Art of Dying on Tuesday, 8/23

Met the band @ Funset Boulevard, before their show.  Great bunch of guys from Canada! Started out with the Batting Cages.  Think they all took the Fast Ball. Then, some went mini golfing and the rest went back inside, to play games!  Then, we all were playing bumper cars!  Some members of the band were doing spins in the car!  Wish I got a pic of that!  Maybe Borna took some pics/video and are posted somewhere...either here or facebook.   Then, we finished it up with a pizza party, pics and autographs.
  
Went to JJ Maloneys to see the band later. Heard on the car radio of the emergency alert system about a tornado warning in west green bay and heading to Kaukauna. Had to dodge the tornado to get to JJ Maloney's!  Great Show! 

FFDP interview @ the ranch

Stumbled onto this  FFDP interview at the ranch, before their show.

http://youtu.be/1hDUNZ3AbaE

I'm taking back control, WITH MY KNUCKLES!!

Left around 10AM Saturday for Twin Lakes. The bands started playing at 11AM.  I was really trying to time my early check-in to the motel at 1PM, since it's a one way entry into the ranch.  Throw in some road construction on the way, rain, and traffic back up. Also, the Droid GPS threw me off, on the last mile, to the wrong address (office building) Turns out that the motel I was staying, changed their name again from the Save Inn to the Super 8.  Backtracked and checked in there.

Arrived to the Ranch at around 2. Talk about TSA level of check in at the door! They were checking a few of my cargo pockets for "contraband".  Then, got through the front gate.

Had to say it, on my way in to the VIP pit area, a short girl was standing in front of me with a stern look with fists on the side. I ignored and walked past her to the guy wearing the same shirt to get the VIP pit wristband. Guess she was part of the crew! LOL

Crossfade was done with their set on the second stage.  Black Stone Cherry was starting to play on the first stage.  Another band had cancelled their noon show because of the storms, more on that later.

I was dumb enough to bring a rain jacket and got it through security.  Came in handy later.  How this for timing,a rainstorm showed up during Halestorm's show! Some people had punchos on. The rest gets wet and muddy from the grounds, then get into the VIP Pit with the concrete ground.  There were some dirty girls! 

Managed to get a few pics in of Saliva's show, but the downpour made me put the camera away.  The Droid X was short circuiting and shutting itself off anyway. Too crowded to take the phone apart and performing another battery pull.  Saliva was doing some great songs to get the crowd jumping in the rain! There was supposed to be an "somewhat official" video of the all concerts somewhere....  It was on an EZcode sign on a post, that was ripped down later. I seen a camera, mounted on a pole in the pit later in the day..

The rest of the bands were good too, but took a break during Candlebox and T.O.A.D.M's set to walk around the place to get some overpriced beer and food! What's the deal with all those food/$5 beer tix?!
http://youtu.be/FkX6VIA0uiQ



http://youtu.be/GaHPTxQVPPc 

http://youtu.be/HHb91aVsmqA

http://youtu.be/bFQtMkOCLR0


http://youtu.be/70NJ73yvJjA



http://youtu.be/FkX6VIA0uiQ
http://youtu.be/aT9zYI5uqFw

http://youtu.be/M-3W_1xu_aU


http://youtu.be/X891jH7toV8
Five Finger Death Punch had put on a crazy show again! People go insane for their music! Yes!!!  This should be the one band that can take on the Country Music environment here, and win! 
http://youtu.be/AKAkKd5js68

http://youtu.be/-PhzHAogj2w

http://youtu.be/ecmhnsxwofI


http://youtu.be/KtNnLvldJXI


http://youtu.be/qGLXLRY8qEs




http://youtu.be/AKAkKd5js68
http://youtu.be/LpE1ozo6mkI
http://youtu.be/-PhzHAogj2w
http://youtu.be/DJznSBqPExI

http://youtu.be/bS9-1WY0Ksc
http://youtu.be/XYNKmsaPCK4

Update:  I never owned any of FFDP music.  (I grew up watching Headbangers Ball in the early 90s!)  This band is worth downloading from itunes for the won ipod nano!  Got both of their released albums for the drive to work!

There were some rock bands doing the afterparty show, on the stage behind the beertent.  Anew Revolution sounded good. Then, the band that cancelled their show at noon due to storms, Royal Bliss. They were ok, but I was ready to get going.  The afterparty is a better way to spend time, then waiting for the backed up concert traffic to leave!  So, by the time I got to my car there was a lot less cars, but there's a major mud field! Had to try not to slip on my back,walking through to the back lot,  in the middle of the night. Then, spin mud up on the car to get going.  "The only way out is through!"

The next day, left a muddied hotel room.  Got sidetracked to Gurnee, a half hour away.  Thought about going Six Flags to make a day of it. But, the $60 admission on their web site (via the Droid X) threw that out.  Let's wait for FrightFest! 

Plan B:  Mallwalked Gurnee Mills Mall.  Found a public multi-use ice rink and odd pocket pets to bring home. What is that! And they glide!  Surprised that cats don't eat them! Check out the photos.
www.sugarbears.com  (I didn't get them!)

Then, I drove back here.  (Thank you for using the Illinois Tollway, !$!!$%!)

Mayhem Festival , Tinley Park, August 5th

That was a trip getting there.  Underestimated the number of toll booths on the way!  (4)
And, a sidetrack on the last mile.  Took the wrong direction ramp, and was caught in a traffic jam!

 
Got there in time for the rest of Machinehead's set.  Then caught Megadeth, Godsmack , and Disturbed.
(still working on footage)

Megadeth and Godsmack delivered a great performance.
http://youtu.be/7aLStXJAsmg
http://youtu.be/BDe2feF4srQ

http://youtu.be/oyvRsEGXuGA
http://youtu.be/AHo21zOP0iA
http://youtu.be/5q9VdY2IIV4
http://youtu.be/36lnfncYuOU

http://youtu.be/sl2axubtOqc
http://youtu.be/GYwPewoa9p4
http://youtu.be/-QZdgTlkCHU


Disturbed was good.  David sounds a little off on one song.  At the end, David was saying that he may not see the Chicago arena again (farewell tour?) 

Sick Puppies Riverside Ballroom August 4

They were great live!

http://youtu.be/tmjwFWZSSm4
http://youtu.be/u_LEcvfs6Sk

http://youtu.be/uGG_afLdM6E
http://youtu.be/5xD6XszLszs