AS DARKNESS DIES
GUNHOUSE HILL
MAMMOTHOR
BIG HOUSE PETE
HELLEN KELLA
BONFIRE
IMPENDING REFLECTIONS
BULLETHEAD
DEAD BY WEDNESDAY
LONE WOLF JAMES
LEAVING EDEN

June 17, 2016
Laconiafest
Lacnonia, New Hampshire

One more day in Laconia, and the weather was beautiful, blue skies and bright sun and motorcycles everywhere! This was day 7 of 9 days of music and more at the Weirs Beach Drive In, a new music festival that runs during the Laconia Motorcycle Week, and today was one I have been looking forward to, The Great Gonzo, The Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent!

But before Uncle Ted hits the stage, there are quite a few bands that will be taking the main stage throughout the day more bands from throughout New England and beyond.

The gates opened a bit later than they did on Thursday and the crowds weren’t really there yet, like the day before at this time, only a few dozen people hanging around, die hard fans and friends of the bands coming up.

The day started off with a AC/DC cover/tribute (still not sure what to call these bands) band from Vermont, called Bon/Fire, they play music from AC/DC’s Bon Scott era. The lead singer sounds great and their Angus, other than the fact he is about 6 foot tall and blonde hair, he was great all over the stage and at one point out in the crowd.

Bon/Fire

One of the bands that had put in multiple appearances during the week was next, Impending Reflections. I am still impressed that this is a father and son creation, and the influences of both generations can be felt in their music.

Impending Reflections

Lone Wolf James. I have seen these guys before covering shows in New Hampshire, with a rabid New Hampshire following that came out to see these men play. To be honest, I wasn’t all that impressed the last time I saw them. It may have been an off nite for them that time, because they really tore it up this day.

Lone Wolf James

After Lone Wolf James, was Blind Side Thunder.

Mammothor… Another Boston area band. Piqued my interest when the bassist showed up on stage with a wrestling mask on.

Mammothor

Big House Pete is a band out of Pennsylvania, a three piece outfit that really kicked some ass. Great sound and put their hearts into it. I recommend checking out this band.

Big House Pete

Hellen Kella, what to say about these boys, another band from Boston, with a definite Rage Against the Machine influence to them. Very energetic and all over the stage. Good set.

Hellen Kella

This is where the Connecticut bands started hitting the stage, first up was an outfit called As Darkness Dies. These guys were good, with a solid turnout by some of their most ardent supporters. A solid heavy metal band that has influences in their music of New Wave of British Heavy Metal.

As Darkness Dies

The Connecticut bands continued with a technical problem plagued set by Dead by Wednesday. The downside of sharing equipment on a strange stage, is that sometimes the equipment gives out, as evidenced by their set. The down side was definitely the time lost by the band to showcase some more stuff off their new album “Darkest of Angels” One of the best bands on the Connecticut scene now.

Dead by Wednesday

Just about a year ago, I covered “Party in the Pasture” up in Maine, and one of the bands I saw there that really impressed me by their great tunes and huge stage presence was Gunhouse Hill. A solid performance by these guys. I really hope they do make down into this neck of the woods soon, I really don’t feel like driving to Maine to see them.

Gunhouse Hill

Bullethead is another Boston band playing Laconiafest, Another CD added to the collection. Nice bunch of guys with a hard rock feel and a good stage presence. These guys have seen the best and worst of Laconiafest, having been here the whole week.

Bullethead

It was getting close, one more band and then who the growing crowd was waiting for, Uncle Ted.

Leaving Eden

Leaving Eden, has been playing every day all week long and they still had the energy to put on another great set. There is just something about listening to screaming guitars, pounding drums and throbbing bass all set to a female voice. Leaving Eden is another Boston band, all over the stage and even into the crowd. One of the most popular of the indie bands I have seen the last 2 days.