denial, Unraveling, Praise, Face to Face

DROWNING POOL: Enemy, Sinner, 37 Stitches, Feel Like I Do, Regret, Tear Away, Bodies

HALESTORM: It’s Not You, What Were You Expecting?, Dirty Work, Familiar Taste of Poison, drums, Nothing to Do with Love, I Get Off

GODSMACK: Awake, Straight Out of Line, Realign, War and Peace, The Enemy, Bad Religion, The Oracle, Cryin’ Like a Bitch, Keep Away, Speak, Voodoo, Batalla de los Tambores, (encore) Whatever, I Stand Alone

AIRBOURNE: Stand Up for Rock ‘N’ Roll, Chewin’ the Fat, Girls in Black, Cheap Wine & Cheaper Women, No Way But the Hard Way, Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast, Runnin’ Wild

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH: Burn It Down, Salvation, Hard to See, No One Gets Left Behind, Bad Company, Dying Breed, The Bleeding

SLASH: Dirty Little Thing, Ghost, Nightrain, Sucker Train Blues, Starlight, Back from Cali , Sweet Child o’ Mine, By the Sword, Slither, Paradise City

SEETHER: Gasoline, Fine Again, Needles, Broken, Careless Whisper, Rise Above This, Fake It, Remedy

ROB ZOMBIE: What Lurks on Channel X?, Superbeast, Scum of the Earth, Living Dead Girl, More Human Than Human, Never Gonna Stop, Mars Needs Women, House of 1,000 Corpses, Sick Bubble-Gum, Thunder Kiss ’65, (encore) Dragula