Written By Sason Bishope Parry
Photos by Sharina Solares, Priscilla Rodriguez, Steve Thrasher, Lexie Alley,
The Aftershock Music Festival roared into Sacramento from October 5th through the 8th with its 11th edition. More than 90 bands spanning every genre of rock played over the four days, including headliners Guns N’ Roses, Avenged Sevenfold, Incubus, Tool, and Korn. Last year, Aftershock set a record-high attendance of 160,000 fans. This was another massive year, building on the previous year’s success and bringing in over 40,000 headbanging music lovers per day from all walks of life once again to Discovery Park. Attendees brazed the scorching fall heat wave to be part of what has been dubbed California’s biggest hard rock festival. Organizers stated that more than half of attendees come from different states and countries, and it’s grown tremendously over the last decade.
“I mean, this is the West Coast’s biggest rock festival. We’ve been doing this for over a decade, and I mean it’s grown from a one-day event to four days, 40,000 people a day,” said Chamie McCurry, CMO of Danny Wimmer Presents.
Most people took advantage of every shaded area they could find to escape the heat that sometimes hit the 90s. The sun gods smiled down on Aftershock all weekend, with the first two days being the hottest. Saturday and Sunday cooled down a bit, but the Indian summer heat waves weren’t going anywhere. One bummer was the last-minute cancellation of Slipknot’s Corey Taylor due to a knee injury at a previous show. He was scheduled to play on Saturday, but that didn’t stop fans, given all the incredible talent scheduled all weekend. Although bags are generally not allowed, organizers did allow fans to bring blankets, towels, and one sealed water bottle or container so they could use free refillable water stations throughout the festival. Beyond the great music showcased on five themed stages, there were many excellent arts and crafts vendors and fantastic art installations.
Some of the perimeter and surrounding fencing were covered with cool aftershock posters, creating a cool and edgy vibe. Since its inception in 2012, Aftershock has evolved each year, growing from one to four days and building on its fan experience. It’s awesome to see how large the festival has become in just over a decade, and I doubt they have any intention of slowing down. There is no question that the team at Danny Wimmer Presents puts a lot of effort and time into creating the best experience each year, and it shows. Everything seemed to have gotten an upgrade, from the good vibes of staff working throughout the festival to the quality of the stages. The stage production was not only intense but over-the-top impressive, especially on the final days, with lots of pyro and kickass lighting effects.
HIGHLIGHTS WE EXPERIENCED THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND:
THURSDAY – DAY ONE HIGHLIGHTS:
NOTHING BUT THIEVES:
Day one started out fantastic. Sacramento is known to be at least ten or fifteen degrees hotter than the rest of the Bay. It was a good 95+ degrees when we made our way into the park, just in time to catch one of my favourite new bands, Nothing but Thieves. For a Thursday early afternoon, they already had a large crowd of fans waiting. They wasted no time getting fans hyped up. Their music is not as hard as many of the acts, but they definitely know how to rock, and the quality of their songwriting and big, catchy hooks is undeniable. Lead singer Conor Mason is one of the best young singers on the scene. His incredible range was shown in the songs “I Was Just a Kid,” “Trip Switch,” and “Amsterdam.” The band locked in well and was super polished. It was a great way to kickstart our first day. Sadly, they only played for about thirty minutes, but it was still worth it.
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS
As the sun continued to scorch down, fans crammed in to see 90s grunge rockers Stone Temple Pilots on the Jack Daniels stage. They were a last-minute fill-in for the newly reunited Pantera, which sadly had to pull out, which the band stated was due to “circumstances out of their control.” STP, who also played last year, was a welcomed return to fans, as there is no denying the power and influence of their music and massive catalogue of hits. Filling in the shoes of the great and charismatic Scott Weiland is not a small feat. Weiland was one of rock’s greatest singers and frontmen. However, the new lead singer, Jeff Gutt, did a great job commanding the stage and sounded incredible. At times, if you closed your eyes, it was like listening to Scott with his low-register growl. Some fans did their best to stay cool and find small shade areas, while many jammed the stage front area, sweat dripping and taking in the entire experience. Gutt even joked about the weather and, at one point, joined fans, close and personal in the pit. The band was terrific as they roared through classics like “Wicked Garden,” Interstate Love Song,” “Plush,” and “Big Empty.” They ended their set with the powerful anthems “Trippin on a Hole in a Paper Heart” and “Sex Type Thing.” It was pure raw energy at its finest, and STP took us straight back to the days when grunge ruled the world.
AFI
Ah, another 90s favourite and highly anticipated act, California punk rockers AFI, were greeted by a big crowd of fans screaming their names as they hit the stage. Lead Singer Davey Havok has always been a great showman, almost possessed as he donned a cool punk fit, mini mohawk with a vest that said, “Death Of The Party.”. I have to disagree, as they definitely got the party started as Davey danced up a storm, and fans ate it up, singing along. The opening song, “Girls Not Grey,” created a massive sing-along and a thirteen-song set. They ripped into song after song, which included “Days Of The Phoenix,” “Escape From Lost Angeles,” and “Begging For Murder.” They all looked and sounded great, with guitarist Dave Puget winning best hair as he shredded through each number. Davey greeted the crowd a few times, “It’s a great and sunny evening, Sacramento,” as fans yelled back, “Hell Yes!” You know it’s hot when a few songs in and the whole band is sweating. So hot, Davey removed his shirt, showing off his years-old tattoos as female fans screamed their approval. What I always love about Davey and A.F.I. is they always leave it all on the stage, and this was no exception! They closed out with one of their anthems, “Miss Murder,” and left the stage with fans screaming for more!
INCUBUS
As the night set and the moon rose, fans geared up for what was arguably the biggest set of the evening. Headlining rockers Incubus took the stage to a blast of red lighting, bringing a fury of energy and good vibes throughout their entire 1-hour set. Lead singer Brandon Boyd, always a powerful presence on stage, hasn’t seemed to have lost any of his love for performing. They opened “Magic Medicine” and “Privilege.” The entire band brought their A-game, with guitarist Mike Einzinger showing off his impressive chops. Drummer Jose Pasillas was on fire, with perfect rhythm precision on every song. Favourite sing-alongs included “Anna Molly,” “Pardon Me,” and a superb rendition of “Nice to Know You.” Newcomer Nicole Row was incredible on bass and gelled like an original member, bringing her style and cool vibes to each song. Nice highlight changes came with a few classic covers like The Beatles, “Come Together,” The Doors, “Riders of the Storm,” and Pink Floyd’s awesome “Wish You Were Here.” Incubus brought their own style into each cover. The show ended on a high note with a lovely acoustic version of arguably their most famous song, “Drive.” Fans sang along to the last notes, and just like that, it was over. One of the best sets of the day!
AVENGED SEVENFOLD
As the darkness set in and the sun’s heat cooled, fans geared up for Thursday’s headliner. Coming down from the high of watching Incubus, we strolled over to Jack Daniel’s stage to catch Huntington Beach metal band Avenged Sevenfold. The last time they played Aftershock was in 2016 when they also commanded the headlining position. This was the first time I had ever seen them live, and it was pure adrenalin and, hands down, the best stage production of the entire day. They opened with “Game Over”, which lead singer M. Shadow’s sang while sitting in a wheelchair with a ski mask on. At first, I thought he was injured, but I soon realized it was part of their show. From start to finish, the musicianship was insane, with guitarist Synyster Gates shredding every solo opportunity and showing off his virtuoso skills. It was almost like watching a heavy metal rock opera, with incredible visuals lighting up the entire stage behind the band. Highlights came when they played familiar tunes, “Afterlife” and “Hail to the King, “which got fans energized and fist-pumping. Shadows was a great showman, talking up a storm throughout the 12-song performance. Towards the end of their set, he shouted, “It looks like no one has gotten hurt out there, so we’ve got time to mix in a couple of extra songs we don’t normally play during these festival sets.” Then they immediately ripped into, “The Stage.” Another highlight came with the beautiful ballad “So Far Away,” which brought a sombre moment for fans to take in the moment. It was probably my favourite tune from them and has since made me a fan. They closed out the night with “Unholy Confessions,” “Nightmare, “and “Bat Country.” At the end of their set, Shadows shouted out, “All right, you really have to go home after this song,” closing out the night with the sing-along, “A Little Piece of Heaven.” I wasn’t sure what to expect, but they were an incredible and powerful way to close out the first night.
FRIDAY DAY 2 – HIGHLIGHTS
DRAGGED UNDER
The sun continued its heatwave on the second day of Aftershock. Given Friday’s rush hour traffic, we arrived a little later, just in time to catch Seattle punk rockers Dragged Under Rock the Coors Light stage. They had a nice crowd for a late afternoon set and sounded solid, playing songs off their albums, “The World is in Your Way” and “Upright Animals.” Founding members vocalist Anthony Cappochi and guitarist Ryan “Fluff” Bruce and Josh Wildhorn brought their A-game. The band sounded awesome on crowd-favourite tunes “Suffer,” “Chelsea,” and “Instability.” Lead singer Cappochi engaged the fans with his great humour and charismatic presence. “We know it’s a long way from the main stage, so thanks so much for hanging out with our band today. But it’s just getting F-king started, Aftershock and our job is to warm you up for all the other bands. So, I want every single one of you off your feet!” he shouted humbly to fans. It was a great set from start to finish.
COHEED AND CAMBRIA
New York prog-rockers Coheed and Cambria brought the heat to their late afternoon set on the Jack Daniels Stage. The anticipation was high, given the sea of fans waiting to catch their set. Singer Claudio Sanchez is an enigmatic character, with his signature hair due and recognizable vocals. Their set was a no-nonsense performance and all about the tunes and keeping fans moving throughout their hour-long set, which included “A Favorite House Atlantic,” “The Liars Club,” and a few others before closing out with fan favourite, “Welcome Home.” Sanchez showed off not only his impressive vocal chops but also his guitar-playing skills—one of the best sets of the day.
GODSMACK
As the sun set, another crowd favourite hit the stage to a welcoming crowd of eager headbangers. Massachusetts rockers Godsmack brought a fiery set to the shockwave stage. They might be old, but man, can they rock still? Lead Singer and guitarist Sully Erna is quite the sarcastic comedian as he joked about their age. The pyro was over the top as flames erupted on stage throughout their set, igniting fans into a frenzy. Songs like “When Legends Rise” and 1000hp kept fans moving nonstop as they pushed their way to the front. Erna engaged with fans and even asked the men to put their ladies on their shoulders. “You do all the work at the gym, but you sit at a desk working for T-Mobile,” he yelled. “Put it to good use for once!” Some did precisely that as I looked around and saw a bunch of ladies and even dudes riding on the shoulders of others. A big highlight came with the “Batalla de los Tambores” drum-off between Erna and drummer Shannon Larkin. This has become a part of their energetic set, where the band also mixes in classic songs from Zeppelin, ACDC, and others. Godsmack closed out with a bang, blasting through “I Stand Alone” as fans sang along.
LIMP BIZKIT
When we think of heavy rock, we must include one of the heaviest bands of all time, rap, rock legends Limp Bizkit. They have been a controversial force since they debuted in 1994 and were one of the most anticipated bands on the bill. Fred Durst and company took the stage with fury and brought the thunder to Aftershock. Since they reunited, Durst, now in his 50s, has donned multiple looks on stage. This time, it was full-on Nu metal cowboy, as he dubbed himself, probably taking a cue from Kid Rock, complete with cowboy hat, big belt buckle, and plaid shirt. Most would be unable to pull this look off and would probably come across as corny at best, but Durst exudes pure confidence. It’s safe to say he just doesn’t care, as he was in full character mode, even speaking with a Southern accent and the entire crowd at it up. Limp Bizkit owned the night as they opened with “Break Stuff,” with fans losing their minds. They played a few covers throughout their set, and DJ Lethal, who commanded the decks like a veteran, also mixed in between songs some country tunes and a few Bon Jovi hits. “Rollin” (Air Raid Vehicle) sounded like a monster jam, exploding from Aftershock’s massive sound system. During the set, Durst even brought up a mohawked fan to sing along, breaking up the moment a bit and giving this lucky fan a memory of a lifetime. Anyone who’s watched the documentary on the 1999 Woodstock edition knows that Durst and company have a way of antagonizing crowds into a mosh pit frenzy, which can sometimes turn bad. Thankfully, history didn’t repeat itself at Aftershock, but Durst did say, “I want you jumping like we did back at Woodstock ’99.” As their set ended, Durst yelled, “We’re gonna play ‘Break Stuff’ one more time.” The crowd went wild, and it was pure adrenalin-driven insanity to the last note—one of the best and most entertaining sets of the entire weekend.
TOOL
When I think of a headliner, we think of incredible music, over-the-top stage production, eye-candy visuals, and an insane light show. All of which 90’s progressive metal rockers Tool brought to their headlining performance in Sacramento and some. What can be said about lead singer Maynard James Keenan that hasn’t already been said? He is one of the greatest frontmen and singers ever on stage and always keeps it interesting. A sea of excited fans filled the entire Jack Daniels stage field from front to back. As always, Maynard is a man of intrigue and mystery, usually singing in the shadows and from the back of the stage, although he did seem a bit more visible at Aftershock. The band wasted no time with antics and banter and kicked right into “The Pot” and “Jambi.” The good news for fans like me is the majority of their set consisted of songs from my favourite album, “Aenema.” It was Tool at their best, with mind-blowing visuals that matched their mesmerizing music. You can’t help but get sucked into a Tool concert. Their music just pierces right through you like a tribal, nonstop, heavy rhythm.
The entire band was locked into perfection, from the always incredible drum rhythms of Danny Carey to explosive guitar riffs from Adam Jones. Bassist Justin Chancellor was in rare form, connecting with fans from time to time. It’s hard to imagine how someone who lurks in the shadows of the stage and can barely be seen can be such a powerful presence, but that’s all Keenan and what makes him one of the greats. When you did get a glimpse, his persona, complete with mohawk and motorcycle jacket, just encapsulated the jumbotrons and made their performance bigger than life for fans. I could hear fans yelling, “There he is,” and “I can see him now.” The lighting was phenomenal, as it always is at a Tool concert, with massive strobes and spotlights flashing and themed perfectly to every beat, while multi-coloured lasers filled the stage and skies during “Rosetta Stoned.” One of the biggest highlights came as they played an epic 12-minute version of “Invincible.” Tool closed out with a fantastic encore of one of their biggest songs, “Aenema.”
SATURDAY DAY 3 – HIGHLIGHTS
BABYMETAL
Day three of Aftershock was jam-packed and the busiest day thus far, with organizers stating they were close to a sold-out weekend. As we settled in, Japanese metal trio Babymetal was set to take over the Shockwave stage with their Kawaii metal sound, which is a fusion of heavy metal and elements of J-pop. I had heard of them but never caught them live, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Based on the size of the crowd, they seemed to have grown in popularity. Babymetal consists of three female singers: Suzuko Namato, known as “Su metal,” Moa Kikuchi as “Moametal,” and Momoko Okazaki as “Momometal.” At first, glance, when they hit the stage, they looked like a cutesy Asian pop band in colorful outfits. But once their backup band of masked, seasoned heavy metal session musicians started playing, it was clear that they meant business! Holy shit, they literally melted our faces off with their heavy riffs and music, and not what I expected. Their choreography was tight, as they danced and captivated fans with their cute but powerful show. With K-pop taking over the world, this was a change of pace, and fans loved every minute of their fun set. Su–Metal was the main vocalist, with her magnetic charisma as she even spoke to the crowd in English at times as she screamed out in her cute accent, “I want to see a big circle,” which ignited fans to start moshing immediately. Their set seemed more like a jam session at times, with them dancing to choreographed numbers, but “Gimme Chocolate” got fans bobbing their heads. They closed out with “Road to Resistance.” I’m sure they gained some new fans with their entertaining set.
SLEEP TOKEN
Another highly anticipated act was British alternative metal band Sleep Token, which has built quite a following. What makes the band unique is that they are a completely anonymous musical collective led by a frontman known as Vessel. As the sun set, we made our way to the smaller DWP stage, which was already jam-packed. Once Sleep Token took the stage, there wasn’t an inch of empty space available anywhere. Fans piled in from all sides, even jumping on top of fencing and food trucks to try and catch a glimpse of the band. They sounded fantastic, with a look reminiscent of a popular horror film, as blue light and fog surrounded the masked players. They played through a barrage of tunes, some from their recent album, “Take Me Back to Eden,” which included kickass versions of “Rain” and “Granite.” Typically, connecting emotionally with a band whose members are entirely unknown would seem hard. Still, it’s that mystery that sets them apart, and given the screams from fans, everyone seemed glued to their performance. They reminded me a bit of Slip Knot with their persona and power. Vessel was an excellent captain, dancing fanatically at times and singing with a fantastic range of vocal styles, from hardcore at times to melodic. This is one band to keep your eyes on!
311
Another 90’s favourite was reggae and rock band 311, who played the Jack Daniels main stage with an excellent early evening set that was close to an hour long. Although not as heavy as many of the bands on the bill, they were a nice change-up for fans and ensured their set was full of big guitar riffs. The band brought their thirty years of experience and catalogue of hits to entertain the big crowd, with energy at peak levels throughout their performance. When I closed my eyes a few times, I felt like I was transported out of Aftershock to a Caribbean Island, as their music has always had their island vibe. Singer Nick Hexum was in fine form, belting out his great chops and trading off with rapper Aaron “P-nut” Willis, whose flow commanded the stage with ease and style. I’ve always loved how 311 fuses Reggae, funk, and rock so effortlessly into their unique sound, and they’ve stayed true to this sound for their entire three-decade career. The band ripped through incredible renditions of hit songs that included “Beautiful Disaster,” “Come Original,” and “Creature.” What caught my attention is that they played at a similar time to Incubus’s Thursday night set, which I’m sure was planned to break up the music monotony. Incubus and 311 have toured together in the past and are melodic and anthem-driven, so it was an intelligent move by organizers. As the night set in, they closed out with two of their best songs, “Down” and the melancholy and beautiful “Amber.”
KORN
Saturday was stacked with great bands, but the day, or should I say night, belonged to headliners Korn. The Nu Metal legends, led by the highly charismatic Jonathan Davis, just killed it! They delivered an incredible hit-driven performance to the biggest crowd of the day. An ocean of fans swayed and pumped their fists as they opened with a heavy rendition of “Rotting in Vain.” Korn has always been heavy on their production quality, with superb visuals and lighting to accompany their great music. Davis is another incredible performer and powerful presence who knows how to work the entire stage. At times, he seemed possessed by the music, frantically moving his body while singing to fan favourites like “Blind” and “Coming Undone.” Thirty years in the game has not slowed them down, as they sounded incredible from start to finish. They even threw in a snippet of Queen’s classic, “We Will Rock You,” to supercharge their hit “Coming Undone.” Davis didn’t talk much throughout their set, but he did thank the crowd a few times for all their support. “Thank you for going on this journey with us over the years,” Davis said, promising to see fans again next year. The night ended with explosive versions of “Twist” and “Freak on a Leash,” giving fans one last night to mosh it all out. Korn ended Aftershock’s day three on another high note, firing on all pistons.
SUNDAY DAY 4 – HIGHLIGHTS
BADFLOWER
The final day of Aftershock was still blazing hot but not as bad as previous days, which allowed fans to find more shade. Most people were prepared by now, dressing light and ensuring they stayed hydrated. The energy and experience were the highest of the weekend as fans, probably realizing it was the last day, arrived earlier than usual. That was good news for some of the opening and early afternoon bands who had nice-sized crowds waiting for them. One such band was Los Angeles rockers Badflower, who played on the Jack Daniels stage around 230 p.m. Based on the screams from fans when they hit the stage, it was clear that they were a festival favourite. Singer John Katz has the whole package, good looks, incredible vocal range, and that magnetic star power that could be felt through their entire set. Clearly a favourite with female headbangers who arrived early to mash in tight, stage front. Badflower wasted no time getting right to the music with songs like “Don’t Hate Me,” “The Jester”, and “Stalker.” Highlights came when they played an excellent version of one of their best songs, “Heroin,” with Katz doing a fantastic job of bringing emotion and energy to each note. Their unique brand of emo and alternative rock kept the energy flowing nonstop for their entire 30-minute set. Another fan favourite was a kickass, sexy rendition of “Ghost,” which got everyone singing along. Although they could have easily played a later set time, they were a fantastic early-vibe band that set the mood for the rest of the day and night.
DAUGHTRY
As soon as Badflower finished up, we raced over to the Shockwave stage to catch the rock band Daughtry, led by the incredible singer-songwriter Chris Daughtry. Daughtry was a finalist on the 5th season of American Idol, and even though he didn’t win, his talents have made him one of the biggest acts in the world. They took the stage with confidence and sounded massive as fans continued to pour in from all sides. Unfortunately, technical difficulties from the heat caused a temporary power outage during their second song, “World on Fire.” It was ironic that they were playing that song since it felt like the world was on fire, given how hot it was. Techies quickly worked out the bugs and got the performance and sound back on track. “It’s so hot up here we got things blowing up!” Daughtry said as they hit the stage again without missing a beat. I’m a big fan of their more melodic tunes, but given that this was a hard rock festival, I understood why they chose to play a much heavier set. Songs like “Artificial” had even the purist metal fans banging their head. There was so much heat from their performance, the sun and the pyro going off all around them on stage. I was sure the band was going to explode, LOL. Daughtry still played many of their hits and sing-along favourites like “It’s Not Over” and “Over You.” Daughtry’s vocal range is pretty impressive and could be heard on an excellent closing cover of Journey’s classic and one of my favourite songs of all time, “Separate Ways.” Not many would dare to take on Steve Perry, but it just shows that Daughtry has the chops and delivered one of the day’s best sets.
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
Another highly anticipated act was Seattle superstar rockers Queens of the Stone Age. The band was hot on the heels of their current tour and sold-out show at San Francisco’s Bill Graham Civic. As the sun set, a sea of fans gathered at the Shockwave stage cheering, while lead singer Josh Homme and the Queens strolled on stage. They immediately kicked off with their most popular, iconic hit, “No One Knows.” It was a fantastic scene watching thousands of fans singing along and going absolutely apeshit to one of the most recognizable musical riffs. Homme was a powerful presence on stage, almost like a stoner rock version of Elvis, with his slicked-back hair, shiny axe, and moving his legs in rhythm. Just as charismatic were Bass player Michael Shuman, who did an excellent job of over-dramatizing each lick, and guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, who jumped around shredding while also trading off harmonies with Homme. Most of the set was non-stop music, but Homme, the engaging showman, took time to speak to the crowd and throw in a few jokes. “F-king love you”, he yelled out. “Hello over there. That’s got to be the alcoholic way over there. This has got to be the weed smokers right here”, pointing to the middle of the crowd. “And I hope you enjoy the ketamine over here.” Then they proceeded to rip through a masterclass hour-long set that included “My God Is The Sun,” “Sick, Sick, Sick,” “Emotion Sickness,” and “If I Had a Tail”. They closed out their set with a frenzy of strobe lights flashing behind them while they jammed til the end. It was a chaotic, beautiful close, with the entire band riffing and soloing, then taking a bow as fans screamed in approval. Just spectacular!
GUNS N’ ROSES
As the festival was nearing its last few hours, it was a bit of a sad feeling, as all good things must come to an end. But that mood got immediately supercharged as we made our way to Jack Daniels stage to gear up for the biggest act of the weekend, superstars – GUNS N’ROSES. The entire area was already overflowing with arguably the biggest crowd of any act. Anticipation was at a peak high, as the band was running about thirty minutes behind, and fans were getting edgy. Lead singer Axl Rose was notorious for being late when he toured without Slash and company. All that changed when they crashed the stage and immediately ripped into their opening song. The crowd went completely bonkers! It was the beginning of an incredibly long 3-hour set that included more than a dozen songs from their massive musical legacy. Rose looked and sounded fantastic, able to belt out all the classic tunes with his signature piercing falsetto. From “Chinese Democracy,” “Bad Obsession,” and “Mr. Brownstone”, the hits and energetic set just kept getting better. Their iconic song, “Welcome to the Jungle,” brought about the biggest roars from the crowd as thousands started singing, while others recorded the moment on their cell as a lifetime memory. This was, of course, the single off of “Appetite to Destruction” that kickstarted their massive superstar career more than 35 years ago, as Rose is now 61 years young.
It was a mind-blowing journey through all their greatest hits and, hands down, the best set of the entire festival. Beyond Rose, superstar guitar virtuoso Slash was a one-person attraction all of his own. He wore his signature top hat and gave a masterclass on guitar licks and monster riffs as he shredded his axe perfectly to every opening and solo. My favourite part of the show was during my favourite Guns N Roses song, “November Rain.” Second to that was probably “Sweet Child of Mind” and the Bob Dylan classic cover, “Knocking on Heaven’s Door.” But for me, it was all about “November Rain,” which Rose sang and played to sweet perfection, sitting behind a baby grand piano and belting out every beautiful note. The song brought back a range of emotions amongst fans as they sang along, cell phone lights in the air. Just an epic performance and scene! Guns N’ Roses finally closed out their mind-blowing set with the massive singalong “Paradise City.” Slash let out a last solo fury, shredding nonstop, as Rose screamed out, “Sacramento, Aftershock, California, thank you. Good f-ng night!”
It was the perfect ending to an absolutely brilliant weekend of great rock and roll. As fans strolled out, I could already hear mumblings of how it would be hard for Aftershock to top this in 2024. Well, if the past years are any indication, Danny Wimmer Presents will find a way!
