kinsey's blog: Rock On The Range Mapfre Stadium May 15-17 2015 Columbus, Ohio

I have wanted to attend Rock on the Range since it started in 2007. I was 11 years old. It was also the same year I wrote my first story ever, on Linkin Park. To be able to cover my dream festival and to have the first band I ever wrote about close out the festival, well, everything just came full circle. It was definitely one of the best experiences of my life so far.

So here it is: Rock On The Range Content!

Friday started out with the bands Islander and Highly Suspect.

I'd heard a good bit about Islander's live set so I made sure to check them out.

The main problem arose when I realized Islander and Highly Suspect were at the same time. But have no fear, I made it back just in time to hear Highly Suspect play their current single, Lydia that is buzzing the airwaves.

Following that block of time, were We Are Harlot and Apocalyptica on the main stage.

We Are Harlot played

Denial

Easier to Leave

Someday

Never Turn Back

Dancing on Nails

Tie Your Mother Down (Queen Cover)

One More Night

Apocalyptica played

I-III-V Seed of Chaos

Cold Blood

Grace

Inquisition Symphony (Sepultura Cover)

Shadowmaker

I Don't Care

In the Hall of the Mountain King (Edvard Grieg Cover)

I ran back to the Ernie Ball Stage to shoot Young Guns.

I expect them to be the next big Rock Band. They are from England and are starting to catch a wave here in the U.S.

Beartooth. Oh Em Gee. This band is one to watch. All of the guys are members from other bigger bands in "the scene" who came together to form this beautiful super-group. If you haven't heard their song "In Between", I highly recommend it. What a jam.

Breaking Benjamin was not great. They played for their audience, which is fine, but they sounded terrible.

However, their set was pretty spot on:

So Cold

Blow Me Away

Failure

Breath

Covers Medley: Star Wars Imperial March, Schism by Tool, Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana, and Walk by Pantera

Polyamorous

I Will Not Bow

Until The End

Intro

The Diary of Jane

I love Myles Kennedy. I have been fortunate enough to see him previously with Alter Bridge and this time I saw him with Slash and The Conspirators.

The setlist was one of the best sets I've ever heard at a festival.

The group played

You're a Lie

Nightrain (Guns N' Roses Cover)

Back From Cali (Slash Original)

You Could Be Mine (Guns N' Roses Cover)

Bent To Fly

World On Fire

Anastasia

Sweet Child O' Mine (Guns N' Roses Cover)

Slither (Velvet Revolver Cover) (AHHH!!!)

Paradise City (Guns N' Roses Cover)

Closing out my evening were Hatebreed and Falling In Reverse.

Hatebreed is scary and Falling In Reverse put on too much of a "production."

If you are playing a festival and you are not the major headliner, or on the main stage, why do you have to cover the stage to set up everything? That did not make a lot of sense to me, but to each their own.

They played

Chemical Prisoner

God, If You Are Above...

Sexy Drug

Guillotine IV (The Final Chapter)

Rolling Stone

I'm Not a Vampire

Alone

The Drug In Me Is You

Just Like You

Day one was absolutely everything I wanted it to be.

Day two started with New Zealand group Like A Storm.

They played

Chemical Infatuation

Never Surrender

Become the Enemy

Didgeridoo and Drums Jam

Wish You Hell

TNT (AC/DC Cover)

Love the Way You Hate Me

Saint Asonia is a new supergroup, that consists of Adam Gontier, formerly of Three Days Grace, Mike Mushok of Staind, Corey Lowery of Eye Empire, and Rich Beddoe, formerly of Finger Eleven.

It was their first performance ever and I can think of no better place to than Rock On The Range, am I right?

Their set:

Better Place (their first/current single)

Fairytale

I Hate Everything About You (Three Days Grace Cover)

Dying Slowly

Mudshovel (Staind Cover)

Let Me Live My Life

They are definitely a band to watch.

Of Mice & Men always has my vote for one of the best live bands. I've seen them more times than I can count and they always bring it. I talked to several people who came to the festival just to see the band and they left immediately after.

They played

Public Service Announcement

Broken Generation

Feels Like Forever

Bones Exposed

Would You Still Be There

Never Giving Up

You're Not Alone

The Depths

Bless Scott Weilands heart. He sounded terrible again today.

He played

Crackerman (Stone Temple Pilots)

Meatplow (Stone Temple Pilots)

Amethyst

The Way She Moves

Big Bang Baby (Stone Temple Pilots)

White Lightning

Vasoline (Stone Temple Pilots)

Dead & Bloated (Stone Temple Pilots)

Unglued (Stone Temple Pilots)

Babymetal is something I cannot un-see. Everyone at the festival attended this performance. They are the biggest gimmick, I've seen in a long time. But hey, it works for them.

They played

Catch Me If You Can

Megitsune

Road of Resistance

Give Me Choco!!

Ijime, Dame, Zettai

The Devil Wears Prada is always fun to shoot.

They played

Assistant to the Regional Manager

Sailor's Prayer

Escape

Outnumbered

Mammoth

Reptar, King of the Ozone

Danger: Wildman

Papa Roach was definitely in my Top 5 list of favorite performances of the weekend. They had one of the biggest crowds of the entire festival. There were more crowd surfers for them than any other act. People in wheelchairs even participated in the activity. The band is currently celebrating the 15 Year Anniversary of their debut album, Infest. That was definitely a crowd pleaser.

They played

Face Everything and Rise (FEAR)

Getting Away with Murder

Between Angels and Insects

Where Did the Angels Go?

Broken Home (Eminem's Lose Yourself Tag)

Forever

Gravity

Kick in the Teeth

Lifeline

Warriors

Scars

Last Resort

...To Be Loved

Ministry was loud and scary.

They played

Hail to His Majesty (Peasants)

Punch in the Face

PermaWar

Rio Grande Blood

LiesLiesLies

N.W.O.

Just One Fix

Thieves

And now we are onward to Day 3...

It started with a band called Unlocking The Truth.

They are a band of kids, who really know how to rock. (So many puns could be made, but I shall refrain.)

They rose to fame by being young and signing a record deal with Sony that they are already trying to get out of. There is even a documentary on them that is about to be released or was just recently.

They deserve much more credit than they get.

Following them, my day consisted of shooting Art of Dying, Periphery, Marmozets, and Halestorm.

I interviewed Josh from Halestorm and Spencer from Periphery right before their sets, and they are both classy individuals. That made me happy.

Halestorm put on one of the best shows of the weekend.

Their set consisted of

Love Bites (So Do I)

Freak Like Me

It’s Not You

Amen

Scream

I Am The Fire

I Like It Heavy

Mayhem

I Get Off

Apocalyptic

I Miss The Misery

Rise Against is always a treat. My running joke is that I always miss the last song, which is usually Savior. Luckily, I heard it this go round.

They played

Ready To Fall

Give It All

Re-Education (Through Labor)

Help Is On The Way

Chamber The Cartridge

Prayer Of The Refugee

Ohio (Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young Cover) (Tim Solo Acoustic)

I Don’t Want To Be Here Anymore

Savior

Linkin Park’s set was a memorable one, but it was different. Brad Delson, lead guitarist, was absent from the show and their guitar tech took his place.

They played

Papercut

Rebellion

Given Up

One Step Closer

A Line In The Sand

From The Inside

Runaway

Wastelands

Castle of Glass

Leave Out All The Rest/Shadow Of The Day/Iridescent

Robot Boy