October 2021

There are far too many performances to talk about them all, so I am going to hit the highlights button on a couple that I particularly liked. Rob Zombie stalked the stage like he was the mas- ter of the domain. While he was up there, he defi- nitely was in charge. His show is always high-en- ergy with dazzling light and video displays and a fan-pleasing set of hits. He dug in with the big chart-toppers like the now-classic “More Human Than Human” and the equally enthralling “Dragu- la,” tossing newer tunes as well and tasty cover. You never want to leave early when Zombie is playing. I have been following Clutch since what seems like early days for the band. Somehow they just keep getting better and better. They have so many hits to choose from stretching back over three decades that you never know what they are going play. And that is another thing about Clutch: they usu- ally switch up the set list every night. That is not something bands usually do. At Blue Ridge, fans got to hear not only immortal pieces like “Elec- tric Worry” and newer high-demand songs like “Firebirds!” and “In Walks Barbarella,” Clutch also played a new one, “Nosferatu Madre.” Clutch is on tour now and this is one of, if not their only, fes- tival appearance in the US this year. I would have gone to Blue Ridge Rock Festival just to see Clutch. Megadeth is one of those bands that I rarely see live. I am not sure why. I just always seem to miss them. I was therefore thrilled to catch them at Blue Ridge. The band goes on and gets right down to business, playing with ferocity and precision. Dave Mustaine decided to share some of his political views with the crowd in between songs, but that was a sidebar that can stay at the side while we spend our time instead on the metal. I don’t know if the band was reading my mind or not, but they played a set that seemed hand-picked for my en- joyment. One classic after another rolled out and the crowd howled its appreciation. I lean toward the thrash/metal spectrum inmy per- sonal musical taste so no one was more surprised than me when Jelly Roll’s performance turned out to be one of my favorites of the festival. He walks out slowly and confidently, considers the crowd and welcomes them. His voice is soft and deter- mined, and he tells stories that are often dead- ly serious and seem to have come from personal experience. Jelly Roll ended up playing a day lat- er than originally scheduled because his tour bus broke down in transit. For a while it looked like he wouldn’t be able to make it, but he did and his presence at the festival added balance and insight. I raved about Zakk Wylde’s band Zakk Sabbath early this year in a review of their cover album. Zakk played for Ozzy Osbourne for many years, but most of the studio music he has put out comes from his band Black Label Society. Wylde’s voice is instantly recognizable and his astonishing com- mand of the guitar is unimpeachable. I was wait- ing for my personal favorite, “Suicide Messiah,” and when it dropped the stars came out in the sun-filled afternoon sky. Although Zakk might be better known for his work with Ozzy and for the Black Sabbath cover tunes, don’t sleep on Black La- bel Society. It’s a monster. There were so many heavy bands at the festival it was a metalhead’s delight. Testament, Anthrax, Mastodon, Sabaton … all well-known bands we always look forward to seeing. There were an equal number – even more, maybe – bands I hadn’t seen before who turned out blistering, rampaging performances and who have now become new fa- vorites of mine. Ill Niño, for one example, and A War Within for another, and, oh yeah, Pig Weed. Let’s not forget another big reason to go to festi- vals is to hear new bands you don’t know anything about. The adventure of discovering new music keeps me coming back festival after festival, year after year. This was my first trip to the Blue Ridge Rock Fes- tival. Overall, for me it was a great experience, de- spite the growing pains. This festival has the poten- tial to be a premiere musical event every summer. 17