Welcome to Rock on the Range: an event where everyone leaves inhibitions at the pat-down by security and walks into the stadium with nothing but an open ear and a willingness to let go…
Review and photos by Kelly Parker
About five and a half hours into our drive home from ROCK ON THE RANGE, at a pit stop, I noticed a group of guys because one was wearing a 2012 ROCK ON THE RANGE concert tee. I went over and started talking with them about how AWESOME the event was and, after a happy and smile-filled conversation about how ROB ZOMBIE brought the house down, one of the dudes asked, “Did you guys stay for Incubus?” I shook my head and asked, “Did anyone stay for Incubus?” Shared laughter. I laughed because, as my girlfriend and I were leaving — during Incubus — I commented to her on the stream of people leaving before the show was over, and that there seemed to be some love lost for the closers of the show….
So where was the love? From what I saw and felt: KYNG (Pictured above-left)! They ROCKED THE STAGE and should play the main stage next year. SOiL (Pictured left), an eclectic group of hard-rockin dudes that made me fall in love immediately; you know you’ve found a new favorite band when you love the first note to the last the very first time you hear them. HALESTORM: Sing Lzzy Hale– GIRL, CAN BELT IT OUT! ADELITAS WAY: I have a strong feeling they will be blowing up quickly! I mean that in a very good way!
I want to give a bit of special love to the most wonderful ‘surprise’ of the event: FOXY SHAZAM (above and left) has found a way to make you want to wrap them up, take them home and be their best friend and lover– fans will thoroughly enjoy their live show– go see it!
Then, of course, you have the Main Stage acts that you know, love, and hope to experience in a way that only a HUGE festival like ROCK ON THE RANGE can offer! Seeing MASTODON (my favorite), VOLBEAT, MARILYN MANSON, SHINEDOWN (Brent Smith has the BEST live vocals I have ever heard—EVER!), CHEVELLE and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH at an event where everyone leaves inhibitions at the pat-down by security and walks into the stadium with nothing but an open ear and a willingness to let go and let what is about to happen happen. Welcome all freaks, crowd surfers (with or without pants!) die-hard head-bangers, and people who dance like no one is looking (speaking of myself here), sing like no one is listening and party like there is no tomorrow, helping and sharing with a love that one just would not expect, but found at the 2012 ROCK ON THE RANGE!
See ya next year! Oh, speaking of next year, who, and how the hell, is anyone gonna follow (all hail) ROB ZOMBIE?!? Fire, the best live show one could imagine, a preview of the new film release, “Lords of Salem,” pleasantly disturbing background images and FIREWORKS! Rob Zombie convinced an entire crowd, from the front to the very back, worn out from the weekend of rock to find the energy to not only stand but also jump up and down with the heartfelt obeisance that only we metal fans can offer! Don’t know about everyone else, but I am a little more than curious to find out who will head next year’s line-up. Find out by checking www.rockontherange.com
