As we wrap up coverage from the final day of the Mountain Music Festival in Gatlinburg, there is news pending about a potential New Year’s Eve show in conjunction with the township fireworks display that has many scrambling to book hotel rooms. More to come as details get finalized, and of course there are still some select cabins available for our Monsters of Rock Cruise in March and hope to see you all there!
The final day of the festival began with a packed repeat performance from Bad Marriage around noon on the Summit stage in the Ballroom. The band was overwhelmed by the attendance given that it was such an “early” show. With the energy and the lightshow in the darkened room it was easy to forget that the sun was shining over the mountains outside that afternoon.
After the triple-axe attack upstairs, we ventured down to hear, you guessed it, more guitars! The duet of Joel Hoekstra and Grandon Gibbs could be found performing a stripped-down acoustic set on the Creekside Stage that included a few shots of Poison and some Whitesnake classics.
And after that things got a bit sleazy with The Cruel Intentions which features former Vains of Jenna frontman Lizzy DeVine along with Kristian Solhaug on guitar, Mats Wernerson on bass, and Robin Nilsson on drums. They delivered a high-energy set that included their song “Jawbreaker” as well as Vains of Jenna’s “Enemy in Me.”
One thing Lynch Mob never falls short on is ego, and I’m not saying that in a bad way. These guys ooze confidence and it makes for a fun set to photograph everytime. In fact, George was even making jokes about that catwalk at the center of the stage before he used it give the crowd an in your face view of his fretwork.
We love that he has started to have a little fun with the camera the last few times we’ve seen them on this ‘final ride’ tour instead of getting lost in the music as he’s sometimes done in the past. It really is going to be the end of an era when the band retires on the 2025 Monsters of Rock Cruise sailing, but we are happy to see that they are going to make another trip back to our hometown of Pittsburgh before they say farewell.
Lynch Mob features longtime drummer Jimmy D’Anda, frontman Gabriel Colon, and bassist Jaron Gulino, and their set even included a guest appearance from George’s granddaughter who took a spin around the stage at the end of the show. We heard that her father Richie Faulkner, who you all may recognize from the mighty Judas Priest was in attendance with George’s daughter, but we didn’t get a chance to catch him. However, we did walk in on a drummer meeting that day, and capture a photo of Jimmy along with Tesla’s Steve Brown and Aldo Nova‘s Ange E. Curcio.
That drummer visit set us behind on our coverage of the Faster Pussycat show, and when we got there the room was busting at the beams with what seemed to be everyone in attendance at the festival. Always a fan favorite, these guys were a late addition, and as such they were fit in for a mid-day set instead of their typical raunchy finale. Not to worry, they still brought the fun, and for once we could actually see them as they had a beautiful lightshow that frontlit the band. That tall guy, known as ‘Slim Tender’ to his friends, appeared to be healed and good spirits after his recent injuries last spring. And, much to our delight the guys did return later to close out the festival as part of the all-star jam on the same stage.
We have been lucky enough to catch Aldo Nova three times now this year, but for many this was their first opportunity to see the Canadian artist live, and he and the band did not disappoint. As an added bonus, his band joined the photo experience that afternoon, giving everyone the opportunity for a quick meeting and a group photo. The grammy award winning artist’s band features Jack Frost on guitar, Dario Sexias on bass, Michael T. Ross on keyboards, and Ange E. Curcio on drums. Check out our coverage from Jergels and M3 Rock Festival from the May to learn more about the band’s history.
Another band that stole the show was Vixen, with the classy addition of frontwoman Rosa Laricchiuta, who has clearly found her home, and a finale that even featured a balloon drop. While some may question the evolution of the band, we love the energy behind the current line-up which features Roxy Petrucci on drums, Britt Lightning on guitar, Julia Lage on bass, Tyson Leslie on keyboards, and of course Rosa on lead vocals.
This week Julia, who also performs with her husband Richie Kotzen in the band Smith/Kotzen tells us that she has a new single of her own “The Horizon” available this week. You can check it out here along with her other work.
Also, if you didn’t catch it, Britt spread her wings by taking on a comedy performance the day prior as part of Punchlines & Backlines. And, the band also killed it at the all-star jam later that evening.
As colorful balloons were still bouncing around the room, Jackyl was taking the adjacent stage. And as expected, they brought the booze, some lighter fluid, a shotgun, a whip, and a chainsaw to commemorate our 2024 Jackyl family reunion. And, for the next hour or so, it was without a doubt Jackylpalloza!
A true highlight of any festival, a crowd participation extravaganza, and an american tradition because … that’s the way we like it!
And, if there was any question as to whether or not you can still assemble with like-minded friends and family and “Rock in America,” Night Ranger sealed the deal! Guitar picks were flying, Brad Gills was in total beast mode, and they delivered their full band drum solo behind Kelly Keagy’s kit as expected. We even got to hear some Damn Yankees!
And, as Night Ranger wrapped up their set, we had a little fun with a patriotic American and a patriotic Australian who were dressed for the occasion given that it was a “monster” event.
We always get excited about Tesla and this evening was no exception. You’ll find coverage in our archives from their Las Vegas residency and a nearby show in Northfield, Ohio, and we are looking forward to a local show on September 27th just minutes from home at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA.
I had a unique vantage point for photos and was thankful to have gotten there before pit access was shut off from overcrowding, but eventually retreated to Frankie’s side to let some VIPs get closer and to get some air while I watched his fingerwork on “Love Song” and other favorites under the big screen.
But, when I was looking at the band through a microphone stand filled with colorful beads that belonged to guitarist Dave Rude, it dawned on me that we had all three Tesla guitarists in the house that weekend. While Tommy could be found in old photos on the big screen behind the band, he did not make an appearance during their set as I’d hoped. I found that disappointing given Jeff Keith and Brian Wheat’s involvement with his new band Bad Marriage, but hey, maybe one day?
Meanwhile, Brian has announced an exciting new musical venture with AleX, an emerging singer/songwriter from the U.K. The duo has joined forces to create a new band called Violet Breed, with their debut single, “AWAKE,” which is out now on all major platforms.
Violet Breed represents a powerful collaboration between Wheat, a seasoned rock icon, and AleX, a fresh and dynamic voice in the music industry. The pair have spent the last five years meticulously crafting an album that draws from their own life experiences, creating music that resonates with listeners of all ages. With honest and emotive lyrics, Violet Breed’s sound blends rich rock and pop influences, promising a unique and compelling listening experience.
The debut album, which features Tesla’s own guitarist Dave Rude on guitars, will showcase the musical prowess of the duo. Fans of both Tesla and AleX will be eager to hear the new material, as Violet Breed looks to make a significant impact on the global music scene.
When Tesla finished we headed upstair for the final show of the night. And to be honest, we were so glad that we check our schedules because we almost forgot! We were sad to miss The Gavin Evick Band’s second acoustic performance, but thrilled to see him singing alongside his father Pete Evick of the Bret Michaels Band at the jam.
There were members of Vixen, Faster Pussycat, Poison, The Gavin Evick Band, Hand Over Face, The Cruel Intentions, and more on that stage and it was nothing short of epic. Lots of cover tunes, rotating band members (though Chad Stewart was trapped behind the kit most of the set), and some truly stand out performances including Gavin Evick’s version of Skid Row’s “Youth Gone Wild” and Erin Ferrell of Hand Over Face slaying it on Motley Crue’s “Shout At the Devil.”
For those not familiar, Hand Over Face is a band featuring Tyson Leslie of Vixen that performs at Jon Bon Jovi’s new club in Nashville. They’ve even been lucky enough to jam with Jon and David Bryan of Bon Jovi recently at the club, where rock fans can find an alternative to the country music scene on Broadway.
It was sad to see the night come to an end, but a visit from a local bear and a parking lot party kept us busy until we called it a night around 2am in anticipation of an eight hour ride back to Pittsburgh.
In closing I’d say that while many festivals are closing up shop, the Mountain Music Festival continues to grow its audience and expand into new territory and that’s definitely not a bad thing. It is overwhelming to think about all that we crammed into each day (and we simply couldn’t cover it all). We hope that you enjoyed the recap and encourage you to hit our socials noted below for lost more photos!
Coverage by Editor and founder Kara Marie Uhrlen on 9/15/2024. All event photos © Kara Uhrlen and The Pure Rock Shop. Check out our coverage from the pre-party and the first day of the festival as well.
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