Sonic Temple Day 1 Recap- The Great and The Eh
Heavy metal and hard fans rejoiced when Sonic Temple released their 2019 lineup. It boasts some of the greatest names in the history of metal over a three-day rock extravaganza in Columbus, Ohio. The festival kicked off yesterday, and it was an overwhelmingly positive experience, but the day did not finish without some minor setbacks. Here is a quick recap of what made day one of Sonic Temple amazing and what held it back from becoming legendary.
The Great
Tom Fucking Morello
I typically do not like to curse in my articles, but, oh man, did Tom Morello blow the minds of thousands of people yesterday. The man who brought absolute fury to Rage Against The Machine has still got it and knows how to put on a show of epic proportions. His entire set is a highlight, but there were a few moments that really stuck out. He brought out Serj Tankian of System of a Down for a tribute to the late Chris Cornell by playing “Like a Stone.” There was not a fan there not singing along. From there he broke into a series a Rage songs, from “Bulls on Parade” to “Killing in the Name Of.” Oh, and he brought around 100 fans on stage to rock out with him. His set ended with a cover of “Power to the People” that was fueled by a series of assaulting guitar solos. Rock on Tom Morello, you legend.
That Pit Etiquette Though
I have been to my share of metal shows, and sometimes you will get into a pit that is not filled with people there to have a good time. That did not exist at Sonic Temple. The love that filled every pit was true. The people raging their hearts out were doing it together as they celebrated the music that they love in a place as special as Sonic Temple. The second someone fell, they were blocked off, picked up, asked if they were good to go, and the raging continued. If a crowd surfer was approaching the pit everyone worked together to make sure that person made it safely across. From the pits at Beartooth and Meshuggah to System of a Down, I didn’t have one negative experience at any of them.
The Staff
Working security, especially on the rail of a metal festival, is no easy task. You are constantly fishing people off of the top of the crowd to make sure they can have the best and safest festival experience possible. Yesterday was a toasty one, but the security of the rail never missed a beat. The rest of the staff whom I came in contact with were always extremely helpful, kind, and willing to help out anyone however they could.
System of a Down
I don’t need to say much about this. System of a Down played live. They had some sound issues in the beginning, but it did not matter. It was glorious.
Smoke Dude
If you were in the right place at the right time, you were able to see one of the coolest non-music-related activities happening at Sonic Temple. Butch Locsin, an Los Angeles-based performance artist complete with giant skull mask spun, shot, and manipulated wildly colorful smoke bombs for the entertainment of festival attendees. The show only lasts about two minutes, but it is way too amazing not to mention in this recap.
Artist Signings/Artwork
The artwork throughout Sonic Temple is beautiful and well worth a stop for a fresh Instagram post. Multiple graffiti artists were scattered throughout the grounds
The Eh
Parking and Leaving the Festival
I got into Sonic Temple around 1 p.m. yesterday, paid for my parking ($25) and ended up about a mile away from the gates. The walk-in was not the most enjoyable thing, but it was nowhere near as bad as getting out. Little to no organization by parking staff led to multiple gates being closed, various dead ends, and bumper-to-bumper traffic. It took about 45 minutes to get out. Not the worst thing that could happen, but not the best part of the day.
Beer/Drink Prices
There were no dedicated water refill stations at Sonic Temple. There are a few water fountains scattered through the stadium, but they were few and far in-between. It was hot, and people needed to stay hydrated, especially when they had been moshing for hours on end. A bottle of water runs six bucks, and a 16-oz. Bud Light was $11. I get that vendors need to make money, but these prices are about $2-3 above the festival average.
Sonic Temple Day 1 Recap
Even with the few negative aspects of day one at Sonic Temple, there is no arguing that it was a spectacular day at what is soon to be viewed as one of the great rock festivals in the United States. Day 2 is upon us with some insane musicians, including Gojira, Action Bronson, Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God, and Papa Roach. Hope to see you in the pit!
Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival
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