Listen Live!By Evan Leong
Photo Credit: Evan Leong
On April 25th, 105.5 WDHA held its third annual Rock the Rock Fest at the iconic Prudential Center in Newark. A festival for rock lovers across the state, iconic bands Staind and Seether prepared to deliver historic performances. Meanwhile, fans like me felt nothing but excitement for a long night of rock music. I’m happy to report that I left the show thrilled after discovering new artists and witnessing great performances from others I was more familiar with.
Photo Credit: Evan Leong
WDHA’s Program Director Terrie Carr introduced songwriter and guitarist Ayron Jones and his band to kick off a long, energetic night. They were the only artist I was completely unfamiliar with entering the show, but I truly enjoyed their performance. In particular, I enjoyed Jones’ gritty vocal delivery. Their songs also featured diverse guitar lines with twangy, shimmering cleans and upbeat, overdriven leads. Jones’ band members guitar and bass players were animated and full of smiles. I thoroughly enjoyed their set, and I’m excited to check out more of their material. They set the stage well for the next band on the bill.
Photo Credit: Evan Leong
That band was Dayseeker, one of my favorite artists – and a band I was so excited to see perform again. Known for their sad, synth-laden alternative metal, they were a great change of pace from Jones’ upbeat rhythms. I last saw Dayseeker in New York City with metalcore band Bad Omens, where they put on one of the most emotional sets I’ve ever experienced. This performance was no different. Vocalist Rory Rodriguez put on a standout performance, as I’ve come to expect. His powerful belted vocals in songs like “Burial Plot” and “Neon Grave” conveyed so much pain and emotion. If there’s ever a band that can get you through a tough time, it’s Dayseeker. And I’m thankful I had another opportunity to experience them live.
Photo Credit: Evan Leong
The next band absolutely blew me away, British rock quartet The Struts. They put on one of the bounciest, danciest rock-and-roll sets I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing. Prior to the show, I had heard a couple of songs by the band, but I wasn’t familiar with their music. However, their live set was an otherworldly experience (and now as I write this review, I’m voraciously digging into their discography). While every act was great, The Struts may have orchestrated my favorite performance of the night. Their playful vocal lines and upbeat rhythms were accompanied by a charismatic performance full of dancing and smiling. It was such a joy to watch, and their performances of “Kiss This” and “Primadonna Like Me” were energetic and unforgettable.
Photo Credit: Evan Leong
Hailing from South Africa, Seether has been an icon of the hard rock/alternative metal scene for over two decades. Their experience is evident on stage; their performances sounded nearly identical to the studio versions of the songs. I was surprised when the band pulled out their hit song “Broken” early in the set. While photographing the band, I heard a united choir of voices behind me as fans sang the words. Toward the end of the set, “Fake It” elicited cheers from the crowd, and I saw plenty of fans bouncing up and down in the crowd. Their set was fun, and I enjoyed my first time seeing the iconic band perform.
Photo Credit: Evan Leong
After a long wait and budding anticipation, the curtain dropped for esteemed rock band Staind as they launched into “Lowest in Me,” which at the time of its release was the band’s first single following a 12-year hiatus. What impressed me the most was the cohesion in their performance. Vocalist and rhythm guitarist Aaron Lewis displayed a cool, collected rockstar swagger; he casually smoked a cigarette while alternating between deep, raspy cleans and distorted screams. Lead guitarist Mike Mushok also stood out to me, bouncing around on stage with boundless energy. Fans jumped around for the entirety of Staind’s performance, and the band closed with “It’s Been Awhile” and “Mudshovel,” two defining songs in the post-grunge genre.
Rock the Rock Fest may have been a long night, but its relentless energy kept me excited throughout. The diversity between the bands kept me on my toes, and I felt privileged to be able to cover a show at an arena as iconic as Prudential Center. I’d also like to thank WDHA for their generosity in allowing me to organize a ticket giveaway for the show. I had an excellent experience, and I’m excited to see what next year’s Rock the Rock Fest has in store.
