ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK TASTE OF CHAOS 2008 at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell, MA on 3/21 was quite an interesting show. The bands that graced the stage were THE UNDERNEATH, D’ESPAIRSRAY, MUCC, BLESSTHEFALL, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, ATREYU and AVENGED SEVENFOLD. IDIOT PILOT could not make it that night due to bus problems. It began with D’ESPAIRAY and concluded with AVENGED SEVENFOLD. The crowd seemed to love every minute of it. I have never seen so much moshing and sweaty people in my life. BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE really got the crowd crazy but even they couldn’t top the number of people ATREYU got to crowd surf. Note to self: wear full body armor the next time photographing ATREYU. AVENGED SEVENFOLD earned themselves the most likely to be pyromaniacs title. Their set was full of explosions, smoke, fire and the best lighting on the planet. They always bring it in the lighting department. Whether they are playing at a small club or huge arena they know what they are doing.

All of the bands did a great job and I have to say THE UNDERNEATH, MUCC, D’ESPAIRSRAY and BLESSTHEFALL performed their hearts out. They didn’t have all the bells and whistles that the headliners did but they made up for it performance wise. I’ve seen MUCC’S videos on IMF (International Music Feed, when it existed, I miss that music channel) and I was really excited to see them live. FANTASIC, is all I have to say. THE UNDERNEATH got stuck on the smaller stage but didn’t let that stop them. They worked it and came out ahead. They were the best dressed of the night in my book, too. D’ESPAIRSRAY got the crowd started. They have toured the USA before with some friends of ours, TRASHLIGHT VISION. ACEY SLADE speaks very highly of them and even left me a poster of the shows they did with them and D’ESPAIRSRAY were kind enough to autograph it. BLESSTHEFALL came onstage super charged and never lost their energy. What a wonderful group of bands!!