Attending the debut sick new world las vegas festival was, admittedly, met with some apprehension from friends and colleagues. A metal and rock festival held in Las Vegas during May? The heat was a predictable and formidable challenge, inherent to the desert location. Despite knowing the high temperatures were inevitable, the excitement for the event, the opportunity to connect with the metal community, make new friends, and witness incredible bands – some for the first time, others after many years – was palpable and outweighed the concerns.
My trip to Las Vegas began with an early arrival a few days prior, allowing time to prepare and offset the city’s notorious costs. A crucial stop was Mariana’s Supermarket, a local gem offering everything needed, including an outstanding in-store restaurant serving the best Asada Birria soft tacos I’ve ever tasted. This local culinary find was a perfect start, blending practical needs with a taste of local flavor before diving into the festival atmosphere.
I connected with the Ghost Cult team covering the event – photographer Kim Hansen and fellow writer Matthew Kochek. We shared a meal and then ventured out for a fantastic pre-festival show featuring Stabbing Westward and The Birthday Massacre at Brooklyn Bowl. The venue was impressive, and Stabbing Westward delivered an amazing performance, setting a high bar for the weekend’s music.
Saturday morning arrived early, filled with anticipation. Hydration and preparation were key to facing the expected heat. Media check-in was surprisingly smooth, a positive sign that held true for the entire festival staff. Their professionalism and efficiency were standout points, marking one of the best event staff interactions I’ve experienced.
Navigating the Festival Grounds and Initial Sets
The festival layout at the Las Vegas Fairgrounds created a surreal backdrop, surrounded by the iconic “Vegas-ness.” While the grounds were extensive, which made connecting with friends challenging, it allowed for space. Despite the spread, the staff was consistently excellent and professional, making the logistical aspects as smooth as possible under the circumstances.
Arriving early paid off, catching Scowl on the “Sick” stage. This DIY punk band did not disappoint, proving why they are among the best in the genre today. The early attendees showed their dedication, singing along and creating a vibrant atmosphere right from the start.
The rest of the day became a strategic mission to catch as many desired bands as possible, a challenge with slightly overlapping schedules across four stages. Seeing Cold for the first time in years was impressive, with fans singing along to hits and appreciating the deep cuts. Scooter Ward demonstrated why he’s considered one of heavy music’s best vocalists.
A quick dash allowed catching the end of P.O.D.’s set. Their incredible stage presence and hit-filled performance whipped the crowd into a frenzy. A special moment was Jinjer’s Tati joining them for the closing track “Alive,” showcasing how veteran bands lead by example.
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While the stage proximity on the main stages was good, the distance to the side stages was a drawback, requiring significant walking in the heat. Some fans noted stage sound bleeding, though this is a common festival issue often related to scheduling overlaps.
Mid-Day Highlights and Press Tent Relief
After brief glimpses of Narrowhead and Lacy Sturm’s return with Flyleaf, I made sure to catch most of Soulfly’s set. Max Cavalera remains a commanding frontman, and it was great to see the crowd responding enthusiastically, including newer fans likely discovering his work beyond Sepultura.
A visit to the press tent offered a much-needed escape from the heat. The area was comfortable, low-key, and well-stocked with water and snacks, fostering a sense of camaraderie among media members. Conducting interviews with members of Scowl and Cold highlighted the relaxed and professional organization backstage.
The next few hours were a blur of darting between stages. Lacuna Coil brought excellent daytime goth vibes. The reunited Coal Chamber delivered one of the most anticipated sets, proving incredible live with huge crowd response and the biggest mosh pits outside the main stages. Stabbing Westward followed with an uptempo, heavy set on the Spiral Stage, equally impactful as their headline show the previous night.
Catching Kittie after over a decade was a delight. While fans love their ’90s nu-metal hits, their evolution into blackened groove metal in the early 2000s is notable. Playing a crushing new song, “Vultures,” showed they are still evolving.
Technical Glitches and Merch Frustration
I made sure not to miss Melvins, curious how their distinctive sludge metal would fare in broad daylight. Buzz Osborne’s custom tunic must have been sweltering, but the band delivered an inspired set nonetheless, unaffected by the challenging conditions.
Sevendust, typically flawless live, unfortunately suffered a power outage two and a half songs into their set, along with two other stages. Despite waiting, the power didn’t return in time for them to continue, a disappointing technical issue that plagued several bands throughout the day.
Hoping for a break to grab merch, I encountered one of the festival’s major flaws: incredibly long lines. Standing for 30 minutes under the sun with little movement in the humongous merch line was frustrating. For approximately 65,000 fans, only two artist merch areas were insufficient. More, smaller areas are needed for better flow and access. This logistical failure meant I didn’t purchase any band merchandise.
Anticipated Performances and Cooling Down
After power was restored, I saw Filter play some new material and hits before heading to Spiritbox. They were easily one of the most anticipated bands, and many first-time viewers were blown away. Spiritbox is significantly more powerful and brutally heavy live than on recordings, demonstrating immense potential.
The earlier power outage caused delays, impacting stage schedules as the day approached its hottest point. Continuous hydration, facilitated by personal water packs and the festival’s excellent free water distribution points, was essential. After a spirited set from Turnstile, I retreated to the press tent to cool down, conduct interviews with Kittie and Sunny from P.O.D., and briefly interact with the new lineup of FEVER333.
Energized again, I managed to catch a slightly delayed Mr. Bungle (hilarious and punk rock) and one of Skinny Puppy’s final, dominating performances on the Spiral Stage. Seeing them again after so many years deliver such a strong set was a highlight. I also caught parts of Incubus’s hit-heavy radio rock set, meeting a fan who attended solely for them. Brief glimpses of FEVER333, HEALTH, and Prayers on the Sick Stage rounded out some of the later afternoon/early evening sets.
The Main Event: Headliners Deliver
A crucial mistake was trying to get close for Deftones too late, resulting in being stuck in a dense crowd unable to move for three hours. While the sightline was decent, the crowd crush was uncomfortable. Deftones delivered an incredibly long, stellar set of hits and deep cuts. As the sun set and temperatures dropped, the atmosphere improved, although the band had to repeatedly ask the crowd to back up due to pressure at the front.
Seeing Stephen Carpenter back with Deftones added to the performance. Chino’s vocals captivated the crowd, and the set closed with a powerful selection of deep, old-school heavy tracks, much appreciated by dedicated fans.
Korn followed Deftones with a phenomenal, possibly record-breaking, two-hour-plus set. They were operating at peak performance, particularly Jonathan Davis and drummer Ray Luzier, whose solo was spectacular. Davis’s glittery tracksuit was a nod to the nu-metal origins celebrated by the festival. Korn’s decades-spanning career and vast catalog of quality music were evident as they powered through track after track. It felt impossible for any band to top their energy and endurance.
However, the most anticipated act for many was System Of A Down. For fans who had never seen them or hadn’t since their early days, SOAD held immense mystery. They lived up to the hype with an especially fiery set, exploding with “Prison Song” and playing many songs not heard live in years, a treat for devoted followers. Serj Tankian commanded the stage, and the band appeared to be enjoying themselves, dispelling rumors of internal friction.
Highlights of the System Of A Down set included fan favorites like “Soil,” “Darts,” “BYOB,” “Genocidal Humanoidz,” “Deer Dance,” “Chop Suey,” “Toxicity,” and “Sugar.” The crowd was completely captivated by every note and movement.
Key Takeaways from sick new world las vegas
Making my way to the exit before the final acts, I could still hear the headliners echoing across the grounds. Despite being exhausted and missing Sisters of Mercy and Cradle of Filth, the overriding feeling was one of satisfaction. The sick new world las vegas experience, while challenging at times, was largely positive.
Pros of sick new world las vegas
- Incredible Lineup: A diverse and hard-to-top roster of bands across multiple genres within rock and metal.
- Unlimited Re-entry: A game-changer for festivals, offering flexibility and breaks from the elements.
- Free Water: Excellent provision of free water, crucial for combating the extreme heat.
- Community Vibe: A strong sense of camaraderie among fans and bands, truly feeling like a family reunion.
- Professional Staff: Exceptionally well-organized and helpful staff across all areas, from media check-in to general assistance.
Cons of sick new world las vegas
- Extreme Heat: Holding the event in May in Las Vegas is a significant challenge. A cooler month would greatly improve comfort.
- Logistical Issues: Overlapping bands and stage distances required constant trekking. A two-day format might alleviate this and potential scheduling conflicts.
- Food Options: While some vendors were decent, the overall food selection felt lacking for a major event in a city known for its culinary scene. VIP and artist catering were reportedly better, but general admission options needed improvement.
- Merchandise Areas: The scarcity of merch booths led to excessively long lines. More, smaller vendor areas are needed for better accessibility and to manage crowds.
- Crowd Navigation: Better defined pathways and potentially more security could help manage crowd flow, especially around main stages, ensuring smoother navigation and ADA access without crowding.
Conclusion
Despite the heat and some logistical hurdles, the debut sick new world las vegas festival was a remarkable experience. The strength of the lineup, the palpable sense of community, and the unforgettable performances from legendary bands made it a must-attend event for fans of this era of heavy music. It was a day of intense music, shared passion, and overcoming the elements together.
If you’re a fan of the featured genres and can brave the heat, the sick new world las vegas festival offers a unique opportunity to see an incredible collection of artists in one place. We look forward to seeing how this festival evolves in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions About sick new world las vegas
Q: Was the sick new world las vegas festival very hot?
A: Yes, the festival was held in May in Las Vegas, which is a desert climate, resulting in extremely high temperatures throughout the day. Hydration was essential.
Q: How was the overall organization of the sick new world las vegas event?
A: The festival staff were excellent and professional. However, there were challenges with stage distances, overlapping set times, and insufficient merchandise booths leading to long lines.
Q: Which bands were considered highlights at sick new world las vegas?
A: System of a Down, Korn, and Deftones delivered powerful headlining sets. Other standout performances mentioned included Coal Chamber, Spiritbox, Soulfly, and Stabbing Westward, among many others.
Q: Were there any technical issues at sick new world las vegas?
A: Yes, there was a significant power outage on several stages which cut short Sevendust’s set and caused delays for others. Some bands also experienced minor PA difficulties.