| ROLLING ROCK TOWN FAIR 4 AUGUST, 2001 WESTMORELAND FAIR GROUNDS LATROBE, PA Cindy and I drove up to Connellsville, PA on Friday evening, pitched our tent at a campsite catering almost exclusively to the concert-goers. I didn’t know I was so old. These kids stayed up partying loudly until about 5AM. They opened the parking lots at the fairgrounds at 8AM. We got there around 10:30 and hung out in the parking lot for a couple of hours putting down some brew. The first band wasn’t supposed to go on until noon, but I guess someone decided to start a little early. We missed Tantric and Oleander. By the time we got to the stage area Staind was on. Before I get into my critique of the musicians, let me give you a description of the fucked up set-up they had for this show. As most of you know, Rolling Rock is a brewery that has been around for quite awhile. You would think that they would have a few organizational skills. Think again, my friends. The worst thing about the concert was the fact that they had a “Beergarden” which was isolated from the stage area. If you wanted a beer you had to stay within the confines of the drinking area. They had wide-screens set up so you could watch the show while sipping your beer, but it’s just not the same as being in front of the stage. So we had to take a break every once in awhile to go down some drinks. Staind was awesome. We only caught a couple of songs, but I’m a fan of the band and they sounded great live. The Deftones were on next, which was a total surprise to me. Getting back to organizational skills, they usually have the best bands on last. No, I’m not saying these guys were good. Far from it, actually. I just don’t understand why Staind went on before they did. If you ever decide to see the Deftones live, please reconsider. They sucked! Incubus is a band you definitely want to see and I know that some of you already have. They have a couple of tunes that are borderline rap, but when all is said and done these guys rock. I had to watch most of their show from the damned “Beergarden”. Live was next on the agenda and I had to go out to the stage area for them. I’m a die-hard Live fan and I must say that they did not disappoint me. Ed Kowalczyk was tuned in to the fans and handled his frontman position like a pro. The last show was, of course, STP. If any of you have seen these guys in concert, you know what a freak Scott Weiland is. I mean that in a good way. He fuckin’ owns the stage. He is a spectacle with his jumping, rolling, weird-ass flailing arms dance that he does to most of their songs. I saw them in October of last year, where he put the American flag around himself and took off his clothes. As he walked off the stage one of the band members grabbed the flag and he walked off in the buff. Well, they did the same damned routine at the end of this show. They really need to come up with something new. The show was over by 8PM, which was a serious let-down. Having no light show at a concert is just inconceivable. Sorry I couldn’t give you guys the lowdown on Tantric, but the damned promoters just fucked everything up by starting earlier than planned. I would like to thank Patricia for being our savior by sending us tickets to this sold-out festival. We found her on the net through the classifieds and she hooked us up with two tickets and a parking pass. We were parked about 50 yards from the gate. Thanks. CHRIS |
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