It’s a beautiful perfect day. We jump in the truck, gather friends in the back then head out to the Fairgrounds drinking in the blue skies, white billowy clouds and the lush green desert brought to life by an overnight rain. We resist the tents hocking band Tees and shiny objects. We resist the smell of barbeque, beer and burritos; instead we grab our camera and head for the stage.
From Orange County California, the fledgling alternative rock band Fallborn plays as thousands of people stream by, claim a patch of grass and begin to tap their feet. Fallborn’s ‘Poison Soul’ is dark, moody and tortured. Mid-song the crowd snaps to attention as vocalist Adam Watts turns on the power and proves his potential.
Young and confident, post-hardcore Eyes Set To Kill weigh the clear vocals of Alexia Rodriguez against the screams of Bandon Anderson. Vocally solo, Alexia carries the pop punk ‘The World Outside’ so well we forget she’s playing the guitar. Her sweet vocal’s over score screams as ‘Reach’ grabs the instantly animated audience and the first crowd surfing of the day commences. They finish off with ‘Darling’ and leave us wanting more.
The evolution of music keeps on turning as Paper Tongues bring us hip hop injected rock’n soul with the amazing ‘Trinity.’ There are a lot of lads in this band and they’re packing their bags then catching ‘A Ride To California’ undoubtedly destined for the stars. The instant this hard, shrill and nasty edged song begins the horde roars while hands beat the air with its rhythms. We like them.
In 1977 the saccharine sweet, cocaine fueled disco culture found its antichrist within the back painted walls of underground clubs as the chaotic sounds of Punk were born thanks to bands like The Misfits. Muscle man Jerry Only is a bad boy; he’s chewing gum while playing his guitar, taunts the fans and gives them a lesson in the roots of much of the music they love.
The alternative metal of Flyleaf takes over the stage as the stunning Lacey Mosley sings ‘Breathe Today’ whilst people scream her name. Her sound is like no other, her vocals powerful and she can roar with the best of them. Fan favorite ‘Fully Alive’ has the mob jumping and screaming as does ‘I’m So Sick.’ Lacey announces “this is a song about letting go” then launches into the well crafted ‘Again’ from their new album of the same name. The band’s performance is polished and fun to watch as Lacey spins, the guitarist leap and the crowd goes mad for ‘Cassie.’
In the photo pit the storm gathers for The Used, security doubles, photographers come out of the woodwork and the rabid horde chants. The second Bert McCracken steps on stage and grins a thunderous scream erupts that shakes the ground and seems to stop time its self. The spell breaks as crowd surfers start pouring into the pit like a Tsunami. Security scrambles to catch flying bodies while Gigwise is crushed, slammed into the woofers then hides between the speakers hoping to save our cameras. We survive and bail for higher ground then watch as ‘I Caught Fire’ fuels the churning mob. Even the mellow ‘Yesterday’s Feeling’ doesn’t slow things down. Bert tells jokes, plays with the mosh then performs a fantastic Talking Heads cover of ‘Burning Down The House.’ They clear the stage; we all take a deep breath and brace ourselves for the next act.
The punk of Rise Against has become the voice of a generation. Most of their songs can pertain to many things but appeal to universal truths. Tim McIlrath delivers favorite treats including ‘Paper Wings’ and ‘Savior.’ He tells us “This song is about obstacles that get in our way and overcoming them” then plays the empowering ‘Survive.’ During ‘Blood Red, White and Blue’ he pauses and points out the six mosh pits raging amidst the horde and urges them to make a proper Arizona circle pit. The pitters comply and soon one huge mosh flies.
Rise Against starts ‘Prayer For the Refugee’ as the audience spontaneously claps overhead, pogos and sings the song so loud they drown out the band. Tim tells us that more active duty and reserve men and women are now dying from suicide than from the war. The crowd grows quiet, hands gently sway and the wisdom of ‘Hero Of War’ washes over us. They finish the night by bringing down the house with ‘Ready To Fall’ and leave. Thousands vainly wait in front of the dark stage hoping for more. Rise Against begins a world tour this October starting in Russia with four stops in the UK mid November. If you like punk, be there.
The show in photos:
