BY MICHAEL DODSON | Go Venue Magazine
It begins. A balmy 68 with high humidity. Cloudy skies brought the openers one of the three stages. Philadelphia’s own hard rock band – Siravo. With a great cover of Chicago’s 25 or 6 to 4. From Ashes To New then took to the Main Stage as the big guy opener. Honestly? I felt it a kind of lackluster performance in such a showcase spot. We then caught Sylar. An odd mix of metalcore and new metal. Oddly refreshing. The predominantly young crowd, ate it up. Crowd surfers and hands wave. After making our trek back to the main stage (quite a walk), we had the chance of catching the end of Fozzy’s set. Which was not was I expected. It appeared that Chris Jerhico was lip syncing parts of the vocal. In the very least, there were overpowering backing vocal tracks running throughout the set. The bass drops were way out of control. It’s was at this point that the venue staff, unprepared and unaware of what passes allowed you access to what areas, that we were asked to move from the VIP seating area. We ventured on. Bad Omens were a blast of fresh air. The best set yet. Beartooth has been great each time I’ve seen them and this was no different. They bring a great energy and sound. This is more my speed. Knocked Loose comes up next. On the Wiggins River Stage. A beautiful backdrop on the Delaware River with Philadelphia in the background. The young band brought a young crowd and high energy nasal vocal as well. 4 songs in, 10 minutes elapsed. Short song lengths keep the required attention span needed at a minimum. And then there was GWAR. If you have yet to witness the spectacle that is GWAR, I highly suggest it. They are a 10/10 live band. While we heard tones of Skillet echoing from over the hill, we waited on the hill at the Plaza Stage. For what was the highlight of my journey here. To jeers of “whoop whoop”, and shouts of “FAM” the crowd gathered for Insane Clown Posse. And I waited.
And then came the clowns. It seemed as if were an infinite shower of Diet Faygo. It must have been hundreds of 2 liters that the two rapping clowns spewed upon the crowd. The crowd was fully engaged. It was an exciting and energetic set. I was NOT let down. More to come on the clown known as Shaggy 2 Dope.
After ICP we made our way to the Main Stage for the final acts. We had to miss Skillet due to ICP. But Motionless in White, a recurring theme at Rock Allegiance, seemed to keep the crowd entertained. They were definitely not my breed of tunes, but a well put together set nonetheless, as I could see why they have been brought back each time.
Papa Roach brought all the hits out for their co-headlining set. They even threw down a cover of Blur’s Song Two. Which might have been better than the original. Songs like “Scars”, “Getting Away With Murder” and “Between Angels and Insects” kept the thousands in attendance poised just long enough for the entire assemblage to join together in group song for “Last Resort” as they closed out their set.
Limp Bizkit were the headliners due to a cancellation by Avenged Sevenfold. Fred Durst jumped into the crowd after their first song and tried his best to enthuse the crowd. I must say, it made me smile to see the old days again. But that was short lived as Durst’s voice isn’t what it once was. If was ever anything at all. Neither my show compadre nor myself found comfort in the extremely drawn out intros and segues provided by the band in what seemed to only time filler, in what was to make up the extended set time due to A7X cancelling. But alas. The highlight of the set came not from the band themselves, but from an unsuspected party of one. Shaggy 2 Dope. In what I believe what their sixth song, Limp Bizkit front man Fred Durst took to edge of the stage between the monitors. When from behind, came a wife-beater basketball shirt clad figure. As he approached Durst it was plain that his intent was to drop kick Fred from behind and knock him off the stage. But a swing, and a MISS. As the crowd exploded the venue became electrified. In what was surely the highlight of the day, Shaggy 2 Dope was hauled off stage by 4 enormous men in what can only be described as a dead animal carry. As Limp Bizkit closed their set and we made our way to the car, the sounds of “Nookie” echoing in the distance, I can safely say, that stepping out of my comfort zone, and venturing to Rock Allegiance was well worth the trip.
There were plenty of great food trucks and food vendors on hand. Providing me with thousands of calories in which to trek between the three stages. Other than an unprepared venue staff, the show went off great. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. If rock music, tainted with less teeth and more personality is your thing, then Rock Allegiance is for you.
