Concert review/photos: Mayhem Fest and Vans Warped Tour 2010

Rob Zombie at Mayhem Fest 2010

By Mike Sullivan

A whirlwind of music tore through the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater this weekend.

First up on Friday was Mayhem Fes t. This show was for all the heavy metal heads out there. The fest included two small stages with eight acts to keep everyone’s adrenaline up during the day until the headliners of the night took to the main stage later in the evening. The headliners were Five Finger Death Punch, Lamb of God, Rob Zombie and Korn, who closed out the night.

Each headlining act gave the attendees their money's worth and they didn’t skimp on their set props, either. From blazing fire, intense lighting, bio-mechanical skeletons and oil rigs (yes, oil rigs), it was an intense night of some of the hardest rock I ever heard. I didn’t leave disappointed, and I am sure most others didn't either.

Next up was the Vans Warped Tour. This festival showcases numerous punk, ska, pop and rock acts. They brought a good variety of bands to Tinley Park on Saturday, with over 50 bands playing throughout the day. Everyone from punk rock mainstays Pennywise down to the up-and-coming rock/pop group Kelsey and the Chaos were there to keep the fans pumped throughout the long day.

Some of the highlights though, were the local talent that took to one of the seven stages set up through out the festival’s grounds.

Flatfoot 56 at Warped 2010

After venturing through the midway of artist tents giving away free swag and numerous vendors selling everything from socks to sunglasses, we made it to the Kevin Says Stage to catch our first act, The Frantic. They put together an energetic set to get the crowd going early in the day as they entered the venue.

After checking out some of the other acts, we headed over to catch Chicago’s own Flatfoot 56. This is a Celtic punk band that really knows how to put on a show. I was amazed by their energy and party attitude. I can only imagine the wrath they bring when they play smaller venues or a Southside Irish pub.

Alkaline Trio at Warped 2010

Next we made our way through the crowds to the other side of the venue to catch AM Taxi. They gave the crowd 30 minutes of old-school style punk integrated with modern pop from their debut album We Don’t Stand a Chance. Their hit song “The Mistake” really got their fans moving and grooving.

We ended our day catching up with Alkaline Trio. The Chicago-bred trio took to the main stage and did not disappoint. They played a mixed bag of tracks from their latest album, This Addiction, and included some of their older hits as well. The setlist included "Armageddon," "Emma," "Dine Dine," "Goodbye Forever," "This Addiction," "My Friend Peter," and a few other choice cuts. It was a well-rounded set that kept the crowd going.

More photos after the jump.

Mayhem Fest photos