Sunday, September 18th 2011 marked the 11th stop for Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival in Tinley Park, IL; ten bands, two stages and thousands of fans hungry for rock n roll. Even though the weather wasn’t very welcoming that day, it didn’t spoil the atmosphere of one of the largest rock music festivals in the US. When we arrived at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre around 1:30 PM, there were already long lines to the gates.
First to play was BATTLE WINNER and at 2:40 PM the pleasant sounds thundered from the Best Buy Music Gear Stage. When the second band, formed by ATREYU drummer Brandon Saller, HELL OR HIGHWATER, took the stage it was already raining but nobody seem to care. People came there to enjoy music ‘rain or shine’ and they eagerly gathered at the stage.
When around 4:00 PM Canadian rockers ART OF DYING started to entertain the crowd, the rain continued to fall but don’t even think that it could stop anybody from having a good time. The band had a great interaction with the audience and the passion with which they played was phenomenal. Check out their pictures here.
After almost 2 hours it finally stopped raining and everybody could enjoy the SEVENDUST show without water dripping on their heads. They were closing the set on the side stage and personally, I was a little bit surprised that the band on that level didn’t play on the main stage. Anyway, these guys no matter where they play always put on a great show and this time it was no different.
At the merchant boots fans could hang out with the bands, get signed autographs and take some pictures. There was also a big Rockstar Energy Drink tent where people could get a free can of rockstar and a poster signed by the BLACK TIDE members who rocked out earlier at the Best Buy stage.
Around 5:00 PM it was time to move toward the main stage where post-hardcore formation from Las Vegas, ESCAPE THE FATE energized the crowd with some good, loud and fast tunes. Their high energy show warmed up everybody really well.
After a short break that followed, Johnny Hetherington and Tavis Stanley of ART OF DYING showed up on the main stage with a bottle of their favorite Jack Daniels to announce the Miss Uproar Contest. Both gentlemen were excellent in their role of the contest hosts and cheerfully joked around with the girls who successively appeared on the stage in their skimpy outfits. More pictures here.
After that fun episode, it was time for BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE to take over. They didn’t disappoint the crowd and got them pumped with “Your Betrayal” and other great songs. It was a very entertaining show with lots of movement and head banging on the stage. We were standing next to one of the Bullets’ die-hard fans and I’m not sure what was more fun to watch, the band or this guy. At some point I thought he was going to explode, his energy level was incredible. It was almost scary when the guitar pick flew in our direction and he almost felt on his head trying to catch it as it landed on the other side of the fence. Check out pics here.
At 7:20 PM the lights went out and SEETHER came up on the stage. They kicked off with “Gasoline” and followed with “Fine Again” setting a rather melancholic mood, heightened even more by dim lights. For the next song “Broken” Dale Stewart sat with the acoustic guitar at the set up table which appeared on the stage. The fans’ energy rose at “Fake It” and again when they played “Remedy”; there was a lot of body-surfing and people were constantly escorted from the pit. After finishing their set, Shaun Morgan started to smash his guitar and when the poor gear was all ruined he throw it at the drum set, then politely left the stage. More pictures here.
Shortly before the THREE DAYS GRACE performance, the audience’s anticipation visibly increased. With the opening “The Good Life” they totally rocked out and nobody was sitting in their chairs anymore, at least I didn’t see anybody. People were jumping with their hands in the air and you could feel the energy flowing back and forth from the stage to the crowd. “I Hate Everything About You,” the fourth song on the set list almost blew away the venue. In the middle of the next track “Home” they entered with EMINEM’s “Lose Yourself” cover and the audience erupted. This band just kicks ass. “I will count to three and I want everybody scream, are you ready!” shouted Adam Gontier and he didn’t have to ask twice. People were totally in a THREE DAYS GRACE trance. Then he also encouraged making some more noise for other bands playing at Uproar. Barry Stock generously threw his guitar picks toward the audience and as one again flew in our direction there was some fierce action when two guys rolled on the floor desperately trying to get it. It was one of the most intense shows of the evening closed with the great track “Animal I Have Become.” More pictures here.
To setup everything for the headlining act, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, the stage was covered with a black curtain. Some minor complications appeared when the side curtain stuck on a speaker and as staff tried to fix it, it eventually felt on the ground. Not a big deal and at least those on the left side could easily pick behind and watch all the preparations. It was the first time I had a chance to see A7X live and I must admit they blew me away. The band themselves, together with their absolutely awesome stage setup, cool lighting and pyro shows form the perfect combination. I expected them to open with “Nightmare” and I was right. This song just sets the mood on the right track and for me personally it is one of their signature songs.
It couldn’t be AVENGED SEVENFOLD without “Afterlife,” “Unholy Confessions,” “A Little Piece of Heaven” and obviously “Bat Country” and I’m glad they were all included in their 11 tracks set. The most touching and totally amazing part of the show was when they played the “So Far Away” tribute song to Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan who died in December 2009. Eighteen thousand people who gathered at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre raised their cell phones up in the air and the whole place shone with the sea of small lights for The Rev. There is no way he didn’t see it from the up above. The atmosphere was just incredible. It was around 11:00 PM when they closed the set with “Unholy Confessions” and people slowly started to depart. More AVENGED SEVENFOLD pictures here.
If you have a chance to check out this year UPROAR – do it, you’ll not regret it, and if you missed it – then regret 
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