The Aftershock festival was held October 22nd and 23rd in Sacramento, California. Roughly 46,000 people attended the sold-out weekend. It was moved from Gibson Ranch County Park back to its original location at Discovery Park. There were three stages during the festival, including acts such as Tool, Primus, Korn, Slayer, Anthrax, Avenged Sevenfold, and Disturbed. In addition to music, Juxtapose Magazine, Hellrzzr and Montana created a Make Your Mark space where local Sacramento artists including Wel Sed, El Mike, Shaun Burner, Franceska Gamez, and Jared Tharp painted murals throughout the weekend.
When the music started, especially for some of the heavier bands, like Korn, Slayer and Meshuggah, the crowd writhed and heaved, and pushed and shoved. At one point, there were several mosh pits going at once. Daring music fans, including a man in a wheelchair, crowd surfed during Primus’s set. Les Claypool, of Primus, played the electric upright bass during the song, “Mr. Krinkle”, which sounded like metal circus music. The band teased the crowd, riffing on Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” during their song “Too Many Puppies.”
Maynard James Keenan, the singer for Tool, stepped out of the spotlight and was lit in silhouette during the band’s set even though singers stereotypically like the spotlight. Puscifer had a wrestling ring and wrestlers on stage. The singers got in the ring while performing. Korn got wild, with the guitarist smashing his instrument at the end of their set. Probably the most metal part of the weekend would be a guy proposing to his girlfriend on stage with the help of Avenged Sevenfold, and she did say yes!
Will you say “yes” to coming to Aftershock next year?
Words and Photos: Anouk Nexus.