Five Finger Death Punch Headlines 98.9 The Rock’s Rockfest 2018 in Kansas City

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Five Finger Death Punch wow crowd

98.9 The Rock’s Rockfest 2018, Kansas Speedway, Kansas City,KS, USA, June 2, 2018

by Michele Mussatto

Sixteen heavy metal and hard rock bands entertained approximately 30,000 headbangers on Saturday, June 2, 2018, at Rockfest 2018, the 12-hour outdoor festival sponsored by Kansas City’s hard rock radio station 98.9 The Rock. Five Finger Death Punch headlined the festival.

This was the 26th Rockfest ever, but only the second time to be held at the Kansas Speedway. The weather was much better than last year at the Speedway, which saw 90-plus degree scorching heat in the unshaded venue. This year the temps barely reached 80, and despite a little mud here and there, the concert conditions were perfect.

In staying with the Rockfest traditions, Reverend and 98.9 DJ “Moose” married several couples, revelers zipped across the zip line all day, bands signed t-shirts

The Rock girls threw t-shirts (credit: Michele Mussatto)

and flesh at the autograph booth, The Rock girls threw t-shirts into the audience, and fireworks lit up the sky. Mosh pits and body surfing were a constant, and concertgoers got their “freak” on by dressing up and painting themselves in a variety of colorful ways. The crowd, while always kind and courteous, was a little more animated this year due to the cooler weather. And those of us lucky enough to afford the shaded VIP section found the area much emptier, also due to the great weather, and were able to enjoy a mellow, lounge-like view of the concert on two enormous 4K television sets from couches.

Along with Five Finger Death Punch, the following bands lit up the two stages throughout the course of the day: Ghost, Underoath, Of Mice and Men, Stone Temple Pilots, Butcher Babies, Vince Neil, Bad Wolves, Sevendust, Miss May I, I Prevail, Powerman 5000, Red Sun Rising, Shaman’s Harvest, 10 Years, and Hyborian. The main stage was sponsored by the KC Labor Union and the second stage by Worth Harley Davidson.

Five Finger Death Punch (credit: Michele Mussatto)

Las Vegas’s Five Finger Death Punch has performed at Rockfest four times now, but this was the first time they headlined the festival. Coming off the success of their 6th number one album Justice for None, and off the success of their battles with drug and alcohol addiction and a legal battle with their record label, FFDP put on one hell of a show, which happily included favorites from each of their albums. Lead singer Ivan Moody, back with the band after a short hiatus to bury his alcohol addiction demon, looked and acted in the best of health, and sounded great. Bass player Chris Kael looked and performed great as well, obviously enjoying his recent victory over alcohol and drugs.

“How many of you are sober here tonight?” asked Moody, after taking a long drink out of his trademark gasoline container and toasting the audience. A surprising number of hands were raised and shouts given, especially for being the end of such a long festival. “Well I’m having a great time, and I am ABSOLUTELY sober!” exclaimed Moody. “I usually give this [baseball bat] to someone in a wheelchair, but tonight I am going to give it to someone recently sober,” Moody stated. He is known for giving away the baseball bat he has been swinging around on stage. “Who is recently sober?” he asks, to which he adds “how long” to each response. He finally found someone only 14 days sober to hand it to.

Tampa’s Underøath preceded FFDP as the headliner on the second stage. Not a stranger to Rockfest either, this is their first time headlining one of the stages, and they put on a fantastic show. Known for their high energy, percussion-heavy performances, Uø delivered nicely, with a seizure-causing laser light show that almost took your attention away frontman Spencer Chamberlain’s frenetic performance and shocking blond locks. Underøath returns to perform in Kansas City on Tuesday, November 27, 2018, at the Arvest Bank Midland Theatre.

Sweden’s Ghost preceded FFDP on the main stage, giving a stoic performance as the sun went down, adding an extra air of creepiness as the pink light of dusk

Ghost (credit: Michele Mussatto)

made their masks and set even more ominous. The performance of Papa Emeritus and the Nameless Ghouls was as impeccable as their dress and as tight as their reputation for mystery – I am wondering if that is why there is no interview of them by 98.9’s Ryan Westward and Jason Nivens posted on the Rockfest 2018 interviews website. Good for them for keeping their mystique.

Ghost returns to Kansas City to perform at the Arvest Bank Midland Theatre on Saturday, October 27, which in keeping with their mystique, is mysteriously not listed in the tour dates on their website. Being billed as “The Rock’s Freakers Ball,” this two and a half hour pre-Halloween theatrical performance will take place on the most elaborate stage set-up ever seen at the beautiful Midland Theatre. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite Ghost member, and those with the five best Ghost costumes get to go backstage to meet the band. Underøath will be performing as well, as will Machinehead and Clutch from Sevendust.

The OC’s Of Mice and Men preceded Ghost on the second stage. No glamour, no light show, just a clean, honest, energetic performance of their melodic metalcore. OM&M’s lead singer and bassist Aaron Pauley is great, but I really enjoyed watching drummer Valentino Arteaga; he has a lot of fun energy that really draws you in to enjoy the show.

San Diego’s Stone Temple Pilots preceded OM&M on the main stage. Jeff Gutt led the band, who replaced Scott Weiland and Chester Bennington as vocalist late last year, both who are now passed. I thought Gutt did an amazing job; in fact, I was pleasantly surprised by him and the original STP band members both; they all put on a great show, playing all the band’s classics. I would be thrilled to see them again any time.

Butcher Babies (credit: Michele Mussatto)

LA’s Butcher Babies lit up the second stage before STP, led by the dynamic singing duo of Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey. Yes, these gals are hot – physically, vocally, and performance-wise, and took over the festival with as much passion and showmanship as any act that day. Supported by guitarist Henry Flury, bassist Jason Klein, and drummer Chase Brickenden, BB’s put on a very entertaining show, delivering some very tasty thrash metal, which was almost lost on the disarming performance of the two gorgeous front women, especially when Shepherd handed her beautiful body over to her fans body-surfed the audience.

Rockfest 2018 | FreakersBall 2018 |

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Butcher Babies