Concert Review: Rockstar Energy Disrupt Festival in West Palm Beach
On a blazing hot summer day that brought temperatures to triple digits across South Florida, those who attended the inaugural Rockstar Energy Disrupt Festival in West Palm Beach were treated to a fun, loud and sweaty musical experience that brought together bands that delivered plenty of energy despite the unbearable heat and humidity.
The Rockstar Energy Disrupt Festival is a new summer-long festival that brings a steady rotation of rock band headliners to both the main and festival stages, delivering a full lineup of rock bands from popular genres punk, metal core, hardcore, and rap-rock condensed into a series of one-day mega-fests of non-stop ear-splitting music.
You never know what to expect at festivals like these. With a title sponsor like Rockstar Energy, you know this isn’t going to be a crooner concert. Attending this festival was all about the multi-sensory experience. There were the constants like mosh pits, piercings in nearly every conceivable place, sweat and a profusion of loud music. This festival delivered on all of these, but on a globally toasty Tuesday, the crowds were lighter than expected. Regardless, all of the bands delivered exactly what those who arrived early for their nearly ten-hour concert affair that wrapped up minutes before the 11 p.m. county-imposed curfew.
The first half of the festival took place on the smaller Festival Stage. Things got started at 1:30 with Los Angeles-based punk rapper/rocker Hyro the Hero. The band engaged those who came early to start their disruption of music with an epic super-high energy performance that got the mosh pit going despite the overwhelming heat. Rocker Juliet Simms was equally impressive with a more relaxed set of rock that gave the mosh pit a much-needed break. When it comes to theatrics on stage, there isn’t anyone better than goth-rockers Andy Black. The melodramatic hard rockers didn’t disappoint. Lead singer Andy Biersack took full control of the stage from the first note to the final bow, it was clear that his fans wanted more. However, with set times being kept short, it kept the festival lineup moving along at a rapid-fire pace. Closing out the Festival Stage was fan-favorite Sleeping with Sirens. Originating from Orlando, there was little left in doubt about this band. Kelli Quinn (lead vocals), Jack Fowler (lead guitar), Gabe Barham (drums), Nick Martin (rhythm guitar) and Justin Hills (bass) didn’t miss a beat. This is a band that should have performed on the main stage despite the power-packed lineup at Rockstar Energy Disrupt Festival.
With the Festival Stage performances finished, it was time to move under the shade of the Coral Sky Amphitheater. Those who endured nearly five hours of subtropical South Florida heat and humidity were ready for the shade, a chair to sit in, and a cold bottle of water to bring body temperatures closer to normal. Clearly without explanation, some had left early; perhaps it was the heat, sweat and other factors, including that after all they had baked in a few different ways, including the blazing sun, for seemingly countless hours. What they missed were stellar performances by Atreyu, The Story So Far, Circa Survive, The Used and Thrice.
The main stage is the permanent massive stage at the Coral Sky Amphitheater, where festival headliners The Used, and Thrice were set to bring it. The lighting was spectacular for most of the bands. However, The Used overused their smoke machines, combined with purple and blue lights, that seemed to mask the band behind a veil of smoke. Once the curtain dropped, The Used‘s hanging heart began to glow a bright red, and things were about to get off. The Used’s frontman Bert McCracken was on point and opened with “Take It Away.” The band ripped through a catalog of their very best including “The Bird and the Worm,” “The Taste of Ink” and fan favorite “All that I’ve Got.” There was little left in doubt as mosh pit, crowd-surfers and fans of the band got exactly what they came for. Seeing The Used perform left you wondering when the self-induced fog would clear, but it didn’t. This, however, didn’t affect the band’s musical prowess that carried on through their entire set.
The Irvine, California-based rockers Thrice rewarded those who managed to have the fortitude to wait until nearly 9:30 to see the band take the stage. For those who haven’t ever experienced Thrice perform live, don’t expect any crazy antics on stage; what you get is a steady stream of rock music at breakneck speeds. They delivered a set of their very best, playing nearly every hit in their catalog, including “Yellow Belly,” “The Artist in the Ambulance,” “Only Us,” “Under a Killing Moon,” “Just Breathe,” “Of Dust and Nations,” “In Exile,” “Deeper Wells,” “Beggars” and “Black Honey.”
For those who missed attending Disrupt in West Palm Beach this year, it’s certainly understandable. However, the tour has just kicked off, and there are plenty of dates to catch your favorites. The impression was clear that each and every band on either stage was there to leave a mark or at least a lasting impression that will be remembered well after the tour has ended. If you like all-day music festivals, this is one to consider.
Rockstar Energy Disrupt Festival
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Rockstar Energy Disrupt Festival
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