Rock on the Range 2018: Lineup Analysis

We are ONE WEEK away from the festival of all festivals. For many of my hard rock and heavy metal bretheren, May represents the beginning of festival season. There are many great festivals all over the country that give fans a great chance to experience a weekend packed full of great shows. The biggest, and arguably the best of any of these is the almighty Rock on the Range, which takes place May 18-20th in Columbus, OH.

We snagged our tickets prior to the lineup announcement, which occurred late in 2017. This will be the tenth consecutive year that we make the trip from Indianapolis to Columbus to take in the weekend, and I have to tell you – I cannot wait.

I know that all of you are like me – you’re having trouble focusing on anything else as you look forward to one of the best weekends of the year. In order to support that obsession, we are releaseing a last minute line-up analysis for Rock on the Range 2018. The analysis below is for people who may not know all the bands in this years lineup and are looking for an opportunity to catch a new band that may become a favorite. However, it’s also for those who know every song of every band, and are just looking for an excuse to think about Rock on the Range for an hour. 🙂

The Rock on the Range 2018 Lineup Analysis below provides a detailed look at the landscape for this year’s ROTR. We provide commentary on what you might expect based on previous experiences, other shows and tours we’ve seen, and the current status of the bands. The bands are grouped by the slot they were given: the headliners, the top-tier bands, and the mid-tier bands. In addition, we include some bands that have something to prove, and suggest some can’t miss shows that may not be on you radar.

Festival Review: Chicago Open Air 2016 Day 3

After two fantastic days of Chicago Open Air 2016, we woke up on Sunday with sore muscles and slight sunburns. However, none of that would stop the excitement surrounding a wild and crazy lineup of bands that was set to play that day. Some aspirin, a big breakfast, and the blackest coffee we could find, and we were off to Toyota Park for Day 3.

The first two days could be considered nothing but a wild success, and no doubt Day 3 would be more of the same. This was the first annual Chicago Open Air festival, and yet typical first-year snafus were noticeably absent at this festival. Logistically, Toyota Park was really well set up. Entrance to the festival was quick and easy thanks to a cloth wrist band that lasted all weekend. Restrooms and food vendors were plentiful and located in great spots. The side stage was extremely well built, and oriented in a way that could support a huge audience. In fact, in talking with countless other fans, the biggest complaint I heard was that fans had to traverse the venue stairs countless times as they went between the main stage and the side stage. Trust me – if that’s the biggest challenge that a first year festival like this has, it’s a raving success.

Musically, the venue was also a home run. So far, we’d been treated to fantastic shows over the first two days, including many shows that would stick with us for years to come. Day 3 also featured an incredible lineup, with We Came as Romans, Letlive, Babymetal, Killswitch Engage, and Five Finger Death Punch all slated to play. In addition to all those shows, festival headliner Slipknot would close out the weekend.

On a day that threatened thunderstorms, I couldn’t wait to get started. Chicago Open Air Day 3 – bring this thing home.

Music Pill Update – June 2012

Hello all! Now that I’m finally caught up on concert blogs, I have a ton of exciting music news to pass along. I have been so busy lately that I have been going nuts trying to keep up with everything, so I’m excited to finally be getting this out.

I’m certainly not a news blog, so this isn’t an all inclusive list, but more a list of hand picked facts about bands that I really like and want to share. Included below are new albums and music, other interesting band news, and summer tours that have been announced. Check it out ! (For those that don’t like the variety like I do, skim the red font for bands you like! 🙂 Hope you find something interesting that you didn’t already know!

Concert Review: Rockstar Uproar Tour Part 1

Rockstar Uproar Tour
Verizon Wireless Music Center – Indianapolis, IN
9/17/2011

I asked my wife what my initial reaction was when I saw the Rockstar Uproar tour lineup – not because I didn’t remember, but because I wanted to hear her perspective of my reaction. She said that I was “completely freaking out,” but I think that’s an understatement. I seem to remember hyperventilating at some point.

Top to bottom, this was by far the best festival lineup I had ever seen. I knew as soon as it was released that I would be going no matter how far I had to drive. The main stage alone, with A7X, Three Days Grace, Seether, Bullet for my Valentine, and Escape the Fate, was enough talent to get me to commit, so the fact that Sevendust was headlining the side stage was just musical icing on my proverbial cake. (We all know I have a creepy obsession with Lajon and their drummer’s hair.) The lineup was so good that I convinced several of my friends, and even a few non-concert regulars, to buy pit tickets. Rockstar Uproar Part 1 – Let’s do this.

Concert Review: Rock on the Range 2011 Day 2

Day 2. The previous entire day was spent drinking, pushing, screaming, singing, and standing for about 14 straight hours. We woke up tired, sore, sun-burned, dehydrated, and with our ears ringing. Usually, after a day like that, I’m usually debating whether I will ever step foot at a concert again. But not this weekend. This is ROTR baby.

Let’s do this.”

While Sunday’s entire lineup was really good, my excitement for Day Two was really focused around three bands: Bullet for my Valentine (an all-time favorite), A Day to Remember (a new and upcoming favorite), and All that Remains (some Phil Labonte redemption). However, I was also bummed because at the last minute Stone Sour had to pull out of the lineup (and got replaced by Puddle of Mudd, blegh) because Ray Mayorga had a stroke a few days before ROTR (he seems to be doing fine now).

Concert Review: Bullet for my Valentine

Bullet for my Valentine is one of my favorite bands. The fact of the matter is, they are just GOOD. I’ve seen them several times before, but as soon as I heard their latest album, Fever, I was excited for them to tour again. I saw the Indianapolis date on the schedule and I immediately bought tickets, and began trying to convince friends to go with me. Luckily, I got a couple friends to tag along, and it was ON!

BFMV blew me away, right from the beginning. I loved the fact that they were so energetic on stage, I loved the lead singer’s accent (random I know, but its awesome), and I loved how their individual talent so flawlessly complemented each other. I was a little bit in awe. After I left that concert, I immediately began immersing myself in the Bullet for my Valentine’s album that was out, called The Poison. Several songs on that album held my interest strong, until I was able to see them again. I saw them over the years several more times, and after the Scream Aim Fire album, they solidified a spot atop my favorite bands. (Interestingly enough, I think that The Poison is a better album than Scream Aim Fire, but for some reason it took the second album to convince me.)