We have had more than a dozen artists contribute more than 50 videos of interviews and exclusive performances since re-launching PE Live. Watch all of the PE Live performances.
From the pyrotechnics of Rob Zombie to Amon Amarth’s Viking ship stage set, the show was nothing short of epic. Read more about the Mayhem Festival at the Audio File.
Five Finger Death Punch performs during The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival at San Manuel Amphitheater Saturday in Devore, CA. June 29, 2013. (Terry Pierson/Staff Photographer)
Amon Amarth performs on their Viking ship set at the 2013 Mayhem Festival at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore on June 29, 2013. (Terry Pierson/Staff Photographer)
The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival is not for the weak. Mayhem Fest at San Manuel Amphitheater in the bright sunshine of Devore is something that only the strong survive.*
You see the casualties along the way–the sunburned; the people stretched out on the lawn who might be napping or might be passed out; the young woman who gets sick on the stairs that she’s trying to climb to get another beer. But the survivors are rallying in the pit, throwing rock horns in the air to the pulsating double bass drums. They’re up in the lawn, dancing around the bonfires, demon sprites of the heavy metal hollow.
The festival kicked off its sixth tour at ground zero for metal–the birthplace of Ozzfest, where metal ruled the Us Festival for a day, in the sweltering hills of Glen Helen–on Saturday, June 29, with main stage performances from Amon Amarth, Mastodon, Five Finger Death Punch and Rob Zombie.
The side stages, where the action happened during the hottest part of the day, hosted up-and-comers as well as heavy hitters Machine Head and Children of Bodom.
Even Johan Hegg, vocalist for Amon Amarth, encouraged people to drink a water for every two beers they had because of the heat, noting that he doesn’t usually recommend that, but it was too hot.
The fans filled the pit, but the orchestra and loge sections had swaths of open seats (loge more so than orchestra) and the lawn seemed to have people packed in at the front, but the crowds didn’t stretch far back onto the hillside.
Amon Amarth showed a lot of promise opening the main stage, even with a minor delay of a song due to guitar troubles. The Swedish group brought out a Viking ship as part of their stage setup. Seriously, forget fire and costumes, what is more metal than a Viking ship set for a band that sings about Vikings? It would be so very Spinal Tap if not done well, but it was awesome.
Following them, Mastodon was a little more subdued. There wasn’t any flashy show, just a banner behind the band depicting the cover of “The Hunter,” the band’s most recent album. The band’s music held up, but it seemed like there were vocal problems at times during the set.
Then, Five Finger Death Punch came out, metal blazing, with their biggest stage production to date. The band is on its third tour of Mayhem. They brought gargoyles for their stage. Gargoyles make everything better. I think the band’s forthcoming double album “The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell” is going to take them to the next level. Volume 1 is due out on July 30. I talked with bassist Chris Kael about the band’s ties to Mayhem and the new music.
Rob Zombie and his flying fringe at the 2013 Mayhem Festival at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore. (Terry Pierson/Staff Photo)
A curtain hiding the stage dropped at the beginning of his set to reveal Zombie atop a tall set piece that had “Zombie” written on the front and was almost like his version of the Superman S. There were video screens everywhere–behind the band, above the band, below the band–showing a mix of Zombie’s style of artwork as well as more film-like clips.
And of course there was pyro. I counted 10 plumes of flames at one point (about five times the number of bonfires going on in the lawn by then). On the hottest day of the year, I was puzzled as to why Zombie was running around in what appeared to be a full leather coat with fringe. Even at night it was still hot at San Manuel Amphitheater. But props to him for hopping and almost skipping around the stage in it before he ditched it a few songs in.
I’d love to share some of his stage banter, but I’m not sure there was anything I could print without getting fired. He’s still surly and entertaining at the same time. Let’s leave it at that.
Josh Alas, of Los Angeles, gets refreshed after having a bucket of water poured on him during the Mayhem Festival at the San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore at the 2011 Mayhem Fest. (2011/File Photo)
The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival kicks off at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore on Saturday, June 29. The National Weather Service has forecast the temperature hitting 104 degrees for the day.
With the extreme heat wave, I reached out to Live Nation, which operates San Manuel Amphitheater’s concerts, about any precautions for Mayhem. Greg Terlizzi, public relations director for Live Nation’s SoCal office sent me some info about what’s allowed for the event. Thanks, Greg!
Concert attendees are allowed to bring in multiple 20-ounce bottles of water. They must be factory sealed.
Empty reusable water bottles and empty Camelbacks are allowed. There will be additional water filling stations on site.
Sunscreen is allowed. Bring it in.
San Manuel Amphitheater is known for being a big wide open space, but there will be additional shade structures brought in for it.
“We are monitoring the heat – as well as the weather conditions, overall – and are taking it into consideration when staffing medical personnel for this event,” Terlizzi wrote via email.
Tickets are still on sale for the event. Gates open at 1 p.m. Saturday. San Manuel Amphitheater is located at 2575 Glen Helen Parkway in Devore. Tickets are still available for the show and range from $35.50-$75, including the fees. You can pick them up at LiveNation.com.
Nathan Rivera and Shine Delphi perform for PE Live. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)
Have you seen the latest edition of PE Live? This week we’re featuring the music of Shine Delphi and Nathan Rivera, two friends who both write fantastic music.
Their last California show for a while is tonight, June 28, in Encinitas. They are heading off to Colorado and Montana on Saturday.
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Both musical travelers, both have ties to Murrieta, although Delphi has most recently been living in Pennsylvania.
We have had more than a dozen artists contribute more than 50 videos of interviews and exclusive performances since re-launching PE Live. Watch all of the PE Live performances.
The new album, “Sammy Hagar and Friends” is full of collaborations, including some friends Hagar has recorded with before, such as Chickenfoot bandmates Michael Anthony, Chad Smith and Joe Satriani, as well as Bill Church and Denny Carmassi of Montrose.
The list also includes Kid Rock, Ronnie Dunn, Nancy Wilson and Neal Schon.
The 10-song album will be released Sept. 24 and has original and cover songs on it. Hagar also recorded with his son, Aaron, on the song “Father Sun.”
The covers include Bob Seger’s “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” and Depeche Mode “Personal Jesus.” I really can’t wait to hear how Sammy takes on Depeche Mode.
Here’s a little clip with Hagar, Schon, Anthony and Smith. It sounds like some of these might be on the new Hagar record.
In the meantime, the Red Rocker is celebrating his “Four Decades of Rock” summer tour, which will be Hagar and his solo band The Wabos, with friends and other bandmates joining him at various stops on the tour.
The closest that Sammy is getting to his hometown of Fontana is a stop at Del Mar Scene summer concert series on Saturday, July 27. The show is free, but it costs $6 to get into the racetrack.
With a little luck, I’ll be able to catch up with Sammy before the show. He’s one of my favorite interviews. He really is that much and still really just loves what he does.
Tickets from the March 29 show will be honored. Hatchet, Monolith, Xpulsion, When All Rest and Aberrance are also performing.
On Saturday, June 29, Stop the Phoenix will headline a show at the venue with I am the Conqueror, Aim to Kill, Radio Active, Growing Up Stupid and Love and the Skulls.
Tickets for both shows are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. You can pick up tickets in advance at Ticketweb.
The Vault is located at 41607 Enterprise Circle N. in Temecula. The shows are open to all ages. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for both shows.
Tickets go on sale at noon on Thursday, June 27 for Insomniac’s Nocturnal Wonderland at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore.
Insomniac’s long-running electronic dance music festival, which has been held previously at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino, will go off Saturday, Sept. 21 from 3 pm. to 2 a.m. at the amphitheater and its grounds in Glen Helen Regional Park.
Tickets are $65-$85, before fees. After fees, the totals come to $79.50 and $101.70. Tickets will be available via Live Nation. I haven’t seen the actual lineup appear at the Nocturnal website nor the Insomniac pages just yet. You do have to be at least 18 with identification to go to the show.
Insomniac’s first event at the location was Beyond Wonderland, which seemed to be a hit with fans. Did you go to that one? Are you planning to go to Nocturnal?
