Rock on the Range Day Two

In my old age, I've grown weary of attending huge music festivals. It's just hard for me deal with the crazy, mass amounts of drunk idiots for an entire day or two. Most of these festivals book a bunch of bands I'm not familiar with or just don't like, and if they do book bands I like, I just don't have the patience or stamina to be at a show all day. It's tough being an old lady in this music scene!

Last year, I didn't attend Rock on the Range here in Columbus, Ohio. This year, I was lucky enough to attend the second day of Rock on the Range. I was pretty bummed that I missed the Stone Temple Pilots reunion on day one (I heard it was pretty freaking fantastic), but my fiance, my friend Dee, and I were given an opportunity to attend day two for free, so beggars can't be choosers. The icing on the cake of course was that we also got backstage passes! I seriously couldn't believe it. Thank you to our good friend Sarge, drum tech for Papa Roach, for hooking us up!

The main stage at the stadium was just built, and it is pretty phenomenal. It's huge and I think they had the backstage pass holders and guests in mind as well. There are two platforms on each side of the stage which is where most of the backstage pass holders watched the shows. This gave us a pretty great view of the stage, the band and the crowd, and we were really close to all the action.

We missed all the bands on the second stage unfortunately, but we were able to catch three and half bands on the main stage. The half of a band we caught was Seether, whom I'm not very familiar with but were still pretty decent.

After Seether, we watched Alter Bridge. I had my doubts about that band...I mean after all, it is just Creed sans Scott Stapp. I hated Creed, and I hated Scott Stapp even more. But this band's life after Scott Stapp is much better. They were very impressive, and I was pleasantly surprised. They actually rocked.

Papa Roach was next up in line. I've seen them twice before, and they've always put on quite a show. This was definitely no exception. Jacoby has so much intensity when he performs that it's hard not to get caught up in it. The crowd was right there with him jumping up and down to every beat.

Then there was 3 Doors Down. Yawn. Although this band has some big, catchy radio hits, I have never been so unimpressed watching a live band before. The intensity level of the band and the crowd dropped dramatically. Sure, the crowd was singing along to their songs, but they just didn't have quite the same vibe. I was bored (and I was freezing my ass off because it was so freaking cold out) for an hour.

Finally....the moment I had been waiting for all day. Kid Rock. I don't care what anyone says or what anyone thinks: Kid Rocks kicks ass. And to make this moment even sweeter...Rev Run was in the house. It was one of the most amazing concert moments I have ever witnessed in my life. Rev Run, his wife Justine, and son Diggy, were standing right below me while Rev Run was waiting to go on stage. And when he ran out there, the crowd went crazy. Kid Rock and Rev Run busted out a few old school Run DMC tunes and ended the medley with Walk This Way. It was stellar. Peter Wolf from the J Giels band also made a special guest appearance during the show. This was the first time I have seen Kid Rock live and he certainly didn't disappoint. OK, I lied. He didn't disappoint performance wise, but he did disappoint me by only playing one song off his new album (and it wasn't So Hott or Rock 'N Roll Jesus). In the end, it didn't really make any difference. I thought the show was freaking fantastic, and I had a blast.

I almost forgot! KG from Tenacious D was there too! He came up on the platform to film a commercial for some show. I wanted to say hello, but I was too chicken, and I didn't want to interrupt him while he was working.

Please enjoy a few pictures from the show. Sorry about the quality. Although we were on the stage and we were close, my camera sucks and so does its flash.

Alter Bridge

3 Doors Down

Papa Roach
Papa Roach

Rev Run, Justine, & Diggy

Kid Rock

Kid Rock & Rev Run
Kid Rock & Rev Run

Kid Rock & Rev Run

Shine A Light

I'm ashamed to say that I've never been the biggest Rolling Stones fan. Yes, I like them and I think they're fantastic, but I'm not dying to see them live and I don't own any albums. This is reason enough for my fiance to divorce me before we are even married because he's a HUGE Stones fan. Lucky for me, he's found it in his heart to forgive me of this travesty.

So of course my fiance was dying to see the Scorsese movie Shine A Light. I'm honestly surprised we didn't go see it opening night. One of my best friends went to see it and said it was fantastic, so fantastic that she saw it twice in a week. I wanted to see the movie because I enjoy just about any movie that has to do with Rock 'n Roll.

Needless to say, the movie is quite impressive. There's some behind the scenes footage with the band and Scorsese. Scorsese also decided to include old interviews and clips from when the Stones were just getting started. It was incredible to see them so young and fresh and untouched with not a thought in their heads that they would be the phenomenon that they are. And because of this young Stones footage, I can finally now understand why women find Mick Jagger attractive. He was hot when he was young!

While we were watching the movie, I wanted to jump up and down and start screaming after every song because it felt so real. I honestly felt like I was right there in the audience, and that's an incredible feat to pull off for a movie.

There were also a few special guests who show up to perform with the Stones in the movie: Buddy Guy, Jack White, and Christina Aguilera. All give amazing performances, but I have to say that my personal favorite was Christina Aguilera. That woman has such an incredible voice!

After watching Shine A Light, I have a new found respect for the Rolling Stones. They are freaking incredible performers and musicians. Have you watched Mick Jagger on stage? He gives 110% during the entire performance. I have no idea where he finds that energy, but I certainly applaud him for it. And although Keith Richards looks like he's about 100 years old, he can still kick ass on the guitar; there's no doubt about that.

Even if you don't love the Rolling Stones as much as my fiance does (he truly believes that Keith Richards is God), you should still go see Shine A Light. It's worth every penny and you'll definitely be a bigger fan by the end of the movie.

Lick It Up: A Millennium Tribute to KISS

Go out and buy this album now! It's available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. There are some great artists featured on this compilation: former members of Skid Row, Ratt, Warrant, LA Guns, Dangerous Toys, Britney Fox. Honestly...most of the actual names that are listed don't ring a bell for me, but that could be because I am not as well versed in my 80's hair band members as the rest of you (I know, I know...I am totally ashamed).

Unfortunately, I haven't even heard this CD....except for song #11. That's because song #11 is She and my fiance's band, Snowblynd, recorded it. It fucking rocks! Of course, maybe I'm a little biased...but seriously, their version of She does seriously kick some ass.

Go check it out now!

I Was About to Jump Off A Cliff

Richie Sambora replacing Bret Michaels on Rock of Love?

I heard this rumor yesterday on the radio and almost jumped out of the car and into oncoming traffic, so someone could just put me out of my misery. A million different thoughts were running through my head, mainly, "What the hell is he thinking?" It's not like Bon Jovi is hurting for money. Maybe he's hard up for cash after the divorce and his DUI. Who knows. It was bad enough that Bret Michaels decided it was a good idea to try to find "love" in front of god and everyone, but not Richie Sambora too. I realize he's going through a hard time right now, but he's above this bullshit...isn't he?

I'm happy to report he is. Before I completely lost my mind, I did a little research online. According to VH1 (which is also where I found that great Photoshopped picture), this is some nasty rumor started by some nasty a-hole, and it is totally, 100% NOT TRUE.

Thank god. I don't think I can take another rock & roll hero falling from my graces. But I wonder what sap is going to try his luck at finding "love" with a bunch of skanks? Any guesses?