Mayhem Fest wraps things up in the Texas heat
The first thing you notice about Mayhem Fest is the heat. August in Dallas, Texas is hard on any band playing an outside gig – and hard on the fans – but put three stages full of bands out at Gexa Energy Pavilion and start the whole thing at 1pm and you’ve got a seriously metal experience.
But the heat didn’t prevent the fans from coming out in full force. Or from pressing together in a mass in front of stages, moshing, or crowd surfing. Thankfully there were plenty of areas to get water – even free ice-cold water – and the fans seemed to deal with the heat pretty well, all things considered. And it was a day worth dealing with the heat for.
A few local bands won a chance to open the day on the Sumerian Records stage – including The Razorblade Dolls. Even though the heat took its toll on their bass player, Rah Stitches, and she was unable to play the band carried on and a nice sized crowd formed. They definitely gained some new fans. The MI Stage opened with Thrown Into Exile and Motionless In White. The Jagermeister Stage opened up with Huntress and really got the day going. With the fans bouncing between the two stages and back to the Rockstar Energy tent for free energy drinks, Battlecross, Butcher Babies, Attika 7 , Emmure and others battled the Texas heat and put everything they had into the last show of the tour. Machine Head wrapped things up on the Jagermeister Stage with a guest appearance from Chris Cerulli of Motionless In White. Finishing things up on the MI Stage was Finnish band Children of Bodom – who have played Dallas many times and have probably gotten used to our heat by now.
When it finally came time for the main stage acts it was a relief to be under the partially covered pavilion and out of the direct heat of the sun. Amon Amarth kicked things off with a stage dominated by half of a Viking ship. Fitting for a band from Sweden, who thankfully seemed to be handling our heat rather well. Showcasing their newest album, “Deceiver of the Gods”, they really gave the weary crowd a second wind.
Mastodon came up and next and for me it was one of the lesser bands of the day. Admittedly the last time I saw Mastodon I wasn’t terribly impressed either so I wasn’t really surprised my opinion hadn’t changed much. Five Finger Death Punch, however, always puts on a good show and this was no exception. Ivan Moody had to tease us a bit though by mentioning Dallas Cowboys quarter back Tony Romo – to which he got several boos. But all was soon forgiven as the band seriously rocked out.
Fans were in for one last treat with the final band on the finals how of this Mayhem Fest tour.Rob Zombie, for the first time in years, was filming this show for a DVD. And the Dallas crowd certainly brought their all to the experience to help. Between the cameras showing lots of bared breasts, to giant balloons filled with confetti being knocked around the crowds to the numerous giant figures and contraptions brought on stage by Zombie himself the DVD is sure to be one heck of a show and I personally can’t wait to see it. Rob Zombie definitely did an amazing job and it was worth all day in 100+ degree heat to see it.
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