The old Las Vegas slogan was “What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas.” And I think that for the locals, and most that visit, that remains true. However, I never signed or agreed to anything of the sort. So, I’m here to run my mouth off on why you missed one of the hardest hitting gigs to kick off the 2018 rock festival season.
On April 20th, ‘Murica’s metal faithful decended upon sin city for two days of heavy metal debauchery at the second annual Las Rageous music festival. Las Rageous made promises to be bigger and better than their 2017 inaugural year. They fulfilled that promise, and then some. Located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, just a stone’s throw away from the now famous Fremont Street experience, two stages (side stage “F” and main stage “U”… see what they did there?), as well as food and drink vendors galore packed into the venue space leaving just enough room for myself and nearly 13,000 of my closest friends to wave our freak flags and get our metal on. Downtown Vegas proprietor Derek Stevens put on a festival that puts many events to shame. The entire main stage venue space was blanketed in brand new artificial turf. There were fully stocked bars located throughout the event space. VIP was truly extraordinary, providing two levels of secluded, exclusive viewing space. And the restrooms were not your standard port-a-potties. They were fully air conditioned multi-stall, plumbed, urination/defecation sanctuaries. And if you weren’t feeling the urge to purge, just stepping out of the sweltering 95 degree, 15% humidity was sound reason enough to camp out in the lavatory. The after-party was hosted just across the street by Mr. Stevens’ casino hotel The “D”.
Las Rageous 2018 proved to be a homecoming of sorts with four hometown bands, Adelitas Way, Otherwise, and day two headliner Five Finger Death Punch hitting the stage on Saturday. Kicking off day one was radio station contest winner Silence Speaks. No, not the band of the same name from Bucharest, Romania. These guys too are right here out of Las Vegas. Silence Speaks fired things off on the side stage giving off a ton of energy and kicking this pig right in the spleen. The main stage and side stages alternated bands including Slaves, Vyces, Otherwise, PopEvil, New Years Day, Underoath, Clutch, and A Day To Remember. During Otherwise’s set, lead singer Adrian Patrick couldn’t help being overcome with pride about his brother Ryan sharing the stage with him, and his kids there to see daddy rock the stage. Later in the set, he even brought his little boy up on the stage in a rather touching moment.
Headlining day one of the festival, Maynard James Keenan and A Perfect Circle. Coincidentally, A Perfect Circle’s new album Eat the Elephant was released on the same day. Keeping up the aura of mystique surrounding himself, Maynard remained at the back of the stage shrouded in darkness for much of the set. Despite being nestled toward the back, his soulful voice completely filled the venue and the streets of Las Vegas. Opening their set with Eat The Elephant from their now released album of the same title, the melodic chorus seemed to captivate sin city. Of their 15 song set, 8 songs were from the new album, giving Las Rageous a good listen to nearly everything Eat The Elephant has to offer.
Day 2 came in hotter with temperatures hovering just under 100 degrees, and heavier with bands Bad Wolves, Ded, Joyous Wolf, Adelitas Way, Black Star Riders, Hollywood Undead, Saxon, In This Moment, and Judas Priest taking the stage. Headlining the closing day of the festival were hometown boys Five Finger Death Punch.
Joyous Wolf played the side stage, but frontman Nick Reese put on a main-stage headlining performance with Jackson Browne dance moves and electrifying vocals. Half-way through the Joyous Wolf set, Nick climbed the front right stage pillar prompting security to retrieve him and cutting the set a bit short. On the main stage, Adelitas Way singer Rick DeJesus reflected on the joys of waking up and hopping in his car to drive to the venue to perform for his hometown crowd (which he admits “still makes me nervous”). The Adelitas Way setlist kept it on the heavy side foregoing setlist mainstay Alive. The Las Vegas attendees didn’t seem to mind though, singing along to Notorious, Pray For Peace (Ready For War) and others. As the sun finally dropped into the horizon and Hollywood Undead took the main stage the audience came unglued. The Rock/Rap group from SoCal unloaded on Las Rageous and it was pedal to the metal until the house lights came on. During the Hollywood Undead set, there was a marriage proposal, some insane guitar licks from some kid (in John 5 makeup) they pulled out of the crowd, and some sweet covers of Enter Sandman and Du Hast. They might be rap/rock, but it’s the heaviest rap you’ll ever bear witness to.
In This Moment delivered a spectacular set both visually and musically. For the song Black Wedding, lead singer Maria Brink sang opposite Ded front-man Joe Cotela and they closed out their set in typical fashion with audience favorite, Whore. British metal legends Saxon and Judas Priest dominated the side stage packing the streets and blowing out eardrums. Singer Rob Halford sounded incredible and long-time Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton even joined the band on vocals for their three encore tracks.
Closing out Las Rageous 2018, headliner Five Finger Death Punch set up their menacing signature skull and crossed bats over the drumkit, eclipsing the massive Las Rageous stage. Ivan seemed quite somber during the set addressing some of his personal struggles and the effects it’s had on his family, band, and his fans. He did seem quite jovial however when, with bat in hand, he laughed about a promoter suggesting that they sell bats in their merch booth. Perhaps plastic ones signed by me, he joked. As tradition would have it, Ivan typically gives away an autographed bat at each FFDP show. A young boy, hoisted upon shoulders near the barricade was the lucky autographed bat recipient for this show. Typically, during Burn MF, Ivan invites kids from the crowd to come and join them on stage, but that tradition was pushed aside for this performance. Closing out the set, FFDP performed The House Of The Rising Sun with Ivan singing just the first verse or two. Once the house lights came up and the stage became quiet, Ivan reflected on the performance for a moment, then climbed off the stage into the pit to meet some fans. He walked the front along the barrier and down through the center, greeting fans, taking selfies with them, signing autographs, receiving handshakes and hugs. Ivan Moody and FFDP clearly have the hearts of the fans in Las Vegas.
Planning is already underway for next year. We’ll see if Las Rageous 2019 can top this year’s performances. The bar has been set pretty high.
All Writing & Photography: Terry L. White
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