Well, I started to write this post at about Midnight last night (Saturday), but I was watching my team fall asleep as they were editing the pictures from the fest so we decided to call it a night and get up in the morning to have this for you.

Day two of Red Letter Rock Fest 2009 was a full day of music. We had a lot more to do, and a lot of stuff to cover in a very short amount of time. Like I mentioned before, we had all access passes, so we were able to walk around where ever we liked, and it made the experience very rich. Everybody needs to understand that putting the festivals on is not easy work, there are hundreds of people that make it happen minute to minute. If you are reading this and you know Reid or Cody, give them a hug next time you see them, because they need it after this weekend..

Anyway, on to the music. The day started off with new comers Stars Go Dim. Well, I say new comers, but the band features members of both Pillar and rapcore band Justified. They don’t really recreate the sound of their former bands though, and instead go for the alternative/emotional sound captured by band like Matchbox 20 and Third Eye Blind. If you are into those bands, then you may really dig Stars Go Dim, and they seemed to get a pretty good response despite being brand new to the fest.

The White Collar Sideshow took the stage next, and oh man, I dont think anybody knew what to expect. The White Collar Sideshow isnt a band as much as a production, a show that is meant to express the visions of ring leader T Benten. They play saw blades, wear masks, and in general really push the boundaries of any audiences imagination. We did an interview with these guys, so Im not going to say much more about them (the pictures speak for themselves), but I do want to say that this crew are some of the nicest, coolest, most sold out for God people that I have met in a long time. You will be reading a lot about these guys in days to come.

Next up was Tooth & Nail pop/goth punks Children 18:3 These guys were awesome! These guys were one hundred percent the entire time they were on stage, they never stopped moving! Their music was fast and loud, but still very happy and carefree. The crowd loved them, and they made a new fan out of me.

Stage two lit up as the guitars rang out from Children 18:3, and revealed the festivals mystery performer, who ended up being hip-hop main man KJ-52. I love KJ, and I have been listening to him for a long time. The crowd really loved him, but I was a little frustrated that this extremely talent emcee didn’t seem to really play a song, but instead played beat after beat to get the crowd moving. Im not hatin’, just wanted to hear “The Hard Way”, call me sentimental.

Decyfer Down destroyed the speakers with their high octane hard rock for the next thirty minutes. I have never seen these guys before, but I understand why I hear about their show so often. Eve though this style of heavy music isn’t my cup of tea, I tip my hat to the band for knowing their audience, and keeping the energy high from moment one.

The show I was looking forward to the most was Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster, and they did not disappoint. Heavy, southern, and a whole lot of fun! One of the funnier moments was when virtually every member of the band would walk down into the crowd and just casually walk around, still playing their instrument. Their bassist was down on the floor for almost two songs!

Haste The Day brought the mosh, as they were the most hardcore band on the line-up. Their real talent lies in their ability to blend soaring ,melodies with brutal breakdowns, and that dichotomy was not lost on their live show. The down-to-the-floor back bends from one of their guitarists was defiantly a sight to see as well (luckily we got pictures right).

Next up was Superchick. They have been around for ever, and they worked the stage like pros. I haven’t seen these guys in about 6 years, and they haven’t lost a step. I was also surprised that this younger crowd seemed to know almost ever word of this band’s songs. But then again, that is the power of Superchick!

Hard rock band RED hit the stage like a freight train. They were flawless, the vocalist’s voice was out of this world. In all reality, this band has had the most cross over success out of all the bands on the show, and after seeing a few songs, I understand why they are able to hit the road with bands like Staind and Seether, and hold their own. RED will be around for a long time…

At the end of RED, we snuck out to do one of our interviews, which ran pretty long, so I am sad to say that we missed the majority of  The Glorious Unseen‘s progressive take on Praise & Worship. They blend a lot of more modern elements into their worship music, and it was really refreshing, even if it was just for a few minutes, to close my eyes and hear 800 kids sings praises at the top of their lungs.
Directly after, Kevin Kirkland spoke to the crowd and shared God’s word. Giving a nice break in the music, and reminding us why we were all there to begin with.

Fan favorite Hawk Nelson hit the stage around around 7:30 with their fun blend of pop-rock. Despite their size (they are kind of little dudes, and after seeing the six man team of Maylene, four guys just didnt seem to fill up the stage), Hawk Nelson had the crowd’s heart from note one. massive sing-alongs, big guitars, and lots of fun ensued. Good job guys.

Headliner Skillet wore their experience on their sleeves, and rolled in with pyrotechnics, hydrological lifts, and a amazing girl drummer. They mixed up the song list well, playing songs from virtually every record, along with a brand new song called “Monster”. Great light show, great stage performance, and Skillet left the crowd exhausted but happy.

If you are reading us for the first time because you either met us at the festival or took a sticker, you will agree that Red Letter Rock Fest was a lot of fun. As far as I am aware, nobody got hurt, and every performance was something that people will remeber all year. I say all because, of course, everybody read this should go to Red Letter Rock Fest next year. You wont regret it, in fact it may spoil you. All the other summer festivals may just not seem the same….