DAY 1 @ ROCK ON THE RANGE 2014

DAY 1

ROCK ON THE RANGE Weekend kicked off yesterday with a killer lineup of talented bands on all 3 stages at Crew Stadium and @bitojavaruss and I were there with all the buzz.

The media tent is full of artists and press alike. Bands are walking around everywhere, taking pictures with fans. The stadium and grounds are full of people of all kinds , who have come to Columbus for the weekend for the same reason, to rock out to some of the greatest bands out there right now and forget life for a little while.

Bands We Saw:

ONE OK ROCK

BUTCHER BABIES

SEETHER

STAIND

GUNS N ROSES \m/ \m/

The first set I shot yesterday was OK ONE ROCK, a Japanese rock band that took the Jagermeifter stage @ 3:00. This was their first time playing in Ohio and 1st time playing a festival outside of Asia. Check them out!

Next up, was Los Angeles based metal band, Butcher Babies, fronted by Carla Coates & Heidi Shepherd. The band ran out onstage ready to rage, blowing through a set list of fan favorites (Gasoline, Magnolia Blvd., Goliath).

SET LIST:

I Smell a Massacre
The Mirror Never Lies
Goliath
C8h18 (Gasoline)
Jesus Needs More Babies for His War Machine
Mr. Slowdeath
Magnolia Blvd.

Next up , Seether! The fans in the crowd were almost as entertaining as the band itself, most of which were on their feet the whole time, jumping up & down, screaming every word to every song. Loper, Randi & Ronni from 99.7 The Blitz came out to announce the show, getting the crowd pumped up. The band played fan favorites (Fake it, Remedy, Fine Again), as well as a song off of their upcoming album.

Now, Staind! They hit the Monster Main Stage at 7:45 and the crowd went nuts. Moshing ensued. Around 20 people were crowd surfing. Beach balls and beer bottles were flying everywhere and Aaron Lewis tore it up.

No one knew what to expect for headliners, Guns N Roses’ set last night. Would they go on on time? Would Axl be in a good mood? For some, how did it compare to the Appetite Lineup? For others, it was their first time seeing any version of the band live.

They went on 5 minutes early, playing a 30 song set full of fan favorites from the 80s and 90s , as well as covers (Whole Lotta Rosie, Live And Let Die, Holidays In The Sun, Knockin On Heaven’s Door) and Axl was in a very good mood, asking the crowd how we were doing and if we’d had a good day at the festival. The set started out a little off, but as soon as the band launched into Rocket Queen, the crowd went wild and Axl came to life , sounding incredible and bringing us all back to 1987.

And yes ladies, he did the slither dance.

I had the opportunity to see the band (well, sort of) that made me want to pick up the guitar play, November Rain, the song that made me want to play. I will never forget it.

THE SETLIST:

1. Chinese Democracy
2. Welcome to the Jungle
3. It’s So Easy
4. Mr. Brownstone
5. Estranged
6. Rocket Queen
7. Better
8. Richard Fortus Guitar Solo
9. Live and Let Die
  
  (Wings cover)
10. This I Love
11. Holidays in the Sun
  
  (Sex Pistols cover) (Tommy Stinson on lead vocals, with band introductions)
12. Dizzy Reed Piano Solo
13. Catcher in the Rye
14. You Could Be Mine
15. DJ Ashba Guitar Solo
  
  (La Bella Vita)
16. Sweet Child O’ Mine
17. Jam
  
  (“Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” by Led Zeppelin)
18. November Rain
19. Abnormal
  
  (Bumblefoot cover) (Bumblefoot on lead vocals)
20. Don’t Cry
21. Whole Lotta Rosie
  
  (AC/DC cover)
22. Civil War
23. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
  
  (Bob Dylan cover)
24. Nightrain
25. Encore:
26. Jam
27. Patience
28. Used to Love Her
29. The Seeker
  
  (The Who cover)
30. Jam
31. Paradise City

*Dj ASHBA, Lead guitarist for both Guns N Roses & Sixx AM will be hanging out at the ASHBA SWAG tent all weekend to meet fans , make sure to go say hi!

We’re psyched for Day 2. See you in the pit!