Full Review Of Orlando’s Hops & Hogs Festival

 

The news of live music making a slow but steady return has begun to spread like wild fire recently.  Fans have begun to scour the internet with hopes of find out if their favorite bands could possibly make a stop in their towns.  With so many things changing over the last year, I believe one thing has been a constant in the minds of people across the world.  And that is the return of the concert experience.  Over the last couple months more and more news of festival dates and lineups have fans biting at the bit to hit the road.  Luckily for the music fans in and around Orlando, Hops & Hogs and the great team at Stage Left Entertainment would answer the call and delivered more than just a live entertainment experience.  As we pulled into the Central Florida Fairground, the line keeps a steady pace all the way through to our spots.  Walking across the field to the main gate, you had clear skies, breeze and just the right amount of sunshine making it the ideal day for an outdoor show.  After a quick stop through security you were immediately met by the site and sounds of local country station 103.1 The Wolf and the broadcast team of Florida Man Radio.  Making our way into the main food vender area the smells of freshly pulled pork, hibachi and even brick oven pizza fill the air.

This was the most diverse and satisfying collection of food options I’ve ever seen at a show.  And then there’s the beverage choices.  Aside from your standard options, Hops & Hobs CraftCorral would have a large selection of IPA’s and craft beer from around the country.  In the middle of the city of food trucks, you could find the refreshing oasis of the Monster Energy tent with their helpful staff and wide option of flavors.  Monster Energy would be the sponsors of todays event and in typical fashion would enhanced the concert experience in their own unique way.  The Hops & Hogs VIP experience would allow you catch all the bands from the comfort of your very own couch in a private siting area.  In addition to prime viewing contentment, you also had your own private access to the bar area.  Because who really wants to stand in a long line to grab a drink right?

 

It wouldn’t be long before the herd of music loves would funnel down towards the stage area.  The show officially kicks off as the energetic MC Stephen Pond greets the crowd to a rousing ovation.  Soon he introduces the first act of the day with south Florida’s hard hitting Grin Cynic. Getting the crowd going and engaged is never easy especially when opening up a show.  But Grin Cynic lit the fuse and set off the Hops & Hogs Festival to an explosive start.  Hands down the heaviest act on the bill.  The band had the fans head banging and throwing up devils horns in approval from the first notes of “Stealing Time”.  Their sound is rich and powerful with hypnotic melodies and crushing riffs with songs like “Fly High“, “Joke” and “Hold On“.  For all the Led Zeppelin fans in attendance the band would knock out a great cover of “No Quarter” and transition into a medley of Rage Against The Machines iconic “Killing In The Name Of” right into the mighty Metallica’s “Sad But True“.  Thanks to their high energy stage presence and solid setlist Mike Lee, Kevin Corrigan, Sean Young and Rafael Lambardo won the crowd over.  The bands newest album II is available on all streaming platforms so download your copy.

Next we’d have Indiana singer/song writer Brett Wiscons.  Brett has been a staple in the Hops & Hogs lineup since 2019 and for good reason.  His soulful voice, moving lyrics and soothing work on the acoustic guitar makes him a commodity for any stage.  Brett would launch his set with an upbeat tune about a girl with “SarAZona” off his 2016 album The Heineken Sessions.  Half way through his set, Brett would serve up killer renditions of Pearl Jams iconic “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town” and Tonic’s “If You Could Only See“.  But it would be his own music that would win over the fans.  Brett’s drinking anthem “Tip Me In Tequila” and his hit song “Late Bloomer” would be the crowd favorites of his set.  Brett Wiscons aside from being an incredibly talented musician is also very engaging.  After his set, he had passed by all the photographers and apologized for not jumping around and making it fun to shoot.  So to make up for it he opted to be do a jumping heel touch which we all jumped at the chance to shoot.  Brett Wiscons is planning a new album but needs our help.  Check out his Kickstarter campaign and lets help him get this album off the ground.

 

Making their first appearance at Hops & Hogs are the hard rockers from Los Angeles Moon Fever.  With their new hit single “Cocaine” leading the charge of their time on stage, Moon Fever had the crowd under their control.  Right out of the gate the bands energy and charisma had impossible to ignore.  Singer Cody Jasper has everything you could want in a front man as he captivated the crowd with every word and movement.  The guitar duo of Mitch Micoley and Will Travis produced those crunchy riffs, catchy hooks and of course those memorizing solos.  Songs like “Cheap Thrills“, “Medicine Man” and the closer “Lost and Found” supplied the steady flow of rock & roll throughout Moon Fever’s set.  But tracks like “Undertaker” and “Shaking Off the Evil” showed a slightly lighter side of the bands writing efforts.  Even though those strayed slightly from the rest of the set, these songs showed range and the audiences reaction was just as strong and sincere.

Hailing from Burlington, North Carolina, Jive Mother Mary would bring their blend of southern rock influence to the stage.  “Look At Me Now” would lead things off with its catchy opening riff and addictive chorus line.  A constant through out the bands time on stage would be warm vintage tones, a high level of intensity and singer Mason Keck’s amazingly powerful range and soulfulness in his voice.  With a similar register to The Black Crowes Chris Robinson, Mason’s vocals were full and traveled long and far around the Orlando Amphitheater.  “The Long Odds” is a vivacious track  off the bands 2019 record of the same name.  Keck and guitarist Tyler Schulz worked perfectly off each other with their back and forth riffing to meeting up and feeding off the energy from one another.  During “Save My Soul” Mason Keck got up close and personal with the fans as well as the photographers up front as he made his way to the edge of the stage, pointed his Gibson ES to the sky and just ripped an amazing guitar solo for all to see and hear. In the midst of their killer set, Jive Mother Mary break out a stellar cover of Pink Floyd’s “Have A Cigar” to the delight of the crowd.  Mason Keck, Tyler Schulz, Seth Aldridge and Keith Ingalls are a solid group of musicians and really stole the show here today.  The bands newest album 8 Tracks is out now on all platforms so make sure to check it out!

By this time the news of stormy weather had begun to circulate.  But what would a music festival be without some rain.  With the sun still shining the members of Saving Abel begin to take the stage, and they would surely bring the thunder before the storm.  As the band gets the blood flowing with their quick intro jam, singer Scott Austin appears and grabs the mic from its stand and asks the crowd “Are you here for some rock & roll?!”.Before the cheers and applause can fade drummer Steve Pulley four counts the band into the raucous “New Tattoo” off the bands 2008 self-titledalbum.  During the track “Contagious” Saving Abel surprised the fans by throwing in a couple verses from Bill Idols “White Wedding“, getting thecrowd riled up.  As “You Make Me Sick” starts to unfold, the slow but steady rains still floats through the air while the crew start to tarp all the gear on stage.  Closing out a monstrous 10 song set, the band would end it with their chart burning single “Addicted” making the audience roar with applause.  Saving Abel’s talent was on full display through their set.  Wether it be lead guitarist Scott Bartlett solos soaring from the stage, the one two rhythmic punch of guitarist Jason Null and bassist Scott Wilson, the thunderous drumming of Steve Pulley or the charismatic front man Scott Austin as he worked the crowd like a true showman.

Little did we all know, but Saving Abel would be the last act to grace the stage that day.  Reports of a rain storm had been known and prepared for from early on in the day.  But what no one could have known was that a microburst would tear through the fair grounds, uprooting vender tents and sending dirt and debris flying through the air.  Fans were directed to seek shelter in a conference building on the grounds and wait out the storm.  A huge amount of recognition needs to go to Nick Abate of Stage Left Entertainment and his entire team.  They worked fast and instinctively to get everyone to safety as quickly as possible and because of these efforts there was not a single injury was reported.  After the dust had literally settled, fans began to emerge and immediately took notice that some were still in need of help.  Even though this was a fairground filled with strangers and without expectation or compensation, these same strangers came together to lend a hand to those in a time of need.

Despite not being able to catch Brett Scallions, Yacht Rocks Review and headliner Sugar Ray for obvious reason, Hops & Hogs in my opinion was a success.  This was the first large scale concert let alone festival to be put on in the city since the pandemic and itbrought both live music and its fans back together again.  All day you could hear conversations about the last show people had seen before the shutdown or how much they’ve needed to get some live music in their life.  People had smiles on their faces as they watched the show stacked with a terrific lineup while a cold drink in their hand.  Music lovers brought their significant others and some had even made it a family event, because how many things can bring people together like music can?  Something else that caught my attention was that members from all five bands that performed could been seen walking around greeting fans taking pictures and signing autographs after their sets.  The personal engagement is something that every fan wants to experience with their favorite musicians there was plenty of that to go around.

For all those who attended the show.  Nick Abate has made an announcement on the Hops & Hogs Facebook page regrading ticket roll over options for either the upcoming Dirty Heads Orlando Vacation on July 24th at the Orlando Amphitheater or the newly announced Hops & Hogs Festival in Charlotte, NC on September 4th & 5th at the Park Expo Center.  For ticket roll over information email Stage Left Entertainment at info@stageleft-usa.com .  Don’t forget about Stage Left Entertainments upcoming Rebel Rock and Warlando Festivals coming in September as well as Hops & Hogs Festival in Charlotte!