Aftershock Festival took over Discovery Park in Sacramento on October 21st and 22nd. This special event had the masses pouring in to witness over 40 bands on three different stages that included acts such as Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, Five Finger Death Punch, and Ozzy Osbourne.

Throughout the day were some pretty incredible performances that did more than just warm the crowd up for the nighttime headliners. The band Nothing More had an explosive set that at times involved dual drumming with vocalist Johnny Hawkins jamming on a steampunk-esque set up in front of the stage. Songs “Burn The Witch” and “Let ‘em Burn” rocked the crowd. Eagles Of Death Metal singer Jesse Hughes rode his bicycle onto the stage and put on a rocking set that included their hit “I Only Want You.” During the set, Hughes proclaimed “he loves his job and wouldn’t be doing anything else.” The comedic glam band, Steel Panther had the most sexually charged set with many concertgoers taking off their tops and even hopping on stage.They pumped up the crowds with songs like “Eyes of a Panther”, and “Goin’ in the Backdoor.”Unfortunately, Marilyn Manson did not perform like planned, due to some injuries from a previous concert accident.

Saturday’s headlining act, Nine Inch Nails was a huge hit, buoyed by the three-year gap since their last Sacramento show. Their performance included hit songs “Head Like A Hole,”  “Closer” and “The Hand That Feeds”. The front stage area for NIN was so packed that you couldn’t help but move and seeth with the adrenaline-heated bodies surrounding you. Some had been waiting for hours against the front railing. “I have been holding my spot all day to see NIN and even took a power nap on the ground to rest up,” said one concert-goer.”

For those looking for a break from the stages, anyone could enjoy free Monster Energy drinks at the Monster viewing deck located to the left of the Black Craft Stage and even meet some of the performing artists.

Although well into his late sixties, Sunday’s legendary headliner Ozzy Osbourne, and his band brought a flurry of rock and roll sounds. They even played his former band, Black Sabbath’s classics like “War Pigs”, and “Iron Man.” At one point Ozzy crouched down really low and sprung up like a frog and kept running from one end of the stage to the other to get the audience amped. Pretty impressive energy for this old time rock star.

Aftershock Festival was an amazing experience. We look forward to coming back next year!

Bassist Lexxi Foxx of Steel Panther, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 22, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Killer Mike and El-P of Run The Jewels, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
El-P of Run The Jewels, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Vocalist/Bassist Troy Sanders of Mastodon, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Guitarist Satchel of Steel Panther, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 22, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Vocalist Jonny Hawkins of Nothing More, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Vocalist Michael Starr of Steel Panther, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 22, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Vocalist/Bassist Troy Sanders of Mastodon, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Guitarist Blake Ibanez of Power Trip, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 22, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Vocalist Jonny Hawkins of Nothing More, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Vocalist/Guitarist Joseph Duplantier of Gojira, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Killer Mike of Run The Jewels, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Guitarist Christian Andreu of Gojira, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Vocalist Michael Starr of Steel Panther, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 22, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
ead singer/Guitarist Jesse Everett Hughes of Eagles Of Death Metal, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Bassist Chris Whetzel of Power Trip, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 22, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Bassist Paul Di Leo of Fozzy, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 22, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Bassist Lexxi Foxx of Steel Panther, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 22, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Joe Killmeister, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Guitarist Dave Catching of Eagles Of Death Metal, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Guitarist Mark Vollelunga of Nothing More, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Nothing More, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Bassist Jennie Vee of Eagles Of Death Metal, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Guitarist Brent Hinds of Mastodon, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Bassist Jean-Michel Labadie of Gojira, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Bassist Jennie Vee of Eagles Of Death Metal, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Audence member on stage with Steel Panther, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 22, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Guitarist Billy Grey of Fozzy, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 22, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Vocalist Chris Jericho of Fozzy, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 22, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Bassist Chris Whetzel of Power Trip, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 22, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Vocalist/Guitarist Joseph Duplantier of Gojira, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Guitarist Bill Kelliher of Mastodon, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Guitarist Christian Andreu of Gojira, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 21, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus
Vocalist Michael Starr of Steel Panther, Aftershock, Discovery Park, Sacramento, CA. October 22, 2017. Photo Anouk Nexus

Words and Photos by Anouk Nexus

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