ARIANA GRANDE RELEASES NEW SINGLE “hate that i made you love me” first appeared on Game On Media.

Tortuga Music Festival Reveals Daily Lineup and Single Day Tickets for 2026 first appeared on Game On Media.

Bourbon & Beyond

Announces Largest Lineup In History For Festival’s 8^th Year:

Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Goose (Thursday),

Mumford & Sons, Kacey Musgraves, Foster the People (Friday),

Chris Stapleton, The Red Clay Strays, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Saturday),

Dave Matthews Band, Hootie & the Blowfish, Counting Crows (Sunday)

Featuring 100+ Music Artists On 5 Stages, Along With

Premium Spirits And Culinary Experiences

September 24-27 At Kentucky Exposition Center

In Louisville, Kentucky

All Pass Types, Including 4-Day, Single Day, GA, Mint VIP & Angel’s Envy Beyond VIP
Passes On Sale Now At BourbonAndBeyond.com

Festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents has announced the largest lineup in history for the 8^th year of Bourbon & Beyond — the World’s Largest Bourbon, Food & Music Festival — set for September 24-27 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Bourbon & Beyond 2026 will feature 100+ artists on 5 stages, topped by superstars including:

Thursday, September 24: Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Goose

Friday, September 25: Mumford & Sons, Kacey Musgraves, Foster the People

Saturday, September 26: Chris Stapleton, The Red Clay Strays, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Sunday, September 27: Dave Matthews Band, Hootie & the Blowfish, Counting Crows

The complete music lineup for Bourbon & Beyond is as follows: Foo Fighters, Mumford & Sons, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews Band, Queens of the Stone Age, Kacey Musgraves, The Red Clay Strays, Hootie & the Blowfish, Counting Crows, Foster The People, Goose, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Jesse Welles, Jessie Murph, Of Monsters and Men, The Flaming Lips, The War on Drugs, Charley Crockett, 4 Non Blondes, Portugal. The Man, Gary Clark Jr., Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Father John Misty, Max McNown, The Fray, Squeeze, Cheap Trick, Marcus King Band, Angus and Julia Stone, Cameron Whitcomb, Adam Ant, Amos Lee, Fitz and the Tantrums, Violent Femmes, Maddox Batson, Maoli, Lindsey Stirling, Noah Cyrus, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, The Devil Makes Three, Better Than Ezra, Durand Jones & The Indications, Jet, Plain White T’s, Buffalo Traffic Jam, The Return of Jackie and Judy, Our Lady Peace, Sons of Legion, Avery Anna, Matt Hansen, The Church, Gabriella Rose, Lisa Loeb, Uncle Lucius, Yächtley Crëw, Stella Lefty, Joan Osborne, Paula Cole, Vertical Horizon, Kaitlin Butts, Langhorne Slim, The Creekers, Henrik, The Infamous Stringdusters, Amigo The Devil, Howie Day, Tonic, Cracker, Sierra Hull, Kitchen Dwellers, Nine Days, The Verve Pipe, Congress The Band, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Noah Rinker, The Stews, Couch, hey, nothing, Bryan Martin, Penelope Road, S.G. Goodman, Magoo, Atlus, Sawyer Hill, Rattlesnake Milk, Jason Scott & The High Heat, Levi Turner, Ben Chapman, Clover County, Nathan Bess, Palmyra, Kevian Kraemer, Ryman, Shelby Means, Caleb & Reeb, The Steel Wheels, Rainbow Girls, Fireside Collective, Woodbox Heroes, The Fretliners, Meels, Mason Via and Vickie Vaughn Band.

Some of the highlights and special appearances at Bourbon & Beyond 2026 include:

• Performance from Foo Fighters, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees and 15x Grammy Award winners
• Mumford & Sons’ first show in Louisville in nearly a decade
• Performance from Kentucky native Chris Stapleton, 2026 Grammy Award winner for Best Country Solo Performance
• Dave Matthews Band celebrates 30 Years of their most popular album, Crash
• Hootie & The Blowfish performs their first show in the state of Kentucky in 20+ years
• The Return of Jackie and Judy, a Ramones tribute supergroup comprised of Sleater-Kinney and comedian/film & TV star Fred Armisen, in a select live appearance
• In addition to Chris Stapleton (Lexington/Staffordsville), other performances from “Kentucky’s Own” include Joan Osborne (Anchorage), SG Goodman (Hickman), Vickie Vaughn Band (Symsonia/Paducah), The Creekers (Leslie County/Appalachia)

“Bourbon & Beyond is built to be the best weekend of your year. Plain and simple. From the second you arrive, everything is designed so you can fully experience what a music festival should be,” says Danny Wimmer of Danny Wimmer Presents. “It’s an escape with soul — a place where you can unplug from real life, let loose, be a kid again, and really live in the moment. You can ride roller coasters at Kentucky Kingdom, discover new artists and see your favorites, sip great spirits, and eat incredible food — and it all just works. At its core, it’s about creating memories. It’s a vacation inside a vacation. This lineup reflects everything Bourbon & Beyond stands for. And I say this with humility and confidence — there is nothing else quite like it in this space. It truly is the best weekend you can have at a festival of this scale.”

“Bourbon & Beyond captures the spirit of Kentucky like no other music festival,” said David S. Beck, President & CEO of Kentucky Venues. “Last year’s move to the heart of the Kentucky Exposition Center set a new standard, and together with Danny Wimmer Presents, we’re proving the Commonwealth is the premier destination for world-class events.”

In 2026, Bourbon & Beyond will roll out a revitalized Fork & Flask curated by Kroger experience, bringing fresh momentum to the festival’s spirits and culinary programming. This year’s edition will highlight bold spirit and food pairings, unexpected flavor combinations, and a dynamic mix of talent and taste that reflects the pulse of Louisville’s ever-evolving food and drink scene. Fork & Flask curated by Kroger will showcase a diverse lineup of beloved local restaurants, innovative speakeasies, and standout bars, blending iconic favorites with rising talent. Designed to be immersive and high-energy, the experience will celebrate creativity, culture, and the next generation of flavor with more details announced soon.

In addition, the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar is home to The Bluegrass Situation Stage and features the best bluegrass bands as well as line dancing.

Bourbon & Beyond attendees can enhance their festival experience further with FREE access to amusement rides inside Kentucky Kingdom, which became part of the festival footprint in 2025. Kentucky Kingdom will be open exclusively to festival attendees during Bourbon & Beyond.

Fans in the Louisville area can celebrate the Bourbon & Beyond lineup at the official Bourbon & Beyond lineup announcement party at Whirling Tiger in Louisville on Wednesday, February 18 from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM. The event will feature performances from Bourbon Revival and Scott T. Smith, as well as custom cocktails, photo opps, vintage festival merch, giveaways, and service fee-free passes. All who attend will have a chance to win two GA passes to Bourbon & Beyond.

Passes are on sale now at https://bourbonandbeyond.com/passes/ starting at $1 down using layaway, with over 6 months to pay in full. Options include:

• 4-Day and Single Day GA
• 4-Day and Single Day Mint VIP
• 4-Day and Single Day Angel’s Envy Beyond VIP

A very limited supply of Single and 4-Day Angel’s Envy Beyond VIP passes are available for the most exclusive access and luxury amenities. And for fans who want to celebrate the biggest eight days of music in the United States, an Exacta Pass offers GA entry to back-to-back weekends in Louisville at both Louder Than Life (September 17-20) and Bourbon & Beyond (September 24-27). Starting at $700 (all in, fees included), an Exacta Pass is less than $88 per festival day. Find more info here.

New for 2026, the Bourbon & Beyond Group Reward Offer gives fans an easy way to bring their friends together. After purchasing a pass, fans can create a group and share a unique link to track purchases. Groups that reach 10 or more passes will receive a $10 refund per pass (processed the week after the festival), and the largest group (with a minimum of 50, after sales close) will earn the Ultimate Bourbon & Beyond Experience. Find more details here.

Bourbon & Beyond Single Day GA Lawn Chair Passes are on sale now, offering fans access to designated viewing areas at the main stages where they can bring a lawn chair and relax while enjoying the music. These passes sell out every year, so fans are encouraged to secure theirs early here.

A Bourbon & Beyond Student Pass is also available, allowing those with a valid .edu email address access to a $130 (all-in, fees included) Single-Day GA Pass via FEVO. Find more details here.

DWP has also partnered with GOVX to offer exclusively-priced Bourbon & Beyond passes for 4-Day GA and Single Day GA for military, nurse, firefighter, and police personnel. Find more info here.

For a fully immersive weekend experience, fans are encouraged to explore the Bourbon & Beyond RV Camping and Car + Tent Camping options. Barrel Cove Glamping Packages are also on sale now.

For those looking to stay off-site, Bourbon & Beyond hotel packages that bundle festival passes with hotel nights are available through Jampack, starting at $10 down and including daily festival re-entry and additional perks – find more information here.

All details on festival passes, including Jampack hotel packages, camping and parking passes can be found here.

Bourbon & Beyond was named Pollstar’s Global 2025 Festival of the Year, and is produced by Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America. It was also named one of Garden & Gun’s Ten Standout Southern Bourbon Festivals.

In 2025, Bourbon & Beyond welcomed fans from over 50 states and around the world to Louisville. Bourbon & Beyond and DWP’s Louisville companion festival Louder Than Life, which take place back-to-back weeks, generated over $43 million in local economic impact in 2025 and drew more than 450,000 attendees booking over 60,000 hotel room nights and creating a visitor boom at local restaurants and other businesses, including bourbon distilleries along the Urban Bourbon Trail.

The DWP Foundation will be supporting the following nonprofits in 2026: Dare to Care and the Preston Area Business Alliance, with additional partners to be announced.

Bourbon & Beyond is teaming up with an incredible lineup of partners for 2026 including Angel’s Envy, Bud Light, Cutwater, Ford Bronco, Jack Daniel’s, Kroger, Monster Energy, Old Forester, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and White Claw. Stay tuned for additional partners to be announced.

Bourbon & Beyond’s community partners include: Crowne Plaza, Galt House Hotel, Kentucky Proud, Kentucky Venues, Louisville Metro, Louisville Tourism, Louisville Marriott Downtown, and Team Kentucky.

Kentucky Exposition Center is located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Kentucky 40209.

For more information on Bourbon & Beyond please visit:

Website: https://bourbonandbeyond.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bourbonandbeyond/

Twitter: https://x.com/BourbonNBeyond

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bourbonandbeyond/

Hashtag: #BourbonAndBeyond

Bourbon & Beyond 2026 in Louisville: Foo Fighters, Mumford & Sons, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews Band first appeared on Game On Media.

Tortuga Music Festival 2026 Is Calling: Three Days of Sand, Songs, and Sea Turtle Season

If your ideal spring weekend includes boots and beach towels, Tortuga Music Festival is lining up a big, salty comeback. The 13th annual Tortuga takes over Fort Lauderdale Beach (1100 Seabreeze Blvd.) April 10–12, 2026, turning the shoreline into a three-day blend of country, rock, and roots—with the ocean as the loudest “stage design” flex imaginable.

Start your planning here: the official festival hub is https://tortugamusicfestival.com/ and passes/ticket details live at https://tortugamusicfestival.com/passes/ (the festival notes that Front Gate Tickets via Tortuga’s site is the valid ticketing provider).

First-line headliners: a three-headed main-stage monster

Tortuga 2026’s top line is built for maximum singalong whiplash: Post Malone, Riley Green, and Kenny Chesney headline across the weekend.

Post Malone at a beach festival is the kind of genre-blender Tortuga loves: a stadium-sized hitmaker who can pivot from pop-rap swagger to guitars-and-heartbreak energy without breaking a sweat. Riley Green brings the lived-in storytelling and barroom charm that country crowds practically require by law. And Kenny Chesney? He’s basically a coastal weather system—rolls in, turns thousands of people into a single chorus, leaves happy wreckage in his wake.

Second-line firepower: the “how is this not a headliner?” tier

The next row down on the lineup reads like a festival promoter showing off. Dwight Yoakam adds legendary country credibility, while Tyler Hubbard and Russell Dickerson bring the modern radio-friendly rocket fuel for sunset sets.

Then Tortuga swerves—in the best way—by pulling in Ice Cube and The Fray, giving the weekend a throwback jolt and cross-genre range that keeps the vibe from being “same hat, different day.” Add names like Dustin Lynch, Clay Walker, Flatland Cavalry, Lukas Nelson, and more, and you’ve got undercards that can easily become the stories you tell after the fact (“We only came early to get a good spot and then… wow.”).

Music with a mission (and a reason to feel slightly less guilty about sunscreen)

Tortuga is hosted by the Rock The Ocean Foundation, and a portion of ticket proceeds supports ocean and marine-life conservation. So yes, you’re partying—but you’re also (indirectly) helping protect the watery kingdom that makes the whole beach-festival idea possible.

Passes are on sale now, and the festival notes single-day passes aren’t available at this time—plan for the full three-day immersion.

For the full lineup and official info, go straight to the source:

• Festival site: https://tortugamusicfestival.com/
• Lineup: https://tortugamusicfestival.com/lineup/
• Passes/tickets: https://tortugamusicfestival.com/passes/

Tortuga Music Festival 2026: 3 Days of Sand and Song with Post Malone, Riley Green and Kenny Chesney first appeared on Game On Media.

TORTUGA MUSIC FESTIVAL BRINGS COUNTRY MUSIC AND MORE 

TO SUNNY FORT LAUDERDALE

12TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL HOSTS PERFORMANCES FROM LUKE COMBS, JELLY ROLL, KEITH URBAN, PARKER MCCOLLUM, JORDAN DAVIS, MEGAN MORONEY, LUDACRIS AND SHABOOZEY

Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival Continues To Amplify 

Sustainability Efforts and Ocean Conservation 

Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival, in partnership with Live Nation, hosted fans for a weekend of unmatched entertainment featuring headliners Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, and Keith Urban. Dubbed a “a sun-drenched, beachside country festival that doubles-up as a key fundraising event for ocean conservation” with an “impressive roster of performers” (Holler.) the 12th annual festival brought over 40 artists ranging from country’s hottest new stars like Parker McCollum, Jordan Davis, Megan Moroney, Shaboozey, rap legend Ludacris, and more.

On Friday, the Sunset Stage kicked off Tortuga with performances from John Morgan and Marcus King. Marcus King treated the crowd to a cover of Tyler Childers’ “Shake The Frost,” and was later joined by his wife, Briley, for a few songs. The crowd went wild as Ludacris took the stage to celebrate 25 years of hits with bangers like “Money Maker” and “What’s Your Fantasy.” Over on the Main Stage, the festival opened with Angie K, Gavin DeGraw, Gary Allan, and Parker McCollum, who welcomed in the first sunset of the festival with his hits “Pretty Heart” and his new single, “What Kinda Man.” To close out opening night, fan favorite Jelly Roll delivered an explosive set, lighting up the sky with pyrotechnics during songs like “Liar,” “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” and “Save Me.” 

The high energy carried into Saturday, with nearly 20 performances set against a sunny backdrop and a sea of eager fans. The Main Stage came alive as the Wheeland Brothers created the atmosphere with their signature blend of surf rock and reggae, performing their hit “Rock Me Like The Ocean.” The stage continued to shine with performances from rising stars Wyatt Flores, Meghan Patrick and Jordan Davis, each bringing their own unique flair to the festivities. Meanwhile on the Sunset Stage, country’s hottest new star, Shaboozey, took the Sunset Stage and had the crowd singing along to his hits, creating an unforgettable moment under the Florida sun. The Sunset Stage also hosted The Original Wailers, who brought reggae vibes to the crowd, while supergroup Ezra Ray Hart energized the audience with a medley of Sugar Ray’s “When It’s Over” and Violent Femmes’ “Blister in the Sun.” Closing out the Main Stage, Keith Urban ignited the crowd with an unforgettable set that had fans enthusiastically singing along to classics like “Somebody Like You” and “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” He also invited up-and-coming artist Karley Scott Collins for a duet on “GO HOME W U.”

Wrapping up the sunny, star-studded weekend, fans at the Sunset Stage were treated to unforgettable performances from artists like Restless Road, Bumpin Uglies, Yelawolf, and a crowd filled with singalongs to Megan Moroney’s hits “Am I Okay” and “No Caller ID.” Over on the Main Stage, the festivities kicked off with Caylee Hammack, who sang a unique country-laden version of Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!” She was followed by country-rock anthems from Corey Kent and Cody Jinks, who each brought their own distinctive energy to the weekend. The night reached its peak as Luke Combs wrapped up the 2025 festival with an energy-filled set full of hits like “Forever After All” and “When It Rains It Pours,” leaving the crowd buzzing with excitement and ending the 2025 festival on a high note.

The weekend also showcased the next generation of country music featured on the festival’s first year of the Next From Nashville stage, giving attendees a chance to discover the genre’s hottest acts including Abby Anderson, Avery Anna, Bayker Blankenship, Bryce Leatherwood, Charlie Worsham, Denitia, Jade Eagleson, Jenna LaMaster, Karley Scott Collins, Kashus Culpepper, Lauren Watkins, Mae Estes, Noah Hicks and Thomas Edwards.

Since its debut in 2013, Tortuga has been making waves—raising millions and supporting over 100 nonprofits dedicated to ocean conservation and marine life protection. These efforts have spanned across the U.S., Bahamas, South Africa, and Asia, with groundbreaking research making a real impact. In 2024 alone, thanks to the incredible support from Tortuga fans, 114.7 tons of materials were diverted from landfills through the festival’s sustainability and recycling initiatives. In 2025, Tortuga’s sustainability efforts have focused on three key goals: Reduce, Rethink, and Restore. These goals aim to cut down on CO2 emissions and landfill waste, embrace eco-friendly products and cutting-edge technologies, and adopt policies that protect marine ecosystems and champion ocean conservation. One of the festival’s standout features is Rock The Ocean’s Conservation Village, where attendees can discover exactly how their ticket purchases are making a difference and learn how they can personally contribute to the cause. For more information, visit TortugaMusicFestival.com/conservation/.

For more information and to join the conversation, visit TortugaMusicFestival.com, Tweet: @FestivalTortuga #TortugaFest, Instagram: @TortugaMusicFestival #TortugaFest, Snapchat: @TortugaFest, Facebook: Facebook.com/TortugaMusicFestival.

About Rock the Ocean: 

The Rock The Ocean Foundation is dedicated to supporting scientific research, education and increasing public awareness about the issues impacting the world’s oceans. Rock The Ocean teams up with high profile musical artists and entertainers, who will perform and participate in events that educate the public on marine conservation. Rock The Ocean founder Chris Stacey is an avid ocean lover, diver and 20-year music industry veteran. Tortuga Music Festival will bring to life his vision, uniting the best and brightest in music, working to raise awareness about the issues currently impacting our oceans and their delicate ecosystems. For more information visit www.rocktheocean.com, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockTheOcean, Tweet @RockTheOcean or Instagram @rocktheocean.

About Tortuga:

Tortuga Music Festival is part of Live Nation’s premiere family of country music festivals spread across the country, including Watershed in George, WA, Faster Horses in Brooklyn, MI, and Tortuga Music Festival in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival 2025 Recap first appeared on Game On Media.

Rock The Ocean’s 2005 Tortuga Music Festival hits the Fort Lauderdale Beach in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on April 4 – 6, 2025.

Don’t miss major stars like Luke Combs, Keith Urban, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, Ludacris, Shaboozey, Parker McCollum, Jordan Davis and Cody Jinks. Plus enjoy 3 stages of the best in country, rock and reggae. Not to mention hanging out literally on the beach, enjoying dozens of food and beverage options. All while helping to save the environment.

Daily set times have been released, as well as single day tickets. Multiple day passes and VIP options are also still available in limited quantities.

See https://tortugamusicfestival.com/passes/ for all of the information you need. Do not miss this festival.

Photos from Tortuga Music Festival 2024

Tortuga 2024 Jaggar

24 photos

Tortuga Music Festival 2025 Set Times and Single Day Tickets first appeared on Game On Media.

Bourbon & Beyond

Daily Music Schedule Announced And New App Launched

World’s Largest Bourbon & Music Festival Features Headliners

Sting & Beck (Thursday),

Dave Matthews Band & Tedeschi Trucks Band (Friday),

Zach Bryan & Whiskey Myers (Saturday),

Tyler Childers & My Morning Jacket (Sunday),

Plus Dozens More Rock, Americana, Bluegrass And Alt Rock Artists

Along With Elevated Bourbon & Culinary Experiences

September 19-22 At Highland Festival Grounds At

Kentucky Exposition Center In Louisville, Kentucky

Limited Passes Available At www.BourbonAndBeyond.com

The daily music schedule for Bourbon & Beyond and details for the festival’s Culinary Atelier and The Bourbon Experience programming have been announced for the World’s Largest Bourbon & Music Festival, held from September 19-22 at the Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

The sixth Bourbon & Beyond features an eclectic mix of music legends and rising stars with headliners Sting and Beck on Thursday, Dave Matthews Band and Tedeschi Trucks Band on Friday, Zach Bryan and Cody Jinks on Saturday, and Tyler Childers and My Morning Jacket on Sunday. The lineup of 100 artists on five music stages also includes Matchbox Twenty, The National, Whiskey Myers, Black Pumas, The War On Drugs, The Beach Boys, Mt. Joy, Fleet Foxes, Young the Giant, Maren Morris, The Head and The Heart, Melissa Etheridge, Teddy Swims, and many others.

Fans can now plan their Bourbon & Beyond experience with the music performance schedule available online (www.bourbonandbeyond/schedules) and through the new festival mobile app presented by Lyte (www.bourbonandbeyond/mobileapp) which lets fans personalize their schedules, learn more about the music, culinary and bourbon talent, view festival maps, and more.

In “The Workshop” at Bourbon & Beyond, the festival’s renowned culinary and bourbon workshop stages, The Culinary Atelier and The Bourbon Experience will showcase culinary programming from some of the nation’s top chefs and a wide array of bourbon tastings and workshops, celebrating Louisville’s rich bourbon and culinary culture.

Leading The Culinary Atelier demonstrations with celebrity chefs and artist pairings at Bourbon & Beyond are hosts chef Chris Santos (Chopped) and chef Edward Lee (The Mind of a Chef). They will be joined by acclaimed chefs including Tiffani Faison (Food Network), Marc Murphy (Chopped, World Central Kitchen), Kelsey Barnard Clark (Winner of Top Chef Season 16) and Louisville’s Noam Bilitzer (Chopped) along with many more. Enjoy live demo experiences packed with bourbon-infused dishes, curated small bites and inspiring conversations in an immersive setting.

The Bourbon Experience will be hosted by bourbon expert Chris Blandford and chef Amanda Freitag (Top Chef and Chopped) and will feature bourbon talent and celebrity guests including world renowned bourbon expert Fred Minnick, and industry leaders from premium brands such as Pappy & Co, Angel’s Envy, Woodford Reserve, Old Rip Van Winkle, and many more. Join exclusive live bourbon barrel selections, learn about the artistry of whiskey with experts, and participate in tastings. Other programming includes a live episode of the Firkin Podcast, Jack Daniel’s Bonded Bartender Battle, and an entertaining panel discussion with acclaimed comedian Jim Gaffigan as he shares the story behind his venture into bourbon with Fathertime.

Other special guests participating in the culinary and bourbon programming include Mat Kearney, Melissa Etheridge, Jim Gaffigan, Charles Wesley Godwin, Derek Trucks, Molly Tuttle, Young The Giant and more. Look for the full schedule and guest lineup for The Workshop panels to be announced soon and find more info about the participants online here https://bourbonandbeyond.com/lineup/.

The Bourbon & Beyond music, culinary and bourbon schedule is below (subject to change). Festival gates open at 11:30am daily.

Thursday, September 19
Oak Stage		Barrel Stage
9:15 PM	Sting	7:50 PM	Beck
6:45 PM	Matchbox Twenty	5:50 PM	Maren Morris
5:00 PM	Fleet Foxes	4:15 PM	The Wallflowers
3:25 PM	Lyle Lovett	2:45 PM	Beth Hart
2:10 PM	M. Ward	1:35 PM	Arlo Parks
1:00 PM	KT Tunstall	12:25 PM	Taylor Acorn
Yonder Stage		Beyonder Stage
9:15 PM	Koe Wetzel	8:20 PM	Ole 60
7:25 PM	Breland	6:40 PM	The Record Company
6:05 PM	Patty Smyth	5:30 PM	Suzanne Vega
4:55 PM	Amanda Shires	4:20 PM	Mapache
3:45 PM	Andy Frasco & The U.N.	3:10 PM	Maggie Antone
2:35 PM	Colby T. Helms & The Virginia Creepers	2:00 PM	Kyle Ray
Bluegrass Situation Stage
7:10 PM	Sam Bush Band
6:10 PM	Sister Sadie
5:10 PM	Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley
4:10 PM	The Kentucky Gentlemen
3:10 PM	East Nash Grass
Culinary Stage
5:15 PM	K-Town Kings: Chefs Danny Lee & Edward Lee
	Host: Edward Lee
	Guest: Danny Lee
3:30 PM	Smash & Grab: The Ultimate Burger Showdown with Eric Greenspan
	Host: Chris Santos
	Guest: Chef Eric Greenspan
1:30 PM	Grill & Thrill
	Host: Chris Santos
	Guests: Patty Smyth & Tom Jackson of Kamado Joe
Bourbon Stage
6:00 PM	The Southern Trinity: Bourbon, Bacon and Butter
	Host: Chris Blandford
	Guests: Chefs Jason Smith & Jackie Joseph
4:15 PM	Single Barrel Pick and Sip
	Host: Chris Blandford
	Guests: Lili Lambert and special guest
2:20 PM	Blending & Bites with Bardstown Bourbon Company
	Host: Chris Blandford
	Guest: Dan Callaway (Bardstown Bourbon Company)
12:30 PM	The Firkin Podcast: Every Drink Tells A Story with Andy Frasco
	Hosts: Brian Probus & Chris Blandford
	Guest: Andy Frasco (Andy Frasco & The U.N.)
Friday, September 20
Oak Stage		Barrel Stage
8:55 PM	Dave Matthews Band	7:40 PM	Tedeschi Trucks Band
6:35 PM	Black Pumas	5:35 PM	The Head And The Heart
4:45 PM	Charles Wesley Godwin	3:55 PM	Melissa Etheridge
3:15 PM	JJ Grey & Mofro	2:35 PM	Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers
2:00 PM	Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway	1:25 PM	Hiss Golden Messenger
12:50 PM	Robert Jon & The Wreck	12:15 PM	Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel
Yonder Stage		Beyonder Stage
8:55 PM	Chris Isaak	8:05 PM	The Red Clay Strays
7:15 PM	Mat Kearney	6:30 PM	Wyatt Flores
5:55 PM	Cimafunk	5:20 PM	Dan Tyminski
4:45 PM	Abraham Alexander	4:10 PM	Briscoe
3:35 PM	Vincent Neil Emerson	3:00 PM	Abby Anderson
2:25 PM	The Castellows	1:50 PM	Grace Bowers
Bluegrass Situation Stage
7:00 PM	The Jerry Douglas Band
6:00 PM	New Dangerfield
5:00 PM	Chatham County Line
4:00 PM	Kaia Kater
3:00 PM	The Last Revel
Culinary Stage
4:15 PM	Cookin’ Up Amore: Chef Marc Murphy and Mat Kearney
	Host: Chris Santos
	Guests: Mat Kearney & Chef Marc Murphy
3:15 PM	Family Ties and Southern Delights: Chef Kelsey Barnard Clark and Charles Wesley Godwin
	Host: Chris Santos
	Guests: Charles Wesley Godwin & Chef Kelsey Barnard Clark
1:30 PM	Rock & Roll Kitchen w/ Chef Amanda Freitag and Melissa Etheridge
	Host: Chris Santos
	Guests: Melissa Etheridge & Chef Amanda Freitag
Bourbon Stage
6:00 PM	Jack Daniel’s Bonded Bartender Showdown
	Host: Chris Blandford
	Judges: Chris Fletcher, Chris Blandford & Campbell Brown
	Bartenders: Sisi Bright, SC Baker & Eron Plevan
5:00 PM	Crafting Excellence: Music and Bourbon
	Host: Chris Blandford
	Guests: Derek Trucks (Tedeschi Trucks Band) & Carrie Van Winkle (Pappy Van Winkle)
2:30 PM	Cocktails and Kitchen Confidential
	Host: Chris Blandford
	Guests: Chef Amanda Freitag and Pig Beach Louisville
12:15 PM	The Firkin Podcast: Every Drink Tells A Story with Molly Tuttle
	Hosts: Brian Probus & Chris Blandford
	Guest: Molly Tuttle (Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway)
Saturday, September 21
Oak Stage		Barrel Stage
9:15 PM	Zach Bryan	7:50 PM	Cody Jinks
6:40 PM	Whiskey Myers	5:40 PM	Teddy Swims
4:50 PM	Sierra Ferrell	4:05 PM	Kaleo
3:25 PM	Shane Smith & The Saints	2:45 PM	Niko Moon
2:10 PM	The Dip	1:35 PM	Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band
1:00 PM	Smith & Myers	12:25 PM	Nicholas Jamerson & The Morning Jays
Yonder Stage		Beyonder Stage
9:15 PM	Young The Giant	8:20 PM	Wild Rivers
7:25 PM	Allen Stone	6:55 PM	Meg Myers
6:20 PM	Soul Asylum	5:45 PM	Samantha Fish
5:10 PM	Son Volt	4:35 PM	Amigo The Devil
4:00 PM	Robert Finley	3:25 PM	Royel Otis
2:50 PM	Hueston	2:15 PM	Theo Lawrence
Bluegrass Situation Stage
7:10 PM	Tony Trischka’s EarlJam
6:10 PM	Big Richard
5:10 PM	Mountain Grass Unit
4:10 PM	Tray Wellington Band
3:10 PM	Louisville Bluegrass Band
Culinary Stage
5:30 PM	Mexican American Bollywood: A Flavor Explosion w/ Chef Claudette Zepeda and Young The Giant
	Host: Chris Santos
	Guests: Young The Giant & Chef Claudette Zepeda
3:45 PM	Tastes of Louisville: Chef Noam Bilitzer and Allen Stone
	Host: Edward Lee
	Guests: Allen Stone & Chef Noam Bilitzer
1:45 PM	Monk’s Road – Chef Ciro Matteo Pirozzi
	Host: Edward Lee
	Guest: Ciro Matteo Pirozzi
Bourbon Stage
6:15 PM	Shaping the Future of Bourbon
	Host: Chris Blandford
	Guests: Russ Smith, Elizabeth McCall, Greg Keeley & Ingrid Shawn Rodriguez
4:30 PM	Whiskey Warriors: Transition from Service to Crafting Bourbon
	Host: Chris Blandford
	Guests: Scott Neil, Mark Nutsch & Will Summers (Horse Soldier Bourbon)
2:30 PM	Bourbon Legacy: Generations of Mastery and Innovation
	Host: Chris Blandford
	Guests: Fred Noe, Freddie Noe, Eddie Russell, Bruce Russell & Preston Van Winkle
12:45 PM	The Firkin Podcast: Every Drink Tells A Story with Preston Van Winkle
	Hosts: Brian Probus & Chris Blandford
	Guest: Preston Van Winkle (Pappy Van Winkle)
Sunday, September 22
Oak Stage		Barrel Stage
9:00 PM	Tyler Childers	7:40 PM	My Morning Jacket
6:35 PM	The National	5:35 PM	The War On Drugs
4:45 PM	Mt. Joy	4:00 PM	The Beach Boys
3:20 PM	Larkin Poe	2:40 PM	Sunny Day Real Estate
2:05 PM	The War And Treaty	1:30 PM	The Bacon Brothers
12:55 PM	Neal Francis	12:20 PM	Jake Kohn
Yonder Stage		Beyonder Stage
9:00 PM	Milky Chance	8:05 PM	X-Ambassadors
7:20 PM	Dinosaur Jr.	6:40 PM	Lucius
6:05 PM	Cory Wong	5:30 PM	Futurebirds
4:55 PM	Dexter & The Moonrocks	4:20 PM	Devon Gilfillian
3:45 PM	Mac Saturn	3:10 PM	Motherfolk
2:35 PM	Madi Diaz	2:00 PM	Tommy Prine
1:25 PM	As You Were
Bluegrass Situation Stage
7:00 PM	Yonder Mountain String Band
6:00 PM	The Local Honeys
5:00 PM	The Brothers Comatose
4:00 PM	Lizzie No
3:00 PM	The Jacob Joliff Band
Culinary Stage
4:15 PM	Chef Jamie Bissonnette and Murph of Dinosaur Jr.
	Host: Chris Santos
	Guests: Murph (Dinosaur Jr.) & Chef Jamie Bissonnette
1:30 PM	From Boston to Bourbon: Chef Tiffani Faison
	Host: Chris Santos
	Guest: Tiffani Faison
12:00 PM	The Bourbon Land: Chef Edward Lee
	Host: Edward Lee
	Guests: TBA
Bourbon Stage
5:00 PM	Blind Bourbon LIVE
	Host: Fred Minnick
3:20 PM	The Firkin Podcast: Every Drink Tells A Story with Tommy Prine
	Hosts: Brian Probus & Chris Blandford
	Guest: Tommy Prine
2:15 PM	Comedy and Craftsmanship with Jim Gaffigan
	Host: Chris Blandford
	Guest: Jim Gaffigan
12:45 PM	Liquid Legends: Tasting and Trends with Master Distillers
	Host: Chris Blandford
	Guests: Owen Martin (Angel’s Envy), Christian Huber (Starlight Distillery), Trey Zoeller (Jefferson), Kenny Coleman (Pursuit United), Brandon O’Daniel (Copper & Kings) & Rob Dietrich (Blackened)

New this year, Bourbon & Beyond attendees can keep the entertainment going during the Bourbon & Beyond weekend with a special series of local events presented by Danny Wimmer Presents. These events include the Bourbon & Beyond Kickoff Dinner (Sept. 18 at The Kitchen Table Restaurant), nightly Official Afterparty presented by J Wagner Group (Sept. 19-22 in the Main Ballroom at Crowne Plaza), Daniel Nunnelee (Sept. 20 at Zanzabar), Bad Nerves (Sept. 21 at Zanzabar), a free Mayor’s Bourbon Brunch and Bluegrass (Sept. 21 in NULU), Mayorthon Bourbon & Beyond 5k (Sept. 21 at Kentucky Exposition Center) and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe (Sept. 21 at Headliners Music Hall). For full details, visit: www.bourbonandbeyond.com/parties.

Another highlight of Bourbon & Beyond is the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar. Featuring the best bluegrass bands, line dancing and expertly curated picks of Kentucky’s finest, the bourbon trail is coming right to Bourbon & Beyond. Bourbon lovers can also stop by Chris Picks MiniBar for select single barrels curated especially for Bourbon & Beyond; The Hunter’s Club for rare and vintage sips; and the Jim Beam Tiki Barrel Bar for the perfect oasis to make the festival vacation complete. In addition to select bourbon experiences, fans can enjoy other cocktail offerings at Blackened Presents, The Whiskey Bar. In addition, music lovers and musicians can spend time at The Music Experience powered by American Musical Supply, featuring music gear to play, giveaways, special deals, selfie stations, guitar and drum contests, and more. Visit BourbonAndBeyond.com  for a complete description of festival experiences.

Bourbon & Beyond is proud to host Bud Light, Cutwater, Jack Daniel’s, ON!, Jefferson’s Bourbon, Park Community Credit Union, Smooth Ambler, Angel’s Envy, TX, Solo Stove, IcyBreeze, Kroger, U.S. Army, NJOY, Lyte, Pappy & Company, Penelope Bourbon, Ford, ZYN, Middle West Spirits, Kamado Joe, Dixxon Flannel, Chicken Cock Whiskey, vIVe Hydration, Monk’s Road, The Music Experience, Shady Rays, Meet NKY, Eastern Light Bourbon, Louisiana Hot Sauce, Michter’s, Willett Distillery, To Write Love On Her Arms, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Horse Soldier, Weedies, Green River, Bardstown, Jim Beam, Knob Creek, Basil Hayden, Maker’s Mark, Pegasus, Heaven Hill, Monster Energy, Wild Turkey, Bulleit, Heaven’s Door, Rabbit Hole, Copper & Kings, Drew Estate, Kentucky Lottery, Milagro Tequila, WhistlePig, Kentucky Proud, Jolly Time Popcorn, Diplomatico Rum, Four Roses, and Golden Sheaf Whiskey.

Fans can still join in on the fun at the World’s Largest Bourbon & Music Festival by securing a pass at BourbonAndBeyond.com or via Shop Pay at https://www.dwpbourbon.com/, allowing fans to utilize the buy now, pay later installment plan. Weekend GA and select single day passes are still available, but in limited supply.  Passes for this year’s Bourbon & Beyond are selling out in record time, including weekend Mint VIP, Angel’s Envy Top Shelf, Friday VIP, Saturday GA and Mint VIP and Sunday Mint VIP.  Fans are encouraged to act fast and secure their spot at the biggest Bourbon & Beyond in the festival’s history.

Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Exposition Center is located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville, Kentucky. Bourbon & Beyond is produced by Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America.

For more information on Bourbon & Beyond please visit:

Website: BourbonAndBeyond.com

Facebook: @bourbonandbeyond

Instagram: @bourbonandbeyond

Twitter: @bourbonNbeyond

Hashtag: #BourbonAndBeyond

Bourbon & Beyond Set Times Schedule Announced; Sting & Beck (Th), Dave Matthews Band & Tedeschi Trucks Band (Fri), Zach Bryan & Whiskey Myers (Sat), Tyler Childers & My Morning Jacket (Sun) Headline World’s Largest Bourbon & Music Festival Sept. 19-22 first appeared on Game On Media.

Danny Wimmer Presents Kicks Off Festival Season With

Biggest Welcome To Rockville Ever!

More Than 200,000 In Attendance At Daytona International Speedway May 9-12,

Record-Breaking For Both DWP And The Festival

North America’s Biggest Rock Festival Featured Dozens Of

Can’t-Miss Moments

Festival Featured 150 Bands On 5 Stages With Headliners

Mötley Crüe & Disturbed (Thursday),

Limp Bizkit & Jelly Roll (Friday),

Foo Fighters & Queens of the Stone Age (Saturday),

Slipknot & Evanescence (Sunday)

2025 Dates To Be Announced Soon

Welcome To Rockville is officially the biggest rock festival in North America, hosting more than 200,000 people and 150 bands on 5 stages for the first time. This year, Rockville also broke records to become the largest event for festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents. Looking ahead, the May 2025 festival dates at Daytona International Speedway will be announced soon.

The 13^th Welcome To Rockville featured its most powerful collection of artists yet, including headliners Mötley Crüe & Disturbed (Thursday), Limp Bizkit & Jelly Roll (Friday), Foo Fighters & Queens of the Stone Age (Saturday) and Slipknot & Evanescence (Sunday), along with Judas Priest, Greta Van Fleet, Falling In Reverse, A Day To Remember, Breaking Benjamin, Bad Omens, The Offspring, Mudvayne, Koe Wetzel, Stone Temple Pilots, Primus, Cypress Hill, Sum 41, a rare appearance by Mr. Bungle, and many others. Welcome To Rockville brought in fans from around the U.S. and the world for the four-day destination event.

These were some of the highlights and can’t-miss moments during the festival:

    Mötley Crüe had the crowd in a frenzy with a set filled with decades of hits, along with newer tracks like the recently released, “Dogs of War.” (Thursday)

    Disturbed’s powerful show included a surprise cameo by legendary Heart vocalist Ann Wilson for a duet with David Draiman on “Don’t Tell Me,” the song they recorded together for the band’s current album. This marked the first time Wilson joined Disturbed onstage to perform the song. (Thursday)

    After his headlining set on the SiriusXM Octane Drift Stage, Jelly Roll joined Limp Bizkit for the band’s version of The Who’s “Behind Blue Eyes.” As Rolling Stone reported: “…Fred Durst told the crowd repeatedly, ‘I need an angel to come out here and save me. Drop something from the sky. I don’t care what it is, drop anything, please sweet angel. Save your brother Freddy D!’ As summoned, Jelly Roll then appeared onstage with Limp Bizkit to deliver the song’s second verse…” Later in the set, rapper Riff Raff joined Limp Bizkit on stage to perform his track “Tip Toe Wing In My Jawwdinz.” The band also brought a couple from the crowd on stage for a live gender reveal. (Friday)

    Falling In Reverse was joined by Tech N9ne and Alex Terrible from Slaughter To Prevail–who both played at the festival earlier that day–for the first-ever live performance of “Ronald (Feat. Tech N9ne And Alex Terrible),” which will appear on Falling In Reverse‘s new album. (Friday)

    Rockville fans saw the second show ever for Kerry King‘s solo band, with a set that included songs from King’s forthcoming album as well as Slayer classics. (Friday)

    Foo Fighters played a 2-hour set packed with hits, including an appearance from Mammoth WVH frontman Wolfgang Van Halen who surprised fans with a few classic Van Halen solos during Foo Fighters’ mid-show medley. (Saturday)

    Queens of the Stone Age closed out the SiriusXM Octane Drift Stage Saturday night with an epic set of fan favorites. (Saturday)

    Slipknot’s mind-blowing festival-closing set celebrated the 25th anniversary of the band’s classic self-titled album and was one of the first shows with the band’s new drummer Eloy Casagrande. (Sunday)

    Evanescence’s Sunday night SiriusXM Octane Drift Stage headlining performance marked the band’s first show in the continental U.S. this year. (Sunday)

    Sum 41 had the crowd singing along throughout their energetic set–one of the final shows ever for the group. Shortly before the band hit the stage, fans had the unique opportunity to catch a glimpse of a SpaceX rocket launch from nearby Cape Canaveral lighting up the sky behind the Vortex Stage. (Sunday)

    The Church of Rock & Roll had surprise karaoke appearances from Rockville artists each day, including John Moyer (Disturbed), Joey Belladonna (Anthrax), John Cooper (Skillet), Ash Costello (New Years Day), Devin Oliver (I See Stars), Tim Montana and more.

    Brand new onsite experiences at Rockville included the BLACKENED Burger Bar with Chef Chris Santos on the festival grounds and Just Add Milk Cereal Bar in the Rockville campground.

    During the festival, the live broadcast on Rockville Radio on SiriusXM’s Chanel 504 included music from bands on this year’s lineup, interviews, streamed sets and more. Fans can re-live the best of Welcome To Rockville on Rockville Radio via the SiriusXM app, available to stream through May 22, 2024.

Metal Injection summarized the Welcome To Rockville experience well, noting, “Though some rock critics may argue on about how rock is either dead or dying, the only certainty is that such persons have never experienced the Florida festival that has been swelling to one of the biggest in the world: Welcome To Rockville.”

Welcome To Rockville is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, one of the largest independent producers of destination music festivals in America.

For more information on #WelcomeToRockville, visit:

Website: www.WelcomeToRockville.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/welcometorockville

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rockvillefest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/welcometorockville

#welcometorockville

(Welcome To Rockville 2024, by Nathan Zucker)

(Mötley Crüe, by Steve Thrasher)

(Limp Bizkit with Jelly Roll, by Steve Thrasher)

(Foo Fighters, by Steve Thrasher)

(Slipknot, by Steve Thrasher)

(Disturbed, by Dusana Risovic)

(Jelly Roll, by Steve Thrasher)

(Queens of the Stone Age, by Dusana Risovic)

(Evanescence, by Dusana Risovic)

(Tech N9ne, Ronnie Radke, Alex Terrible during Falling In Reverse, by Jake Miller)

(Sum 41, by Maurice Nunez)

(Welcome To Rockville fans, by Nathan Zucker)

(Welcome To Rockville by Nathan Zucker)

200,000 In Attendance For Biggest Welcome To Rockville Ever, May 9-12 At Daytona International Speedway first appeared on Game On Media.

Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival partied on the sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach in South Florida on April 5, 6 & 7, 2024.

Michael Franti & Spearhead took their music straight into the crowd on the beach, and even brought some fans onstage on April 6, 2024.

Check out the latest on Michael Franti & Spearhead music and tour dates at https://michaelfranti.com/.

Find out about next year’s Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival, as well as their sister festivals, at https://tortugamusicfestival.com/.

Tortuga 24 Michael Franti

12 photos

Michael Franti & Spearhead at Tortuga Music Festival 2024 first appeared on Game On Media.

Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival partied on the sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach in South Florida on April 5, 6 & 7, 2024.

TLC made everyone feel nostalgic when they tore through their extensive catalog of smash hits on April 7, 2024.

Check out the latest on TLC music and tour dates at https://officialtlc.com/.

Find out about next year’s Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival, as well as their sister festivals, at https://tortugamusicfestival.com/.

Tortuga 24 TLC

9 photos

TLC at Tortuga Music Festival 2024 first appeared on Game On Media.

Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival partied on the sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach in South Florida on April 5, 6 & 7, 2024.

Bret Michaels, lead singer of Poison, added a glam rock touch to the festival, providing nothing but a good time on April 6, 2024.

Check out the latest on Bret Michaels music and tour dates at https://www.bretmichaels.com/.

Find out about next year’s Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival, as well as their sister festivals, at https://tortugamusicfestival.com/.

Tortuga 24 Bret Michaels

12 photos

Bret Michaels at Tortuga Music Festival 2024 first appeared on Game On Media.

TORTUGA MUSIC FESTIVAL CELEBRATES COUNTRY MUSIC AND MORE
IN SUNNY FORT LAUDERDALE

11TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL HOSTS PERFORMANCES FROM LAINEY WILSON, HARDY, JASON ALDEAN, BRET MICHAELS, MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD, TEDDY SWIMS AND ASHLEY MCBRYDE, AMONGST OTHERS

To Date, Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival Has Raised
Nearly 5 Million For Ocean Conservation Efforts

Tortuga 24 Crowd

33 photos

Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival, in partnership with Live Nation, hosted fans for a weekend of unmatched entertainment featuring headliners Lainey Wilson, HARDY and Jason Aldean. Praised for having an “eclectic” lineup that is “deep in talent” (Sun Sentinel), the 11th annual festival brought over 40 artists ranging from country’s hottest new stars like Bailey Zimmerman and CMA Award winning Group of the Year Old Dominion to icons like Bret Michaels, Boyz II Men and TLC.

On Friday, the Sunset Stage kicked off Tortuga right with performances from Shwayze, Boys II Men, Teddy Swims and Ashley McBryde. On the Main Stage, Warren Zeiders invited Teddy Swims to perform a special rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey.” Shortly after, Turnpike Troubadours’ driving country-rock welcomed in the first scenic sunset of the festival. A crowd favorite, Lainey Wilson closed opening night with her signature “Bell Bottom Country” sound, belting her GRAMMY-winning hits as fans danced along under the warm night sky.

The uplifting energy continued on Saturday with nearly 20 performances set against a sunny backdrop and a sea of fans. Appropriately, Michael Franti & Spearhead filled the main stage with their vibrant ‘sounds of sunshine,’ setting the tone for Old Dominion, whose performance elicited enthusiastic sing-alongs from the crowd. Meanwhile, multi-platinum entertainer Russell Dickerson brought his “unstoppable energy” (E! News) to the Sunset Stage and was followed by rock icon Bret Michaels. Singing Poison classics like “Your Mama Don’t Dance” and “Nothing But a Good Time,” Michaels surprised fans by inviting Cooper Alan up for a “Sweet Home Alabama” duet. HARDY closed the night and pushed genre boundaries with his one-of-a-kind blend of nu-metal and country on the Main Stage.

Rounding out the sunny, star-studded weekend, fans at the Sunset Stage were able to experience the carefree songs of the Wheeland Brothers, much-anticipated 90s legends TLC and country-folk singer Charles Wesley Godwin. The Main Stage opened with DIAMOND-selling superstar Brian Kelley, followed by Bailey Zimmerman delivering an energetic set proving why he’s “Country’s Biggest New Star” (Grammy.com). ACM Artist of the Decade Jason Aldean followed, closing out the 2024 festival with hits like “My Kinda Party” and “Lights Come On” featuring Bailey Zimmerman.

The weekend also showcased the next generation of country music featured on the festival’s first year of the Next From Nashville stage, giving attendees a chance to discover the genre’s hottest acts including Sadie Bass, Annie Bosko, The Castellows, Kolby Cooper, Logan Crosby, Hannah Ellis, Dylan Gossett, HunterGirl, Greylan James, Meg McRee, Peytan Porter, Josh Ross, Austin Snell, Anne Wilson and Stephen Wilson Jr.

Since its inception in 2013, Tortuga has raised nearly $5 million supporting 100+ nonprofits dedicated to saving our oceans and marine life as well as groundbreaking research in the United States, Bahamas, South Africa and Asia. Last year, the festival received the prestigious 2023 Bronze Stevie Award for Sustainability Leadership in the US and Canada at the 20th Annual International Business Awards. Sustainability at the 2024 Tortuga Music Festival focused on three major goals involving all departments – “Reduce, Rethink and Restore” – to reduce CO2 emissions and waste going to landfills, to explore green products and technologies, and to implement policies to protect Marine ecosystems and support ocean conservation efforts. Rock The Ocean’s on-site Conservation Village gives festival guests the opportunity to learn more about where a portion of the proceeds from their passes go and how they can help make a difference. For more information, visit TortugaMusicFestival.com/conservation/.

About Rock the Ocean: 
The Rock The Ocean Foundation is dedicated to supporting scientific research, education and increasing public awareness about the issues impacting the world’s oceans. Rock The Ocean teams up with high profile musical artists and entertainers, who will perform and participate in events that educate the public on marine conservation. Rock The Ocean founder Chris Stacey is an avid ocean lover, diver and 20-year music industry veteran. Tortuga Music Festival will bring to life his vision, uniting the best and brightest in music, working to raise awareness about the issues currently impacting our oceans and their delicate ecosystems. For more information visit www.rocktheocean.com, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockTheOcean, Tweet @RockTheOcean or Instagram @rocktheocean.

About Tortuga Music Festival:
Tortuga Music Festival is part of Live Nation’s premiere family of country music festivals spread across the country, including Watershed in George, WA and Faster Horses in Brooklyn, MI. For more information, visit www.tortugamusicfestival.com, Tweet: @FestivalTortuga #TortugaFest, Instagram: @TortugaMusicFestival #TortugaFest, Snapchat: @TortugaFest, Facebook: Facebook.com/TortugaMusicFestival.

About Live Nation Entertainment:
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit livenationentertainment.com.

Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival 2024 Celebrated Country Music and Conservation in Fort Lauderdale first appeared on Game On Media.

Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival 2024: Tickets On Sale Now!

Your wait is over! Prepare for an unforgettable experience at the Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival from May 10-12, 2024. The response to our lineup has been tremendous, and now you can join in on the excitement with Weekend Passes and Single Day Tickets for Wonderfront 2024, available NOW. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to immerse yourself in a blend of music, art, and culture. Choose from our range of ticket options, including 1-day passes, 3-day weekend passes, and an unparalleled VIP experience tailored to enhance your festival adventure. Secure your tickets at www.wonderfrontfestival.com

Ticket Tier Pricing:

Single-day GA tickets: $135 (Friday 5/10, Saturday 5/11, Sunday 5/12)

Single-day VIP tickets: $439 each day

3-Day GA Tickets: $329

3-day VIP pass: $1,150

In true form, fans are treated to an eclectic lineup of performances that will captivate both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Magical moments are on the horizon, with electrifying live acts spanning a diverse spectrum. From emerging talents like Q, Paris Texas, Samm Henshaw, and Abby Anderson to rising stars such as Channel Tres, alongside chart-toppers like Weezer, Carly Rae Jepsen, T-Pain, Milky Chance, and more, there’s something for everyone. Immerse yourself in a dynamic blend of hip-hop, house, indie groove pop, power-pop rock, and organic grooves over three unforgettable days.

But Wonderfront isn’t just about the music – it’s a lifestyle experience! Explore San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy for unforgettable after-parties, or embark on exclusive excursions like boat parties and sunset sails. Delight your taste buds with mouthwatering local culinary delights, craft beers, and immersive activities.

For those craving the ultimate VIP experience, Wonderfront presents the VIP Wonderful Pass, offering exclusive perks and privileges. VIP ticket holders enjoy dedicated entrance lines at the main venue gates, ensuring swift and hassle-free entry during peak festival moments. The VIP Lounge, nestled where the water meets the shore, provides a serene escape from the festival’s hustle and bustle. Experience every note up close with unparalleled viewing from VIP platforms, ensuring an elevated perspective of main-stage performances. The extended front-of-stage access, exclusively for VIPs, brings you closer to the action than ever before. Indulge in specialized gourmet food offerings in the VIP Lounge, catering to diverse tastes. Picture lounging in a VIP area steps away from the main stages and waterfront, with access to a VIP Limo Boat for harbor party cruises. Front row viewing at both main stages is now expanded for 2024, featuring multiple entrance/exit points and a VIP fast lane. Dive into the VIP Hideaway Lounge within the new EDM Dance Club for an exclusive open-air club experience like no other.

Confirmed Artists Include:

BECK, WEEZER, KAYTRANADA, MT. JOY, DOMINIC FIKE, JID, CARLY RAE JEPSEN, MK, JOEY BADA$$, T-PAIN, MILKY CHANCE, DAYGLOW, THE ROOTS, MARCUS KING, CHANNEL TRES, POLO & PAN, ACTION BRONSON, BAKAR, STEEL PULSE, NATASHA BEDINGFIELD, UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA, BADBADNOTGOOD, POOLSIDE, PARIS TEXAS, FRUIT BATS, SURF MESA, PHONY PPL, Q, SUN ROOM, SUDAN ARCHIVES, RAYLAND BAXTER, ALICE PHOEBE LOU, ABBY ANDERSON, SAMM HENSHAW, IDKHOW, JD CLAYTON, FIJI BLUE, MAPACHE, KID BLOOM, HEALY, ALLAN RAYMAN + MANY MORE

For out-of-town guests, take advantage of our Ticket & Hotel Travel Packages, offering up to $300 in hotel rate discounts along with festival tickets and exclusive experiences. Immerse yourself in the San Diego sun and the wonder of Wonderfront!

Don’t miss out on the ultimate celebration of music, arts, and the San Diego lifestyle at Wonderfront 2024! Visit www.wonderfrontfestival.com for more information.

About Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival:

Wonderfront is a three-day music, culinary, and arts extravaganza featuring over 80 bands across 7+ stages and boat parties. Spread across the stunning San Diego waterfront, the festival promises an unforgettable experience for music lovers and beach enthusiasts alike.

Wonderfront Festival Details: Dates: Friday-Sunday, May 10-12, 2024

Location: Wonderlust Events, LLC, 550 West B Street, San Diego, CA 92101

Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival 2024: Tickets On Sale Now first appeared on Game On Media.

For coverage of the Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival 2023, see:

https://gameon.media/2023/04/19/rock-the-oceans-tortuga-music-festival-2023-day-1-review/

https://gameon.media/2023/04/20/shania-and-carly-lead-day-2-of-rock-the-oceans-tortuga-music-festival-2023/

https://gameon.media/2023/04/22/kenny-chesney-caps-off-day-3-of-tortuga-music-festival-2023/

Tortuga Music Festival 2024 Features Lainey Wilson, HARDY, Jason Aldean first appeared on Game On Media.

Def Leppard and Journey Summer Stadium Tour 2024 with Steve Miller Band, Heart, Cheap Trick first appeared on Game On Media.

Quiet Riot is celebrating the 40th anniversary of their debut album “Metal Health”. Their extensive tour hit Area 142 in Cocoa Beach, Florida on August 19, 2023.

“Metal Health” was the first American heavy metal album to reach number one on the billboard charts. The success of the album and the epic single “Cum On Feel The Noize” is widely credited for ushering in the Sunset Strip glam/hair metal era, which dominated the 1980’s music and culture scenes.

Rudy Sarzo introduced the song “Thunderbird”, which was originally written for Quiet Riot founder Randy Rhoads, dedicating it to the memories of Randy, Kevin DuBrow and Frankie Banali.

Rudy Sarzo, Jizzy Pearl, Alex Grossi and Johnny Kelly deliver all of the material from the debut album and the rest of the catalog with skill, professionalism and joy. It is a pleasure to “Bang Your Head” to classic good-time music. Check out tour dates at https://www.quietriot.band/shows.

Quiet Riot Cocoa Beach 23

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Quiet Riot Celebrates 40 Years of “Metal Health” in Cocoa Beach first appeared on Game On Media.

Full Music Lineup Announced For

Blue Ridge Rock Festival

September 7-10 At VIRginia International Raceway In Alton, Virginia

Slipknot, Five Finger Death Punch, Staind, Danzig,

I Prevail, Flo Rida, Lorna Shore, Knocked Loose, Polyphia, Insane Clown Posse, Vanilla Ice & More

Just Added To The Lineup

Festival To Feature Performances From Over 100 Bands In Total Over Four Days

Single Day Passes On Sale Now At blueridgerockfest.com

The full music lineup has been announced for Blue Ridge Rock Festival–America’s Largest Rock & Camping Festival–which takes place September 7-10, 2023 at VIRginia International Raceway in Alton, VA. Newly announced artists include: Slipknot, Five Finger Death Punch, Staind, Danzig (performing his self-titled album in full), I Prevail, Flo Rida, Lorna Shore, Knocked Loose, Polyphia, Insane Clown Posse, Vanilla Ice, Project Pat and more.

Blue Ridge Rock Festival features performances from more than 150 music artists including Slipknot, Pantera, Five Finger Death Punch, Shinedown, Evanescence, Limp Bizkit, Till Lindemann: The Voice of Rammstein (exclusive U.S. performance), Staind, Megadeth, Papa Roach, Danzig, Rise Against, Lamb of God, Three Days Grace, Pierce The Veil, Chevelle, Coheed & Cambria and many more.

The festival also hosts a one-of-a-kind Club Experience Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM, after the Main Festival with performances from some of the biggest and best ‘90s/2000s hip hop/rap legends, including Flo Rida, 2 Chainz, Three 6 Mafia, Soulja Boy, Vanilla Ice, Insane Clown Posse and Project Pat. The Club Experience is only available to three or four day festival campers and is an additional pass purchase.

The daily music lineup for Blue Ridge Rock Festival is as follows (subject to change):

Single day passes have just been released, and are on sale now at https://blueridgerockfest.com. 4-Day General Admission and VIP passes, as well as 3-Day VIP passes are now at level 5 pricing. 3-Day General Admission passes are at level 4 pricing. Fans save by purchasing early, and with the Blue Ridge Rock Festival 3-month payment plan, fans can purchase weekend or single day passes for only 25% down, with no additional fees.

The festival has seen record-breaking sales so far, with 4-Day Rockstar passes and Artist Meet & Greet Passes already SOLD OUT (wait list available). Premium tent camping, TV camping and glamping sites are also SOLD OUT, but a wait list is available. A limited number of standard 5-night tent camping sites are still available, but fans are advised to purchase soon before passes sell out. Blue Ridge Rock Festival has also partnered with Fuse to provide exclusive hotel packages.

Visit https://blueridgerockfest.com/festival-passes/ for full details and to purchase passes.

Independently-owned, Blue Ridge Rock Festival is the home of the “Fan Driven Experience,” with fans voting on the lineup and festival experiences through surveys across social media. What started as a one-day event in 2017 expanded to a 4-day festival in 2022, featuring almost 200 bands and proudly hosting a community of over 150,000 at the VIRginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia.

Watch the Blue Ridge Rock Festival 2022 after movie here:

www.facebook.com/BlueRidgeRockFest/videos/1629611474183192

Blue Ridge Rock Festival is located at VIRginia International Raceway, 1245 Pine Tree Road in Alton, VA, within a few hours of many major cities including Raleigh, Greensboro, Charlotte, Richmond, Virginia Beach and Washington, DC. In 2022, Blue Ridge Rock Festival  entered into a multi-year agreement with Virginia International Raceway, which allows festival organizers to work on the site year-round.

Blue Ridge Rock Festival is sponsored by ZYN, Monster Energy, on! Nicotine Pouches, URW Credit Union, Fizzy – CBD Infused Soda, Mortus Viventi, and more.

For more information on Blue Ridge Rock Festival, visit:

Website: https://blueridgerockfest.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlueRidgeRockFest

Twitter: https://twitter.com/blueridgerock

Instagram: www.instagram.com/blueridgerockfest

Hashtag: #BlueRidgeRock

BRRF22 Day 1

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BRRF22 Day 2

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BRRF22 Day 3

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BRRF22 Day 4

10 photos

Slipknot, Pantera, Shinedown, Evanescence, Limp Bizkit Lead Full Lineup For Blue Ridge Rock Festival 2023 first appeared on Game On Media.

Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary on the sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach in South Florida on April 14, 15 & 16, 2023.

Day 3 was Sunday, April 16th. It was another hot one, but clouds kept creeping in as the day turned to night. Tens of thousands of country music fans showed up in force to live out the “No Shoes Nation” lifestyle romanticized about in Kenny Chesney’s songs. Despite it being the third and final day of the festival, the crowd showed up early and was full of energy, with the weekend’s strongest lineup to look forward to.

Kenny Chesney, Jake Owen, Niko Moon, Ashley Cooke, Shane Profitt and Dee Jay Silver kept the Allegiant Main Stage rocking all day long, from the paved VIP area right through to the sandy General Admission side. Jake Owen and Niko Moon are full of so much energy and joy on stage, that they could not sit still for a moment. Both will likely be headlining this festival in the near future. South Florida’s own Ashley Cooke shared a story about standing on the beach as a teenager at the very first Tortuga Music Festival, watching Kenny Chesney perform. On this day, she not only opened for Chesney on the main stage, she also performed a duet with him during his set, crushing ‘When The Sun Goes Down’. Dreams do come true when you work hard and believe in yourself.

Justin Moore, Collie Buddz, Kidd G, Nate Smith, Kylie Morgan and DJ Rock played the Sunset Stage presented by Visible by Verizon. Once again, the second main stage offered the most variety, and fans of each act had the chance to get up close to enjoy great songs from artists with their own unique style.

Megan Moroney, Alana Springsteen, Frank Ray, Mackenzie Carpenter and George Birge showed their skills on the Next From Nashville stage presented by Bacardi. This tent stage provides a chance to escape the sun and enjoy the talents of rising stars. There was a ton of talent on display this weekend, and some of these artists will be playing the main stage in the future.

The organizers of Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival clearly know what they are doing. The original schedule allows for a buffer in case of bad weather. Kenny Chesney hit the stage earlier than planned, in hopes of finishing before the lightning storm got anywhere close. Unfortunately, about 30 minutes into his set, as he was playing ‘Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven’, we were forced to evacuate due to dangerous weather approaching. Everyone left in an orderly fashion, hoping the storm would pass quickly. When word came down at 9:30 that Chesney would resume playing at 10:00, the majority of festival goers made it back in to see another hour of hits. Kenny kept things moving, playing mostly upbeat songs to get in as many as possible before the 11:00 noise curfew. No Shoes Nation was ecstatic to be able to sing along and dance with their toes in the sand.

Put Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival on your must-see list, and it just may become one of your annual traditions.

Tortuga Music Festival 2023 Day 3

51 photos

Kenny Chesney Caps Off Day 3 Of Tortuga Music Festival 2023 first appeared on Game On Media.

Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary on the sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach in South Florida on April 14, 15 & 16, 2023.

Day 2 was Saturday, April 15th, a spectacularly hot and sunny day. Tens of thousands of country music fans showed up early to hit the sands and hear the tunes. Fans were dressed in their best beachwear, with a splash of concert gear and the occasional costume.

Shania Twain, Carly Pearce, Jameson Rodgers, Brittney Spencer, Alexandra Kay and Dee Jay Silver shone as brightly as the sun on the Allegiant Main Stage. Shania Twain played a brilliant set featuring several joyful new songs, some acoustic covers and all of the many hits fans were delighted to dance and sing along to. Her main theme for the night was joy and celebrating what makes each person happy. Judging by the roar of the crowd, her music is one of the things that makes millions happy. Carly Pearce performed earlier on the main stage, and she took the opportunity to thank Shania for inspiring her, and so many others, to write their own songs, make their own rules and manifest their own destiny.

The Wallflowers, Dylan Scott, Mike., Tropidelic, Corey Kent and DJ Rock played the Sunset Stage presented by Visible by Verizon. This second main stage also hosted the entertaining Dating Game, where Tortuga fans competed for seat upgrades and a shot at love. This was an eclectic mix of artists, with a different set of fans showing up for each set.

Erin Kinsey, Tyler Booth, Chayce Beckham, Dylan Marlowe and Chase McDaniel graced the Next From Nashville stage presented by Bacardi. This stage was placed under a tent in the middle of the grounds, providing a nice stopping point between main stages. This intimate setting provided a great opportunity to get up close and personal with some rising stars.

With the sun blazing, Saturday was a great day to explore the festival grounds. VIP ticketholders had cabanas and a pool to cool off in. General Admission fans could explore the many vendor tents and activations, each offering a mini oasis amongst the packed beachside setting. There were many unique beverage choices available to cool down and fuel up.

Put Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival on your must-see list, and it just may become one of your annual traditions.

Tortuga Music Festival 2023 Day 2

47 photos

Shania And Carly Lead Day 2 Of Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival 2023 first appeared on Game On Media.

Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary on the sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach in South Florida on April 14, 15 & 16, 2023.

Day 1 was Friday, April 14th and the festival gates opened at noon for tens of thousands of country music fans to hit the beach. Record-breaking rains left much of Fort Lauderdale flooded all week, including the FLL airport which was shut down over 2 days, causing many to scramble to make other plans. Those plans included flying to other Florida airports and catching rides, and driving as many as 25 hours just to get to the best festival of the year. Turns out that the beach and the ocean have a long-standing agreement about water, so the festival grounds were not flooded and every stage, vendor booth and fan activation was available. Despite a brief weather-caused evacuation, the show went on as planned.

Eric Church, Cole Swindell, Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real, Deana Carter, Wade Bowen and Dee Jay Silver performed on the Allegiant Main Stage. This stage was set on the southern end of the area, and was flanked on the street side by a massive multi-story cabana area for VIP patrons. Cole Swindell was a dynamo and really had the whole crowd moving and singing along. They were clearly ecstatic that the 1 hour evacuation did not prevent them from missing anything. Eric Church closed the night in style, with a headliner set full of hits.

Brett Young, Wiz Khalifa, Lauren Alaina, Tyler Braden, Pecos & The Rooftops and DJ Rock played the Sunset Stage presented by Visible by Verizon. This stage bookended the grounds on the north end, and was truly an additional main stage, more than a second stage. Many fans claimed that Wiz Khalifa put on the best show of the night. Despite not being from the country music genre, his laid-back, party-flavored rhymes fit in well at the end of a long, hot day at the beach.

Ray Wylie Hubbard, Red Clay Strays, Aaron Raitiere, Pillbox Patti and Catie Offerman graced the Next From Nashville stage presented by Bacardi. This stage was placed under a tent in the middle of the grounds, providing a nice stopping point between main stages. Up and coming artists got a chance to catch some ears and hopefully gain some new fans. Some of the artists who had previously played here have now graduated to main stage status.

Considering the logistical challenges of hosting a festival on the beach, with Florida’s unpredictable weather and the sheer number of people travelling in for the show, this was the best-run major music festival I have ever been to. The music was incredible, the amenities were top-notch and plentiful, the prices were reasonable and nobody seemed to have a bad time at all. Country fans were chill, friendly and happy throughout the day and into the night. They even walked up the beach to enjoy the after hours nightlife at the many interesting Fort Lauderdale bars and restaurants.

Put Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival on your must-see list, and it just may become one of your annual traditions.

Tortuga Fest 23 Day 1

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Cole Swindell Tortuga 23

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Wiz Khalifa Tortuga 23

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Lukas Nelson Tortuga 23

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Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival 2023 Day 1 Review first appeared on Game On Media.

The 10th Tortuga Music Festival has announced the daily artists and set times for their massive musical celebration on the beach in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Friday, April 14 features Eric Church, Cole Swindell, Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real, Deana Carter, Wade Bowen and Dee Jay Silver on the Allegiant Main Stage. Brett Young, Wiz Khalifa, Lauren Alaina, Tyler Braden, Pecos & The Rooftops and DJ Rock play the Sunset Stage presented by Visible by Verizon. Ray Wylie Hubbard, Red Clay Strays, Aaron Raitiere, Pillbox Patti and Catie Offerman grace the Next From Nashville stage presented by Bacardi.

Saturday, April 15 features Shania Twain, Carly Pearce, Jameson Rodgers, Brittney Spencer, Alexandra Kay and Dee Jay Silver on the Allegiant Main Stage.  The Wallflowers, Dylan Scott, Mike., Tropidelc, Corey Kent and DJ Rock play the Sunset Stage presented by Visible by Verizon. Erin Kinsey, Tyler Booth, Chayce Beckham, Dylan Marlowe and Chase McDaniel grace the Next From Nashville stage presented by Bacardi.

Sunday, April 16 features Kenny Chesney, Jake Owen, Niko Moon, Ashley Cooke, Shane Profitt and Dee Jay Silver on the Allegiant Main Stage. Justin Moore, Collie Buddz, Kidd G, Nate Smith, Kylie Morgan and DJ Rock play the Sunset Stage presented by Visible by Verizon. Megan Moroney, Alana Springsteen, Frank Ray, Mackenzie Carpenter and George Birge grace the Next From Nashville stage presented by Bacardi.

Hotels are still available – click here.

Passes are SOLD OUT – get more info here.

Tortuga Music Festival runs on Dunkin. – Get the Dunkin app – Download the Dunkin’ Rewards App for access to their rooftop deck, premium giveaways, and more at Tortuga!

Tortuga Music Festival 2023 Announces Daily Set Times For Church, Shania, Chesney and More first appeared on Game On Media.

Bourbon & Beyond Returns With Bruno Mars, The Killers, Brandi Carlile, The Black Keys, Plus Elevated Bourbon and Culinary Experiences first appeared on Game On Media.

Held on the white sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach Park in a beautiful oceanside setting, Tortuga Music Festival is a 3-day, multi-stage music festival featuring some of the biggest names in country, rock and roots music.

Tortuga Music Festival brings like-minded fans together for an unforgettable beach weekend experience that pairs music with meaning to raise awareness for marine conservation.

This year’s headliners are Eric Church, Shania Twain and Kenny Chesney. Direct support is provided by a nice variety of artists – Wiz Khalifa, Cole Swindell, Carly Pearce, Jake Owen, Brett Young, The Wallflowers, Justin Moore, Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real, Jameson Rodgers, Niko Moon and Dylan Scott.

Additional performers are Ray Wylie Hubbard, Lauren Alaina, Collie Buddz, Deana Carter, Brittney Spencer, Ashley Cooke, Mike., Kidd G, Tyler Braden, Tropidelic, Nate Smith, Alexandra Kay, Wade Bowen, Shane Profit, Kylie Morgan, Corey Kent, Pecos & The Rooftops, Dee Jay Silver, DJ Rock, Erin Kinsey, Megan Moroney, Red Clay Strays, Alana Springsteen, Tyler Booth, Aaron Raitiere, Chayce Beckham, Frank Ray, Chase McDaniel, Pillbox Patti, Dylan Marlowe, Mackenzie Carpenter, Catie Offerman and George Birge.

Get your tickets now, before they are gone, as the Low Ticket Alert flag has been raised on Ft. Lauderdale Beach.

#tortugafest #tortugax

Tortuga Music Festival works hand in hand with the Rock The Ocean Foundation to increase public awareness about the issues impacting the world’s oceans and to support scientific research, education, and ocean conservation initiatives.

The Rock The Ocean Foundation is the 501(c)(3) non-profit that focuses on 5 Core Issues:

Tortuga Music Festival and Rock The Ocean Foundation Celebrate 10 Years with Kenny Chesney, Shania Twain, Eric Church first appeared on Game On Media.

WATCH “OUT OF STYLE” VIDEO

 

STILL SUCKS will be available for the first time in two different CD configurations.

There will be a “Gold Disc” edition, which is a strictly limited-edition numbered run, and a “Silver Disc” edition.

Both versions will feature the album’s 12 songs including “Out Of Style,” “Dad Vibes,” and “Don’t Change,” + a bonus track. Get it here.

TRACK LISTING:
“Out Of Style”
“Dirty Rotten Bizkit”
“Dad Vibes”
“Turn It Up, Bitch”
“Don’t Change”
“You Bring Out The Worst In Me”
“Love The Hate”
“Barnacle”
“Empty Hole”
“Pill Popper”
“Snacky Poo”
“Goodbye”

ABOUT LIMP BIZKIT:
Limp Bizkit aren’t the band you thought they were, but they might just be the band they’ve always been…Here are the facts so far. Formed in Jacksonville, FL during 2004, the group have sold over 40 million records worldwide since 1994. Their discography spans the double-platinum Three Dollar Bill, Y’all [1997], seven-times platinum Significant Other [1999], six-times platinum Chocolate Starfish and the Hotdog Flavored Water [2000], platinum Results May Vary [2003], and Gold Cobra [2011]. They continue to headline sold out arenas and stadiums on five continents. They returned in 2021 with their sixth full-length LP, STILL SUCKS, followed by the STILL SUCKS TOUR in 2022, which headlined arenas coast-to-coast, including Madison Square Garden and more. They regularly average over 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify and have generated streams in the billions. Limp Bizkit are back in 2023 with much more to come.

It’s A World Leader Summit + A Plea for World Peace in Limp Bizkit’s “Out of Style” Video first appeared on Game On Media.

The Innings Festival returns to Tampa, Florida on March 18 & 19, 2023 during the Grapefruit League Spring Training. Imagine Dragons and Dave Matthews Band lead off an incredible lineup of heavy hitters. This double-header weekend promises no overlapping sets, so fans will be able to catch all of the live performances that they want.

The festival will once again take place on the grounds of Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This expansive area provides plenty of room for all of the events, and on-site parking.

Saturday, March 18, 2023 will feature Imagine Dragons, Weezer, Pitbull, Grouplove, Japanese Breakfast, Tai Verdes, Joey Valence & Brae, Briscoe and Cydeways.

Sunday, March 19, 2023 brings to the plate Dave Matthews Band, The Avett Brothers, Marcus Mumford, The Revivalists, Third Eye Blind, The Breeders, Faye Webster, The Heavy Heavy and The Ries Brothers.

Baseball fans will be treated to a live recording of “Off The Mound featuring Ryan Dempster”, a late night-style talk show featuring stories and laughs with MLB stars past and present, and great personalities from the sports and entertainment world. There will also be an “All-Star Baseball Jam” hosted by Jake Peavy, with The Bronson Arroyo Band.

Fans and families will be able to come together in Tampa to celebrate the Grapefruit League Spring Training experience. Major league stars will be in attendance, including John Kruk, Wade Boggs, Goose Gossage, Cecil Fielder, Travis Hafner, Ryan Klesko, Jake Peavy, Edwin Encarnacion, Andy Van Slyke, Ray Lankford, Tom Herr, Rafael Furcal and more.

Tons of food options will be available, featuring selections from some of Florida’s best food vendors, including vegan/vegetarian and gluten-free items. Of course, there will also be the traditional baseball favorites, such as hot dogs and ice cream.

Tickets are available on the official website – https://www.inningsfestival.com/florida. Several options exist, including 1-day and 2-day passes, and multiple VIP levels. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to have some family fun under the sun. Innings Festival Florida is all ages. Children 7 and under get in free with a ticketed adult.

Dave Matthews Band And Imagine Dragons Lead Off 2023 Innings Festival In Tampa first appeared on Game On Media.

Mark Tremonti Sings Frank Sinatra

NEW YORK | MARCH 2, 2023

Join us for an unforgettable night on Thursday, March 2, 2023, as we celebrate together and raise funds to support resources and advocacy for the Down syndrome community. This elegant evening will conclude with a live performance of songs from the Billboard #1 jazz album, Tremonti Sings Sinatra, by Mark Tremonti and original members of Frank Sinatra’s band.

BUY YOUR SEAT

MARK TREMONTI SINGS FRANK SINATRA

Take A Chance For Charity is a new charity focused on giving artists / actors / athletes the ability to get out of their comfort zone, having the people with a platform get out of the genre they are known for to raise funds / awareness for the charity of their choice. An actor can sing, an athlete can dance, a musician can sing a song out of their musical genre – any artistic interpretation. This gives the artist the ability to do something out of the ordinary, in fact extraordinary all in the name of charity. Mark Tremonti Sings Tremonti Sinatra will be the first release for the cause, the recipient being NDSS.

Music, apparel and accessories available now!
Read the full story about this project, click below.

SUPPORT NOW

MUSIC AND MERCH AVAILABLE

SEE ALL ITEMS

National Down Syndrome Society Gala & Auction To Honor Mark Tremonti Sings Frank Sinatra first appeared on Game On Media.

The 5^th annual Blue Ridge Rock Festival took place in Alton, Virginia on September 8 – 11, 2022. Day one was headlined by Ghost, with notable support coming from a wide spectrum of artists, including Ice Cube, Anthrax, Daughtry, Jelly Roll, In This Moment, Stone Temple Pilots and Nothing More.

The massive 4 day rock music festival tried to recover from the logistical nightmares of 2021 by moving to a new site near the Virginia International Raceway. While the venue was a slight improvement over the remote park used last year, I never saw any racetrack, facilities or parking lots.

The parking was over 5 miles from the event, and there did not seem to be nearly enough buses. Fans could be seen waiting in massive lines to leave the parking field, to enter the venue, and to return to their vehicles after the show. The third and fourth stages were miles from the side-by-side main stages, up and down big hills which left little time to move between sections and actually see all of the bands.

Despite all of the hardships and difficulties, fans were excited to see an incredible lineup, representing every genre of rock and roll. The overall production and sound were on point. The only problem with such an extensive collection of bands was deciding which ones to see, and which sadly had to be missed. While the two main stages alternated acts, it was a long walk to the other side, and making that trek meant missing someone else.

I definitely missed more acts than I saw. The highlights of the day for me were Ghost, Anthrax, Ice Cube, Daughtry, Nothing More, Spiritbox, Fire From The Gods and a rare reunion show from Shadows Fall. Blue Ridge Rock Festival definitely goes out of their way to deliver special shows, such as reunion shows and rare appearances.

I managed to capture photographs of the aforementioned highlights, as well as A Skylit Drive, Unearth, Vampires Everywhere, Pop Evil, Bad Wolves, and In This Moment.

I would have loved to see other bands, but there are just too many stages and too many bands. Among the bands I would have loved to experience were Islander, Palisades, Red, Brand Of Sacrifice, Hawthorne Heights, Hinder, We Came As Romans, Cannibal Corpse, Sleeping With Sirens, Stone Temple Pilots and Jelly Roll.

It may have been better to book fewer artists, and invest more money into supporting the fans, including more buses, more facilities and more showers for the campers. BRRF bills itself as being “Fan-Driven”, so hopefully they will continue to listen to, and support, their dedicated fans.

Tickets and campsites are already selling well for next year, proving that die hard metal fans will endure anything to experience the power of live music, and the feeling of connecting with other people who are just as mental about metal as they are. Go to https://blueridgerockfest.com/ to get yours.

BRRF22 Day 1

17 photos

Ghost, Anthrax, Ice Cube and Nothing More on Day 1 of Blue Ridge Rock Festival 2022 first appeared on Game On Media.

Mark Tremonti has been the most prolific and creative song writer of the past 25 years. As lead guitarist and backup vocalist for Creed and Alter Bridge, he has delivered a combined 10 albums full of pure rock and roll magic. For his solo project, Tremonti, he also takes on lead vocal duties. The fifth Tremonti album, “Marching In Time”, released in 2021, showcases a maturing sound for the band, and a dramatic expansion of his vocal abilities and melodic phrasing. Unbeknownst to everyone in the rock world, Mr. Tremonti was working hard on a secret passion project, diligently studying the unique delivery of one Frank Sinatra. While “Marching In Time” benefitted greatly from this intense training, the true magic was being created behind the scenes.

Accompanied by surviving members of Sinatra’s band as well as various top-notch players, Tremonti cut 14 classics for “Tremonti Sings Sinatra”, which he gifted to the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) as part of his new organization Take A Chance For Charity. 100% of the album’s proceeds will go to NDSS to help people with developmental disabilities. 

Inspired by his own daughter Stella, Mark Tremonti has combined his passion for Frank Sinatra with the charitable spirit of Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, in an effort to help others living with Down Syndrome.

“For years, Iʼve loved singing along to Frankʼs songs,” Mark explains. “One night, I found an old video of him performing ʻThe Song Is Youʼ from 1944. It made me want to dive into his vocal approach. I was all in and I wanted to do something with it. When we found out about our daughter Stellaʼs Down syndrome diagnosis, the stars aligned. My obsession with Sinatra had its reason. Frank Sinatra raised more than a billion dollars for charity and that is a fact I wish the public knew more about. Beneath his cool and calm persona, he had a big heart. Doing this charity in his name was another way the stars had aligned. I decided to do this record to raise funds for families and individuals with Down syndrome. This project is the start of a new purpose that I will have for the rest of my life.”

“Tremonti Sings Sinatra” serves as the inaugural project for his new Take A Chance For Charity movement. It encourages and empowers artists, actors, athletes, and entertainers of all stripes to step into unexpected territory with a creative initiative for charity. Whether it be a football player singing country, an actor salsa dancing, or a guitar player singing Sinatra, it’s all for a great cause.

“So many talented people have other skills that their fans or followers would never expect,” he leaves off. “This is the chance to do something you’re passionate about for charity. It’s a greenlight to do whatever you want to do. It’s a win-win all around. I want people to talk about this enough to get other artists to participate,” he leaves off. “Someday, I hope I’m a little old man who raised 100 million dollars for charity. My daughter has already made everyone around her a better person. To do this for her means the world to me.”

For all details on how to support the charity, purchase unique items, and learn about the sold out charity event and performance, visit https://tremontisingssinatra.com/ .

Mark Tremonti Takes A Chance For Charity With Frank Sinatra Project first appeared on Game On Media.

Daughtry returns to the stage with a killer new album, “Dearly Beloved”, and a Fall 2021 tour featuring legendary opening bands, including Sevendust, Tremonti and Travis Bracht on select dates. See https://daughtryofficial.com/daughtry/events for details on the artist performing at each tour stop.

The “Dearly Beloved” album is an instant classic. The first half features several rock radio ready tunes, most notably ‘World On Fire’ and ‘Changes Are Coming’. The second half of this collection is where the band truly shines, experimenting with instrumentation and pacing, allowing Chris Daughtry to showcase his passionate, soulful voice. Stand out tracks include a swinging ‘Evil’, the hypnotic ‘Somebody’, and the desperate ballad ‘Break Into My Heart’.

“Dearly Beloved” track listing:

01. Desperation
02. World On Fire
03. Heavy Is The Crown
04. Changes Are Coming
05. Dearly Beloved
06. Cry For Help
07. Evil
08. Asylum
09. The Victim
10. Somebody
11. Call You Mine
12. Lioness
13. Break Into My Heart

Daughtry, Sevendust, Tremonti, Travis Bracht 2021 Fall Tour Dates

NOV 9
Rapids Theatre
Niagara Falls, NY

NOV 10
Landmark Theatre
Syracuse, NY

NOV 12
Borgata Resort Spa & Casino Event Center
Atlantic City, NJ

NOV 13
The Fillmore – Silver Spring
Silver Spring, MD

NOV 14
Mohegan Sun
Uncasville, CT

NOV 16
Wellmont Theater
Montclair, NJ

NOV 17
Paramount Theater
Huntington, NY

NOV 19
Murat Theatre
Indianapolis, IN

NOV 20
Stage AE
Pittsburgh, PA

NOV 21
Royal Oak Music Theatre
Detroit, MI

NOV 23
The Factory
Chesterfield, MO

NOV 24
Corbin Arena
Corbin, KY

NOV 27
Rialto Square Theater
Joliet, IL

NOV 29
Mission Ballroom
Denver, CO

NOV 30
The Complex
Salt Lake City, UT

DEC 2
San Jose Civic Theater
San Jose, CA

DEC 3
Grand Theatre at The Grand Sierra Casino
Reno, NV

DEC 5
The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV

DEC 6
The Novo
Los Angeles, CA

DEC 8
Abraham Chavez Theater
El Paso, TX

DEC 10
The Factory Deep Ellum
Dallas, TX

DEC 11
713 Music Hall
Houston, TX

DEC 13
The Fillmore New Orleans
New Orleans, LA

DEC 15
Coca Cola Roxy
Atlanta, GA

DEC 16
Ruth Eckerd Hall
Clearwater, FL

DEC 17
Hard Rock Live
Orlando, FL

Daughtry Fall Tour 2021 For Killer New Album “Dearly Beloved” first appeared on Game On Media.

Prologue

1. The Music Of My Life

Music means everything to me. It has for as long as I can remember. Each night I fall asleep listening to music. Every morning I wake up listening to music. I play music in the shower. I play music in the car. I play music at the gym. If I am not actively listening to music, I hear songs in my head. When somebody is talking to me, I hear lyrics in their words, and start singing to myself. While I have never completely written or recorded anything original, I have made mix-tapes and play-lists since the Seventies.

I have spent almost all of my free time and “disposable” income on music and music-related experiences. My first job was delivering The Daily News to a six block radius around my house on Long Island, New York. I took the job because they offered a free cassette tape of my choosing if I signed up 3 new subscriptions on my route. I took care of that task quickly, and scored what may be my most favorite album of all time – the self-titled debut from the Long Island based band named Zebra. I continued to find bargains and build my catalog thanks to the marketing efforts of BMG and Columbia House music mail order services. Eventually, I bought cheap guitars and amps, and later more expensive guitars. I have too many guitars.

Once the concert floodgates opened for me when I went to the University of Virginia, I started going to as many shows as I could, no matter where they were located. Music festivals began, locally and small at first, then larger ones able to draw a national audience of freaks like me who were willing to drive or fly all over the country, sleeping in any hotel, motel, Holiday Inn, tent, RV or Air B’n’B I could find. Woodstock ‘99, Rocklahoma, Rock On The Range, Carolina Rebellion, Welcome To Rockville, Aftershock, Earthday Birthday, Vans Warped Tour, Coachella, Voodoo Festival, Once Upon A Time in the LBC, Rock USA and KAABOO Del Mar – these are a few of my favorite things. Then the rock cruises came along, which I have enjoyed as a customer, staff member, charity worker, journalist and photographer – ShipRocked, Motörhead’s MotörBoat, MegaCruise, and Monsters Of Rock Cruise.

From 2010 to 2020, I was able to get up close and personal with the music, the musicians and the fans. I have been a photojournalist for several print magazines and online websites. I have previewed and reviewed concerts, albums and livestreams. I have interviewed artists backstage and on tour buses. I have photographed shows of every kind, from the smallest and darkest of clubs, to the largest of outdoor festivals. I have captured local artists, new acts, living legends and lifelong loves, from Aerosmith to ZZ Top.

During this mostly silent year, I decided to take a look back, to appreciate the journey so far, and perhaps to make some sense of my decisions and choices along the way. This isn’t exactly a memoir or biography, as I don’t believe that I have done anything of such consequence to merit such documentation. I won’t know if there are any lessons to be learned, or advice to carry with me on my second half, until I write it all down. The songs have been chosen, the memories have come rushing back. We will see where this experience takes me.

With 52 years of special songs to revisit, I also plan to really focus on learning to play complete songs on guitar. That gives me 2 songs to learn per week. That should hold me to a good working cadence. Is everybody in? Drop the needle on the record.

2. The Way I Chose The Songs

Choosing only 2 songs from an entire year was quite an ordeal. Some years had many releases that had a major impact at the time, others not as many. I chose songs based on the year that the album they came from was released. This means that the song itself may not have even been released as a single that year. Sometimes a song hits you right away, sometimes it builds slowly, and other times you discover it well after it was released. In many cases, it takes some new experience to bring the importance of the song into focus.

I suppose it generally takes some passage of time for the songs that mean the most to you to bubble to the surface. Only time will tell which ones continue to swim around in your brain, forming the soundtrack to your life’s story.

I chose the songs that have had the most lasting impression on my life, the ones that instantly take me back to a time, or a place, or a person, or an experience, or all of the above. The names will be changed to protect the innocent and guilty alike. These are the songs that mean the most to me, and nobody knows me better than I know myself, so I can’t really say if others share the same memories in the same ways.

Looking at the final list, there are sooo many songs that I love that did not make the cut. There are lots of artists that I cannot believe are not represented. I guess this should not be too surprising. Think about how hard it is to make a top 5 list in any given year. There are just so many artists and songs that I love, it is no wonder that I am almost always listening to, writing about, or photographing music. Out of the 104 songs chosen, 8 are from bands that appear twice. Those are obviously among my all-time favorites, and they are among the ones who have meant the most to me throughout my life. They are Alice In Chains, Candlebox, Creed, Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Rush and Shinedown.

For more chapters of My Life In Music:

My Life In Music, Part 1, 1969-1974

My Life In Music, Part 1, 1975-1979

My Life In Music, Part 2, 1980-1984

Part II

26. The 1980’s – The Cassette Era

Welcome to the 1980’s, the greatest decade in musical history. A lot of people will tell you that music was better in the Seventies – more “real”, more “honest”, more “emotional”, more “acoustic”. These are the same people who will tell you that music just sounds better on a record album than on any other format. You need to know two things about these people. #1. They are hippies. #2. They are, as in all things, half right and half wrong. Yes, a record played on a good stereo system, with good speakers, still does sound better than any other way of listening to music. I am listening to “Signals” by Rush on an average record player with poor speakers as I write this, and it still sounds richer and fuller than any digital copy. But just because a record sounds better does not mean that the songs themselves are inherently better written or performed.

Cassette tapes are absolutely terrible as far as quality goes, but essential in the evolution of musical enjoyment. The tape itself is exposed to the elements, it gets unraveled, it gets twisted, it gets stuck. The speed at which it plays back varies. It wears out with every play, fast-forward and rewind. I actually made it a point to never rewind a tape. Instead, I would stop it, eject it, turn it over and fast forward it. To this day I have no scientific basis for such ridiculous precautions, but I faithfully executed those procedures nonetheless. Bottom line, the defense stipulates that cassettes are inherently terrible in sound quality and only get worse over time. On the other hand, your basement stereo setup is great and all, but can you take it on the road with you? Can you take it out for a “jog”, or a walk, man? Can you pop it into your pocket and have it inspire you at the gym? Of course not. Cassettes gave us musical freedom and artistic control. You could make your own “albums” with any combination of songs that you wanted. Note: when I was a kid, we called records “albums” as compared to cassettes which we called “tapes”. Technically, an album is a collection, and it does not even have to be music, so a more accurate term would be “LP”, which turns out to be short for “Long Play” 33-1/3 RPM vinyl record. You get why we just called them albums, right? It was just easier to ask your friends if they got the new Rush album or tape. You can also see why the “mixtape” was part of the plot of every teen movie from the decade.

Back to the music. Sure, rock and roll was epic in the 1970’s, some may even say “classic”, and I take nothing away from that by saying that I like the rock and roll of the 1980’s more. That “classic” sound endures and probably always will. However, rock and roll truly evolved in the Eighties. Not everyone may like or appreciate every style and sound that emerged, but none can deny that music went in so many directions that genres and sub-genres had to be created, if only to provide fodder for the message boards of the Nineties. Punk, thrash, glam/hair, new wave, emo/goth, college/alternative, pop and hip-hop all took off in the 1980’s. There is no single sound that represents music in the 80’s, no single image, no single path to stardom or infamy. Everything was thrown against the wall, and most of it stuck. Just look at the variety of artistic excellence represented in my selections, which were extremely difficult to make from this era. Consider who did not even make the cut. U2, The Police, Scorpions, LL Cool J, Run-D.M.C., Duran Duran, Quiet Riot, Queensrÿche and Whitesnake all spent time as my favorite band in the whole wide world, yet could not make the final list. Prince, Michael Jackson, Pat Benatar and Journey were left off. I could do a whole other set of songs that are just as good as these.

If anyone ever asks, I say that I “grew up” in the 1980’s. I was 10 years old when they started and 20 when they ended. I made it through junior high, high school, and most of college during this musical explosion. Growing up on Long Island, I did focus most of my attention on artists from New York. People sometimes wonder why New Yorkers are arrogant, and we are, but we come to it naturally. We just take credit for everything anyone of us creates while we just so happened to be in the general vicinity. I consider 2 of New York’s 5 boroughs to be part of Long Island. They are physically connected to the same land mass as Nassau and Suffolk Counties. So even if they are logically different, the same could be said about Montauk and the Hamptons. In my mind, I credit the entire Island as the foundation of my history and personality.

I was born in Hollis, Queens, so naturally I take pride in the fact that hip-hop took off based largely on the talents and rhymes of Run-D.M.C., The Beastie Boys and LL Cool J. Run (Joseph Ward Simmons) was born and raised in Hollis, Queens. D.M.C. (Darryl Matthews McDaniels) was born in Harlem and grew up in Hollis. LL (James Todd Smith) was born in Bay Shore on Long Island just a year before me, literally the next town over from where I grew up. He grew up in (and famously “represented”) Queens, where I spent the first 3 years of my life. The Beasties were also NYC through and through. I also followed Long Island rockers especially closely. Anthrax, Blue Öyster Cult, Zebra, Twisted Sister, Pat Benatar, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Squier, even that other Billy who played piano. When taking credit for things, New Yorkers will even put claims on their neighbor across the river, New Jersey. Personally, I love New Jersey. I have always had family there and spent a large part of my life there. That gave me an affinity for Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi that was earned as honestly as the stories they continue to write to this day.

Enough preamble. Rip your acid-washed jeans a little more, tease up your hair, pierce your ear, and cut up those band t-shirts. Bring your #2 pencil, tighten up those cassette tapes, grab your bucket of D batteries, and turn that boom box all the way up. This is the 80’s!

37. 1985 – The Hunter – Dokken

Another year, another candidate for my all-time favorite band. After Ozzy, Rush, Asia, Zebra, Def Leppard and Bruce Springsteen took a turn as ruler of my rock mountain, Dokken blasted their way to top with perhaps the best 3 album run of any artist ever. 1984 – “Tooth And Nail” on vinyl. 1985 – “Under Lock And Key” on cassette. 1987 – “Back For The Attack” on CD and cassette. They followed that up with “Beast From The East”, recorded live in 1988 in Tokyo, Japan. I had to have this one on CD and cassette, because at that time, CD’s were limited in the length of time that could fit. The cassette and LP versions had an additional 14 minutes of perfection. The album ended with a new recorded song called “Walk Away”, which turned out to be a shocker of a goodbye, as the band abruptly split up in late 1988, which I only found out by reading a Guitar magazine over winter break where George Lynch casually mentioned the band’s demise.

They briefly reunited in the mid-late 90’s, producing one great new album, one horrible new album and one amazing live acoustic album called “One Live Night” which is beautifully heartbreaking, showcasing their insane talent when working together. Unfortunately, those times are few and far between, and likely never again. Luckily I was able to catch one concert, on a barge stage in Delaware, which was magical. I have photographed drummer Mick Brown performing with Lynch Mob and Ted Nugent, Jeff Pilson playing bass with Foreigner, guitarist George Lynch with Lynch Mob and Don Dokken in a version or two of Dokken.

How to pick the representative song from the most prolific guitar band of the mid-eighties… This is a personal story, so we have to go with the song that has the story which is most personal. When my Baby Mama / ex-wife was preggers with our first child, we did not let that stop us from going out and having fun. We were both around 30 and we had heard that “having a baby changes your whole life”, so we were determined to do as much as we could before Kid Baby showed up and ruined our active lifestyle. We kept playing sports together, we kept traveling together, we kept going to concerts together. We carried around a doll of Tommy from Rugrats to document it all in photos. Before our first kid was born, he had watched Green Bay vs. Tampa Bay in Florida, been on a Disney Cruise, made it through Y2K, played rugby (before we knew about him!), played softball, met Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters in Phoenix, and attended several concerts. One show that stands out as probably not the best choice for someone 7 months pregnant was Summer Sanitarium at Rockingham Motor Speedway in North Carolina in July. System Of A Down, Powerman 5000, Kid Rock, KoRn and Metallica. Look how cute, Kid Baby is kicking along to the beat, he must really like Kid Rock! Oh crap, something is not right, time for Mama to spend KoRn’s set in the medical tent getting an IV. Cool, happy again, back for Metallica!

My favorite lyric:

I’m a hunter (hunter)

Two weeks later, we were back at it, when Dokken, Cinderella and Poison played the local amphitheater in Charlotte, NC. We had spent the spring gathering input and tallying results of our “Baby Madness” bracket challenge. We had passed around a spreadsheet with 32 boy names and 32 girl names in brackets, March Madness style, and by summer we were pretty sure it was a boy, and we had narrowed the final 4 our friends and family had selected down to either Connor or Hunter. As we walked up to our seats, we could hear that Dokken had already started their set. The word we heard echoing across the hillside was “HUNTER”!! We looked at each other, nodded, and knew that we would name him Hunter. 10 years later, at the M3 Festival in Columbia, Maryland, I dragged Hunter backstage to meet Don Dokken and share his origin story. Don had a good laugh, Hunter was embarrassed, and I made another memory.

The Hunter

Written by Don Dokken, George Lynch, Jeff Pilson & “Wild” Mick Brown

Performed by Dokken

Clouds roll by as I look to the sky
And then that feeling comes, it comes on again
You know desire burns like a fire, fire of sin
Oh, will I ever learn
You’re the only one I would call my own
But then the shadows fall and I’m gone again

I’m a hunter
Searching for love
On these lonely streets again
I’m the hunter
Searching for the things
That I might never find again

Care for you, you know that I always will
I know it’s hard for you, my taste for the kill
But then it calls to me when the moon rises full in the sky
You know it’s not denied
Will I ever find love and peace of mind
On these streets again, will it ever end

I’m a hunter (hunter)
Searching for love
On these lonely streets again
I’m the hunter (hunter)
Searching for the things
That I might never find again

You know desire burns like a fire, fire within
I guess I’ll never learn
You’re the only one I would call my own
But when the shadows fall, you know I won’t be wrong

I’m a hunter (hunter)
Searching for love
On these lonely streets again
I’m the hunter (hunter)
Searching for the things
That I might never find

I’m a hunter (hunter)
Searching for love
On these lonely streets again
I’m the hunter (hunter)
Searching for the things
That I might never find

I’m a hunter (hunter)
Searching for love

I’m the hunter (hunter)
Searching for the things
That I might never find again

38. 1985 – Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper pops up a couple of times in my life story. When she first arrived, she was a unique New Yorker with an awesome album, “She’s So Unusual”. My sister had the tape, and we played the heck out of that, singing and dancing in her room, as siblings do. Cyndi had songs my parents didn’t hate (as opposed to the Run-D.M.C. – L Cool J – Beastie Boys) so it was fine to blast it in the house.

Fast forward to 2012, and I am separated from my wife, and offered a job supporting the Navy in San Diego. I told them I was not about to fly across the country every week, and that I would only take the job if I could bring my 2 boys and live in a townhouse. Everyone agreed (my divorce was finalized on April Fools Day, 2014 and their Mom then moved out to San Diego as well) and we were on our way. What I had not counted on is the fact that parents are responsible for transporting their kids to and from school in La Jolla, CA. No school buses, unless you lived in another part of San Diego. The YMCA had before and after school programs, which was great, but this still meant that I had to get both kids up and ready, drop them off at 2 different locations, get to work, and then reverse it all by 6:00. This was not going to work out in the long run. What about sports, sickness, doctors? What to do? As any wise person would do, I thought back to my childhood and what I had learned from TV. What would Tony Danza, Will Smith or Gary Coleman do? Get a nanny!

When I got separated in 2011, I was invited by a photographer friend to spend a week on the Vans Warped Tour, helping her launch a new charity website called Musicians Opposed to Bullying (M.O.B.). We would photograph shows, but primarily we would ask artists to record a PSA to help victims of bullying who were contemplating suicide. One of the first people we met was the Tour Manager / Merch Person for one of the bands. We kept in touch during the week. I discovered that the band was living in a van and had a few days off before the tour stopped in Maryland where I lived. I offered up my empty house so that 6 tired tattooed lesbian musicians could sleep in beds, do laundry and recharge. I rode from the New Jersey show with their TM and we quickly bonded.

So, I needed a nanny, sort of, but really more of a tour manager to keep myself and 2 young boys in line and on schedule. Would she be willing to do it, and available? Turns out the band was on touring hiatus, working on material, and the TM was recovering from knee surgery. She was in! I got her a car, let her schedule our lives and sent her up to LA on weekends to grow her musical management career. She ended up tour managing a band that was opening for Cyndi Lauper. When that tour hit town, she got me a photo pass. Eventually, she ended up working directly for Ms. Lauper and moved to New York. We ended up helping each other out immensely, and I will be forever grateful for her hand in how my boys have grown into men.

My favorite lyric:

If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting
Time after time

I played organized baseball, basketball and soccer growing up. My biking, tennis, football and roller hockey were quite unorganized. Whenever I played in the outfield, I would sing this chorus to myself as each pitch was delivered. It was my mantra. Although I did sing it with my own lyrics.

You won’t fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting
Time after time

In high school, I had become a third baseman, and it had been a while since I had played outfield. For some reason, I got sent out to left field, and must have forgotten about my mantra. There were 2 outs, bases loaded, and the kid hit a soft liner into left. I ran up, but misjudged it and it went off my glove. Naturally, all the base runners had been moving with the pitch, so I scrambled back quickly to get the ball and whipped it towards home plate. It went over the backstop for a 2 error, inside-the-park grand slam. I never played for my high school again.

Time After Time

Written by Cyndi Lauper & Rob Hyman

Performed by Cyndi Lauper

Lying in my bed
I hear the clock tick, and think of you
Caught up in circles
Confusion is nothing new
Flashback, warm nights
Almost left behind
Suitcase of memories
Time after—

Sometimes, you picture me
I’m walking too far ahead
You’re calling to me
I can’t hear what you’ve said
Then you say, “Go slow.”
I fall behind
The second hand unwinds

If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting
Time after time
If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting (I will be waiting)
Time after time

After my picture fades
And darkness has turned to gray
Watching through windows
You’re wondering if I’m okay
Secrets stolen from deep inside
The drum beats out of time

If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting
Time after time

You said, “Go slow.”
I fall behind
The second hand unwinds

If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting
Time after time
If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting (I will be waiting)
Time after time

Time after time
Time after time
Time after time
Time after time
Time after time
Time after time
Time after time
Time after time
Time after time
Time after time

39. 1986 – Wanted Dead Or Alive – Bon Jovi

“Slippery When Wet“ from Bon Jovi is a perfect album. It is dramatic, exciting, fun, emotional and just sounds so good.

“Wanted Dead Or Alive” has always stood just above the rest for me. I love the sound of 2 guitars and 2 vocalists weaving a song together, playing off each other and coming together. The Beatles, Bon Jovi, Damn Yankees, Alice In Chains and Alter Bridge did it best.

Fell asleep to the cassette – last song on side one. If I was still awake, rewind it, play it again. Repeat until I fell asleep to it.

One of the songs me (and everyone else) can kinda sorta play part of on guitar.

My favorite lyric:

I’ve seen a million faces and I’ve rocked them all!

The ultimate statement of self confidence and accomplishment. A variation was adapted by the Wedding Crashers, and another variation by the Carrolton Crüe (my college roommates).

Wanted Dead Or Alive

Written by Richie Sambora & Jon Bon Jovi

Performed by Bon Jovi

It’s all the same, only the names will change
Everyday it seems we’re wasting away
Another place where the faces are so cold
I’d drive all night just to get back home

I’m a cowboy
On a steel horse I ride
I’m wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive

Sometimes I sleep, sometimes it’s not for days
And the people I meet always go their separate ways
Sometimes you tell the day by the bottle that you drink
And times when you’re alone all you do is think

I’m a cowboy
On a steel horse I ride
I’m wanted, wanted, dead or alive
Wanted (wanted) dead or alive

Oh, and I ride

I’m a cowboy
On a steel horse I ride
I’m wanted (wanted) dead or alive

I walk these streets, a loaded six string on my back
I play for keeps, ’cause I might not make it back
I been everywhere, still I’m standing tall
I’ve seen a million faces and I’ve rocked them all!

‘Cause I’m a cowboy
On a steel horse, I ride
I’m wanted (wanted) dead or alive

And I’m a cowboy
I got the night on my side
And I’m wanted (wanted) dead or alive

And I ride (and I ride), dead or alive
I still drive (still drive), dead or alive
Dead or alive
Dead or alive
Dead or alive
Dead or alive

40. 1986 – Why Can’t This Be Love – Van Halen

This is going to be confrontational. I grew up with Van Halen, loved Van Halen, had every cassette, watched every video. When David Lee Roth left, I was stunned and sad. Then Sammy Hagar joined the band, and (ducks) they got better. The songwriting, the live performance, the legend – it all continued to grow. Many people point to politicians and strategists and shadowy figures working to split this country in two, but if you really think about it, wasn’t it really just Sam and Dave who started it all? Sammy vs. David – choose a team. Jump vs. Right Now – pick a side. Reach down, between my legs, or C’mon baby, finish what ya started. Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love? How Do I Know When It’s Love? Don’t even think about adding a 3rd party candidate to the mix (although Gary Cherone totally nailed songs from all 3 versions live). Red vs. Blue. Right vs. Left. Didn’t it really all start with DLR vs. Van Hagar?

Like everyone else, I was anxious and nervous to hear a new Van Halen song, with a new singer. The Red Rocker had some good tunes, most recently “I Can’t Drive 55”, but could he really fill the shoes of Diamond Dave? Would Eddie go back to the guitar or play too many keyboards? Well, the first time I heard “Why Can’t This Be Love”, I was blown away. It rocked, it rolled and man could Sammy hit those notes! I was hooked. EVH somehow made his keyboard sound like a guitar. Pure genius, once again. The rest of the “5150” album also kicked serious booty. The silly party songs were there, but also some more serious, emotional material as well.

I had my parents play this cassette in our car on the way to every one of my club soccer games my senior year in high school.

My favorite lyric:

Oh here it comes
That funny feeling again

That simple joy of meeting someone new and feeling something unexplainable.

Why Can’t This Be Love

Written by Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Alex Van Halen & Eddie Van Halen

Performed by Van Halen

Oh here it comes
That funny feeling again
Winding me up inside
Every time we touch

Hey I don’t know
Ooh tell me where to begin
Cause I never ever
Felt so much

And I can’t recall
Any love at all
Baby this blows ’em all away

It’s got what it takes
So tell me why
Can’t this be love

Straight from my heart
Oh tell me why
Can’t this be love

I tell myself
Hey only fools rush in
Only time will tell
If we stand the test of time

All I know
You’ve got to run to win
And I’ll be damned if I’ll get
Hung up on the line

No I can’t recall
Anything at all
Baby this blows ’em all away

It’s got what it takes
So tell me why
Can’t this be love

You want it straight from the heart
Oh tell me why
Can’t this be love

It’s got what it takes
So tell me why
Can’t this be love

Straight from my heart
Oh tell me why
Can’t this be love

Baby why
Can’t this be love

Got to know why
Can’t this be love

I wanna know why
Can’t this be love

41. 1987 – Time Stand Still – Rush

I started college at the University of Virginia in the fall of 1987, and my life would never be the same again. Like many first-years (AKA Freshmen – UVA has their own names for everything), I was randomly placed into a dorm room with a total stranger. This can go many ways, depending on how you get along and how you learn to adapt to sharing a room that you eat, sleep, study, party and hook up in. Fortunately, my roommate shared enough qualities with me that we more or less manged to co-exist and even get along most days. 1987 was the dawn of the CD era, and my roomie had a very specific collection – the entire recorded works of Rush, the greatest band of all time. He also played electric guitar, 90% Rush songs, all of which probably would have quickly annoyed most people, but not me in the least. That fall, there were new albums from Rush, Pink Floyd (without Roger Waters but brilliant nonetheless), R.E.M. and Bruce Springsteen. U2’s The Joshua Tree was also out that year and was the only CD I had brought with me to college. Needless to say, all we listened to in that dorm room was Rush, Pink Floyd, R.E.M., Springsteen and U2. All in all, not too bad. I plastered my half of the walls and ceiling with Posters, magazine pages and hand written lyrics.

My favorite lyric:

Driven on without a moment to spend
To pass an evening with a drink and a friend

Even though college led to many evenings spent with drinks and friends, we didn’t often slow down enough to appreciate it. We were driven on to the next thing we were doing, the next party, the next opportunity to meet girls, the next drink. School reunions are so popular because they finally allow you to relive those moments in time, with those friends. Hopefully, you slow it down and appreciate having those moments to connect. You have to allow yourself the time to look back, but also the time to stand still, be present in that new moment, and build another memory.

Time Stand Still

Written by Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson & Neil Peart

Performed by Rush with Aimee Mann

I turn my back to the wind
To catch my breath before I start off again
Driven on without a moment to spend
To pass an evening with a drink and a friend

I let my skin get too thin
I’d like to pause, no matter what I pretend
Like some pilgrim who learns to transcend
Learns to live as if each step was the end

(Time stand still)
I’m not looking back, but I want to look around me now
(Time stand still)
See more of the people and the places that surround me now
Time stand still

Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each sensation a little bit stronger

Experience slips away
Experience slips away
Time stand still

I turn my face to the sun
Close my eyes, let my defenses down
All those wounds that I can’t get unwound

I let my past go too fast
No time to pause
If I could slow it all down
Like some captain, whose ship runs aground
I can wait until the tide comes around

(Time stand still)
I’m not looking back, but I want to look around me now
(Time stand still)
See more of the people and the places that surround me now

Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each sensation a little bit stronger
Make each impression a little bit stronger
Freeze this motion a little bit longer

The innocence slips away
The innocence slips away
Time stand still
Time stand still

I’m not looking back, but I want to look around me now
See more of the people and the places that surround me now
Time stand still

Summer’s going fast, nights growing colder
Children growing up, old friends growing older
Freeze this moment a little bit longer
Make each sensation a little bit stronger

Experience slips away
Experience slips away
The innocence slips away

42. 1987 – It’s The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) – R.E.M.

In the spring of 1987, after I had told my parents that I had no interest in attending an Ivy League college in the cities of the Northeast, my Dad offered to take me on visits of the schools that I was interested in – William & Mary and the University of Virginia in Virginia; Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill in North Carolina, and Clemson in South Carolina. I had been visiting my grandparents in South Carolina every Easter break and every summer since I was a little kid, and I loved the weather, scenery and openness of the south, and its Universities. The first trip we took was to William & Mary, which was really nice, and I enjoyed my 3 days there as an early acceptance candidate. Unfortunately, they were not offering any scholarships, so we marked it down as a “maybe” and drove on up to Charlottesville, Virginia. Well we had barely made it onto the campus of good ol’ UVA when I saw kids playing soccer, lacrosse, walking through tree-lined paths around stunning architecture. I was hooked. My Dad left me with a volunteer, who proceeded to introduce me to 3 things that were new to me. 1. Beer – I was not a partier at all in high school, and had never been drunk before. 2. College girls – the young women of UVA are cute, smart and nice. 3. R.E.M. – While sitting in dorm room hallways, drinking beer and meeting girls, we listened to music. R.E.M.’s “Life’s Rich Pageant” was unlike anything I had ever heard before and instantly leaped into my all-time desert island disc top 10, where it remains to this day.

Due to some unfortunate incidents and a lack of transportation during high school, my first arena concert was October 12, 1987 at University Hall (U-Hall). R.E.M. and 10,000 Maniacs set a bar so high for me, that it was hard to match. The next arena concert that I saw was U2 on a road trip to Hampton, Virginia on December 12, 1987 at the end of the Joshua Tree tour. The final show of my first year away from home was Bruce Springsteen at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland on April 4, 1988. I had to borrow a friend’s car twice to attend that show. The first time, I needed to spend all night standing in line outside of the Tyson’s Corner Mall in Northern Virginia. In those days, you had to literally wait in line all night for just a chance at being able to buy concert tickets. I had tried and failed to do this for Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen concerts in New Jersey in high school. I was successful for Bruce and twice later for Pink Floyd. The friend from college who I bought a ticket for had found a ticket outlet only 20 miles from campus, but he had gotten seats for the second show. I was left alone and could not find a taker, so I rented my friend’s car and drove up alone. I scalped the other ticket which paid for gas and t-shirts. Bruce plays loooong shows and it was incredibly late, with tons of traffic leaving the arena. I was almost back to school, when I had the brilliant idea to play a George Michael cassette on my boom box (yes, that one again). I apparently fell asleep during “Father Figure” and drifted from the right lane through the left lane and onto some dirt. The rumbling woke me and all was well. I exited 29 S and found an all night Piggly Wiggly super market. I grabbed some Mountain Dew and Three Musketeers and was wide freaking awake, with the windows down and the AC on, the rest of the way home.

So yeah, to sum up, my first three arena concerts were R.E.M., U2 and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. That kind of raises your expectations to an unreasonable level.

My favorite lyric:

Watch O’Neil crush rush, uh-oh
This means no beer, Cavalier, renegade steer clear

First of all, I cannot find any two lyrics websites which agree upon what the lyrics are. Therefore, they are whatever you think they are. So while my favorite lyrics may not actually be what Stipe sang, this is what we all heard in Charlottesville. See, what had happened was, Fraternity Rush Week had gotten out of hand the previous year, so UVA President Robert O’Neil took a stand by forbidding the outdoor keg party ragers, forcing the binge drinking back inside the fraternity houses. Being a “college band”, R.E.M. was obviously aware of this and included it in this song.

It’s The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

Written by Mike Mills, Michael Stipe, Peter Buck & Bill Berry

Performed by R.E.M.

That’s great, it starts with an earthquake
Birds and snakes, and aeroplanes
And Lenny Bruce is not afraid

Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn
World serves its own needs,
Don’t mis-serve your own needs
Speed it up a notch, speed, grunt, no, strength
The ladder starts to clatter
With a fear of height, down, height
Wire in a fire, represent the seven games
And a government for hire and a combat site
Left her, wasn’t coming in a hurry
With the Furies breathing down your neck

Team by team, reporters baffled, trumped, tethered, cropped
Look at that low plane, fine, then
Uh oh, overflow, population, common group
But it’ll do, save yourself, serve yourself
World serves its own needs, listen to your heart bleed
Tell me with the Rapture and the reverent in the right, right
You vitriolic, patriotic, slam fight, bright light
Feeling pretty psyched

It’s the end of the world as we know it
It’s the end of the world as we know it
It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine

Six o’clock, T.V. hour, don’t get caught in foreign tower
Slash and burn, return, listen to yourself churn
Lock him in uniform, book burning, bloodletting
Every motive escalate, automotive incinerate
Light a candle, light a motive, step down, step down
Watch your heel crush, crush, uh oh
This means no fear, cavalier, renegade and steering clear
A tournament, a tournament, a tournament of lies
Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives and I decline

It’s the end of the world as we know it (I had some time alone)
It’s the end of the world as we know it (I had some time alone)
It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine (time I had some time alone)
I feel fine (I feel fine)

It’s the end of the world as we know it (time I had some time alone)
It’s the end of the world as we know it (time I had some time alone)
It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine (time I had some time alone)

The other night I drifted nice continental drift divide
Mountains sit in a line, Leonard Bernstein
Leonid Brezhnev, Lenny Bruce and Lester Bangs
Birthday party, cheesecake, jellybean, boom
You symbiotic, patriotic, slam but neck, right, right

It’s the end of the world as we know it (time I had some time alone)
It’s the end of the world as we know it (time I had some time alone)
It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine (time I had some time alone)

It’s the end of the world as we know it
It’s the end of the world as we know it
It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine (time I had some time alone)

It’s the end of the world as we know it (time I had some time alone)
It’s the end of the world as we know it (time I had some time alone)
It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine (time I had some time alone)

It’s the end of the world as we know it (time I had some time alone)
It’s the end of the world as we know it (time I had some time alone)
It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine (time I had some time alone)

43. 1988 – One – Metallica

Sisters friend leaves an unmarked cassette in my Dad’s Chevy Malibu with the velour seats. I put it in my cassette case and brought it to UVA for my second year. One side had what I quickly figured out was Yngwie J. Malmsteen’s Rising Force, featuring Joe Lynn Turner on vocals. Turner also sang on the best albums from Rainbow.

The other side was something else entirely. I had no idea who it was, or what it was. It was dark, it was heavy, it was depressing, it was cathartic, it was unlike anything I had ever heard. I listened to it in my room while studying. I fell asleep to it for naps. I could not wait for Thanksgiving break to come so I could track down my sister’s friends and find out who left it behind and who it was. That album turned out to be Metallica, and their classic second album “Ride The Lightning”. Her boyfriend told me “If you like that, you need to get this.” “This” being the latest album from Metallica, which had been released that fall. The standout track from that is “obviously” One, which is an incredible song with a ground-breaking video to go along with it. Returning to school, I made a mix-tape consisting of “One”, a song about a soldier who loses his limbs and the ability to see or hear; “Fade To Black” from the random cassette I had listened to all semester, a suicide note song; and “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)”, a song from the album in between, “Master of Puppets”, about someone trapped in a mental institution, drugged to keep him there, who would rather die if he can’t escape. This trio of depressing stories was my pre-midterm playlist. As I walked from my apartment to the building where I had to take a big test, I would play this on my Sony Walkman, and by the time I got there, I could say to myself, “Well this is just an exam, it’s not life or death!”

This tune has a spooky cool intro which is one of the first things I learned to play on guitar. The Kirk Hammett outro solo is in my Five Fave guitar solos, along with George Lynch on “Tooth & Nail” by Dokken, David Gilmour on “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd, Reb Beach on “Headed For A Heartbreak” by Winger and Nuno Bettencourt on “Play With Me” by Extreme. I even bought the Kirk Hammett model electric guitar as my first electric, hoping to capture his tone.

My favorite lyric:

But can’t look forward to reveal
Look to the time when I’ll live

It is vital to mental health to have something, anything, to look forward to. Validation and joy are not things that are constantly, or even consistently, present in life. When the day is not offering pleasure or potential, it helps to feel like the path that you’re on is going somewhere. Even if the payoff is far into the future, it is the promise of that future that allows us to suffer the slings and arrows of the present. When you can’t enjoy your life, or even see a way to do so, that is when you need to reach out to others for help, and potentially do something to create more possibilities.

One

Written by James Hetfield & Lars Ulrich

Performed by Metallica

I can’t remember anything
Can’t tell if this is true or a dream
Deep down inside I feel to scream
This terrible silence stops me
Now that the war is through with me
I’m waking up, I cannot see
That there’s not much left of me
Nothing is real but pain now

Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please God, wake me

Back in the womb it’s much too real
In pumps life that I must feel
But can’t look forward to reveal
Look to the time when I’ll live
Fed through the tube that sticks in me
Just like a wartime novelty
Tied to machines that make me be
Cut this life off from me

Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please God, wake me

Now the world is gone, I’m just one
Oh, God help me
Hold my breath as I wish for death
Oh please God, help me

Darkness imprisoning me
All that I see, absolute horror
I cannot live, I cannot die
Trapped in myself, body my holding cell
Landmine has taken my sight
Taken my speech, taken my hearing
Taken my arms, taken my legs
Taken my soul, left me with life in Hell

44. 1988 – Rocket Queen – Guns N’ Roses

The first time we experienced Guns N’ Roses was late one Saturday Night in the common room of one of the fraternity houses at the University of Virginia. Most of my core group of friends and I never rushed a fraternity, but I had made it a point to meet a lot of people in college, and I had friends in several fraternities, and in all of the colleges on campus (Architecture, Arts & Crafts, Commerce School, Education & Engineering). I always had a lead on a party. This one night, the band had stopped playing in the basement, things were breaking up, but a group of us were watching Headbangers Ball on MTV, which was the only way to find out about new rock and metal bands in those days. On comes a song called “Welcome To The Jungle” by an unknown band named Guns N’ Roses. Actually, that night, we didn’t even catch the band name and didn’t hear the song again for months. Their debut album “Appetite For Destruction” was released in the summer of 1987 but nobody seemed to notice for almost a year, and critics didn’t seem to care. For an album that eventually sold 30 million copies and is hailed as one of the best and most important rock albums of all time, it just goes to show that nobody knows anything.

During the last 3 years of college, “Appetite” was played early and often. With its blend of blues, punk, glam and sleaze, this was the album which had something that everyone could love. Over time, my personal song ranking has changed a lot, with each song taking a turn as a bad obsession for one reason or another. The song that made the deepest connection to me at the time is “Rocket Queen”. It sounds like two songs in one, with a breakdown both musically and lyrically that shifts attitude and tone. He starts off as a cocky Romeo or Lothario, pimping and preening to impress the ladies. He ends up sharing his heart and empathy with someone who he really cares about. Both of these personalities and feelings are necessary to navigate affairs of the heart. You need to appear indifferent or you end up trying too hard. You need to share your feelings if you find someone special or you end up losing them.

I did not get to see G N’ R during their brief, chaotic run. From all accounts, their shows were sometimes spectacular, but just as often delayed or cut short, due to the bands horrendous substance abuse problems. I saw the Axl Rose version at a mid-size club near Washington, D.C., thanks to the efforts of a good friend and concert buddy. She had gotten me a last minute ticket and I had to fly home from a project to make it, but it was worth the trip. The show went on too long and too late, and definitely lacked the magic I had hoped for after all those years.

When Slash and Duff agreed to tour with Guns again, I knew that I had better take advantage of the opportunity to see them together. I wasn’t sure if they would stay together long enough to make their summer tour stop in San Diego, so I drove up to Las Vegas to meet up with concert friends from Connecticut, Ohio, New Orleans and Tasmania, Australia. I had not seen them in years, and Alice In Chains was opening the show, so I knew that the trip and the expense would be worth it no matter what. Axl has broken his foot rehearsing, so Duff asked his buddy Dave Grohl if they could borrow his Game Of Thrones style guitar chair. Axl was forced to sit for the entire 3 hour performance, but his voice was amazing the whole time. They played everything, and then some. It was one for the books, like this one I guess.

My favorite lyric:

I can turn on anyone just like I’ve turned on you

All I ever wanted was for you to know that I care

The duality of personality and attitude is most clearly defined by these lines. You have to be tough and tender if you want to play the game of love.

Rocket Queen

Written by Steven Adler, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, Slash & W. Axl Rose

Performed by Guns N’ Roses

If I say I don’t need anyone, I can say these things to you
‘Cause I can turn on anyone just like I’ve turned on you
I’ve got a tongue like a razor, a sweet switchblade knife
And I can do you favors but then you’ll do whatever I like

Here I am, and you’re a Rocket Queen
I might be a little young, but, honey, I ain’t naive
Here I am, and you’re a Rocket Queen, oh yeah
I might be too much, but, honey, you’re a bit obscene

I’ve seen everything imaginable pass before these eyes
I’ve had everything that’s tangible, honey, you’d be surprised
I’m a sexual innuendo in this burned out paradise
If you turn me on to anything, you better turn me on tonight

Here I am, and you’re a Rocket Queen
I might be a little young, but, honey, I ain’t naive
Here I am, and you’re a Rocket Queen, oh yeah
I might be too much, but, honey, you’re a bit obscene

Here I am, and you’re a Rocket Queen
I might be a little young, but, honey, I ain’t naive
Here I am, and you’re a Rocket Queen, oh yeah
I might be too much, but, honey, you’re a bit obscene

I see you standin’, standin’ on your own
It’s such a lonely place for you, for you to be
If you need a shoulder or if you need a friend
I’ll be here standing until the bitter end
No one needs the sorrow, no one needs the pain
I hate to see you walking out there out in the rain
So, don’t chastise me or think I, I mean you harm
Of those that take you leave you strung out much too far
Baby, yeah, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, baby, yeah

Don’t ever leave me, say you’ll always be there
All I ever wanted was for you to know that I care

45. 1989 – Kickstart My Heart – Mötley Crüe

Mötley Crüe was a major part of college life, particularly when they released their best overall album “Dr. Feelgood” in the fall of 1989. For this album, they got sober and they got serious about the writing and recording processes. The result is a collection of pop metal masterpieces that resonate 3 decades later. Choosing one song from the last great album of the 80’s is tough, since “Dr. Feelgood” and “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)” are its equals. The intro and the riff on “Kickstart My Heart” give it the edge, instantly getting the listener psyched up to do something, anything, right now. The bridge, extended chorus and distorted ending bring the whole thing to a satisfying climax. This banger summed up the entire sunset strip scene for the decade of decadence, essentially putting a bow on it. The scene and the sound was about to change forever, and this song stands the test of time as its final, breathless statement of defiance.

My favorite lyric:

Years gone by, I’d say we’ve kicked some ass

And I’d say we’re still kicking ass

This was our theme song by the time our fourth year (senior year) rolled around. We dubbed ourselves the Carrolton Crüe, based off of the address of our last college apartment and our affinity for all things Mötley. This became one of our stand on the furniture songs. It was blasted from vehicles when we followed our Cavalier football team to the Citrus Bowl in Orlando and the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. After 4 long years, we were still kicking ass. OK, 4 years may not seem like a long time, but when you’re 20, that’s 20% of your life, and 80% of your life experiences!

Kickstart My Heart

Written by Nikki Sixx

Performed by Mötley Crüe

When I get high, I get high on speed
Top fuel funny car’s a drug for me
My heart, my heart
Kickstart my heart
Always got the cops coming after me
Custom built bike doing 103
My heart, my heart
Kickstart my heart

Ooh, are you ready girls?
Ooh, are you ready now?

Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart, give it a start
Whoa, yeah
Baby
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart, hope it never stops
Ooh, yeah
Baby, yeah

Skydive naked from an aeroplane
Or a lady with a body from outer space
My heart, my heart
Kickstart my heart
Say I got trouble, trouble in my eyes
I’m just looking for another good time
My heart, my heart
Kickstart my heart

Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart, give it a start
Whoa, yeah
Baby
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart, hope it never stops
Whoa, yeah
Baby

Kickstart my heart
When we started this band, all we needed
Needed was a laugh
Years gone by, I’d say we’ve kicked some ass
When I’m enraged or hitting the stage
Adrenaline rushing through my veins
And I’d say we’re still kicking ass
I say, ooh-ah
Kickstart my heart, hope it never stops
And to think, we did all of this to rock

Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart, give it a start
Whoa, yeah
B-b-b-b-b-b-baby
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart, hope it never stops
Whoa, yeah
Baby
Kickstart my heart, hope it never stops
Whoa, yeah
Baby
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my heart, give it a start
Whoa, yeah

Kickstart my heart

46. 1989 – Love Song – Tesla

Tesla burst onto the scene at the end of 1986, while I was in full Bon Jovi / Van Halen mode. “Modern Day Cowboy” was probably my most listened to song for the next six months, and the rest of their debut album “Mechanical Resonance” blew me away with every guitar sound imaginable, killer grooves and thoughtful inspiring lyrics. When they released “The Great Radio Controversy” in early 1989, they had somehow turned up all of the above and created an even better album. Buried way down on track 11 (my favorite number – as in Apollo 11) of 13 was a beauty that started with a dueling acoustic guitar solo between Frank Hannon and Tommy Skeoch, which dropped into a soulful vocal from Jeff Keith. The drums of Troy Luccketta and bass of Brian Wheat joined the mix as the tune accelerated into a loud guitar solo and a soaring gang chorus sing along of “Love is gonna find a way!”. The song is an emotional journey from heartbreak to hope.

By the summer of 1989, I still had not attended many concerts, and the aforementioned ones had been epic. I was thrilled to find out that Tesla would be playing in New York City that August, at Pier 84 in Manhattan, right on the Hudson River, right between the Lincoln Tunnel and the USS Intrepid. Tesla played between Badlands (a sadly short-lived band) and Great White. “Love Song” was at the top of the charts and playing once an hour on MTV, and it was clearly the highlight of the show. Tesla was so good that the crowd was cheering their name as Great White left the stage as the “headliner”. Lo and behold, Tesla joined Great White for the encore, and there was also one other special guest. Just some new guitarist with a top hat, played in Guns N’ something or other. Yes, I got to witness Tesla and Great White perform “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” with Slash.

Fast forward to summer 1990, and Tesla is coming back to NYC, this time in a tiny club called The Ritz, playing an acoustic show. I made my way to the show, got up nice and close to the stage and watched history unfold. They proceeded to play an eclectic mix of their own songs and cover songs that had inspired them growing up. You can read an exquisite review of this show on the back album cover of the live album they released by the name of “Five Man Acoustical Jam” featuring ”Signs“. They recorded the Philadelphia show, but they used the review of the NY show in the liner notes. Once again, I was almost at a live album recording.

When Pink Floyd reunited (sans Roger Waters) I got tickets to their 4th straight show at the of home of 4 times in a row Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders – the infamous Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island. They were scheduled to record that show for a live album and video. Then they added a 5th show, and that was the one that was filmed and released. Missed it by thatmuch.

Tesla toured with Def Leppard extensively during this time period, yet I managed to be at college in Virginia whenever they stopped in New York, and back home in New York every time they played near Washington, D.C.. I missed that tour NINE times. In recent years, the 2 bands have hooked up for amphitheater tours, and I catch them every chance I get. The first time I lived in San Diego, for 10 weeks on the beach in 2005 as part of our ”Value Family Tour“, I found out that Tesla was playing another acoustic show. I got tickets for myself and one of my Carrolton Crüe who lives in the O.C. and we got to see them thrill a packed House of Blues Anaheim at Downtown Disney. They had released an incredible comeback album ”Into The Now“ which I cranked all the way down the 5 to SD, and it is one of their best.

Tesla remains the greatest live band in the land to this day. They just headlined the Monsters Of Rock Cruise in 2019, on which I was a staff photographer, and they still blow me away, every time they play. I would pay to see Tesla play every single night.

My favorite lyric:

Keep an open heart and you’ll find love again, I know

Love is what it’s all about. No matter how bad things get, you have to open your heart in order to let love find its way in. At Rocklahoma one year, I was interviewing Jeff Keith and someone felt compelled to ask his own question, which was “Do you ever get sick of performing the same songs?”. Jeff was gracious enough to answer by saying that certain songs mean so much to so many people, that it is an honor to perform a song such as “Love Song” every single night, and he has the pleasure of experiencing the crowd singing it back to him.

Love Song

Written by Jeff Keith & Frank Hannon

Performed by Tesla

So you think that it’s over
That your love has finally reached the end
Any time you call, night or day
I’ll be right there for you when you need a friend, yeah

It’s gonna take a little time
Time is sure to mend your broken heart
Don’t you even worry, pretty darlin’
I know you’ll find love again

Yeah, love is all around you
Love is knockin’ outside your door
Waitin’ for you is this love made just for two
Keep an open heart and you’ll find love again, I know

Love is all around you, yeah
Love is knockin’ outside your door
Waitin’ for you is this love made just for two
Keep an open heart and you’ll find love again, I know

It’s all around

Love will find a way
Darlin’, love is gonna find a way
Find its way back to you
Love will find a way
So look around, open your eyes

Love is gonna find a way
Love is gonna, love is gonna find a way
Love will find a way
Love’s gonna find a way back to you, yeah

I know
I know
I know
I know

My Life In Music, Part 4, 1985 – 1989 first appeared on Game On Media.