Taking a break from writing about soccer, TheCrew.com's Cody Sharrett is diving into Rock on the Range this weekend at Crew Stadium. Keep checking back for up-to-the-minute posts at ROTR from our Insider.
DAY ONE LIVE BLOG/DAY TWO LIVE BLOG
11:02 P.M. - MONSTER Energy Main Stage
Rock on the Range 2013 has officially come to a close!
I'll admit: I'm a nerd and I look up set lists before I go to concerts, and I was glad to see Soundgarden switches things up with every show. A full recap will be up shortly.
Also, Matt Cameron is a beast. Can't believe one man is the backbone of two great bands.
Overall, I was impressed with everyone I was able to see on the main stage today. Thanks to everyone who followed along this weekend!
9:57 P.M. - MONSTER Energy Main Stage
Almost 30 minutes into Soundgarden's set and a good crowd is still on hand here at Crew Stadium for ROTR's Sunday show. Monday might be a slow business day in Columbus.
8:55 P.M. - MONSTER Energy Main Stage
I don't think its fair to lump Alice In Chains in with the early 1990s grunge movement. Sure, they were from Seattle, wore flannel and hit mainstream airwaves at the same time as Nirvana and Pearl Jam, but Alice In Chains is so much more metal than those bands. Either way, it's hard to replace a lead singer whose voice is as unique as Layne Staley's. William DuVall, who joined the band in 2006 following the band's hiatus after Staley passed away in 2002, flawlessly recreates those familiar eerie harmonies with guitarist Jerry Cantrell that set Alice In Chains apart in their prime
And that's not to say the band is no longer relevant, their latest single "Hollow" was no dropoff in their 70-minute set and channels that classic Alice In Chains sound. It makes me look forward to the release of The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here on May 28.
Side note: If I ever write anything brilliant I hope Cantrell is there to tell me, "That's how you become great, man..."
7:01 P.M. - MONSTER Energy Main Stage
What is wrong with the readers of
Rolling Stone
? In a recent poll on the magazine's website, fans
ranked Bush as one of the worst bands of the nineties
and I can't understand why. Making an impact on the American record charts during the post-grunge era of the mid-1990s, Bush was melodic yet heavy alternative rock. And don't knock lead singer Gavin Rossdale's good looks as a reason to hate Bush. Come on, those looks
did
land him Gwen Stefani.
Opening with "Machinehead," which has become a stadium anthem in recent years, Bush entertained the ROTR crowd with past hits "Everything Zen" and "Little Things." Even the recent single "The Sound of Winter" was a standout track in the band's 55-minute set. The charismatic Rossdale then ventured in to the sideline stands of Crew Stadium to connect with his audience during a cover of the Beatles' "Come Together" before closing with the classic alt-ballad "Glycerine" and "Comedown," which are still in rotation on rock radio well over a decade later.
I'll admit, I have a soft spot for Bush. When I was six years old, my older sister gave me three CDs to listen to: Oasis' (What's the Story) Morning Glory?,No Doubt's Tragic Kingdom and Bush's Sixteen Stone. It was great to finally hear those songs live.
5:24 P.M. - MONSTER Energy Main Stage
I can't really describe Volbeat's unique sound. It's certainly metal, but laced with Glenn Danzig-era Misfits punk qualities and even rockabilly influences at times. I'm really enjoying the Danish band's set on the main stage right now.
Not to be forgotten, it was cool to see them bust out the opening riff to Slayer's "Raining Blood" to honor late guitarist Jeff Hanneman who recently passed away.
4:09 P.M. - MONSTER Energy Main Stage
A change-up from Steel Panther's homage to the eighties, Christian rock band Skillet took the main stage around 3:20 P.M. and played maybe the best show I've seen in the past two days here at Rock on the Range. Aside from their 2009 single "Hero" that got played pretty prominently on modern rock radio, I was unfamiliar with the band. Skillet brought a raw energy to the stage and added several theatrical elements like smoke fountains and hydraulic lifts (see left) to create an outstanding stage show. I didn't mind their music either. It's always interesting to see how cello and violin players fit in with a rock band, but Skillet pulls it off.
2:45 P.M. - MONSTER Energy Main Stage
Per the recommendation of everyone who has worked Rock on the Range in the past, I just caught Steel Panther's set on the MONSTER Energy Main Stage. The 1980s hair metal parody band lived up to--and even exceeded-- my expectations.
Printing Panther's lyrics on this site would probably get me fired, but I will say that the band was absolutely hilarious. With Mötley Crüe and Poison-esque musical stylings combined with raunchy lyrics that poke fun at the decadence of the Sunset Strip glam metal scene of eighties, Steel Panther got plenty of laughs out of everyone in the main bowl during their 40-minute set.
12:50 P.M. - Backstage, Pabst Blue Ribbon Stage
After checking out Sick Puppies' opening set on the MONSTER Energy Main Stage, I went backstage to see what my good friend D.J. Szuhay was up to as he organizes runners for each band this weekend. I then decided to get my hands dirty a little bit and deliver ice to a few tour buses over at the PBR Stage.
It's amazing just how many people work tirelessly around the clock behind-the-scenes to put on an event of this magnitude. Between backstage runners, stagehands, roadies, production crew, security, ticket staff, catering, stadium staff and the bands themselves: There are so many working parts to Rock on the Range.
In my eternal pursuit to live out rock star fantasies, I've often thought about what it would be like to be a roadie (Is 'roadie' the correct term?). How awesome would it be to travel the world, setting up the stage, tuning guitars, etc.? After all, that's how Noel Gallagher started out before joining what would later become Oasis...
A boy can dream, can't he?
11:09 A.M. - My desk at Crew Stadium
Greetings from the final day of Rock on the Range 2013!
As with any music festival, ROTR has saved the best for the final day here at Crew Stadium. Bush, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden will be closing out the evening on the MONSTER Energy Main Stage tonight, so I'm looking forward to that.
Gates just opened a few minutes ago. I'll check back in when the action starts.
