Rockstar Energy's Mayhem Festival kicks off in San Bernardino

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Written by Janine Zuniga

Monday, 02 July 2012 06:56

Throw your horns up, body surf and risk losing your shoe for the first day of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. The nationwide tour kicked off on Saturday June 30 at the San Manuel Amphitheater in San Bernardino. Huge names like Slayer, Anthrax and Motorhead were in attendance, including Asking Alexandria, As I Lay Dying and White Chapel. It was also announced that this was the largest turnout in five years. That explains the more-than-usual fires on the lawn.

Doors opened to three stages: Sumerian, Jagermeister and the Main stage. The Sumerian Stage lent itself to local and small bands making their way into the scene. Although it was a bit disappointing to see the smaller stage was hardly a stage; it was more of a tent. Nevertheless, bands like I The Breather and Betraying the Martyrs gave it their all and still attracted a decent sized crowd.

At the Jagermeister Stage, the crowds progressively became larger and rowdier down the band list. For example, White Chapel had officially opened up the pit with songs like “This is Exile,” “I, Dementia,” and “Section 8.”

“Are you ready for a fast one?” growled singer Tim Lambesis of As I Lay Dying following White Chapel. The band performed their single “Cauterize” from the album Awakened coming in September. They also performed “Through Struggle,” “Nothing Left” and “94 Hours.”

Asking Alexandria also gave a particularly entertaining performance. “We are from a faraway land... called England,” said singer Ben Bruce. They appropriately opened with the song “Welcome” along with “Dear Insanity” and “Morte et Dabo.” Bruce had said “Run Free,” the name of their new single but followed some confusion. But word from the crowds and message boards is the band and Bruce were singing and playing two different songs which led to a stop to the song, so “Run Free” was not actually played. There seems to have been a mix of whether or not the song was allowed to be played live.

Anthrax headlined the Jagermeister Stage where they too played a new song (in its entirety) called “Fight ‘Em Til You Can’t” from their latest album Worship Music. They also performed the songs “Caught in a Mosh” that fittingly started at least three circle pits, “Madhouse” and “I am the Law.”

Immediately after Anthrax’ set time, The Devil Wears Prada came on… the Main Stage. Depending on your preference (unfair to some), there wasn’t much time to get to the Jagermeister Stage to the Main Stage. But there was at least a crowd the size similar to Asking Alexandria’s. About half the songs The Devil Wears Prada performed came from their new album Dead and Alive like “Outnumbered and “Born to Lose.”

All bands had 30 minute sets, except for Motorhead and Slayer. Motorhead performed a good hour-long set that included the song “I Know How To Die” from their latest album The Wörld is Yours. And a little over the half way mark of their set, Mikkey Dee upheld a great drum solo during the song “One to Sing the Blues.” Motorhead also performed “Bomber,” “Killed by Death” and of course, “Ace of Spades” before ending with “Overkill.”

The set up for Slayer’s performance definitely held the essence that is Mayhem Festival; fire and more fire. The dominate centerpieces of the stage were two very large structures. They were stacked amplifiers that took shape of inverted crosses that spewed fire. Strobe lights flashed from top to bottom. Not to mention that the music coincided perfectly with extreme chants and growling.

Slayer performed “Hate Worldwide” from their last album War Painted Blood. They also took their hour-long set with songs like “Mandatory Suicide,” “Jesus Saves,” “Hell Awaits,” and finally ended this [literally] heated performance with “Raining Blood.”

Ultimately I have to add that front man Tom Araya sported his Slayer band t-shirt to his own show. Supposing that this is clearly an exception, you still never want to be “that guy” who wears the band you’re going to see on your shirt to the concert. Technically, he’s not breaking the rule.

Although the California weather got up to about 93 degrees, bodies still surfed over a field of hands’ fist pumping and saluting their horns; people still hung their head over the rails and head banged; while the number of fires on the lawn can be counted on both hands. The first day of the tour is definitely raising the bar for the rest of the country.