After five years as a two day music festival featuring mostly 80s era Heavy Metal, Grand RockTember VI’s organizers elected to expand to a three day festival. Judging by Friday’s sparse crowd size, their decision looks ill-advised. The amphitheater appeared to be at 25% capacity with plenty of room in adjacent parking slots and the campground. The problem may lie in the absence of a definitive headlining draw for any of the nights.
Friday was no exception. After organizers failed to secure Ratt as the headliner, they elected to bring in five time participant Scrap Metal as the headliner. Normally they’re a nostalgia act to fill an afternoon time slot. The self-proclaimed “rock and roll rat pack” are comprised of varying artists from Arena Rock bands created by Gunnar and Matthew Nelson of Nelson and Mark Slaughter. This year’s guest artists Barry Goudreau (Boston) and Lita Ford made for an unusually weak set that wasn’t up to the headlining challenge.
By the sounds of things, Don Dokken was also set to be a guest artist as well, but apparently some negotiations took place which brought George Lynch (in town to play with Lynch Mob) on board to participate in an impromptu headlining set from Dokken. The rumors of this reunion circulated throughout the day, but it was still surreal to see the Dokken logo backdrop raised on stage and see Lynch hit the stage with his old band mates.
Anyone who has seen Dokken recently knows that Don’s vocal range no longer includes the high notes he’s best known for. Setting aside that glaring shortcoming, this special show was all about Lynch sinking his teeth into Dokken classics. He was extraordinarily animated and loose during the nostalgic ten song set of Lynch era tunes. He genuinely appeared to be having a great time even when he screwed up.
Earlier in the day, Kix, Winger and Stryper each had an opportunity for an hour long set. Kix took the opportunity to play Blow My Fuse in its entirety to support the release of a remastered version of the album due out later this year. Kip Winger brought the dual axe attack version of his band to metalize his classics and Stryper ditched most of the yellow and black attire and focused on the music.
Dokken setlist
Kiss of Death / The Hunter / Don’t Close Your Eyes / Into the Fire / Dream Warriors / Breaking the Chains / Alone Again / Just Got Lucky / In My Dreams / Tooth and Nail
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
4:00 P.M. – VAIN
5:15 P.M. – ERIC MARTIN FROM MR. BIG
6:40 P.M. – GREAT WHITE
8:05 P.M. – SKID ROW
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
4:00 P.M. – CHRIS HAWKEY
5:10 P.M. – KIX
6:30 P.M. – WINGER
8:00 P.M. – STRYPER
9:30 P.M. – SCRAP METAL
Gunnar & Mathew Nelson, Barry Goudreau (Boston), Don Dokken (Dokken), George Lynch (Dokken), Wild Mick Brown (Dokken), Jon Levin (Dokken), Chris McCarvill (Dokken), and Lita Ford. Set will also Feature: Mark Holt, Gary Corbett, Mike Vanderhule, and Howie Simon
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
3:00 P.M. – HERICANE ALICE
4:10 P.M. – TUFF
5:20 P.M. – AUTOGRAPH
6:30 P.M. – LYNCH MOB
7:50 P.M. – QUEENSRYCHE
9:20 P.M. – TESLA
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