troysbucket reviewed on Jul 19 2008 1:32AM:
Show Rating: (4)

The guy that's in charge of this thing should have learned from his old partner who does the Warped Tour. You don't schedule bands to play at the same time as each other. Because of their lame planning, I had to miss Walls Of Jericho to see Mastodon, I missed Mastodon's first song because of overlap with The Red Chord, and I missed Dragonforce's first song because of overlap with Machine Head. The good news is the music was mostly awesome. I'm so glad I've lived long enough for the return of everything that made metal great. Long hair is back. Wearing the shirt of the band you're seeing is back. Singing is back, and somewhat paradoxical, death metal is back. Guitar solos are back. Highlights were Mastodon, Dragonforce, Slipknot, The Red Chord, and Machine Head (album of the year 2007 and the best live band playing today besides Iron Maiden) The mosh pits were killer. There were bands to appeal to all ranges of taste in metal styles, except black metal. The bad news: It was 115 degrees. The crowd did not get Mastodon or Dragonforce and they sat down for them. Underoath just sucks, and they preached about Jesus from the stage. How annoying. Disturbed is SO BORING. Every song is he same tempo, and no real musicianship. It's the stuff that made metal lame for the last 10 years or so. Machine Head only got 35 minutes. Mastodon did not play Blood And Thunder. Slipknot did not play Spit It Out or Wait And Bleed. All in all, however, a great show.

JLTeghtmeyer reviewed on Jul 19 2008 9:35AM:
Show Rating: (5)

The whole show overall was great. A few things sucked like how they made everyone get out of their seats after mastadon and re-enter after some of us had our tickets checked already. That was some fuckin chaos. The wonderful AZ heat, but the bands made that worth while. I loved FFDP the should of had a longer set and opened for Disturbed because they had the crowd in it way more then Mastodon or Dragonforce. I have nothing against those bands its just they didnt have as great of a show. Disturbed sounded like the CD's. They werent bad but they didnt put a show on like Slipknot, holy fuck! Too bad for the fuckin curfews, I would of stayed another hour or two just to watch them play. I cant wait for next year.

Nicko reviewed on Jul 19 2008 11:44AM:
Show Rating: (0)

Rockstar ENergy Mayem Tour 2008 (Inaugural Run)
Friday July 18, 2008
Bands: 2 Local Yager BAnds, 36 CrazyFists, Suicide Silence, 5 Finger Death Punch, Black Tide, Airbourne, The Red Chord, Walls Of Jericho, Underoath, Machine Head, Mastadon, DragonForce, Disturbed, Slipknot
Doors: 1:30 pm
Show: 2:00 pm
Phoenix, Az
Venue: Crickett Wireless Pavillion


This was an off year for ozzfest, as it only had one stop, well 2 one in Montreal, early in June and once in DAllas, Tx at Pizza Hut Park on Aug 8, 2008. Presumably because Ozzy had a full tour over the winter, and could not handle, a summer, winter, summer tour itenerary. Sounds of the Underground aslo lost its major funding partners so this left the door wide open for a new contender, enter Rockstar energy drinks. Over the last 10 years Red Bull, Monster and ROckstar have slowly become the most popular drinks among teenagers; and Rockstar has come out on top at least lately. ROckstar decided to throw their money around and take advantage of a new summer left empty of a major concert festival, yet still included releases by Disturbed, SLipknot and a few rock and metal bands.
I arrived to the venue about 12:45, and found the shorter "jump the Line" blue wristband pass and got in it, it was about 50 people long, and the general line was over 500 long, possibly more. Rockstar was there handing out free drinks and kupd was broadcasting and people were buying tickets left and right. I jumped in line and waited and waited in the hot 113+ sun. I got in looked at the shirts that ranged in price from $25-$35 for major artists. I ran over across the venue since the mainstage was closed until 5:00pm, and the first local Yager band was on the stage. The Yagermeister stage and The Hot Topic Second Stage were located on the other side of the venue in the parking lot as ozzfest had offered the second stage in past years. The two stages were literally 20 ft apart and the artists went back and forth all day so the music never stopped!


Yager Stage-Local Yager Contest winner(2:00pm-2:25pm)
I'm not sure of their name but they were ok, as fas as local openign acts go. They Had a metal sound with aspects of hardcore mixed in. They had a local following of friends their early. They thanked us diehard metal fans for coming out early to check them out.
Hot Topic Stage-36 CrazyFists (2:20pm-2:50pm)
For the first national known band they were good, they sounded good and together but they were a mix of hardcore and metal , mostly hardcore so i again wasn't into them. Everyone from my yager stage moved over to catch them. I could start to see those diehard machine head fans staying on the barricade on my stage to be ready for Machine head 5 hours later.
Setlist:
intro
ill go until my heart stops
end of august
felt thru a phone line
elysium (with the singer from 12 tribes)
we gave it hell
the heart and the shape
the all night lights
Yager Stage-Local Yager Contest winner (2:50-3:15)
I didn't like these guys. I understand you have to try something new and different to make a name for your band but cover songs and changing the lyrcis isn't cool to me. They did it to a couple of System of A Down songs, and "Bodies" from Drowning Pool. All they were trying to do is get a rise out of the crowd by doing the intro or chorus and changing the lyrics. I don't know these guys will last that long.
Hot Topic Stage-Suicide Solution (3:15-3:45)
These guys were good, Speed and death metal at its finest. The drummer had a good rhythm and speed to his play, the guitar and bassist worked off each other such as Morbid Angel. However, their lead singer looked like a hardcore singer, he didn't portray the metal look at all. Which was ok i guess. I would liek to see these guys again. The lead singer could growl with the best of them.
setlist:
No Pity For A Coward
The Price Of Beauty
???
???
Yager Stage-5 FInger Death Punch (3:45pm-4:15pm)
5FDP was good. The 2 songs they have on the radio are nothing to what they are really like. Lots of anger, violent, Hard language metal. I was expecting something completely different than what i received. The crowd was growning for these guys and got a large positive response. I think their is a connection with this band locally and thats why the crowd was into them. The only song i recognized was "The Bleeding" I would see these guys again if they opened for another show, i don;t know I'd like to see them on their own tour.
setlist:
Ashes
Salvation
Devils Own
White Knuckles
The Bleeding
Hot Topic Stage-Black Tide (4:15pm-4:45pm)
This is the band of teenagers that people joke about. Let me tell you they are no joke. If they continue learning to play cleaner, faster. They could really be something special in the future. They played tow songs "Shockwave" and a cover of a METALLICA song "Hit the Lights." The cover was spot on except for a few chorus parts from the guitar player. He mess up Kirk's solo twice. I would like to see these guys again. they seemed to be into the crowd as the crowd grew on them quickly.
setlist:
Shockwave
Warriors of Time
Hit the Lights(Metallica or Iron Maiden Cover, they chose Metallica thankfully)
Give me a chance
Let Me
Yager Stage-Airbourne (4:45pm-5:15pm)
Airbourne was a good example of good old rock n' roll. Coming out of Austria and being a rock band you would expect an AC/DC sound and yes that is what you got. I don't know their music translates to good to modern radio friendly rock and metal. I enjoyed them and their unique brand of music and tone. The lead singer was enjoying his time in the sun, drinking Yager and beer on stage. I recognized the song they have on modern radio and "Cheap wine and Cheaper Women" which had a nice catchy beat to it.
setlist:
Stand up For Rock N Roll
Runnin' Wild
Diamond in the Rough
Too Much Too Young Too Fast
Girls in Black
Cheap Wine, Cheaper Women
Hot Topic Stage-The Red Chord (5:15pm-5:45pm)
As these guys were taking the stage and doing their brand of hardcore i was getting anxious and a little tired so i walked over to the mainstage and get my wristband as i knew the stage had opened up for Mastadon. About 1/3 of the seats were full and the pit was about 1/5 full and the lawn had barely anyone on it. I walked back to the Yager stage and got my spot back for Walls of Jericho which was 10 minutes from taking the stage. I didn't catch too much of Red CHord but they were your standard hardcore band.
Jagerstage-Walls of Jericho (5:55pm-6:25pm)
When these guys and girl took the stage i was happy to see them. Yes it was another hardcore band but they had fun out there. It was something new with a girl lead singer and a more modern look to them. I alwasy thought of all the bands iv had to witness over the years at all the festivals i alwasy thought they fit in well as a band that the crowd liked nan good energize us. The circle pit was in full action. I know these guys toured with my friends in Within Choas so i was happy to see them out there tearing shit up.
setlist:
???
???
???
???
Theres No I In Fuck You
I Know Hollywood And You Aint It
Hot Topic Stage-Underoath (6:25pm-7:00pm)
As the seconds tick by for Machine Head all i could do is look at the clock. The more this hardcore band played the more it seemed time was stopped or moving very very slowly. I looked over occasionally as watch the roadies tear down Walls of Jericho shit and replacing it with Machine Heads stuff was more entertaining. Just watching the drumset being put together was incredible. And the 4 amps in the MAchine Head diamond sprayed onto the amps was an awesome touch on either side of the small stage. I looked over for a second a saw shit being thrown at underoath and at first i thought the band was going to storm off the stage but kept on going on, not paying attention to it. Later on in the set they saud they enjoyed playing music for fans and nonfans. The time finally came 5 minutes to go and my reason for showing up at 1pm in the after was about to hit the stage for what i thought was a short 30 minute set was about to hit the stage.
Jager Stage-MACHINE (FUCKEN) HEAD (7:00pm-7:45pm)
Finally the intro music started the pit became active and we were witnessing one of the greatest live bands ever hit the stage to a chant of Machine Fucken Head. They played their 4 song set, however everytime Rob wanted to say something, the crowd mostly lead by me banging on the rail was chanting Machine Fucken Head, wouldn't shut up. Rob Flynn said they needed to come back to Phoenix, Az more often to that kind of reception. I think the second stage was full of pit people and lawn people from the mainstage. I mean after all waited 5 plus hours for these giants to take the stage. Their schedule 30 min set became 45 minutes. Of which i was grateful i stayed and had gone earlier to the mainstage pit to get a wristband when i could to save time.
setlist:
Clenching The Fists Of Descent
Imperium
Hallowed
Halo
Davidian
Aesthetics of Hate
Main Ampitheatre Stage-Mastadon (5:45pm-6:25pm)
I don't know how they did as i was on the second stage out in the parking lot for machine head
setlist(not sure)
The Wolf is Loose
Crystal Skull
Capillarian Crest
Colony of Birchmen
Megalodon
Circle Cysquatch
Aqua Dimentia
Iron Tusk
March of the Fire Ants
Main Ampitheatre Stage-DragonForce ( 7:30pm-8:10pm)
I didn't see too much of these guys the end of a new song, an old school song and the song that made them face with guitar hero "Through the Fire and the Flames." It sucks they sold out to guitar hero because i really liked them. At ozzfest when no one knew them open the mainstage two years ago. I ts an old school 80's sound mixed with speed metal. I hope their new music is good.
setlist(not sure)
Revolution Deathsquad
Operation Ground & Pound
Heroes of our Time
Vally of the Damned
Through the Fire and the Flames
Main Ampitheatre Stage-Disturbed (8:35pm-9:35pm)
Since the mainstage was open and i missed getting on the barricade i was on the right side and 3rd row back from the barricade. I had to put up with 30 minutes of drunk or high Indians who could barely stand lean all over us on the right side of the pit. I really hate people who have no idea who is coming on stage or their music ruin it for those who are passionate fans. I only have postive thigns to say about Disturbed. Everyone knows their older stuff. Not too many singer for the new songs, but it was a standard Disturbed show. Mike's (drummer) set seems to be getting larger. He had a camera man out there only recording his performance throughout the set. If anything Disturbed is a well oiled machine i mean they know the rules to but on a good show and are always working to improve that. The light show was completely amazing and the setlist was songs everyone knew from all 4 cd's. Its hard to imagine no one knew these guys prior to the second stage on ozzfest 2000. Now they are the reason 20,000 sold out Crickett Wireless Pavillion was sold out. The lawn was literally a blaze of fires for these guys. I cant wait for their headlining tour for this cd. SInce i have so much positive stuff to say about disturbed, i decided to put in one negative thing. The toll of screaming and harmonizing is taking effect on Dave Draimen. He isn't holding his screams as long and after an intense song, when he goes into a speech, you can hear the changes in his voice. I can understand why they take time off between cd releaese. His vocal chords must be shredded at this point in his short career
setlist(not in order):
Intro
Perfect Insanity
Industructable
Inside the Fire
Divide
Prayer
Liberate
Voices
The Game
Stupify
Down with the Sickness
10,000 Fists
Just Stop
Stricken
Land of Confusion
Main Ampitheatre Stage-Slipknot (10:15pm-11:15pm)
Slipknot once again put on an intense show. Since they have toured together in 2.5 years you could see the stage rust these guys have on them. I noticed a few parts they looked around at each for their stage ques. Their set had Joey's drum set in the center on a riser, with a walkway behind the, and Thier log S on the walkway in front of fire boxes. The show had lots of pyro and pops, one of the pos caught something on fire. WHile the show continued, tow guys ran up there pulled the item down and throw it behind the stage to be put out. It was a quick one hour set that featured classics as well as a new one. The DJ who usually splits duties as a drummer on the left side of the stage jumped earlier in the tour off the hydrolic drum set and broke his 2 heels so he is banned to a wheelchair for the rest of the tour if not longer. Corey gave us the story on the stage calling him dj 2 feet. It was a funny interlude. I understand the 'knot is oversees for the fall and once again hit the states hore for a full us show in spring of 2009. I cant wait to see their stage show then for "All Hope Is Gone." Joey did do his standard hydrolic kit solo during the encore song "Spit It Out" It alot different when you are their and see it live happen less than 20 feet from you.
setlist:
Opening
Surfacing
The Blister Exists
Get This
Before I Forget
Disasterpiece
Psychosocial
The Heretic Anthem
Prosthetics
Duality
People=Shit
(SIC)
In conclusion it was a fun day of heat, sun and overall good music. It was an awesome break of the regular summer and look forward to future tours of the Mayhem Festival.

miles10 reviewed on Jul 19 2008 2:55PM:
Show Rating: (3)

i didnb't go to this show, but i'm going on the 29th in tampa. one thing ive noticed. is this pick their set list thing bull shit? wait and bleed was number three overall and number one slipknot song requested for july 18, and they didn't play it. they're playing the same list day in and day out. why are they leaving out fan favorites such as wait and bleed, everything ends, and spit it out?? it blows my mind. and also, how come if slipknot is playing after disturbed, why is disturbed's set three songs longer. after reading these reviews, i can't be thankful enough i like disturbed more as a band. just too bad i bought a ticket to this show to see slipknot since i have seen disturbed twice. wait and bleed is number one for tampa's voting, and also, its 9.0 live version is in the top ten. but i'm not getting my hopes up. slipknot better kick ass if that is their set. it could be better and longer.

Flauros reviewed on Jul 19 2008 9:35PM:
Show Rating: (4)

I attended my first concert ever yesterday at the Rockstar Mayhem Festival at Cricket Wireless Pavillion in Phoenix, AZ. I gotta say, I picked a good one to start with.

Got in line at about 1:45, and I was in line for an hour, in 110+ degree heat. We couldn't open our water bottles or else they wouldn't let them inside. There were paramedics near the entrance at one point, attending to someone who passed out from the heat. Security walks by and shouts, “Be sure to drink plenty of water!”, to which almost the entire line shouted back, “You won't let us!” Finally got to the gate about 2:45, got searched, and went inside. Made my way across the lawn area over to the other side where the smaller stages were.

I got to the Jagermeister stage just as the local Jager band, Psychosick was saying their thank yous and getting off the stage. Over on the right, Suicide Silence took the Hot Topic stage. I didn't like their music very much, it all sounded the same and I couldn't understand a word the lead singer was saying, except in between songs when he talked about how hot it was. Another kid passed out during Suicide Silence, and I saw them carrying him over to the shade. I downed my entire bottle of water before Suicide Silence finished.

With two stages, they had enough time to set up so that there was no time in between shows. Five Finger Death Punch took the Jager stage and started with a sound clip from 300: “This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die!” Made my way over to that side, but it was pretty crowded. 5FDP was a little better than Suicide Silence, but not by much. There was one funny part though, the lead singer, when they were getting ready to hit a heavy part of one song, was telling people that if they didn't want to get hurt, to get out of the way. He pointed to one guy with his kid and said, “You there, with Junior on your shoulder, move forward, I'm begging you.”

After 5 Finger Death Punch, I wasn't too interested in Black Tide, so I sat that one out and hung out in the shade. This served a dual purpose; For one, I was getting kind of hot, and two, I was actually pretty interested to see Airborne play, and with everyone now over at the Hot Topic stage, the Jager stage was almost deserted, and after I cooled down a bit, I made my way over to claim a spot on the rail just left of the stage.

Got some great pics of Airborne. I liked their music, it sounded like AC/DC meets Guns n' Roses, but with a more modern feel to it. They had some real showmanship too, with some choreography going on between the guitar players, and the lead singer kept jumping over on top of the speakers in front of the stage, and at one point played a guitar solo while hanging over the rail into the crowd!

After Airborne finished, I figured it was time to find water. I headed back towards the concession area, and ended up at this gate next to the concession area that had shoulder-to-shoulder people, because you had to go through there to get to the main stage, and Mastodon was getting ready to play. Some idiots in the back decided the crowd wasn't moving fast enough, and they started pushing people, which resulted in me getting a beer spilled all over my back. At least it was a cold beer.

Got some water and sat down to watch Mastodon. I wasn't too impressed, really. Afterwards, it was food time. Got me a burger and fries and finished it off, and grabbed a T-shirt, then made it back to the lawn in time to see Dragonforce.

They weren't as bad as I thought they were going to be. Most people I had talked to said Dragonforce sucked live, and while they weren't great, they weren't horrible either. I thought it was pretty dumb, though, that they apparently had a special fan on stage to blow the solo guitarist's hair around.

Dragonforce wrapped up their set full of 90 minute songs just as the last rays of sunlight were fading over the horizon. Someone from 97.9 KUPD came out to hype up the crowd for the two headlining acts that were getting ready to perform, and promote tickets for Cruefest. Then they pulled the curtain and had Metallica's Black Album playing while they set up the stage. Here's a testament to how powerful that band's music is: You could hear half the pavilion singing along to “Enter Sandman,” and Metallica themselves weren't even at the show.

About this time, some idiots started gathering trash together in piles and starting fires. I didn't understand at first, but after a while I figured some were trying to get them to spray the fire hose in their direction, and others were just dumb.

Disturbed started their set with David Draiman (the lead singer) being wheeled out dressed like Hannibal Lecter with the mask and straitjacket. They kicked off their set with “Perfect Insanity”. Disturbed put on a great show, and this was the first band all day whose music I was familiar with, so I was singing along through their whole set (except a couple songs from their new album, don't know those ones). Disturbed finished with Dave saying “Phoenix, you have risen from the ashes”, and they pulled the curtain again and set up for Slipknot.

Slipknot started off with an intro sequence that had clips from “Iowa” and “Danger – Keep Away”, two from their short list of slow songs. They put a stop to that pretty abruptly with “Surfacing.” I don't remember what order the rest of the setlist was in, but I do remember they played “Prosthetics” (in honor of the 10th anniversary of the self-titled album next year), “Get This”, “Disasterpiece”, “The Heretic Anthem”, “Before I Forget”, “Duality”, “The Blister Exists”, and of course, the new single, “Psychosocial”, and wrapped up with “(sic)” and “People=Shit”. Of course I sang along to every song, except parts of “Psychosocial” that I wasn't sure of the lyrics on.

Corey (the lead singer) was pretty talkative all night, at one point talking about the heat like every other band, asking the crowd if they were still alive, to which I responded, “We won't die!”, taking a lyric from “Pulse of the Maggots”. Before “The Heretic Anthem”, he went over to Sid (Slipknot's DJ) and talked about how he broke both his feet jumping off the stage at the first show on the tour, but instead of sitting at home, said “put me in a wheelchair and I'll play”. Sid's new mask is pretty cool, it has some built in robotics that make the eyebrows and mouth move. Before they did “Psychosocial,” Corey said that he was so excited about the new album, All Hope Is Gone, that he would be the first in line to buy it when it hits the stores.

When Slipknot finished, you could tell they were done because the crew came out and started dismantling instruments. I hobbled my sore, tired ass back to the hotel, and crashed.

If I can survive the Mayhem Festival, Nine Inch Nails should be no problem in September.

OneEnvision reviewed on Jul 21 2008 9:28PM:
Show Rating: (4)

Disturbed was outstanding, as usual. Screw everybody else for saying otherwise. They were outstanding. Just because you don't like them doesn't make them "boring". Slipknot was way too monotone. they were decent, and good for entertainment, but they werent' great. Mastadon sucked. Dragonforce was outstanding. It was overall a great show. The fact that they didn't let anybody drink water in line, and only ENERGY DRINKS was freaking retarded. People were passing out left and right. i was wayyyyyy too hot that day. $4 for water? Lame. Cricket Pavillion employees are rude as hell. To correct someone, Disturbed did NOT play Ten thousand fists. Sad, but oh well. I really wanted them to play The Night, Haunted, and Sons of Plunder. OH people by the way. Just because it's new also doesn't make it worse than the old stuff. I love every single song they've ever made. David is a genius. He's not perfect, who gives a crap. He's toured like crazy so of course his voice is off. I think he did wonderfully.

I didn't care to see any of the other bands. It was stupid however that they overlapped bands playing together. they should have posted the scheduled playing times on their website. Their website is missing a ton of information of things you can and cannot bring into the stadium. Smokes, but no lighter? Screw that. Next time i'm putting a lighter in my shoe.

Also, don't tell us the main stage is open at 4, and keep us waiting till 5. that's stupid. $4 for a water bottle? Screw that noise.

All in all, great music. Stupid location.

Shazzinat0r reviewed on Jul 26 2008 9:06AM:
Show Rating: (5)

I missed the other stages so i didn't have a chance to see machinehead or five finger death punch.
Mastodon sucked. seriously, all it was was screaming and the mosh pit was just standing there.
Dragonforce was really good. They played a lot of really good songs.
Disturbed was the best. they had a lot of good songs that they played. David Draiman was amazing. screw people that disagree.
Slipknot. not one of my favorite bands, was decent. i couldn't understand anything they said. i liked maybe..... one of their songs. but overall was decent.

overall, it was worth spending $4 for water, waiting in line forever, and it being 115 degrees out.
If i could, i would definitely do it again.

decemberyr reviewed on Aug 10 2008 9:36PM:
Show Rating: (5)

mastodon looked pissed off at everyone at the concert it was werid, didnt look like they were into us lol

disturbed was amazing; they were the best the whole night

slipknot was great, i was hoping they would play more from vol. 3 like pulse of the maggots, vermilion and three nil and i wish they played left behind (love that song) but overall they did amazing especally when they were playing psychosocial which was by far the best song of the night, and i love the ending when the drumset was revolving and such. amazing and the blister exists was the second best song of the day best drum song ever

anyway 100/10