SOLD OUT! That was the news on Friday October 21st about Aftershock 2016, presented by DWP. If you were not among those lucky ticket holders let me tell you abut day 1. ROCKwell UnScene and Tattoo.com were there to not only gets shots from Tool, Primus, The Pretty Reckless, Slayer, Avatar, Motionless In White, Aeges, Baroness, and a ton of other bands, but were there to get you videos and interviews. Here is a quick recap of Day 1.
The day started with getting parked and trying to avoid the relentless T-shirt slingers in the lot. Once we got back to the media area, we kicked things off by sitting down with Them Evils who were playing an acoustic set later in the day at the Music Experience tent. This band is straight-up-in-your-face Rock. They are a 3-piece band from Orange County and they kicked some serious ass here at Aftershock. You’ll be able to check out what they had to say about being at the show, tattoos, and music in the interview soon to come to Tattoo.com.
Aeges is an LA band that promises you will leave their show with an eargasm and a love-child. I have to say they described their set pretty accurately. I just hope I do not find out in a few weeks that I am having their baby. If you feel lost in this reference, check out the interview and you will get it. They are not only a riot on stage but off. We were lucky enough to have this interview bombed by the legendary drummer of Death Angel. He joins in the band midway through the interview and shares road stories that made even me blush.
Another band that gave us face time was The Mendenhall Experiment. Congrats to them, not only for playing Aftershock, but for their full endorsement by Monster Energy, who also sponsors the festival. They are straight up hard-core, in your face metal. They also happen to be a band with players who are differently-abled… one having Cerebral Palsy and one being nearly deaf. Be sure to find out their story and involvement with Can-Do Musos in their interview, also coming soon to Tattoo.com.
The last interview of our day was with the Gothenburg, Sweden natives Avatar. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a band you MUST see live. Their musical talent is beyond measure and their masterful stage presence is boldy exhibited the moment they march onto the stage. Their creepy make-up and colorful, mesmerizing costumes make them all the more intriguing and irresistable. The only downside of their set on Saturday was that they couldn’t play longer. Stay tuned, because Avatar will be appearing in the ROCKwell UnScene Magazine “Best of 2016” print issue, out 12/2016.
Saturday’s bill hosted legends (Tool, Death Angel, Slayer, Meshuggah, Anthrax, Primus) new comers (Aeges and Them Evils), European rock gods Avatar, Warped Tour famous-and-beyond Motionless in White- and we could go on and on. Needless to say, Day 1 was a dream come true for any Rock, Hard-Core, Metal, and/or Alternative fan.
Get ready and stay tuned to ROCKwell UnScene and Tattoo.com for Day 2 coverage of Aftershock. Thanks to DWP, Sound Exchange, Monster Energy, and all the partners for bringing the best of the best to the stage.
