Once again, tri-state radio station WAMX (KY/OH/WV) will be hosting the second annual Carnival of Madness Tour. As it makes its way across the country, the event is better known as “X-FEST”. This is the 15th year WAMX has brought some of the BEST MUSIC from both the indie & national scene, & marks the eleventh year that X-Fest was held at “Harris Riverfront Park” in Huntington, WV. “Carnival of Madness” is sponsored by InDegoot Entertainment, Monster Energy Drink, & PRS Guitars – getting its start in 2010…featuring such artists as Shinedown, Sevendust, & 10 Years. This year’s roster for the main stage included Roadrunner recording artists Theory of a Deadman & Black Stone Cherry, as well as national acts Alter Bridge, Adelitas Way, & Emphatic. West Virginia’s own touring acts Bobaflex, Zeroking, & Stacee Lawson hosted the “Loud & Local” side stage, which also featured Downtrend, a band from Pikeville, KY.
A few minutes of rain tried to put a damper on the day’s festivities, not to be so, with fans showing up from all around the tri-state area & they were READY TO ROCK!!! The day began at the “Loud & Local” stage, where we caught the set of Downtrend…with their own style of metal. The powerful set would hit the mark on many music fans in attendance, yet Zeroking & Bobaflex were clearly the FAN FAVORITES. Both bands gave the fans what they wanted. Andy Haught (vocals) commanded every inch of the stage, as Zeroking belted out song after song. Two dancers, & their rhythmic moves, joined the stage show…lighting up the very tight outfit from Huntington. With Haught on vocals, Shane Day on guitar, Paul First on bass, & Chris Webb on drums – they were very entertaining both on & off the stage. As we waited for show time, they made rounds to greet fans that had ventured up to the barriers in front of the stage. Bobaflex upped the ante, by now the crowd had grown much larger than with the previous bands before. Bobaflex comes out of Mount Pleasant, WV. They have shared the stage with Nickelback, Sevendust, & Disturbed…mind you, this is the short list to their ever-so-busy touring schedule. Marty McCoy (guitar) informed me, prior to the show, that a “monster” was to be included in their set – I just didn’t know when. Then, there he was…”Bio-slash-Zombie Man” CENTER STAGE, with what looked like some type of meat…blood that smelt like ketchup protruding from its mouth. This added to the already blistering set Bobaflex brought with them. Now I’m hungry, for more music & maybe a sandwich.
The carnival had begun! We soon found ourselves at the main stage, where Atlantic Records recording artist “Emphatic” roared to a sea cheers & arms raised. Standing in for Patrick Wilson (on vocals) was Grant Kendrick of Omaha-based band The Wreckage. Kendrick soon took command, from every angle, delivering an onslaught to the masses…as guitarists, Justin McCain & Lance Dowdle, paired up from time to time to greet each fan with their blistering finger work. Emphatic clearly set the pace for the course of the day…& the day was far from over. Then, before the crowd had a chance to recoup from Emphatic’s crushing sound, Adelitas Way hit the stage like a SONIC BLAST! Beckley, WV native Keith Wallen whips his guitar up, as Rick Dejesus (vocals) walks out to a wall of cheers from those in attendance. As Adelitas Way served up an abundance of great music, the stage presence would not go “unchallenged” as the rest of the day progressed. Rick Dejesus’ performance does not lack, away from the humming amplifiers, as he is as animate & outgoing off the stage. We see him make his rounds with awaiting fans, for the chance to meet those they came to see, & he is just as striking UP CLOSE.
If you have not caught Roadrunner recording artist BLACK STONE CHERRY, then you must live under a rock…cause this Edmonton, KY band knows how to capture an audience with each guitar hook & poetic line in their blend of southern rock music. Ben Wells was all over the stage, with every leap & bound, hitting each note with precession. Chris Robertson’s vocals were timeless, filled with emotion & energy. They belted out such tunes as “White Trash Millionaire” & “Blame It On The Boom Boom” from their third release “Between the Devil & The Deep Blue Sea”, as well as other fan favorites. I had to take a moment to watch John Fred Young on drums, hittin’ the skins with such passion & strength, that I almost missed hitting the shutter button…as Jon Lawhon & Ben Wells took turns upon the riser, enticing the crowd into A FRENZY.
ALTER BRIDGE soon took the stage & cheers filled the air…as this band, that was formed by former Creed members – lead guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall, & drummer Scott Phillips, plus Myles Kennedy (Slash/Mayfield Four) invited fans for a FULL SCALE exhibition. I was clearly blown away by their performance, even more so to Myles Kennedy. After the last note faded, Kennedy thanked the crowd & announced…“Now, you can go back to your texting!” I couldn’t agree more, as I gazed into the sea of fans, & all I could see were the LCDs of camera phones…REALLY?!? This was Alter Bridge on stage, & regardless of the tweeting & the texting, AB gave it their ALL to the masses. Kennedy’s vocals were right on, as he stretched his range to the max, & Mark Tremonti took residence on stage left – hammering away each song with precession & skill. They clearly came to play & deliver…& “DELIVER” they did.
It did not take long to have the stage ready for the next act, THEORY OF A DEADMAN. Lit in blue, prior to showtime, to each side of the drum riser stood an old school art-piece of a woman that you’d see on a WWII bomber. Same could be said about the second microphone that was set up for Tyler Connolly (vocals/guitar) – something that had “retro appeal”. Hand in hand with Tyler’s hair style, that reminds me of the old “Big Boy” franchise mascot, one was not to be fooled…their sound & catchy lyrics tell another story. A story of a band that has gained fans from all over the world, like Tyler Connolly announced…”We formed a band to get girls, & we got fans instead.” Theory of a Deadman was greeted with an even louder response from the crowd, & did not hesitate to close out the day’s events with some tongue-in-cheek humor & a truckload of HIT SONGS that put them on the charts. Connolly pitted the crowd against one another in cheers, & as he worked both sides of the stage with one of those flip video cameras in hand (seeing which side would outdo the other), surely the “No Contest” rule would have to be applied here – for the fans were MORE THAN EAGER to be a part of the video. Theory of a Deadman pulled out the punches with several of their hits…like “Bitch” & “Bad Girlfriend”, as well as a mix of newer songs from their latest release “The Truth Is” (released in July).
They came, they conquered, & the “Carnival of Madness” delivered a remarkable tour with some amazing bands that were READY TO ROCK. It was a mission accomplished…
Join all bands & the “Carnival of Madness” on Facebook:
Downtrend – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Downtrend/118326918202752
Zeroking – http://www.facebook.com/Zerokingfans
Bobaflex – http://www.facebook.com/Bobaflex
Emphatic – http://www.facebook.com/emphaticrock
Adelitas Way – http://www.facebook.com/adelitasway
Black Stone Cherry – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Stone-Cherry/8509615068
Alter Bridge – http://www.facebook.com/alterbridge?sk=wall
Theory of a Deadman – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Theory-of-a-Deadman/16131485044
Carnival of Madness – http://www.facebook.com/CarnivalofMadness
WAMX Radio (Huntington, WV) – http://www.facebook.com/X1063WAMX
Brian Cade – September, 2011
