The Top 5 Bands We Saw @ ROCK ON THE RANGE 2014

Bit O Java‘s Jessica & Russ were on location at the biggest rock festival in the US , ROCK ON THE RANGE May 16th, 17th & 18th. This year’s festival brought headliners Guns N Roses, Avenged Sevenfold & Kid Rock to Crew Stadium in Columbus , Ohio. It was an amazing weekend filled with great music & great people, as fans from all over the world were in the pit & ready to rock out. \m/ \m/

THE TOP 5 BANDS WE SAW AT ROCK ON THE RANGE 2014:

#1. Alter Bridge

Myles Kennedy was by far the best vocalist at this year’s ROCK ON THE RANGE. Alter Bridge took the stage Sunday evening & had a seven – song set list full of hard rocking, guitar fueled hits from previous albums as well as singles from their newest record, Fortress. As Alter Bridge wraps up their tour, Myles is set to head out with Slash on their tour with Aerosmith, which starts in July.

SETLIST:

Addicted to Pain
Come to Life
Cry of Achilles
Metalingus
Blackbird
Rise Today
Isolation

Our Favorite Song Of The Show: “Addicted To Pain”

On Our Wish List: “Watch Over You”

Photo Credit: Jason Squires/AEG Live

#2. Guns N Roses

Guns N Roses is the reason I started playing guitar , so one could say I was more than a little excited for their set @ ROCK ON THE RANGE. The evening’s lineup consisted of guitarists Bumblefoot, Dj Ashba (also of Sixx AM) & Richard Fortus, drummer Frank Ferrer, keyboardist Dizzy Reed (who has been with the band since the 90s), bassist Tommy Stinson ( also of The Replacements) and of course Mr. Axl Rose (the only remaining member of the Appetite For Destruction lineup in the band). I had the pleasure of meeting Dj before the show, and needless to say he is an extremely nice person and crazy talented guitarist. The band rocked Crew Stadium until well after midnight, playing hit after hit, keeping the crowd entertained with covers and solos from each band member throughout the set. It ROCKED!

THE SETLIST:

1. Chinese Democracy
2. Welcome to the Jungle
3. It’s So Easy
4. Mr. Brownstone
5. Estranged
6. Rocket Queen
7. Better
8. Richard Fortus Guitar Solo
9. Live and Let Die
  
  (Wings cover)
10. This I Love
11. Holidays in the Sun
  
  (Sex Pistols cover) (Tommy Stinson on lead vocals, with band introductions)
12. Dizzy Reed Piano Solo
13. Catcher in the Rye
14. You Could Be Mine
15. DJ Ashba Guitar Solo
  
  (La Bella Vita)
16. Sweet Child O’ Mine
17. Jam
  
  (“Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” by Led Zeppelin)
18. November Rain
19. Abnormal
  
  (Bumblefoot cover) (Bumblefoot on lead vocals)
20. Don’t Cry
21. Whole Lotta Rosie
  
  (AC/DC cover)
22. Civil War
23. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
  
  (Bob Dylan cover)
24. Nightrain
1. Encore:
2. Jam
3. Patience
4. Used to Love Her
5. The Seeker
  
  (The Who cover)
6. Jam
7. Paradise City

Our Favorite Song Of The Show: (I can’t really pick just one…) “November Rain”, “Civil War” & “Don’t Cry”.

On Our Wish List: “14 Years” WITH Izzy Stradlin (:

#3. Avenged Sevenfold

We were psyched for this set. The Orange County based band kicked off their set Saturday night with a freezing crowd , lots of fire and their newest single “Shepherd of Fire”. First off, Synyster Gates is a seriously underrated, extremely talented guitar player. The 5 minute guitar solo he did during the set was one of the best guitar solos I’ve ever seen. Avenged Sevenfold blew through 13 of their greatest hits, including “Seize The Day”, “Nightmare”, “Hail To The King” & “This Means War” , the set ending with an encore of “Unholy Confessions” & fireworks.

SETLIST:

Shepherd of Fire
Critical Acclaim
Bat Country
Hail to the King
Doing Time
Buried Alive
Seize the Day
Nightmare
Burn It Down
Guitar Solo
Afterlife
This Means War
Almost Easy
Encore:
Unholy Confessions

Favorite song of the show: “Seize The Day”

On Our Wish List: “Dear God”

Photo Credit: Jason Squires/AEG Live

#4. The Pretty Reckless

If you haven’t heard of The Pretty Reckless yet, you are missing out on one of the best rock bands of today. Heavily influenced by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Kurt Cobain & The Beatles , amazing chemistry and already having chart topping hits under their belt, the Taylor Momsen (of Gossip Girl fame) fronted band may just be the best rock band of the decade. They took the Ernie Ball stage at 6:00 Saturday, starting with Follow Me Down off of their new record , Going To Hell, which dropped last month. This was their first time playing Rock On The Range and they were easily one of the biggest crowds at the Ernie Ball stage.

SETLIST:

Follow Me Down
Since You’re Gone
Sweet Things
Cold Blooded
Heaven Knows
Make Me Wanna Die
Going to Hell

Favorite song of the show: “Heaven Knows”

On Our Wish List: “House On a Hill”

Photo Credit: Jessica Howell

#5. Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience

Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience was the last band to take the Ernie Ball Stage at this year’s ROCK ON THE RANGE. This was also the second time @bitojavaruss & I saw Jason Bonham live, the first time being when they opened for Heart at the Blossom Music Center in Cleveland last year. For those of you who don’t know, Jason is the son of original Led Zeppelin drummer, John Bonham, for whom the show serves as a tribute to. The band’s set list was filled with some of Led Zeppelin’s greatest hits (Whole Lotta Love, Black Dog, Kashmir, etc..) and it was by far the biggest crowd at the Ernie Ball Stage all weekend.

SETLIST: