The 2014 inaugural Mayhem Festival kicked off July 4th weekend in Southern California at the San Manual Amphitheater with four stages and over nineteen bands. This year the attendance doubled to 28,000 being the largest crowd Mayhem Fest has seen and hosted the most diverse metal line-up to date.
In our opinion, Rapper/Actor Ice-T and his metal band of 20+ years (Body Count) stole the show just like Ice-Tea stole scenes in Law & Order Special Victims Unit. It was cool seeing Ice-Tea back stage as a metal fan watching the other bands as he awaited for his chance to shine. Drummer Ill Will definitely shined with his old school powerhouse drumming and tasteful fills.
Body Count w/ Ice-Tea Stole the Show
We were also impressed by the confidence and panoche of English metal-core band Asking Alexandria. The crowd also raised their fists for metal vets Mushroomhead, that toured with KORN back in the day. Lastly, our rising star pick is Upon A Burning Body, from San Antonio Texas. Front man Danny Leal engaged and controlled the crowd with his explosive vocals. These Texas natives mix head banging metal with a southern groove making their music live up the crowd with fist pumps and mosh pits. FestPop predicts these guys will be on the Mayhem main stage in 2 years or less. The band is releasing their new album “The World Is My Enemy Now” In August 2014.
Asking Alexandria
Mushroomhead
Upon A Burning Body
Once the sun set and the I finally became hydrated, Korn lit up the San Bernardino mountains with classics such as “Got the life” “Shoots and Ladders” and “Freak on a Leash”. Korn electrified the crowd with their extensive light show and spectacular performance. Lead singer Jonathan Davis with his unique vocal style and impressive act for performance had amazing energy on stage, inspiring the audience which was the festival’s largest crowd yet. Their ability to roar up the crowd sprung up crowd surfing as their long time faithful fans lit up their cell phones and raised their lighters for the band’s music.
KORN
The Festival peaked with our Southern California local boys Avenged Sevenfold. I felt their over the top stage set up of projected video game skeletons and a giant robotic crowned skeleton was a distraction from their performance. I understand theatrics but these guys are f#kin talented. They don’t need fire and animation. My jaw dropped many times watching lead guitarist, Brian Haner, Jr. shred through leads and chords effortlessly. Next tour guys sell all that crap to Iron Maiden and just come out and rock.
Avenged Sevenfold
As we go to press the next Mayhem Festival is July 11th in Phoenix, AZ and will continue throughout the states so be sure to catch this year’s ultimate Metal Fest! This is a metal festival you want to experience.
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Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival Dates
Jul. 05 San Bernardino, CA – San Manuel Amphitheater
Jul. 06 Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheater
Jul. 08 Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheater
Jul. 09 Nampa, ID Idaho Center Amphitheater
Jul. 11 Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
Jul. 12 Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
Jul. 13 Denver, CO – Fillmore Aud.
Jul. 14 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheater
Jul. 15 Kansas City, KS – Sandstone Amphitheater
Jul. 16 Maryland Heights, MO – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Jul. 17 Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
Jul. 18 Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Ballroom
Jul. 19 Noblesville, IN – Klipsch Music Center
Jul. 20 Tinley Park, IL – First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
Jul. 22 Mansfield, MA Xfinity Center
Jul. 23 Saratoga, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Jul. 25 Toronto, ON – Toronto, ON Molson Canadian Amphitheater
Jul. 24 Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Jul. 26 Burgettstown, PA – First Niagara Pavilion
Jul. 27 Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre
Jul. 29 Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake
Jul. 30 Wantagh, NY – Nikon Theater at Jones Beach
Aug. 01 Scranton, PA – The Pavilion At Montage Mountain
Aug. 02 Camden, NJ – Susquehanna Bank Center
Aug. 03 Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
Aug. 05 Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheater
Aug. 06 Millington, TN – Memphis International Raceway
Aug. 07 – Oklahoma City, OK – Oklahoma Zoo Amphitheater
Aug. 09 – Dallas, TX – Gexa Energy Pavilion
Aug. 10 – The Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
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By
Alex Klorheis, FestPop Staff Writer
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