Let me just start by saying, how purely AWESOME BUZZFEST in The Woodlands, Texas was this time around… And may I thank my compadres, Allison Peters, or Ali, and Elliott Whitewing, you RAWK!!!
For me, when I go to any LIVE music event, I start getting psyched a good time before, it’s always like Christmas. Then the day of, everything surrounds this event, whether it’s The Grammy’s or my favorite local band, VERTIGO.
Then I lose myself in the prep; what to wear, especially shoes…. Must be comfy… Ya I want to look good, but wearing heels is a bad move at a music festival or awards show, that’s why Cybil Shepherd coined wearing Tennis Shoe to a Black Tie Event, she wanted to enjoy herself.
When the concert waking hour finally came and it was time to walk out the front door, my heart starts pumping. I think about the energy, the heavy bass that will make me deaf and the overpriced food and beer. But it’s the atmosphere you see. It’s the artshow outside the stage, the man I named ‘”THE KORN MAN” because he was head to toe wearing KoRn gear from the concert.
I must admit that though I found great qualities in every band I heard, I couldn’t wait for KORN. KoRn was one of the few that I had never seen LIVE before, even though we have a couple of mutual friends. So when the shift came and the stage hands earned their keep, I watched the stage transform into something only the KoRn boys could dream up. Johnathan Davis was in prime form. He had obvious weight loss and was definitely on the sexy side. He delivered on every level, vocal performance, stage presence, just his own style that has made, his already infamous name, even more so. I defend KoRn when people think they’re too heavy metal, they’re really quite symphonic and instrumental. Of course I love the vocals and the lyrical content of every song ever produced by this awesome band, I’m just as happy to hear them open jam and just rock, like only they know how.
I enjoy music that moves me, inspires me, makes me think, makes me forget, just give me a full-bodied song, with plenty of shredding and heavy bass, brilliant drumming and solid vocals, then I’m happy. Really, I’m not hard to please…
There were too many bands I missed, to name a few; MuteMath, The Features, Dirty Heads, oh and Dead Sara, who has the rocking most lead female singer out there, other than Lizzy Hale of Halestorm, they’re both far underrated.
My wish list is that it would be more like Coachella and have no side stages, or at least give people time in between bands to get to the other stage, and offer Golf Cart Shuttles to specific shows. The point is to get people there. It was still worth every penny I spent. LIVE music is the rush of my heart no matter how hot it is, how cold it is, how tired I am, or how rude the people in front of me are. As I listen and feel the music vibrate through my soul from my feet up, I’m in a place where I don’t feel a thing. I’m in a zone and comfortably numb. I study the artist, their personality throughout, their vocal style, their enunciation, the hands of the bassist and lead guitar, all the Waaa’s and amazing artistry on the guitar, I’m really higher than a kite. Even just to watch the guys on the sound boards gives me a high. It’s all about the music, nothing else. Not how famous, what your band is or where you’re sitting, it’s just the natural high of glorious melodies, beats and drums that resonate your mind.
Onto a different subject, I felt that putting Evans Blue on an opposite stage and conflicting time to even get there was a travesty. I feel that they should have been at least an opener on the Main stage and not on the main stage. They held their own and truly deserved the bigger stage. This is a melodic metal band in my eyes and have something special to share. Their vocals, for starters are simply amazing! Hope for next year.
There was a lot of anticipation for EVANESENCE, and wow did they ever bring it. Not just Amy, but the whole band. Really awesome to see them on stage again. Now about Amy Lee, she killed every song, she danced around the stage and felt every lyric that came out of her angelic mouth. She really is a superb musician. Watch out for more from EVANESENCE, I think this recent album is going to set new marks for the band.
If you’re curious about the set list, here’s how it went. MAIN STAGE: The Features, Foxy Shazam, MuteMath, Cage The Elephant, Evanescence, KoRn SIDE STAGE: Arranda, Hurt, Dead Sara, Band of Skulls, Neon Trees, The Dirty Heads, and ended with Evans Blue. It was a phenomenal set of bands and I wouldn’t change that set list one bit, I just look forward to a BuzzFest, that lasts a few more days. We’ll have more arrests, but then again, people watching is half the fun.
Just a quick note about where I’ve been if any of you missed my writing. The first week of January, I learned my kidneys had failed. I needed to get my life’s affairs in order because I was going on the Transplant List. I kind of went through denial about the seriousness of my kidney failure, I was depressed, I was lost and didn’t know if I’d get the privilege to watch another LIVE music show ever again. It’s my favorite thing to do. Music is my medicine, it’s my drug, and it fed me all day yesterday and many times over throughout my short 45 years. I’m grateful to be alive, I’m hopeful of my future and will always love and supportkickassmusic…..
LASTLY!!!! I have to give props to the army of employees at Cynthia Mitchell Woods Pavillion. For me, things went like clockwork, and I was treated very well by every staff member and thank the ones who helped me find my precious cell phone that disappeared in the ladies restroom…..
Every single band on that list had something terrific to bring to the table, or the stage as it were.. All of them deserved to be there and I personally can’t wait until the next Buzzfest coming in the fall, where I can headbang and rock my heart out one more time…
Until then, Ali – Hugs from Texas —————– Alison Nicole
