how to go
What: X-Fest 2K9
Where: Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 1043 S. Main St., Dayton
When: Sunday, Sept. 13. Music begins at noon.
Cost: $30 in advance, $35 day of show
More info: (800) 745-3000 or www.xfestdayton.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
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BY DON THRASHER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Last year’s X-Fest was cut short due to Hurricane Ike, the aftereffects of which ripped through the area, scattering debris and upending trees.
Baring any fluke wind storms, the upcoming installment of the annual concert, hosted by WXEG-FM (103.9), should be a much smoother affair this time around.
X-Fest 2K9 hits Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 1043 S. Main St., Dayton, on Sunday, Sept. 13. The bill features Alice in Chains, Mudvayne, Our Lady Peace, Hollywood Undead, Cage the Elephant, Hurt, Red, Cavo, Sick Puppies and Halestorm on the two main stages.
Once again, Dayton-area bands selected during this summer’s Battle for X-Fest will perform on the local X stage. This year’s winners are Three Barrel, Chapter of Progress, Shamus Stone and Hollows End.
Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 day of show. For more information, call (800) 745-3000 or visit www.xfestdayton.com or www.livenation.com.
CONTACT contributing arts and music writer Don Thrasher at donaldthrasher8@aol.com.
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THE SCHEDULE
Frickers Stage
Halestorm: 12:05 to 12:30 p.m.
Cavo: 1:05 to 1:35 p.m.
Hurt: 2:15 to 2:50 p.m.
Hollywood Undead: 3:40 to 4:20 p.m.
Mudvayne: 5:25 to 6:25 p.m.
Subway Stage
Sick Puppies: 12:35 to 1 p.m.
Red: 1:40 to 2:10 p.m.
Cage the Elephant: 2:55 to 3:35 p.m.
Our Lady Peace: 4:25 to 5:20 p.m.
Alice in Chains: 6:30 to 7:40 p.m.
Local X Stage
Hollow’s End: 12:15 to 12:35 p.m.
Shamus Stone: 1:20 to 1:40 p.m.
Chapter of Progress: 2:10 to 2:30 p.m.
Three Barrel: 3:35 to 3:55 p.m.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
All patrons attending X-Fest 2K9 are subject to a security inspection of purses, fanny packs, jackets and clothing for the following prohibited items:
■ Wallet chains longer than 6 inches
■ Backpacks or large purses
■ Weapons of any kind
■ Knives of any size
■ Contraband of any kind
■ Spiked necklaces/belts/bracelets (studded are OK)
■ Pets (exception: guide dogs)
■ Recording devices of any kind (audio or video)
■ Cameras of any kind (exception: cell phones)
■ Umbrellas
■ Coolers
■ Bottles
■ Cans
■ Laser pointers
■ Chairs
■ Alcohol
■ Any item may be refused at the sole discretion of X-Fest staff. Return prohibited items to your car or dispose of them before reaching the gate. The staff won’t hold any item for concertgoers.
KEEP IT CLEAN
The X-Fest organizers are stressing the importance of keeping the area free of trash during and after the event, that goes for the fairgrounds, parking lot and the surrounding neighborhoods. Concertgoers are encouraged to use the trash bins and recycling containers onsite.
SAFETY FIRST
Moshing and crowd surfing is strictly prohibited at X-Fest so avoid the urge. Those participating in these activities are subject to ejection from the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.
how to go
What: X-Fest 2K9
Where: Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 1043 S. Main St., Dayton
When: Sunday, Sept. 13. Music begins at noon.
Cost: $30 in advance, $35 day of show
More info: (800) 745-3000 or www.xfestdayton.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
THE BANDS
Alice in Chains
The hopes of an Alice in Chains reunion seemed dashed with the death of original vocalist Layne Staley in 2002. However, in the world of rock ’n’ roll, no one is irreplaceable. The chart-topping pseudo-grunge band was revived by founding member Jerry Cantrell and new singer William DuVall. “Black Gives Way to Blue,” the first new album in 10 years by Alice in Chains, will be released by Virgin Records on Sept. 29.
Mudvayne
Since forming in Peoria, Ill., in 1996, this heavy metal combo has managed to score rock radio hits with challenging material. The group’s fifth studio album, “The New Game,” was released in November 2008. Once again the oddly named crew — Kud (vocals), sPaG (drums), Gurrg (guitar) and Ryknow (bass) — effectively balance dark themes and heavy riffs with strong melodies and undeniable emotion.
Our Lady Peace
Our Lady Peace, which formed in 1992, is on the road in support of its seventh and latest album, “Burn Burn.” This is the Toronto group’s first new release in four years and the first on its own label since parting ways with Columbia Records in 2006. While superstars in Canada, the group, led by Raine Maida, is more of a cult act that still receives some mainstream radio play in the United States.
Hollywood Undead
With names like Da Kurlzz, J-Dog, Charlie Scene, Deuce, Funny Man and Johnny 3 Tears, and a strange predilection for masks, it’s clear this Los Angeles act won’t be offering up bland music. Hollywood Undead cultivated a following on MySpace for several years before ever performing live. The group is touring in support of its debut album “Swan Songs,” which mixes punk, hip-hop and emo with a healthy sense of irreverence.
Cage the Elephant
Bowling Green, Ky, isn’t a hotbed of international rock stars, but that didn’t stop brothers Matt (vocals) and Brad Schultz (guitar) from harboring dreams of taking their music to the masses. And, the siblings are on the way to doing just that with the group’s self-titled debut, which has enjoyed chart success in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Hurt
With a name like Hurt, one would expect emotional music with introspective themes and that is certainly the case with J. Loren Wince and his Los Angeles-based cohorts. The group’s latest album, “Goodbye to the Machine,” the follow-up to 2007’s “Vol. 2,” was released in April and features powerful cuts such as “Wars” and “World Ain’t Right.”
Red
Nashville-based rockers Red spent several years supporting its debut album, “End of Silence,” after its release by Essential Records in 2006. Red signed with Epic Records in 2007 and began touring nationally after the label re-released the album later that year. The new album, “Innocence & Instinct,” was released in February and finds the road-tested outfit in top form.
Cavo
It took nine years of slugging it out in the trenches, but leader Casey Walker finally got his major label debut with “Bright Nights, Dark Days,” the new album from his band Cavo. The St. Louis act, rounded out by Chris Hobbs (guitar), Chad La Roy (drums) and Brian Smith (bass), is supporting the Reprise Records release with heavy touring.
Sick Puppies
Founding members Shimon Moore (vocals, guitar) and Emma Anzai (bass) began their careers in Australia, but their trio Sick Puppies has called Los Angeles home for several years now. In 2006, Sick Puppies became one of the first acts to go viral on YouTube with the “Free Hugs” video clip. The group’s new album, “Tri-Polar” was released by Virgin Records on July 14 and reached No. 31 on the Billboard album charts.
Halestorm
Halestorm formed in Red Lion, Penn., in 1998 when the Hale siblings, Lzzy (vocals, guitar) and AreJay (drums), were still precocious tweens. After years of club work, the group released its self-titled Atlantic Records debut on April 28 and hasn’t looked back. Years of incessant touring helped the album full of hook-heavy hard rock songs debut at number 40 on Billboard’s Top 40 album chart.