Day 1
Kill Devil Hill
This was the first band of the weekend for me and a hell of a band to start my Rock on the Range weekend with. Featuring former Pantera Bassist Rex Brown, these guys know how to captivate a crowd. Lead vocalist Dewey Bragg is an incredible force on stage, he has loud commanding vocals that are hard to ignore. One of my favorite things about their set was they were able to play to the crowd and have genuine interactions with out missing a beat. This was my first time seeing these guys but I will definitely be on the look out for their next tour.
Kyng 
My first time really listening to this band was a week prior at “Welcome to Rockville” in Jacksonville FL, I really liked their sound and was excited to see what else these guys had in store. I always say three-piece bands stand at bit of a disadvantage because they are very limited in their interactions. The drummer behind the drum kit, the singer behind his mic stand, which leaves you with a bassist who tries to over compensate for the lack of the other two but sometimes feels out of place. Kyng did not fall into this mold. Every member in the band had their own unique connection with the crowd and refused to put on a “boring” show. Between their heavy riffs and exciting set, I’m excited to see what these guys do in the future.
Thousand Foot Krutch
Thousand Foot Krutch is a consistently entertaining band, lead vocalist Trevor McNevan has a lot of energy, dancing and stomping around the top of the stage. While these guys are considered a Christian rock band, they do a good job of sticking to their beliefs with out preaching to the crowd. These guys seem to genuinely love performing and it really makes a difference in their shows.
We Came As Romans
Whenever these guys are on tour, or are on a festival bill, I go out of my way to try to cover their set. Lead vocalists David Stephens and Kyle Pavone bounce off of one another flawlessly. David does most of the growling and screaming while Kyle does the clean vocals, this presents a level of diversity that keeps their music interesting. This show was no different from their other shows, these guys were spot on, definitely a band to look out for.
Butcher Babies
Going to see the Butcher Babies is always an experience, basically playboy girls deciding they want to try their hand at heavy metal. I think the obvious appeal is the skimpy outfits they wear and well, boobs. Clearly they know what they are doing because I would never go to one of their shows to listen to their music, while I have respect for women who can scream, they need more than just scream and growl. But it’s not really about the music here. While I love watching them and photographing their shows, I just can’t take them seriously has a heavy metal band.
Living Colour
So I’m pretty sure we’ve all heard of these guys for their hit, “Cult of personality” I know that’s how I am familiar with them, so naturally I wanted to check out their set. Holy shit. These guys are a blast live. Lead vocalist, Corey Glover refused to stop moving, he was jumping from speaker to speaker then out into the crowd and back on stage in time to take “selfies” with every member of the band, and this was within their first two songs. I had no idea what to expect from them, but I was pleasantly surprised with their set.
Down
I would venture to say this was one of the more anticipated sets of the weekend. Former Pantera vocalist, Philip Anselmo knows how to command a crowd, as soon as he came out and broke into their set the crowd exploded. While there is this huge stigma behind Phil and his former band, he offers tribute to Pantera and Dimebag while still remaining true to Down.
Day 2
We as Human
I am so excited to see We as Human on this bill, I first saw these guys about a year ago at a club show in Baltimore opening for “Red.” Off the bat they had caught my eye. Their onstage chemistry and interactions were very mature for such a young band, seeing them on a larger stage at a major festival like this was well deserved. Lead vocalist, Justin Cordle is so animated, refusing to stand still he was jumping off the drum kit, on speakers and out into the crowd. They are such a highly accessible band, definitely a band to look out for in the future.
Avatar
Going to see Avatar’s set was probably the best decision I’d made all weekend. Making their first every American music festival debut Swedish rockers Avatar gave the crowd one of the most graphic, and entertaining sets I’ve seen at Rock on the Range. Lead vocalist, Johannes Eckerström dressed as a ringleader of a circus, complete with a top hat and cane, screamed, yelled, danced and marched around the stage like he owned the place. They are a heavy metal band and a acid trip perfectly meshed. I’d say most of the people who had watched their set, left as a fan.
Fozzy
Another highly anticipated band of the weekend fronted by WWE wrestler, Chris Jericho, Fozzy. Finding some mainstream success after the release of “Do you wanna start a war” These guys were on just about every major rock festival of the summer, even landing a main stage slot at Europe’s largest festival, Download. I’ve seen these guys a couple times now, Jericho brings a lot of his WWE antics to the stage, wearing light up jackets and slinging his microphone stand around, adding to the appeal. Jericho has a surprisingly appealing voice, he has raspy elements that remind me of more of a grunge style added by heavy instrumentals and screaming vocals.
The Pretty Reckless
This is one of those bands I’m really indifferent about, I think they have very radio friendly music and play a lot off of Taylor Momsen’s sex appeal. It is pretty evident especially while watching their live set, while she wears a short dress and rubs herself constantly throughout the set. I just can’t get behind it. Even photographers in the pit were making sexual innuendos about their set. To me, that’s not what rock N roll is about. When did it deviate so far from the music? Some people will love it, others will hate it, personally, I think they’re good to shoot and they have some catchy songs.
Suicidal Tendencies
This is a band I absolutely love shooting, there is so much energy put into their set, vocalist, Mike Muir hardly has time to stop and catch his breath as he relentlessly runs around the stage and jumps around like he is involved in a one man mosh pit. Suicidal Tendencies is such a great festival band, whether you’re into their music or not, it’s so easy to feed off their energy and just enjoy the experience.
Day 3
Monster Truck
I heard Monster Truck this year for the first time and absolutely fell in love, they mix this old school bluesy style with rock and roll, I would describe them as a healthy mix of AC/DC meets Kenny Wayne Sheppard. This is another one of those three-piece bands, they weren’t the most exciting band to shoot, but damn if they aren’t good. Amidst the craziness of working a festival this big I stuck around to listen to their whole set.
Gemini Syndrome
For a being as “new” as these guys are in the music world they are quickly making a name for themselves. Forming the group in 2010, former Otep guitarist, Aaron Nordstrom fronts this eccentric, in your face type rock N roll band. First on stage is drummer, Brian Steele sits Indian style in his stool as he bows his head and puts his hands together as if in prayer, then he’s off. Throughout their set they interacted with the crowd, Aaron often talked between songs about his inspirations and personal battles he has overcome.
Twelve Foot Ninja
Honestly this is a band that was quite forgettable to me, they didn’t really stand out aside from the fact that they were Australian. Festivals like this are a good place to go explore new bands you haven’t heard of sometimes you gamble and find your new favorite band and sometimes maybe it’s just not what you expected. Not to say these guys were bad by any means they just didn’t appeal to me.
We Are Harlot
Debuting here at Rock on the Range, Asking Alexandria’s Danny Worsnop’s side project We are Harlot. It was terrible from the get go. As soon as they came on stage everyone raised their beers to the crowd and off they went. It was obvious they had little to no onstage chemistry, they kept running into one another as they were moving around the stage, it was very uncoordinated. I get it, this was their first major gig, I didn’t know what to expect from them, but this was just bad.
Miss May I
Miss May I is a band I really enjoy seeing, I don’t care too much for their music but at festivals I always make it a point to go cover their set. Lead vocalist, Levi Benton Is constantly running around the stage, jumping off the risers and getting the crowd involved. I think these guys are great, especially if you’re at a festival the energy they put out is infectious
Of Mice and Men
This is another one of those warped tour bands that I will try to shoot whenever the opportunity arises. Again, another band I really don’t care for their music but they put a lot into their set and it definitely pays off. Vocalist, Austin Carlile has such a powerful voice, it’s hard not to take notice.
Jason Bonham
I couldn’t have been more excited about this set, everyone knows of Jason’s father John Bonham, the legendary drummer for Led Zeppelin. After John passed away Jason had actually filled in as a drummer for his father in Led Zeppelin. Since then he has gone on to form a tribute band, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin experience. It was a really cool set, you knew what to expect but my favorite part of their set was in between songs when Jason stopped to talk about his father. It gave such a personal insight to such an influential band.
Kill Devil Hill
Kyng
Thousand Foot Krutch
We Came As Romans
Butcher Babies
Living Color
Down
We As Human
Avatar
Fozzy
The Pretty Reckless
Suicidal Tendencies
Monster Truck
Gemini Syndrome
Twelve Foot Ninja
We Are Harlot
Miss May I
Of Mice and Men
Jason Bonham and the Led Zeppelin Experience
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