Seven months into the 2020 global pandemic, and all we can do is dream about attending festivals, photographing concerts, and interviewing artists. Summer has come and gone, with no classic bands rocking the summer stages. That doesn’t mean we can’t imagine. In the meantime, GameOn.media presents Fantasy Festival Friday – a fictitious concert performed by 5 bands we wish we could watch live in person, at full volume, with all of our rock family in attendance.

On Fantasy Festival Friday #7, get your best leather and animal prints out, tease your hair, and fill your lighters. The guitars and bass will be in your face as we dream of Tesla, Extreme, Winger, Kix and Steelheart.

Miljenko Matijevic and Steelheart opened up the night, setting the bar quite high. Mili is one of the all-time rock vocalists, and he still sounds amazing and looks fantastic. Their debut album is now 30 years old, and these classics were sung perfectly. Mili was the voice behind the lead character movie “Rock Star”, and they also jammed songs from that soundtrack.

MORC X Steelheart

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Maryland landmarks Kix were up next, still full of energy after 4 decades of lighting up stages. Steve Whiteman remains one of the most entertaining frontmen around. Original members Ronnie “10/10” Younkins, Brian “Damage” Forsythe, and Jimmy “Chocolate” Chalfant simply kick ass every single time. Bassist and backing vocalist Mark Schenker, who joined when the band reformed in 2003 nails all of the harmonies. It is impossible to watch Kix play without a smile on your face the entire time.

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Winger came next, showing off musical brilliance while tearing through a catalog of hits. Kip Winger, Reb Beach, Rod Morgenstein, Paul Taylor and John Roth are a tight unit. They have so many great songs, they could have played for hours. There are few bands who can play this well, while you know every song.

MORC X Winger

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Extreme kept the hits coming. Gary Cherone, Nuno Bettencourt, Patrick Badger and Kevin Figueiredo crushed it, whether shredding heavy or breaking things down acoustically. Cherone is a human spider, weaving himself across the stage, crooning smooth vocals. Nuno never ages, striking all kinds of classic guitar god poses, playing with his own style that is often imitated, but never duplicated.

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The headliner on this magical night was Tesla. Tesla is a band you could watch perform every night. Jeff Keith, Frank Hannon, Brian Wheat, Troy Luccketta and Dave Rude have built a career on sick guitar sounds, driving rhythm and passionate vocals. Their songs always have a strong emotional element that drives them, whether it’s a ballad or a banger. This whole night was just pure joy, as legendary artists delivered classic songs.

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Quarantine Dreams – Fantasy Festival Friday – Tesla – Extreme – Winger – Kix – Steelheart first appeared on Game On Media.

Seven months into the 2020 global pandemic, and all we can do is dream about attending festivals, photographing concerts, and interviewing artists. Summer has come and gone, with no Knotfest, Ozzfest, Mayhem or Louder Than Life to satisfy our metal needs. That doesn’t mean we can’t imagine. In the meantime, GameOn.media presents Fantasy Festival Friday – a fictitious concert performed by 5 bands we wish we could watch live in person, at full volume, with all of our rock family in attendance.

On Fantasy Festival Friday #6, get ready to have your eyes and ears blown. Lights, props, costumes, masks, fire – you won’t know where to feast your eyes while your ears are bleeding. Get set for Slipknot, Rob Zombie, In This Moment, Machine Head and Beasto Blanco.

Beasto Blanco kicked things off with a bang. The band is Chuck Garric on guitars and vocals, Calico Cooper on vocals, Brother Latham on guitars, Jan LeGrow on bass and Sean Sellers on drums. They are as exciting visually as they are sonically.

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Machine Head came roaring out of the gate with the 2 singles they released this spring in response to the many social issues facing our country – ‘Stop The Bleeding’ and ‘Bulletproof’. They then pulled from a 3 decade catalog of classic metal, creating a tight set that could have gone on 3 times as long. Robb Flynn has been active and vocal this year, trying to have a positive impact on people. We thank him for it.

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In This Moment was up next, finally getting the chance to perform tracks from their 2020 release “Mother”. Nobody puts more into their stage presentaion than Maria Brink and ITM. The boys in black were clearly enjoying being back on the stage, and played with aggression.

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Kudos to the stage crew for breaking down In This Moment’s gear and revealing Rob Zombie’s elaborate setup, all in the time it took to get a refreshing beverage from concessions. John 5, Piggy D and Ginger Fish emerged from the props, video screens and oversized characters to blaze through a ton of fun sing along grooves. Zombie is a creative genius and force of nature, who just keeps raising his own bar on performance.

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If you thought that nothing could top what had already happened, Slipknot put that thought to rest. Boasting the largest band in rock and roll, and perhaps the heaviest songs as well, they are undeniably top shelf. This show featured many songs from the 2019 classic “We Are Not Your Kind”. The Maggots were going wild, with the possibility that this could be the last time they see the band live. As the set continued, they continued back through their catalog, leaving everyone satisfied.

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Quarantine Dreams – Fantasy Festival Friday – Slipknot – Rob Zombie – In This Moment – Machine Head – Beasto Blanco first appeared on Game On Media.

Seven months into the 2020 global pandemic, and all we can do is dream about attending festivals, photographing concerts, and interviewing artists. Music festivals and live concerts have been postponed, rescheduled and canceled, sometimes all three. That doesn’t mean we can’t imagine. In the meantime, GameOn.media presents Fantasy Festival Friday – a fictitious concert performed by 5 bands we wish we could watch live in person, at full volume, with all of our rock family in attendance.

On Fantasy Festival Friday #5, we went back in time to revisit our favorite travelling festival – Vans Warped Tour. We gathered our favorite bands who rocked the metal stages through the 2010’s. These bands have grown up before our eyes and are now rocking arenas worldwide. Kevin Says presents Asking Alexandria, Motionless In White, Black Veil Brides, Miss May I, and Ice Nine Kills.

Ice Nine Kills was one of the major stars of the final years of Vans Warped Tour. Their latest album ‘The Silver Scream’ contains songs based on classic horror movies, and the band took full advantage of the genre in their stage set and costumes. Spencer Charnas and crew really got the audience going with their intensity and creativity.

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Miss May I kept up the intensity with their guitar-heavy style of metalcore. Levi Benton, Justin Aufdemkampe, BJ Stead, Jerod Boyd, and Ryan Neff play with the precision and passion born of more than a decade rocking together. If you don’t know this band, you need to check out their catalog. It has been a minute since their last album, so hopefully they will be adding to their impressive collection of bangers soon.

Fantasy Festival 2020 Miss May I

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Black Veil Brides thrilled fans with a special performance of their debut album ‘We Stitch These Wounds’, which they recently re-recorded and released as ‘Re-Stitch These Wounds’. Andy Biersack (vocals), Jake Pitts (lead guitar), Jinxx (rhythm guitar, violin), Christian “CC” Coma (drums), and new bassist Lonny Eagleton, who recently replaced Ashley Purdy, were on point throughout the set. They encored with 2014 song of the year “In The End” and hinted at a possible concept album to come.

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Motionless In White cranked up the volume and cranked out the hits. With 5 incredible albums in 10 years, MIW never let up for a second. Chris Motionless had the crowd singing and screaming along with every song, showcasing one of the best clean/dirty voices in all of rock. Ryan Sitkowski, Ricky “Horror” Olson, Vinny Mauro and Justin Morrow played flawlessly. The gothic stage set provided an eerie backdrop for their industrial sounds.

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Asking Alexandria then took over. Singer Danny Worsnop was a bundle of energy and joy, and this band continues to evolve and improve as songwriters. They featured several tunes from their outstanding new album ‘Like a House on Fire’. Of course, they also dug into their stellar back catalog, with Ben Bruce, James Cassells, Cam Liddell and Sam Bentley locked in as usual. AA dropped a huge surprise on this Fantasy Festival, when Worsnop welcomed out former vocalist Denis Stoff and they sang “I Won’t Give In” together. After that, Chris Motionless, Andy Black, Levi Benton and Spencer Charnas all came on stage to finish the night with AA’s first single “The Final Episode (Let’s Change The Channel)”. Oh. My. GOD!!!

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Quarantine Dreams – Fantasy Festival Friday – Asking Alexandria – Motionless In White – Black Veil Brides – Miss May I – Ice Nine Kills first appeared on Game On Media.

Six months into the 2020 global pandemic, and I have literally started dreaming about attending festivals, photographing concerts, and interviewing artists. Music festivals and live concerts have been postponed, rescheduled and canceled, sometimes all three. As the fall events have finally been eliminated, and the winter rock cruises have been pushed into May, I have no idea when I will be lucky enough to cover an actual concert again. In the meantime, GameOn.media presents Fantasy Festival Friday – a fictitious concert performed by 5 bands we wish we could watch live in person, at full volume, with all of our rock family in attendance.

On Fantasy Festival Friday #2, our hearts were as full as our voices were loud, as we sang along to the emotional hits of Shinedown, Nothing More, Highly Suspect, Badflower and Crobot.

Crobot kicked it off with their typical energetic performance. Brandon Yeagley is a force of nature with a great voice. Guitarist Chris Bishop has moves as funky as his grooves. Drummer Dan Ryan and bassist Eddie Collins shine, particularly on songs from their latest album, “Motherbrain”, including “Lowlife” and their current barn-burner “Gasoline”. Don’t pregame too long in the parking lot, you will want to catch this opening set.

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Next up was the chaotic beauty of Badflower. Josh Katz captivates an audience like few can. Joey Morrow, Anthony Sonetti and Alex Espiritu weave in and out of quiet reflection and explosive noise, perfectly complementing Josh’s gut wrenching vocals. Badflower is going to be huge, now that they have broken through after a decade of putting in the work.

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“Terrible” Johnny Stevens led Highly Suspect through an intense show. You never know quite what to expect from this band, but you know it will be entertaining. Brothers Rich Meyer on bass and Ryan Meyer on drums are as tight as can be. New addition Matt Kofos adds another guitar and keyboards to the mix, fleshing out their live sound. They continue to evolve their sound, with elements of hip-hop being added to their blues base.

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Nothing More went next, driving the crowd into a frenzy as they unveiled the sequel to their Scorpion device. This is something that must be seen to be believed. Jonny Hawkins, Mark Vollelunga, Daniel Oliver and Ben Anderson were a welcome sight back on the stage, after spending time working on new music. Nothing More is one of the most original, creative and dynamic acts to come along in decades.

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Finally, the main event arrived. Shinedown opened the highly anticipated show with their latest single, “Atlas Falls”, which is their record 16th #1 rock song, and has raised over $300,000 for Direct Relief. Shinedown has always been a band that wears its heart on its sleeve, and bares their soul through their songs. This is what connects Brent Smith, Barry Kerch, Zach Myers and Eric Bass to each other, and to their adoring fans. Every show is a shared catharsis and spiritual release, empowering everyone present.

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Quarantine Dreams – Fantasy Festival Friday – Shinedown – Nothing More – Highly Suspect – Badflower – Crobot first appeared on Game On Media.

Six months into the 2020 global pandemic, and I have literally started dreaming about attending festivals, photographing concerts, and interviewing artists. Music festivals and live concerts have been postponed, rescheduled and canceled, sometimes all three. As the fall events have finally been eliminated, and the winter rock cruises have been pushed into May, I have no idea when I will be lucky enough to cover an actual concert again. In the meantime, GameOn.media presents Fantasy Festival Friday – a fictitious concert performed by 5 bands we wish we could watch live in person, at full volume, with all of our rock family in attendance.

On Fantasy Festival Friday #1, our imaginations were thrilled by a nonstop barrage of aggressive, thought-provoking heavy rock sounds.

Fire From The Gods got our feet moving, and our minds expanding, with their reggae-spiced rock sounds. The set included timely hits including “Right Now”, “Break The Cycle” and “Excuse Me”. Vocalist AJ Channer has been extremely active in recent months, helping to spread a message of positive change. Fire From The Gods consists of Channer, guitarists Drew Walker and Jameson Teat, bassist Bonner Baker, and drummer Richard Wincader.

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Next up was Fever 333, a band formed 3 years ago in Inglewood, California, with the express intent of raising awareness and making their voices heard. Their blend of hip hop and punk rock is the perfect vehicle to describe the reality of so many Americans. Their latest single “Supremacy” is just the latest socially conscious banger in an already impressive catalog. Lead singer Jason Aalon Butler, guitarist Stephen Harrison and drummer Aric Improta are dynamic live performers.

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Nonpoint is another band who has been highly active throughout the quarantine. They re-imagined their song “Frontlines” into “Remember Me (A Frontlines Tribute)”, complete with fan-created content in the accompanying video. They also used social media to allow fans to choose their next cover song, in a March Madness style tournament. Stay tuned for more from vocalist Elias Soriano, drummer Robb Rivera, guitarists Rasheed Thomas and Jason Zeilstra, and bassist Adam Woloszyn. This stellar band was electric onstage, and engaging offstage, still meeting fans at the merch table 2 decades into their career.

Fantasy Festival 2020 Nonpoint

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P.O.D. kept the energy level high while elevating the crowd to a spiritual plane of existence. They played inspirational hit after hit, everything from “Alive” and “Southtown” to “Listening for the Silence” and “Circles”. Lead vocalist Sonny Sandoval commanded the stage. Drummer Wuv Bernardo and bassist Traa Daniels kept the fans moving and swaying throughout the set. Guitarist Marcos Curiel played those beautiful notes that pull it all together.

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As if the night couldn’t get any better, Sevendust arrived to cap off this incredible evening. Hot off the recording of their 13th album, “Blood & Stone”, which drops in October, the band was recharged and ready to rock. Drummer Morgan Rose is healthy again and still a beast behind the kit. Bassist Vince Hornsby holds up the low end while individually acknowledging every fan in attendance. Guitarists John Connolly and Clint Lowery thrashed through decades of classics, also supplying brilliant backing vocals. Lowery released 2 solo albums this year, and appeared anxious to get back on stage after his solo tour was cut short. Lajon Witherspoon remains one of the top vocalists in rock, an emotional performer and the most genuine, appreciative lead man in any band.

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Quarantine Dreams – Fantasy Festival Friday – Sevendust – P.O.D. – Nonpoint – Fever 333 – Fire From The Gods first appeared on Game On Media.