Second to take the stage was Violent Soho.  Listening to this native Aussie band, you would initially think that they were from the Seattle scene, as their sound fits right in with Mudhoney, Screaming Trees, Green River or even the beloved Mother Love Bone. However Luke Boerdam (vocals, guitar), James Tidswell (vocals, guitar), Luke Henery (bass) and Michael Richards (drums) take us into 2010. They rocked out, captivating the audience while commanding the stage. Look for their latest self-titled album, out now on Ecstatic Peace Records.

Next St. Louis-based act “Story of the Year” came onto the stage, holding nothing back. Jumping straight into the set with one of their edgiest:  “And the Hero Will Drown,”  the crowd went nuts! You could feel the energy rising from both the fans and the band. Dan Marsala, lead vocalist, never stopped moving. It seemed as though as his feet were on the ground for only half the set. When he wasn’t leaping in the air, he was seen down at the gate clutching onto the hands of fans to hold himself up while he shared the mic with the audience. Other members of the band could been seen climbing and jumping from speaker stacks, using every inch of the stage to put everything they had into their performance. Story of the Year presented fans with a variety of songs from both their new and older albums including the hit “Until The Day I Die”. The Dysfunctional Family BBQ was a brief stop off of their US tour with Anberlin. Next they head to Australia and Japan to headline multiple shows before returning to the States in August.

Evan’s Blue opened strong with their hit “Bullet Proof” off their new self-titled album. Frontman Dan Chandler’s voice had an almost Daughtry quality to it. He had an upbeat, positive energy and his vocals were clean, clear and refreshing. Guitarist Parker Lauzon, along with guitarist Vlad (aka V), bassist Pitter and drummer Howard “H-Bomb” Davis all contributed to a strong performance with great stage presence and loads of talent, combined with a well practiced sound that brought it home. I can’t wait to see more from this band, since they clearly seem to know their way around their audience, all the while climbing the ranks of radio hits and hot new singles: and you thought the weather was hot!  Meanwhile, the mosh pit was in full swing with half naked sun-burnt bodies surfing through waves of arms. Sadly, all good things must come to an end and so Evan’s Blue finished out their set.

In the meantime, between Evan’s Blue and Nonpoint’ set, K-Rock’s own celebrity DJ Rainman came onstage with an engaging sort of plea, keeping the crowd entertained. He asked all the females present to give a warm welcome to the band by taking off their tops and flashing everyone in a ‘welcoming way’. In the end, only one female in the entire crowd was drunk enough to oblige, much to the dismay of the djs, band members and male half of the audience. She did give it a good try, whirling the bikini top around a few times for an extra thrill.

Nonpoint took the stage with a whole lot of attitude, starting a strong set with their new single “Miracle”.  You should expect no less from these triple threat, do or die, hardcore rockers. Singer Elias leapt off the stage and onto the fence that separated the audience from the photo pit, giving the crowd a truly interactive experience they will long remember. Since “Miracle’s” release, the song and album have been generating lots of buzz, after it was made known that Chad Gray from Mudvayne and HellYeah had his hands (and vocals) in the project, as well as contributions from Greg Tribbett, also of Mudvayne and HellYeah. One thing is for certain, “Miracle” packs a whole lot of punch! Elias sings his heart out in a kind of rock brutality fashion while newest band member axeman Zack Broderic, along with bassist MacMillan and drummer Rivera add their glorious touch to the magic of “Miracle” and each song following after.

The sun beat mercilessly down on the crowd and it was hot, hot, hot, but Nonpoint’s performance was hotter still! At one point during the performance, Elias, wearing a long-sleeve black hoodie and jeans yelled to the fans, “When this song kicks, I wanna’ see you fuckin’ kick!” I have to admire Elias for his ability to relate to the audience and not be just another rock star performer but someone real that they can reach out and touch. He’s not there just to put on a great show (though Nonpoint rocks any stage). He wants to give the audience a taste of something more; a real taste of Nonpoint and the fans love him for it. Finishing up a set like that would be a hard act to follow.

St. Loius hard rock band Cavo was up next. As they took their places onstage, a deafening wave of girlish screams rose from the crowd. It’s easy to see why this group would be the female fans’ favorite band for the day, with their laid-back style and natural good looks, even the most critical eye would be tempted here. Once lead vocalist Casey Walker started singing I could almost feel the crowd swoon. The band has a cohesive vocal blend with Brian Smith and Chris Hobbs adding their talents in a way that reminded me somewhat of Oasis or perhaps even a Muse-esque style that is a pleasure to hear. Known as a radio-friendly band, I think they are so much more than that. They have larger than life stage personas combined with clean, sweet vocals and they are easy on the eyes. They worked the stage like nobody’s business as the girls screamed for more. Radio friendly or not, these boys are hot! They are another band to watch out for as they move on up. Their song “Let It Go” is on the soundtrack for the movie Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen and their lastest album, Bright Nights Dark Days is available in stores now.

Closing out the day was Texan nu/alt/heavy metal band Drowning Pool. This band was in true rockstar form as they tore up the stage, while the crowd whipped themselves into a near frenzy. Most members of the band were dressed in black tees with black leather and covered in tats (can you look any more like a rockstar?). All members of the band contributed in multiple ways with each one adding their vocal range to the set. Even the drummer, Mike Luce, got into the set, displaying his mad drumming skills that were mesmerizing to watch as he pounded away. His hands appeared to be flying, almost faster than the eye could see. C.J. Pierce pumped out some fierce fret fireworks that made me think the fourth of July had come early, while Benton had unstoppable bass lines. Singer Ryan McCombs reminded me of something out of Nordic legends with his thundering, Thor-like roar, belting out song after song tirelessly.

Drowning Pool ruled the stage and rocked their audience!  Pierce jumped around onstage while McCombs paced like a caged beast, ready to spring. I especially liked Benton’s Devil air freshener, hanging nonchalantly from his black guitar. (yea the Devil’s not on his shoulder! Its on his damn guitar!) Drowning Pool are natural-born stars who draw you into their music like sirens to sailors on ancient seas. Their music doesn’t sound forced even though they have some intense vocals and even more intense energy and stage presence. They are entertaining to watch and you have to catch them at one of their live shows. Here ends another successful event thanks to K-Rock, the fans and all the bands who made it all one hell of a show!