ROCK ON THE RANGE 2012 REVEALS MASSIVE LINEUP FOR SIXTH ANNUAL PREMIER DESTINATION ROCK FESTIVAL

PERFORMERS INCLUDE INCUBUS, ROB ZOMBIE, SHINEDOWN, MARILYN MANSON, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, SLASH, MEGADETH, CHEVELLE, CYPRESS HILL, MASTODON AND MORE

ROCK ON THE RANGE returns for its sixth year boasting a massive lineup covering the rock spectrum. America’s premier destination rock festival will be held May 18-20 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, OH featuring performances from Incubus, Rob Zombie, Shinedown, Marilyn Manson, Five Finger Death Punch, Slash, Megadeth, Chevelle, Cypress Hill, Mastodon and many more. Read more

LIVE! | Firefest Festival Day 3

by Marcel Groeneveld
Staff Writer –

October 21, 2011 at Rock City in Nottingham, U.K.

Sunday and round three for the Firefest, rockers started out bright and early with Newman breaking ground. As Firefest veterans, they know how to get ready to rumble with their easy sing-along songs “Endless” and “Stay With Me.” Although the mix was not perfect, to say the least, it threw Newman off a little, which resulting in him sometimes singing out of key. The always very sympathetic singer brought good friend and guitarist Pete Fry of Farcry on stage to join in on the song “Over and Over Again,” a cool gesture that was well received by the audience.

There is always a first for everything, White Widdow was the first Australian band scheduled to play the Firefest festival. Last year’s self titled debut release White Widdow, which received raving reviews worldwide, opened a lot of doors for the band. But don’t expect AC/DC-ish kind of music from White Widow like most Australian acts. Singer Jules Millis is all over the stage and works the crowd very enthusiastically. In doing so, he almost slipped on stage but continued while Enzo Almanzi just smoked on guitar. The keyboards, played by Xavier Millis, were a little too much in the mix, but, overall, they left a good impression. They also played some songs from their just-released second effort, Serenade.

After seeing the young guys perform, it was time for Swedish veterans Alien to rock the house. With classic tracks, such as “Tears Don’t Put Out The Fire,” “Go Easy” and “Touch My Fire” coming at you, if you just closed your eyes, you could hear 1989 calling you. With eyes open, reality sinks in, seeing Jim Jidhed on stage singing, looking more like a dart-player than a rocker. But, man, that guy can still sing. Alien, with Tony Borg acing the guitar, played their No. 1 hit single (six weeks in Sweden, MG), the Bee Gees cover “Only One Woman,” and, once again, the “Rock City” went crazy while the Firefest Quire took this song threw the roof. Playing for the first time together with the original line-up after 18 years didn’t diminish the chemistry of the band; it is as if they never stopped playing together at all. Hopefully, they will continue on with this line-up in the future.

Overall, the high-quality standard of each band was matched evenly until Kane Roberts took the stage. Backing up Kane up was the band Talon. Again, it was another lifeless performance. Roberts, who wore sunglasses throughout the set, did not help him connect with the crowd. The set was mostly from of his Saints and Sinners album and included “Twister,” “Doesn’t Anybody Really Fall In Love” and “Sweet Little Sister.” The songs went OK, but during the Alice Cooper song “Freedom,” he looked insecure with the lyrics and often got lost vocally in the mix. He did not look comfortable on stage and stood, with his guitar strapped on, like a shield, and half of the time, didn’t use it. He should have done better. Highlights of his performance included the two girls coming on stage with school uniforms (but that is a total different website). Luckily, the guys from Talon came through and got the job done, especially Eric Ragno on keyboards and Kory Voxen on guitar.

The return of Mitch Malloy, who performed at the 2008 Firefest, was requested by festival fans. In ’08, Malloy was included in the Firefest DVD, which continues to be a highly sought after item. With his new live band; the amazing Alessandro Del Vecchio on keyboards and backing vocals, Mario Percudani on guitar, Anna Portalupi on bass and Alessandro Mori on drums, Mitch has an all-European backing band, which makes it easier to tour Europe. The Firefest also was an opportunity for Malloy to play some new songsoff his recent release II. “Falling To Pieces” and “I’m The One” were well received. Bbut, of course, the cranking of “Everything At All,” “Mission Of Love” and the beautiful “Our Love will Never Die” performed only by Malloy on guitar may have been yet another highlight of this year’s Firefest. Malloy and the Firefest crowd seemed to be made for each other because fans sang along to every song.

Canadian rockers Coney Hatch was somewhat of a surprise on the Firefest bill simply because they are not well known in Europe. They were well received by the older fans. The festival’s organizers were very excited to add them to the bill. Playing their first show in the U.K., the reformed original line-up of Carl Dixon on guitar, Andy Curran on bass, both sharing vocal duties, Steve Shelski on lead guitar and Dave “Thumper” Ketchum on drums played a long-overdue set that was taken from their three albums, Coney Hatch, Outa Hand and Friction. It now seems the band will continue, and there are rumor of a new recording, but only time will tell if the rumors come to fruition. Hatch was a welcome surprise.

Everybody knows about the story of Marcie Free. As Jeff Scott Soto is considered one of the voices of rock, there is no doubt that Free is the voice of AOR. Unruly Child was and still is a super group in that genre and is one of the many reasons to visit Firefest. The classic U.S. Band, featuring Bruce Gowdy on guitars, Guy Allison on keys, Larry Antonino on bass, Jay Schellen on drums and legendary vocalist Marcie Free, performed an ultra-rare show. It was their first gig since 1992, and it certainly was their first live performance outside of the U.S.

Opening with the strong “Show Me The Money” from the new album World Collides, the audience jumped on a full-frontal collision course as all the new songs of that release, such as “Very First Time,” have real potential to become classic songs. The band’s formula for success is to create melodic rock songs with powerful lead vocals, harmony vocals, bombastic drums, mean bass lines, big keyboards and razor-sharp guitar work. Other classics from the debut album Unruly Child were on the set list, including “On The Rise,” “Who Cries Now,” “You are My Everything,” “Rock Me Down Nasty” and a crowd favorite “Lay Down Your Arms.” Unfortunately, there was a slight technical mishap, and Antonino and Schellen took the spotlight, jamming, to fill in the silence on stage until the problem was solved. Free was in top shape, looked like a million bucks and rocked the planet. The only thing they needed was more rehearsal time together to get that live feeling again. Overall, it was a great show, with a great response and a lot of happy Firefest fans.

2011 Firefest Festival Day 3 Photo Gallery

Photos appear courtesy of RMD Entertainment

LIVE! | Firefest Festival Day 1

by Marcel Groeneveld
Staff Writer –

October 21, 2011 at Rock City in Nottingham, U.K.

The annual Firefest Festival is becoming quite a force to be reckoned with as it is one of the highlights for melodic rock fan these days. The event that has built up its own community, which has been helped by social media sources, such as Facebook. The festival is organized by passionate people who are mostly fans of the melodic genre, and their motto seems to be “For the fans and by the fans.”

Beginning in 2005, Firefest was held in Bradford and lasted from a Friday night to the end of a Saturday and included performances by bands such as Soul Sirkus, Firehouse and TNT.

This year’s event, which was billed the 8th edition of Firefest, featured 18 bands that performed during three days. With so many bands involved, something is bound to happen, and it did this year.

The original headliners for the Saturday show was supposed to be Warrant. Although the bank inked the deal at the beginning of this year’s event and was paid in advanced, Warrant canceled without reason on Sept. 18th. Festival organizers were forced to find a replacement. On such short notice, Firefest organizers added the band W.E.T. to the line-up. Unfortunately, the second band that had to cancel was Farcry because Kivel Records was unable to financially back them. Newman, who played last year’s Firefest, was added to the bill.

DAY 1

Friday night, Serpentine opened the festival to a packed “Rock City” and had the task of jump starting Firefest. Tony Mills (Shy, Siam and TNT fame, MG), who sang on 2010′s A Touch Of Heaven and 2011′s Living and Dying in High Definition, was unable to join the band for this engagement, leaving Matt Black to fill his shoes. The band was well received by the audience, and the band left a good impression. Although Matt Black sometimes was a little out of key, he delivered well. At times, you could close your eyes, and his voice sounded very similar to Tony Mill’s vocal style.

Up next to conquer the stage was the Swedish band Houston. From the moment lights went on, there was a lot of energy going on, especially since singer Hamper “Hank” Erix entered the rock arena in a boxer’s outfit. Erix and Freddie Allen are the main players in Houston and are backed up by a live band. Houston’s self-titled debut album from 2010 is considered to be rock’s next big sensation coming out of Sweden at the moment. These talented guys performed easy-listening rock anthems that were filled with great harmony vocals, cool hooks and riffs that were added with just a little sauce of keyboards on top. Houston led the Firefest crowd back to the 1980s and reminded them of bands like Boston and Journey. The energy from the band was transferred to the crowd, and a 40-minute rock party was born. Houston brought their producer, Ricky Delin, onstage to perform on the song ”Don’t You Know What Love Is.” The addition of Delin didn’t add anything to the show.

The third band on Friday’s bill was Terry Brock. Known for his work with Strangeways and recently Giant, Brock has had quite a solo career going for himself and is extremely popular in the U.K. Musically, Brock’s material has a strong resemblance to Journey. With a backing band comprising Adam Holland (guitar), Gerard Zappa (bass), Mike Morales (drums) and Craig Pullman (keys), who is from Valentine, the musicianship is superior. They get the job done. Holland played great, but when he is doing a solo, he changes his posture in such a way that it makes it difficult to see his performance and facial expressions. The audience appeared to enjoy and respond enthusiastically to Brock and his backing bands overall performance.

It has become a festival tradition to bring back the artist who left a huge impression on previous Firefest Festivals. No doubt about it, Ex-Survivor singer Jimi Jamison left the biggest impression of all the bands that played the Friday night bill. When Jamison took the stage, the crowd went berserk. His live band featured Tommy Denander on guitar. Throughout his set, the audience screamed their lungs out. Jamison is in great shape, and his voice keeps getting stronger and stronger. He actually never has sounded better. As an entertainer, he works the crowd, and his stage presents is very energetic. The way Tommy Denander plays guitar also is awe inspiring. Even the musicians who were also on the bill were asking who Denander was. During Jamison’s performance of his greatest hits, which included the Baywatch tune, “I’m Always Here,” “Burning Heart,” “High on You” and “Eye of the Tiger,” the “Rock City” shook on its foundation, and people wanted more of Jamison. He left the venue sweaty but was grinning from ear to ear.

2011 Firefest Festival Day 1 Photo Gallery

Photos appear courtesy of RMD Entertainment

Jon Oliva’s Pain Festival

by Franco Wissa
Staff Writer

It was fellow Hardrock Haven staff writer, Jordan Rex, who, in his bio, talks about a “gut reaction” when hearing a particular track. He goes on to say, “… if the music itself doesn’t elicit an emotional response of some sort, what’s the point.” Truer words have never been spoken. Music is the most sincere form of expression on the planet. The writing of a track, a CD or lyrics has to come from down deep in your “gut.” Then from there, the feeling has to show through in your musicianship, and how the music plays out to us, the listeners. We need to feel the same anger, love, hate and fervor that the songwriter is trying to convey into his music. And if we don’t, as Jordan says, “…what’s the point.” Some bands have that capability and talent to convey their feelings in droves (At Vance, Firewind, Royal Hunt, Gotthard,) and others, well not so much.

Born in New York City in 1960, Jon Olivia, since 1976, has been heavily involved in music, as a member of his early bands, Metropolis and Alien, which soon after the addition of his brother Criss, morphed into Avatar. But after learning that a German band with the same name was threatening a lawsuit if they continued to use the name, a “S” was put in the name, which from Savatar, and at the suggestion of Criss’s wife became Savatage, who would go on to release a solid body of work. However, on October 17, 1993 a tragedy occurred when Criss was killed in a devastating vehicle accident. Over the years, Jon Oliva, in addition to his membership in Savatage, would come to be part of a myriad of projects with both Circle II Circle, Jon Oliva’s Pain and Trans Siberia Orchestra.

Coming into view is Jon Olivia’s Pain latest Festival. The follow up to 2008’s Global Warning, and the band’s fifth studio release overall. First off, it must be pointed out, the emotional response comes through- and comes through in massive droves. The opening track, “Lies,” is ripe with sounds of angst, disgust, emotional turmoil and a man at his wit’s end. Jon Olivia pulls this one off superbly with solid drumming, guitar riffs and razor edge sharp solos. It is dramatic as hell and a highlight of the CD.

Things get exceptionally brooding with the following track, the dark, keyboard heavy, “Death Rides a Black Horse.” The focal point of this track, the growling vocals notwithstanding is the superb backdrop of the keyboards. Intertwining their way around thick, solid guitar chords the keyboards lay an intricate weave which only adds to the ominous vibe. As a completed track, it all comes together wonderfully, and holding it all together are the delicious keyboards. The sounds of thunder open the title track, “Festival.” Sadly the full sound heard up to this point is dropped a notch as the sound becomes subdued and the expressive musicianship gets lost in vocal screams.

The gorgeous piano of “Afterglow,” with its striking vocals and attention must be given to the lyrics. Give a listen to the lyrics of “Afterglow,” as they tell of “what we try to hide…in the dark of night.” The hard rocking “I Fear You,” the gentle “Looking For Nothing,” the monster sized “The Evil Within,” the tender acoustic guitars of the 7-minute “Winterhaven,” are superb. Again this track is accentuated by a delicately played piano.

Closing out Festival is “Now.” A stunning ballad that tells of a man alone, missing the women he loves. “Now,” is as poignant as any track. The vocals tug at you, and as the listener closes their eyes, and allow the keyboards, cymbal rolls and harmonies to swirl around, time is forgotten and slowly the listener’s head begins to nod in time with the tempo to its fading end. Absolutely perfectly played.

On the whole, Festival is imposing, striking, loud and larger-than-life. Each instrument comes in and out of earshot at perfect times. The tracks come together in their individual complete form wonderfully. The sound is excellent and the mixing, as always, ideal. Festival leaves you wanting to hear more and that is what makes a CD worth hearing. It elicits that emotional response like few CDs heard have. For along with the “gut reaction” spoke of by that Hardrock Haven reviewer, all the torment, personal chaos, hatred and affection sung crawls its way to the listener’s core and from the “gut” one can feel of all these emotions. From opening track to closing, this is truly a collection that needs to be heard.

Label: AFM

Track Listing:
Lies
Death Rides a Black Horse
Festival
Afterglow
Living on the Edge
Looking For Nothing
The Evil Within
Winterhaven
I Fear You
Now

Hardrock Haven Rating: 9/10