In recent years, several documentaries have spotlighted what can go very wrong at music festivals from tragic weather to poor planning. With Hurricane Helene ripping through the southeastern United States this past weekend, so much could have made for disaster at Louder Than Life in Louisville, KY, but somehow it didn’t. I’d heard that the caliber of festivals by Danny Wimmer Presents is top-notch, but until this weekend, I had never attended an event so meticulously organized. When the storm clouds turned from bad to worse, this festival group maintained control and continued to give the patrons a fantastic experience. Allow me to elaborate.
Day one. Thursday, September 26th, 2024.
The sky was cloudy with spots of sunshine and the temperature was absolutely perfect. We strolled through the gates without a hiccup, aided by a minimal line and knowledgeable staff. The music starts early at Louder Than Life, usually around 11:30, and there was a steady flow from one of the five stages all day, sometimes with shows overlapping by twenty or thirty minutes.
The tone was set by one of the earliest performing groups, Dead Poet Society. The first few strums of base sent shockwaves through my chest as Jack Underkofler took the mic. Just a few songs in he had welcomed his tattoo artist to the stage, announcing that he’d be getting his derrière tattoo completed. He then proceeded to pull his pants down over his cheeks, bent over a stool, and started to belt out the lyrics to “.swvrm.” The fans were instantly amped, feeding off Jack’s enthusiasm and audacity. Beachballs and crowd surfers alike began bouncing their way towards the stage. The festival had begun.
There was a diverse collection of metal and rock at Louder Than Life, with bands at their peak popularity forty years ago and some that have emerged in the past decade. I was transported back to high school when Finger Eleven and Seether performed on Thursday, both executing shows that sounded like twenty years hadn’t passed. Highly Suspect, Five Finger Death Punch, Sum 41, and even The Offspring had me nostalgic for a time when life was a little bit simpler. I was honestly shocked as I watched the grown-up versions of my home-burned mixed CD perform their hits with near precision. Several of these artists also took the opportunity to mix in some metal covers of classic songs, with Five Finger Death Punch adapting a version of “House of the Rising Sun” and The Offspring mixing in snippets from Black Sabbath, Guns N' Roses, and The Ramones.
Several female rockers took to the stages on Thursday as well. Early in the evening, three-piece Slothrust, with their blue-haired female vocalist, echoed deep lyrics over gritty rock and roll guitar, and later integrated an upbeat alternative indie vibe. The Warning, another trio, of sisters from Mexico, showed us how soaring vocals can ground their rock-and-roll into tracks that will repeat over and over in your head. Post-rock Brutus featured a female singer who maintained an unbelievable level of vocal control as she also smashed the drums throughout their set. And of course, you can’t forget Halestorm, who performed later in the evening, riling the crowd up with her powerful melodies that grind gratifyingly into metal.
Among all the metal and rock, a few bands just didn’t quite fit into a specific category. Starset, hailing from Columbus, Ohio, performed a mid-afternoon set as gray clouds refusing to rain hovered overhead. What immediately drew my attention was the violin and cello, both played by women, as instruments one doesn’t expect to see at a metal festival. Starset, classified as Cinematic Rock, utilizes multiple theatrical elements including dramatic costumes like gas masks and space travel suits. Militarie Gun stood out with a 90’s Post-Punk vibe seemingly influenced by artists like Fugazi. Kneecap, a unique band that raps in their native Irish language, pumped out beats in an electronic punk genre. Often focusing on political statements, Kneecap’s heavy base-backed lyrics attracted a large gathering that was ready to mosh. Another European group to hit the stage was Bob Vylan, a punk rock duo from England. In classic punk style, fits of high energy, jogging-in-place, and dancing kept the audience enchanted throughout the set.
We ended a mild-weathered day with a drizzle that marked the start of the storm to come just as Slipknot began their set. Featuring a new drummer, Eloy Casagrande, Slipknot rolled into their Nu Metal style after a prolonged intro of “Dreamweaver” and a creepy doll voice asking the audience to “come and play”. Raindrops splattered the cameras giving the viewscreens a distorted image of green glowing headbangers and crowd surfers surging forward. No one seemed to mind the mist and cool damp air as the mosh-pits swirled and the throng danced. We were all blissfully ignorant of what was coming tomorrow.
Day Two. Friday, September 27th, 2024.
We woke up to rain, wind, and depressing news updates on Hurricane Helene’s path of destruction. I worried about the campers at Louder Than Life, but all social media updates show that, ultimately, they took care of each other. Some helped others stake down their tents while others offered dryer spots to hang out as they waited for gates to open. And we all waited, oh so patiently, fingers and toes crossed that we’d get in to see the incredible lineup planned. At first, doors were delayed to “possibly six or seven.” Grandson, the artist I get closest to idol-worshiping, was due to play at 6:35 PM, so I felt like I had a pretty good chance of catching him. We then hear the curfew has been extended and earlier bands that would have gotten rained out were moved to later, so 10:35 was looking like prime time for me. Still acceptable. We packed up, headed over to park and sit in the car, anticipating “Gates are open” announcements soon. Unfortunately, the festival gods had other plans for us.
At precisely 6:52 PM, the festival sends an alert through the app notifying us that “today’s show has been canceled” due to extreme winds. The devastation was real. Now don’t get me wrong, we weren’t so blinded by our festival privilege that we weren’t aware of the real destruction happening to the unfortunate cities south and east of us. However, if you take a few seconds to read the social media laments of the Slayer fans from Friday night, you’ll quickly understand that this was a guttural blow to many.
We headed back to the hotel, got in comfy clothes, and settled in to watch crappy reruns on the television. By some miracle, we heard that a few of the rained-out bands were performing at local Louisville bars. Among those bands, who truly seemed to value and connect with their fans, were Ekoh, Silly Goose performing with Return to Dust, Jager Henry, DJ Odeski, Jose Mangin, and drumroll please… Grandson performing with Tom Morello. My heart fluttered and then immediately filled with dread as I realized how many other people were witnessing this announcement at the same time as I did. I’ve never gotten dressed so quickly. Within 20 minutes we were pulling up in front of The Whirling Tiger in Louisville, KY, and joining what looked like an enormous line. The rain we endured while waiting for entry was nothing compared to the thought of getting turned away at the door if they reached capacity. But as fate would have it, we did get in, and we even got to stand just thirty feet from the stage.
As much as I love music festivals, there’s something so very special about watching your favorite musicians in a small venue. Grandson, a “relative” of Rage Against the Machine in style and message, has branded his music as the soundtrack for the revolution. Strongly influenced by current political injustices, his music brings awareness to gun violence, governmental overreach, social pressure, military abuse of power and so much more. Rap and heavy rock intermingle and build catchy, hard-hitting anthems truly worthy of a rebellion. Grandson never fails to deliver an unapologetically fervent show personally directed at his fans and for that, he’ll always be at the top of my list.
If you are a fan of Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, or Prophets of Rage, you’ll already be aware of Tom Morello’s iconic riffs. Lucky for me, Tom has recently collaborated with some of my favorite musicians, including Grandson. Following Grandson’s set at the Whirling Tiger, Tom Morello took the stage and rocked through a medley of Rage songs as well as playing other hits from Audioslave, Bruce Springsteen, MC5, Bring Me the Horizon, and some of his solo music. As a treat, Grandson joined Morello on stage for “Hold the Line” and a brand-new collaboration called “One Last Dance” which they debuted for the first time that night. Tom wrapped up his set with a twisted version of “This Land is Our Land” sprinkled with witty political barbs. After the show was over, to further express the absolute magnificence of these musicians, Tom Morello and Grandson went outside the venue and greeted the hordes of fans that didn’t make it inside with a crowd-fed chant of Rage Against The Machine’s “Killing in the Name.” I no longer felt like my Friday was a waste. We didn’t get to see the full lineup, but I’m not sure we could have asked for a better replacement. I will forever be a fan of artists who can connect to their fans the way these two did that unforgettable night.
Day Three. September 28th, 2024.
Doors opened on time to the deep relief of every single ticketholder. Alternative rock band, Local H, started the drizzly day with a loud set, drawing attention from the crowd that had lined up around the block. “Copasetic” echoed throughout the festival as a poncho-clad mass, anxious to spend a full day at the park, filtered in. Another female-led scream metal band, Dying Oath, began on an opposing stage, leaving the audience divided.
Throughout the day, several bands brought this Millennial back to her high school days. CKY rocked out with gravelly vocals and Jess Margera, brother of Jackass star Bam Margera, on drums. P.O.D. ushered in rain-slick crowd surfers atop an ever-growing mob with “Youth of the Nation.” Ill Nino, Chevelle, and Filter put on performances that could have taken place in the early aughts, producing a sound identical to twenty years ago. Skillet, one of the few distinctly Christian rock bands to perform at Louder than Life, called for unity despite differences in religion or political preference before they started their set. Disturbed played later in the evening, sounding like they had stepped right out of the year 2000, and it felt like everyone in the audience was waiting for the moment when chaos could erupt for “Down with the Sickness.”
The classics had plenty of influence at Louder Than Life. Grunge band Low Lives carried heavy echoes of Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins, the lead singer even slightly resembled Kurt Cobain. All-American Tim Montana, who dedicated a song to veterans, was reminiscent of Metallica with hints of country rock. Even newer bands like Any Given Sin gave us echoes of slightly younger classics like Shinedown.
Lilith Czar captivated her audience early with an iconic “leather and lace” visage. Reminiscent of Stevie Nicks with her soaring vocals and slight rasp, she floated across the stage, belting out a blend of classic rock and smooth R&B all while strumming guitar. Another band drawing a distinctly loyal fanbase was Nothing More, who performed mid-afternoon, shirtless per usual. Lead singer Jonny Hawkins commanded the show even as the rain amplified in intensity. Mosh pits became mud pits, but the merriment continued. We were all so grateful to be experiencing the festival and not stuck in tents or hotel rooms.
Several star-studded mash-up bands played on Saturday as well. Better Lovers, consisting of three members of Every Time I Die and the lead singer from Dillinger Escape Plan, pushed out aggressive guitar and drums coupled with screaming vocals, occasionally sprinkled with intricate melodies. LS Dunes claims guitarist Frank Iero from My Chemical Romance, frontman Anthony Green from Circa Survive, guitarist Travis Stever from Coheed and Cambria, and the band Thursday both bassist Tim Payne and drummer Tucker Rule. Classified as Post-Punk, LS Dunes evolved from the Covid-19 lockdown and only made their debut two years ago at Riot Fest. Till Lindemann performed a visually graphic set as the evening settled in with belligerent vocals very much in the vein of his band Rammstein. Skin painted red, wearing a red costume and cap, on a glowing red stage, Till left a strong visual impression just as much as his music burned into the brain.
Although Three 6 Mafia, an iconic hip-hop group, seemed slightly out of place at a metal fest, they drew the largest crowd of the day so far, filling the muddy fields with rain-soaked bodies. After thirty years together, they truly still performed as if it were the 90s and had just as much enthusiasm. Dropkick Murphy’s also brought the hype, mesmerizing both the younger fans as well as the originals. Outside of the graying hair, you’d have no clue that the band was thirty years old, absolutely bringing the high energy and fire Dropkick is known for. Body Count, Ice-T’s heavy metal band, opened with a Slayer cover, quite possibly a dig at the fact that Slayer didn’t get to perform the day before. The crowd was ignited when they debuted a new song called “The Purge” which Ice-T stated was specifically “for the mosh pit.” Bodies surfaced, slick with mud, shoeless, and grinning ear to ear.
Rounding out Saturday was Mastodon, a progressive metal band that formed in the year 2000. For the evening’s performance, bass player Troy Sanders announced that in celebration of the 20th anniversary, they intended to play the Leviathan album from top to bottom. Despite some technical difficulties, the band took the crowd on visual and musical storytelling of the album, proving their skills haven’t aged one bit. Motley Crüe, the classic American Heavy Metal band, closed out Saturday evening with a huge crowd of loyal fans. No one was left wanting at the end of the day, except for possibly a warm shower and dry clothes.
Day Four. September 29th, 2024
Sunday morning brought less rain and a little sunshine. Announcements on social media showed Danny Hayes, CEO of Louder Than Life, out at 6:00 AM with the Bellarmine Wrestling team spreading mulch and straw all over the grounds. I’d noticed, not only on Sunday but all weekend, that the festival was kept meticulously clean. Trash cans were emptied before they overflowed, public bathrooms were cleaned every day, and volunteers even helped pick up cups and cans at the end of the night. What was previously a foamy mud slick was now a relatively dry pathway that thousands of people could walk on without sinking in sludge. We were giddy with the anticipation of a dryer day filled with good music.
As You Were, a military band with a female lead, started the afternoon off with Pop-Rock vibes and American pride. Nu-Metal took control as Taproot performed, followed by the rap rock fusion of both HED PE and Oxymorrons. Adding to the variety of rock genres played before 2:00 PM was the Progressive Metalcore band Silent Planet with heavy drums, bass, and screaming vocals.
Gozu was a standout to me, being a uniquely blended band that merged the gap between stoner rock and grunge. Unlike some metal bands, they kept the audience interested with elaborate and wide-ranging sounds from soulful to gritty and hardcore. Gozu’s songs were intricate and addictive, making even stage front security bop their heads to the rhythm. The voice that emerged from Marc Gaffney was surprisingly beautiful, complimenting the catchy instrumentals with suavity.
Sunday’s variety was sporadic and exciting, keeping patrons on their toes with new sounds at every turn. Drowning Pool drew a large crowd as the sun peeked out from the clouds, fans ready to mosh. Black Map, Architects, Narrow Head, and Drug Church all took turns in the spotlight, showcasing hard rock and screamer metal. The Eagles of Death Metal brought California-based rock and roll back to the stage in style with a classic long mullet and white overalls. Alt-rock band, Breaking Benjamin, reinforced what seemed to be the standard of the weekend, millennial bands performing as if no time had passed at all.
The ladies took over for a brief period on Sunday starting with Royale Lynn, a young country rock musician, and Winona Fighter, a female-led punk rock band. Poppy came next, rocking soft vocals surprisingly congruous with her electronic pop-metal style. Then Spiritbox took centerstage, drawing in the largest swarm of the afternoon. Switching easily between screaming and singing, lead vocalist Courtney LaPlante called in a sea of crowd surfers like a siren. Several songs in, Poppy joined Spiritbox and sang to overwhelming cheers from the fans.
Another outstanding act came from Gojira, who recently performed at the Paris Olympics. Overwhelming in only the best way, with scream metal at its finest, Gojira played as the sun lowered theatrically behind the stage. Then followed alternative metal band Staind, another millennial group that has maintained its sound as if almost thirty years hadn’t passed, and Polaris, a metalcore band from Australia. Biohazard had the crowd jumping and moshing to Groove Metal as the sun disappeared.
Headliners on Sunday included Jinger, Judas Priest, and Korn. Jinjer, a Ukranian Progressive Hardcore Metal band fronted by Tatiana Shmayluk, shattered the stage with screams and violent drums. Often touted as one of the best, Judas Priest brought a five-star performance with lights, smoke, and the skill that can only come with decades of experience. During Korn’s performance, the fans packed in tight, squeezing against the barricade, at one point causing the show to halt until everyone was safe. Those same fans shouted lyrics alongside Jonathan Davis and waiting for the beat to drop in “Freak On A Leash.” A concert that many waited all weekend for, Korn completed the day with an unbelievable performance leaving the crowd on a “metal high” as they left the park grounds, wet, muddy, fantastic memories in tow.
Overall, the rain and mud did very little to dampen the Louder Than Life Festival. You may hear a little different from Slayer fans who had to miss their favorite band due to inclement weather, but we were well cared for and got to experience over 100 bands at an event that could have been truly devastated by Hurricane Helene. Not only are the organizers true professionals, but they spared no expense in making the grounds pleasant and as dry as possible for the attendees. I was so impressed with Danny Wimmer's Presents Louder Than Life, I’m already on the lookout for my next one. And although I know we’d be taken care of, I’m just hoping for better weather next time around.
