Review: Rockfest

Above: Red Line Chemistry gets the party started. Photos by Bill Brownlee

When Red Line Chemistry opened the 2008 edition of Rockfest with 30 minutes of metalic crunch, a significant portion of the crowd of 50,000 fans was already packed together on the lawn at the second stage. Devil signs were flashed, and crowd surfers navigated a sea of raised arms. The party was just getting started.

Over 11 hours later, fireworks greeted the final notes of Stone Temple Pilot's "Dead & Bloated."

"You have officially made this the largest one-day festival in America," disc jockey Ryan Westward told the assembled masses earlier in the day.

Above: Get in line.

Stone Temple Pilots were perfect Rockfest headliners. Reunited after a five-year hiatus, their decadent rock was infused with new vitality during their 90-minute performance. It was exhilarating hearing the quartet's grungy catalog infused with fresh enthusiasm and renewed conviction.

From the opening song "Big Empty" it was evident that the quartet wasn't just going through the motions.

Front man Scott Weiland, infamous for his troubled personal life, was as wonderfully weird as ever. He seemed to be having fun, goosing outstanding guitarist Dean DeLeo, celebrating drummer Eric Kretz's 41st birthday and dancing with a megaphone. He warmly acknowledged the fans' chant of "STP."

"We love hearing that even more than you love hearing our tunes," he said. "But we know the real reason you're doing that: We spiked your beer!"

Songs that had seemed permanently played out, like "Sex Type Thing" and "Interstate Love Song," were entirely reinvigorated.

Rockfest was also better than ever. No longer located at the base of Liberty Memorial, the main stage was situated near the southern edge of Penn Valley Park. Remote video screens and speakers allowed the sprawling crowd to follow the action on the main stage. It's unfortunate, however, that the stage couldn't have been elevated another five feet. Good sight lines were enjoyed only by the most vigilant fans.

In spite of allowing capacity to increase to 50,000, Rockfest was no more congested than last year. The grounds seemed more spacious and the layout was improved. Still, long waits are inevitable at large events. I found the end of an entrance line a block east of 31st and Main streets at 11:15 a.m. It took 35 minutes to reach the front gate. And while portable toilets were plentiful, many people elected to jockey for position at the nearest grouping of toilets.

Staggered performance times at the dual stages allowed dedicated fans to catch the majority of all 15 bands' sets. Red Line Chemistry acquitted themselves well. Their fierce rendition of "The Empty" was one of the high points of the day. The Kansas City band bested a few of the day's more prominent acts.

Anew Revolution's sinister sound clashed with the festive afternoon atmosphere. Their ominous style is better suited for a late-night club. Conversely, Saliva's crowd-pleasing hits like "Click Click Boom" and "Ladies and Gentlemen" were ideal for in the carnival-like setting. After headlining the second stage last year, the Memphis band graduated to the main stage Saturday.

Based on the outstanding reception they received, 10 Years might be the next band to make that jump. Pink Floyd-style flourishes and a sparkling acoustic-based reading of the ballad "So Long, Good-bye" were refreshing standouts.

"You don't know who we are," vocalist Matthew Wilkof hollered as Another Black Day launched into its first song. "But by the time I'm finished with you, you will." It was no idle boast. His band combines proto-Metallica thrash with the melodic shriek of Judas Priest. They were brutal- and that's a good thing.

Veterans of Godsmack and Ugly Kid Joe, the members of Another Animal have learned how to score points. They led the crowd in a chant of "Johnny Dare rules."

Ashes Divide provided an unlikely pocket of ambitious keyboard-heavy rock amid the party music. Their dirge-like cover of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" was stunning, but as with the rest of their arty set, it provided little opportunity for head banging.

Crowd favorites Shinedown, however, provided the sing-alongs and big rock moments the audience craved. Similarly, the melodic arena rock of Trapt was well-received. Theory of a Deadman's biker rock, typified by "Bad Girlfriend," is also tailor-made for rowdy events. Similarly, Rev Theory's "Hell Yeah" could serve as Rockfest's unofficial anthem.

Introduced as "rookies of the year," Saving Abel headlined the second stage based on the strength of their not-so-subtle hit "Addicted." The Mississippi band called its sound "Southern rock 'n' roll, but they're as much Aerosmith as Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Sound quality was as good as can be expected, although technical problems briefly suspended Chevelle's set. A member of the screamo/pop/metal band pledged to make it up to fans.

"We're going to buy everyone here a drink tonight," he joked before they resumed with "Send the Pain Below."

The gesture might have been unnecessary. Many fans apparently failed to pace themselves. It wasn't difficult to encounter people "resting" on the ground.

Music isn't the primary attraction for everyone at Rockfest. Many men arrive armed with Mardi Gras beads. They were doled out to women willing to, ahem, get an even suntan.

Sevendust was introduced as "one of the greatest bands on the face of the earth." The Atlanta act didn't quite live up to that hyperbole, but their militant stop-start thrash was excellent. "This is the best concert in America," vocalist Lajon Witherspoon shouted.

Fifty-thousand people probably agree.

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[Josh]

A pic of the line at the bathrooms, but no pics of STP? They were definitely the highlight of the show. Sevendust was great as always, but none of the bands were even in the same league as STP.

[Michael]

This was quite a good show, but, as the previous poster stated, the lineup was rather lopsided: none of the bands truly could compete with STP. The audio, like usual, was great from the mainstage, but poor to just plain awful (especially during Sevendust) on the auxillary speakers set up further back in the crowd. Still, this was a great time, with a great show by Shinedown and a truly excellent headlining performance by Stone Temple Pilots.

[Jim]

One would hope that Shinedown was still in attendance during the STP set so they could be given a lesson in how to not suck.

[Mr FACE]

The Good

- Shinedown
- Theory of a dead man.

The Bad

- Liberty Memorial is a poor choice of venue. I for one will not be coming back next year if it is there again.
- Where were the trash bins? We, like everyone else had to resort to littering on the ground. It looked like a pigsty.
- Poor arrangement/placement of the stages. I couldnt see a single thing from either of the stages.
- The audio. Sevendust and Saliva for example sounded horrible.
- The smell. Not exactly anyones fault but the soft damp surface of the ground, along with the stench of the wet straw/hay around the main stage area was almost naseuating.

I was overall very dissapointed with Rockfest 2008. The best moment of the night for me was getting home and beating the traffic jams of 50,000 people leaving.

Next year they really need to look at a new, crowd friendly venue where the crowd can actually get to see the show if they arent in crush of the mosh-pit. Sandstone anyone?

[Mike]

Mr. Face - Your comments are like a broken record. Literally. Any big festival-type show is going to have a few small hiccups. I've been to enough shows at Sandstone that I can assure you were far worse for lines, trash, parking, audio. Besides, Sandstone only houses 30,000 or less and has no shade.

I think Liberty Memorial is still perfect for Rockfest, if nothing else, because there is a little bit of shade. Please don't move it to the Speedway. Thanks for another great reason to cancel all committments for a day, spend $20 on a ticket and less than $100 at the show for a chance to see the best lineup of bands I've ever heard in one day.

[kk]

It was great! Yep, it was crowded, 50,000 people will do that. It was hard to see the stage, but the large screens helped. Sound is what it is, large area to cover what do you expect. The one thing I will agree with is the trash.....WHERE WERE THE CANS?

[Tim Finn]

We requested a photo pass to shoot STP. Our photo desk said the photo-agreement that they were required to sign was way too restrictive, so they passed on it.

[juliokc]

I agree with Jim, Shinedown was a HUGE disappointment. STP sounded better than ever and hopefully they make it back to KC soon. As for the people complaining about the venue, here is an idea, shut up and stay home next year.

[John]

Bad:
Saliva
Shinedown

Great:
10 Years
Trapt

Awesome:
STP

Worst:
Seeing 40 year old pervs tempting underage girls to show their breats for beads.

[juliokc]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention, Leo Project should be opening instead of Red Line. Any true local rock fan knows Leo rocks KC.

[erick]

THE LEO PROJECT SHOULD BE OPENING?!?! YOU ARE SICK TWISTED AND DELUSIONAL!!!!!! RED LINE CHEMISTRY SPANX THE FREAKING LEO PROJECT!!!! NOT TO MENTION THEYRE A DANG EMO BAND AND I CANT RECALL EVER HEARING THE LEO PROJECT ON 989'S REGULAR ROTATION!!!! RED LINE DESERVED THIS AND ROCKED IT I'M SURE THE ALWAYS DO!!!! WAY TO GO MIKE,BRETT,ANDY,TOM,AND DAVE WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN THERE MUCH
LOVE
ERICK

[erick]

PS LEO PROJECT LET THEIR LOCAL "FAME" IF YOU WILL GET TO THERE HEADS I USED TO WORK IN A LOCAL MUSIC SHOP HERE THAT BENT OVER BACKWARDS FOR THEM AND THEY STILL TREATED US LIKE TRASH!!!!!!! NEVER BEEN TREATED LIKE TRASH BY REDLINE HMMMM INTERESTING

[John Beginningscreech]

Real men don't type in "all caps."

[Becky]

I Loved Rockfest! I just wish that they had Bud Light instead of Miller.

[csp656]

STP was unbelievable! The other bands were awesome and Liberty Memorial was perfect for the event. I agree with the trash comments they should have had cans spread around so everybody didn't have to litter the ground. Also I wanted to comment about the wristband system. They should have had a tent set up for that because once things got crowded it was impossible to find them and none of the beer tents would serve you unless you had one. I looked around for nearly two hours before I finally found a guy giving wristbands. Next year set up a tent so everyone knows where to go.

[Chris]

Well I'm going to be diffrent. Red Line best opening act for second stage. Best band Shinedown. Worst band and biggest slap in the face to fans. STP for not showing up for the Autograph booth like ALL the other bands did. Shinedown and Another Animal showed how to rock a crowd and make the fans a part of the show. In honesty I think Rockfest should have got someone beter then STP you can tell just by looking at Scott he was doped out again main reason he got fired from Velvet Revolver bad when a guy who's in his late 30's early 40's looks like a 60 yr old man. At least you could understand Shinedown's singer when he talked to the crowd you could understand what he said to you and like the rest of the bands agnolige the crowd durring their entire set unlike STP. STP Lame, Shinedown Showstopper!!!

[Jared]

I believe RLC to be a great opening band. This years line up was amazing, but i my headliners this year were SHINEDOWN. I don't believe STP fit in with this years line up very well. Although the vocals were a little messed up due to sound problems i also believe sevendust killed it! Along with Saliva, whose jose scott gave all he had and had to recieve medical attention twice durring his set. And anyone who believes that Liberty Memorial isn't a good place to hold rockfest is not a true rocker. As Johny Dare put it many years ago when rockfest returned to Liberty Memorial, rockfest is home! Its true home is Liberty Memorial in the center of Kansas City! Where it will only get bigger and better in the years to come! As the Rock's Jason Nivens puts it...ROCK IS ALIVE AND WELL IN KANSAS CITY!

[Kari]

"You have officially made this the largest one-day festival in America," disc jockey Ryan Westward told the assembled masses earlier in the day.

Ryan Westward is a idiot! Thanks for making everyone talk stupid RYAN! IT WASN'T THE LARGEST ONE-DAY FESTIVAL IN AMERICA with 50,000 LOL! GOOGLE IT!

That's about as optimistic as those who go around saying The Chiefs are going to the Super Bowl after winning a FEW Games!

I'm with Everyone who said the grounds size was a JOKE for a big crowd and concert like this! Not enough shade. The STINCH was UNREAL in some areas! Thanks to not enough toilets and the overflowing smell of dung!

THE BANDS ROCKED! 2007 ROCKED! Hopefully, next year it will be ANYWHERE but Liberty Memorial!

THE ROCK ROCKS! Well except for Ryan's MISINFORMATION! It would be cool if it were TRUE, but it's NOT!

[kmoon]

that's nice, but where's the review for RUSH ? They were blazing hot at Starlight Saturday...

[tg]

I basically paid $20 to see STP and was NOT disappointed. How could you be? And the crowd? It was packed! How could the reviewer claim it wasn't congested? They should try and come up with another venue if possible. The wristband thing...they should check your ID at the door and give you one then. Luckily the lady serving us let us step over to the tent next to the beer tent and get our wristband, then she served us from there.

[CH]

I've been going to Rockfest since 1996, and have missed very few of them over the years. However, I feel this year may be one of the last I attend. Last year it was too crowded with 40,000, and add another 10,000 to the mix and it was almost unbearable at times. The organizers really need to consider having more than one entrance, maybe by the 2nd stage area or something. It was ridiculous for those of us that parked down the hill near Crown Center to have to walk 2 to 3 blocks south, past the entrance to the park, to get in line.

As for the lineup, how many times can they keep bringing back the same bands. Sorry, but Chevelle, Trapt, Saliva and Shinedown have too much of a been there, done that feel. The bands I enjoyed most were Rev Theory, Theory of a Deadman and A New Revolution, but then I'm partial to heavier bands and the atmosphere at the 2nd stage is generally much better than the main stage. At least you could actually see the bands.

[embrace the rage]

Shinedown rocked. Saliva looked like a bunch of professional wrestlers and spent half of their set running around saying "Can i get a hell yeah?!?!?!" Trapt put on the best show i've ever seen from them. 10 Years belonged on the main stage. RLC kicked ass... the new song was great and the old ones were performed well, but whoever was talking trash about The Leo Project needs to get a grip! they couldn't be farther from emo! at the very least they are as good as RLC, at best we'll see them playing on the second stage (not opening) in a couple years.

the venue did need about 400% more trash cans. the free water was great. security did a phenomenal job of dealing with the large crowd. the smell was horrible. the sight of the endless rock fans was awe inspiring. the old flabby breasts were disgusting.

overall it was the most fun i've ever had for 20 dollars. i'll be back every year till they move it to a lame venue with seats.

[cassie]

STP was all we thought it would be...great. i agree with mr. brownlee about the stage needing to be 5 feet higher, then everyone could've seen the stage. the trash was unbelievable. thanks to our new found friends cody raithel, jon books, and matt o. for making the concert a fun one. we owe you big time. i appreciate the lift on "plush".

[PR]

i find it amusing that everyone said there werent enough toilets, lets see the had over 700 porta-johns, i never once waited in a line for one....but then again i was smart and walked the whole grounds and saw the 500 bathrooms that didnt have lines. dont be angry cause youre lazy.

[Scott W.]

I just peed my pants.

[meeotch]

so you think rockfest sucked? You suck! The fact that every ticket is Gen Ad alone makes it awesome.

I waited in line for a beer for 30 min once. It was OK, though cuz i almost saw a fight, and even though it didn't happen, it was still entertaining. After that 30 min wait, i got smarter and didn't go to the first tent i saw. If you walk down the row, there is no waiting on anything!!! Anything!!! As soon as i figured this out, i took pleasure in having to walk a little farther as i saw the frustrated crowds foucsed on thier tents as if were simultaneously an unreachable oasis and the bane of thier own existences.

And one margarita tent? whenever i asked anyone where the margarita tent was, i was told about some mythalogical place between the entrance and main stage. i looked. and looked. and looked again. i suppose i could have missed it through 50,000 people, but it wasn't there. My wife was not as content as i was with just beer, so inevitably i had to quest for the margarita tent. i think they put it all the way in the back so that you wouldn't want to walk back to them to complain about the sweet and sour water that they just sold you.

but listen to all this negative stuff. what is my porblem. all you other posters are rubbing of on me. RockFest 08 in Kansas City OWNED. If you weren't there, you should really think about what you are doing with your life. I mean, what could have been so important to have missed such an awesome spectacle.

[DK]

Leo Project...seriously.....I am a supporter of local music and have seen many of the bands. The Leo Project is a Club Wars project and that is all they ever will be. RLC rocked and outplayed most of the bands that performed including Ashes Divide and the beloved Saliva. STP kicked ass and whoever was looking at the flabby breasts...I saw many many younger and firmer ones. Sorry you missed them.

[DupedByDopes]

First, really, I admit to not making the show, but comparing Leo Project, or any band in the rock genre (short of Seeking Surreal, who could be really great in a couple years), from KC, to Red Line Chemistry is just a waste of time. 99%of local bands, sound local. They also behave unprofessionally. RLC always sound great, never act like they aren't total pros, and they are untouchable in the greater Midwest. Andy, Dave and I saw many concerts together, in high school and beyond. One that sticks out is seeing STP open for Megadeth! We went (or, I went) for STP. They were fantastic. It's great to see ,15 years later, they are playing on bils with those guys. And, Scott Weiland,,bro, you know you need to clean up your act when Slash is talking about how oddly you were behaving b4 running back to the safety of old songs. Put out some new material, then you don't look washed up to the non-hard rock crowd. It's pretty 'hack'ish isn't it? Yeah.

[AngelOfDeath]

This is retarded. RLC is a good band. If I remember right, didn't The Leo Project beat them in Club Wars a few years back. And many of you "local music supporters" might recall TLP beating RLC for BEST ROCK BAND in last year's Heavy Frequency Magazine Awards. The Leo Project has toured the country and opened for tons and tons of the biggest bands in music from today and yesterday. Say what you want, but The Leo Project is a force to be reckoned with. I'm proud of them, and I can't wait for the day when all of you eat your words and become fans who "knew them when they were nothing" and "always believed in them". Just like people have with David Cook or Wes Scantlin. The proof is in the pudding my friends...

[alex]

Shinedown has good musicians...the Stone Temple Pilots are fucking legends and will be never topped by Shinedown. Shinedown barely blipped on my radar at Rockfest, STP made my rock radar explode and then set fire to it with lightning from Weiland's megaphone. If you didn't enjoy most of Rockfest, then you didn't get to the front of the main stage. I didn't notice the smell because my other senses were being completely bombarded with awesomeness. We don't attend rock concerts to complain children.

[mee123]

Another Black Day is just another lousy band filling the air waves with stories of personal failure.