Rockville Wrap-up: A Fans Perspective

Article by Preston Hooks

Strap in, folks, because we’re talking Rockville high points, and across four days packed with sets, that’s a lot to cover. The four-day superfest concluded Sunday night in Daytona Beach with a mind-blowing performance from My Chemical Romance. A band many have hoped to see live over the last 15 years, there have been limited opportunities due to their hiatus from 2013 to 2019. Since reuniting, My Chemical Romance has returned for a handful of runs, giving fans new chances to see them live again. Arguably, though, there are few stages in North America bigger for rock and metal acts than the Rockville stage.

MCR did not disappoint, carrying the Sunday headliner slot and delivering a set that included the entirety of The Black Parade. The performance was elevated by fantastic and at times comical theatrics and banter from frontman Gerard Way, who has cemented his legacy as a top tier performer well before this past weekend.

Another notable set featuring a full album was A Day to Remember’s surprise set Saturday at the Kona Big Wave Bar. The guys in ADTR delivered a full playthrough of For Those Who Have Heart. Due to the surprise nature of the set and the small temporary stage setup, the crowd was much smaller and more intimate than their Sunday night set. The energy was no different though, with a massive mosh pit and row upon row of crowd surfers.

Oh boy though did that Sunday night set from A Day to Remember deliver. Opening with their classic kickoff The Downfall of Us All, they played a setlist that spanned their entire career, giving fans of every era something to enjoy. This was by far one of the best crowds I have ever been in for an ADTR set. Plenty of space, great pits, and amazing energy throughout.

I unfortunately had to experience one of the few drawbacks of Welcome to Rockville leaving to attend the conflicting Whitechapel set. To their credit Rockville did a great deal of schedule shuffling to keep bands playing despite weather stoppages. Furthermore with a lineup that large, overlap is inevitable otherwise not everyone would fit.

Speaking of Whitechapel, there was a laundry list of brutally heavy bands that delivered standout performances this weekend. Slaughter to Prevail performed twice, with frontman Alex Terrible even competing in a bare knuckle boxing match between sets. Paleface Swiss traveled across the pond for one of the most exciting sets I have seen from a newer band in quite a while. Parkway Drive played their only United States date and did so with full production. Meanwhile Lorna Shore continued their long running wave of success, adding this Rockville performance to an already extensive list of major festival appearances.

Perhaps one of if not the most notable headliner sets of the festival belonged to Bring Me the Horizon. Hot off a sold out show at Madison Square Garden and the release of their SÃO PAULO L.I.V.E. concert film, the BMTH crew blasted the Rockville crowd for more than an hour and a half with heavy tracks and singalongs spanning most of their discography. Add in an incredible story driven stage show and even a banana singing Antivist and it was pure chaos in the best way.

But do not let the love shown for My Chemical Romance and Bring Me the Horizon make you think the other headliners fell short, that is simply not the case. Guns N Roses delivered a three hour set full of classic jams and soaring solos that made a lifelong dream come true for this writer. Foo Fighters were exactly that, Foo Fighters. There is a reason, an excellent one, why they have built a reputation as one of the most fun and consistently exciting live bands of the last 30 years. It was gritty, fast, and pure rock and roll.

There are still so many bands I could talk about. Hollywood Undead were a blast, Lamb of God were heavy and groovy and shook the crowd through the massive Rockville sound system, and Sleeping with Sirens had a crowd of grown adults feeling like they were back in their teenage years. Black Veil Brides crushed a condensed setlist before gracefully bowing out due to weather.

However there is so much more to a festival than just the bands on the lineup. There is food, art, and the fans themselves. Welcome to Rockville has historically not disappointed in these categories and this year was no different. From Island Noodles to Churros & Cream my personal favorite, there is something for every palate and after a long day in the sun that festival food hits like a freight train.

This year along with the last few has brought a large portion of the metal media world to Daytona Beach, giving fans a front row seat to SiriusXM Octane broadcasts, artist interviews, and special performances hosted by Kerrang!. This gathering also encourages artists to drop major news including new songs, upcoming albums, and tour announcements.
That is not the end of the fun though. With several bars featuring varying themes, karaoke at vendors like American Socks and the iHeartRadio Dive Bar, tarot card readings, fan group meetups, and campground parties, there is an endless supply of ways to keep the good times rolling.

As with many of my write ups, I will end this article with a nod to the hardworking people who make these shows happen. A major festival is hard. This year came with challenges especially weather related ones. By and large, the DWP staff were incredibly accommodating, rescheduling bands, constantly watching and updating fans on weather situations, and handling all the other moving parts needed to keep the small city of Welcome to Rockville running.

One thing that stands out above all and keeps me coming back is DWP’s commitment to improvement and interaction. Every festival, every concert, has something you could complain about. What makes a good promoter is the ability to listen and make changes to keep fans safe, comfortable, and happy.