Uproar Tour Review
UPROAR! MADNESS!: The Rockstar Uproar Festival headlined by an all star line up
The Rockstar Uproar Festival is one of the largest rock festivals in the country to take place this year (one of the best values as well). Unfortunately, much like many other festivals, and other main stream rock artists, it did not make a stop in San Antonio. So, in the name of Skeetopia, I made the 5 hour drive up to Dallas, TX to see what all the….Uproar was about.
I’ve been to over 100 concerts, and in that 100 probably 20 of them have been enormous festivals much like the Rockstar Uproar Festival. Typically for fans this means hours spent in unbearable weather, long waits between bands and extreme ticket prices. This festival really takes most of those factors out of the experience. Pit tickets were a mere $80 which 3 of the main stage artists could demand nearly on their own merit. So to get the entire festival for that, it’s a true steal. While it did rain the entire day in Dallas, the main stage was under a huge awning making it rather enjoyable. This event was set up exceptionally well. With the two other stages outside the main stage rotating the entire day, there was really minimal wait in between set changes. It was also nice to see some diversity in the line up with bands like Duece, Within Reason, and Candlelight Red. Not every band was cookie cutter and was easily distinguishable. Then you had the ‘build up bands’. These were the bands that get you ready to go into the main stage area to see the main attractions. P.O.D. and Fozzy really pulled solid performances to keep a good energy flow going into the main stage portion of the festival.
When it got to the main stage I think a lot of fans were pleasantly surprised with Adelitas Way given they are still fairly new to the mainstream scene. They’re a band full of energy and nonstop action. A good way for most of the crowd to become new fans and lead into Staind’s set.
Still to this day, Staind is the second loudest band I have ever seen live (AC/DC tops all). With countless radio singles in their arsenal, Staind worked the crowd well the entire set. They did an exceptional job of mixing in said singles a long with a couple of deep cuts. Staind is probably one of the more consistent bands on the circuit today.
Godsmack followed and raised the bar in my opinion for the entire show. Sully (front man) looked the best he has looked in years, he is training for the Rock n’ Roll Marathon after all. The drum session between Sully and drummer Shannon Larkin has been a staple in their set for years and never disappoints. As great as a front man Sully makes, he is an equally as talented drummer. Godsmack’s set featured probably the most memorable moment of the evening. With the Dallas area being the home of the late great, Dimebag Darrell, Godsmack, along with members of Staind, Fozzy, and several other bands covered Pantera’s ‘This Love’. There are no other words to describe it aside from epic. The entire place went crazy and I can’t blame them. Purely as a fan, it was one of the coolest moments I’ve experience at a live show.
Last but certainly not least, Shinedown took the stage like they have never taken it before, opening up their set with three songs that were just in your face rock (Sound of Madness, Diamond Eyes, Enemies). What separated their performance from everyone else’s was the sheer intensity of it. Shinedown has always been a band that prides themselves on touring and touring hard. Every show is 15 songs or better of nothing but an adrenaline rush for fans. Now they have taken their presentation to the next level with pyro, flames, track music that flows between songs, and as always crowd interaction. Shinedown continues to improve in every facet which is what has vaulted them to the top of festivals of this magnitude.
If you have a chance to visit one of the select remaining dates on this years Rockstar Uproar Festival I highly recommend it. If not, it seems to be a main stay for rock tours in the U.S. so if Rockstar sponsors a tour, get yourself there because you’re in for treat. The Uproar tour has grown every year of it’s existence and with great turn outs at each show, there’s no reason to believe it won’t continue to do so.
For now, if you’re a San Antonio resident, continue to make those road trip plans to see your favorite rock shows. When San Antonio wants to bring it at a rock show they always do, hopefully the city will obtain great events like this one. Though on the other hand, a road trip usually ends in a really good drunken story, eh Skeetopians?
I’d like to thank Matt Kelly for taking the time to write this article..Because we all know how god damn hard it is to get hooked up with press passes and go see a free show- Josh
