After a nice birthday meal with the folks, I got to the venue after 4 pm, just in time to see Saint Asonia for the second time this year. After their set, I wandered over to the memory wall. I decided to make my mark.
I took a breather on one of the side stages and took a lunch break. I'd noticed after leaving the main stage area that one of the radio station booths nearby was offering chances to win a meet & greet with Breaking Benjamin. I'd never met the band, but I saw them live three times in three different states last year. While I didn't win the VIP meet & greet (only 2 were given out), I did get the chance to get a photo with their frontman Ben Burnley after he wished me a Happy Birthday!
Shortly after that, I wandered to the What's Next stage at the top of the hill, anticipating my first 10 Years set this year. The band took the stage for a quick 45-minute set. They never disappoint-even when the PA system failed twice, the band and audience kept on going strong. I was disappointed that none of the band members gathered at the merch table after the show, but I was glad to get to see them again and hear frontman Jesse Hasek launch into an impromptu version of "So Long, Goodbye" to satisfy the crowd after their alloted time onstage was up.
I wandered over to the main stage for a bit to see Breaking Benjamin's set, then went back into the What's Next tent to charge my phone. There, I met a couple of my friends from the Twin Cities and caught up with them as we watched part of the show from former Creed frontman Scott Stapp and his solo band.
Before long, I was hungry again, so I wandered to one of the feed stands to satisfy my cravings before seeing Alice in Chains. One of the biggest bands of the Nineties, they were one band on my bucket list. They went through a fast 75-minute set full of classic hits and songs from their last two albums.
No one could ever replace their late singer Layne Staley, but current frontman William Duvall does a good job of entertaining the crowd and plays a nifty guitar, too! Lead guitarist Jerry Cantrell has long been one of my music icons, and I was glad to finally get to see him play on my birthday. The band closed with a 2 song encore of "No Excuses" (my favorite AIC song) and "Would?" before calling it a night.
Not ready to go home just yet, I wandered over to a side stage to hear my friends in 3 Pill Morning play for the diehards. I stayed for a while and then caught my friends in the Twin Cities band Vaudeville for a few songs before finally heading home.
It was a great birthday-looking forward to more great music next month! Until then, have a great weekend, everyone!
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