Words: DJ
Photos: Myglobalmind/Screaming Digital Productions
We Came, We Saw, We Embraced the Mud
The inaugural South Star Festival was a noteworthy event. I must preface my remarks by stating that I have never attended a concert of this magnitude in Huntsville. The Big Spring Jam occurred before I became a resident of the Rocket City. It was a festival that featured local, regional, and national acts and continued for several years until the final event in 2011. That particular festival was somewhat different as Big Spring Jam was a non-profit event, organized annually by the Huntsville Heritage Foundation in conjunction with the Von Braun Center.
We had heard rumors of a major festival a couple years ago from the Huntsville Music City Office. The official announcement arrived later, revealing that C3, one of the world’s largest concert promoters, was entering into a three-year agreement with the city to bring a significant festival to town. Lineups were announced, and fans had been eagerly anticipating the festival for a considerable time. As we are all aware, outdoor festivals of this scale are always subject to the whims of the weather. And so it was, thanks to Hurricane Helene’s wrath. To put it into perspective, consider our fortunate situation of experiencing only rain, in contrast to our neighboring states where towns are currently inundated, dams are breaking, and the system’s wrath has been felt far more severely.
Count yourselves fortunate to have been able to attend a festival at all given the circumstances.
I extend my sympathies to the fans, promoters, and city on the cancellation of Day 2. I understand that it was not an easy decision to make. On Saturday, Day 1, rain fell for a significant portion of the day. The grounds were already saturated from Thursday’s rain, as predicted rainfall of 3-4 inches over 48 hours was anticipated. The grounds became increasingly waterlogged as expected, due to the large number of attendees traversing from stage to stage. Therefore, there were valid reasons to prioritize the safety of the patrons. Yes, it is disappointing. I understand that refunds will be issued for Day 2, but accommodations for hotels, transportation, and so forth still impact the concert-goer’s finances. I will refrain from commenting on the organizer’s behalf as I am unfamiliar with their internal procedures. I can see the frustration shared by all parties involved. Let us hope for more favorable weather next year.
Now, shall we discuss the music?
The original lineup for Saturday included opening acts Winona Fighter and Dexter and the Moonrocks. Unfortunately, they were removed from Day 1, which I assume was due to the festival organizers needing to delay the start as they worked to prepare the site amidst the inclement weather. Both are excellent bands that I highly recommend you explore.
Candlebox had the honor of commencing the festivities on the Camellia Stage, and frontman Kevin Martin delivered an energetic performance to invigorate the early crowd. We spoke with Kevin in the spring in support of their latest album and their announcement of retirement from touring. Regardless, they delivered a fantastic show. His vocals remain impressive after all these years. The classics were performed with nostalgic appeal, and songs like “Change,” “Far Behind,” and “Cover Me” sounded superb.
We then proceeded to the main stage, “Supersonic Stage,” a clever reference to the Rocket City and its themes. Next up were Gin Blossoms, whose hits predate my personal music preferences. While their sound was grunge and alternative, it’s difficult to be unfamiliar with their famous songs “Hey Jealousy” and “Follow You Down.” These songs still resonate today. The festival’s nostalgic theme clearly resonates with the fan base. Songs like these stand the test of time. They delivered a strong set, similar to Candlebox’s performance.
As my personal musical tastes lean towards heavier genres, I was particularly looking forward to Shinedown and Tom Morello’s sets. However, before that, I commend the festival’s musical diversity for including hip-hop veterans Juvenile and Ludacris, alongside R&B queens TLC.
Juvenile and Cash Money Records were prominent figures in the national and commercial music scene in the early 2000s, partially due to a distribution deal with Universal Records at the time. Those NOLA boys certainly know how to party. The 400 degreez album propelled them to fame. Even in the rain, the crowd enthusiastically supported their performance.
Tom Morello took the stage on the Supersonic Stage and immediately delivered an intense performance. His set was highly energetic, as expected. I know some fans may have been hesitant about his solo work, but I must commend Tom for continuing to uphold the spirit of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave after all these years. RATM was one of my favorite bands during my youth. Undoubtedly, they delivered powerful and intense live shows. While their music was infused with political activism that formed the core of their lyrics and live performances, they consistently delivered a thunderous and impactful set. I am aware that the various reunion tours never truly materialized, with delays and cancellations. De La Rocha’s injury further complicated matters. Ultimately, it seems that RATM live performances are no longer a reality as a full lineup, but Morello continues to carry the torch, and the fans at South Star thoroughly enjoyed his electrifying set.
It was refreshing to hear “Testify” and “Freedom” again after so many years. The MC5 classic cover of “Kick Out the Jams” is always a treat live. The RATM medley of “Bombtrack,” “Know Your Enemy,” “Bulls on Parade,” and more was a highlight for me. No one can replicate Tom’s distinctive and innovative chord progressions. It was a touching tribute on the monitors to see Chris Cornell’s face during “Like a Stone.” A truly exceptional talent lost far too soon. Tom’s performance was outstanding, especially considering he was a last-minute replacement for Jane’s Addiction, who had canceled their tour. Regardless, we were thoroughly rocked, and it was for the best.
Ludacris and TLC maintained the momentum for the now weary crowd. I say weary because being exposed to rain and mud for hours takes a toll. Fortunately, the music and the atmosphere remained positive, with Ludacris’ DJ energizing the crowd and bringing out the famous rapper with his classic songs “Rollout” and “What’s Your Fantasy.” Ludacris delivered a fantastic show. I had never seen him live before, but he was exceptional. The guy has more hits than a world-class boxer. Check out “All I Do Is Win” or “Act a Fool,” followed by a DJ Infamous cover of “Jump/Party Up/Ruff Ryders Anthem.” He even included a little Nirvana with “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and some Queen for added excitement. Ludacris’ set was highly entertaining.
To be honest, TLC is not my preferred genre. However, I am familiar with their hits “Waterfalls” and “Creep.” The sentiments expressed in those songs still resonate today. They were a significant part of the music scene at the time and have endured over the years. Their performance featured a visually impressive production with dancers and large effects on the monitor wall behind them, complementing their smooth sounds. Incidentally, can someone please enlighten me about the secret potion Chilli has been using? She looks and sounds fantastic. Both T-Boz and Chilli sounded great. The set and production were excellent. It was definitely not a “Scrubs” of a performance.
We then moved to the Camellia Stage (presumably named after the state flower of Alabama) to be engulfed by the fiery spectacle provided by Shinedown. Having previously seen them live (one of MGM’s favorites), I knew what to expect: an abundance of pyrotechnics, powerful anthems, impeccable musicianship, and extensive crowd interaction. The stage was packed with fans eager to see the band, and for good reason. They simply do not deliver a bad show. They ignite the stage with fire during “Devil,” giving the people exactly what they want to hear! The classic “45” always resonates live, and “Dead Don’t Die” is consistently exceptional. The Alabama crowd has a fondness for Skynyrd, and Brent Smith appears to share that sentiment. They typically include “Simple Man” in their set, and they did so this evening. The night concluded with “Cut the Cord,” and I’m sure many attendees felt satisfied after enduring the conditions.
In my high school days, I enjoyed the No Doubt record “Tragic Kingdom” and later “Return of Saturn.” I admit they made some catchy stuff, and their early inspired ska/punk sounds were cool back then. I was less interested in Gwen’s solo work, but I give her credit for crossing over into the pop sphere that catapulted her career even further. I respect her for diversifying her career. The fans who stuck around were a mix of old No Doubt fans and later Stefani fans.
With a massive production of lights, dancers, and choreography, Gwen came on stage wearing interesting attire and launched into “The Sweet Escape,” the No Doubt classic “Sunday Morning,” and “Hella Good.” The set mixed a bunch of No Doubt songs with her solo singles, so both eras of fan bases got their wish. Yes, “Don’t Speak” was played, and rightfully so; it’s one of their biggest hits. Gwen sounds great after all these years and puts on a very energetic performance. It’s impressive how she maintains such a high-energy performance at her age. I saw the No Doubt set at Coachella this year, and they still sounded pretty darn good. Same here.
There was a lot to take in at the monumental event for the city. Despite the uncertainty of the weather, the festival still went on. As mentioned before, the cancellation of Day 2 was unfortunate, and there will likely be backlash from fans about that. I understand both sides and why the second day was canceled; it’s a tough situation for all involved.
Overall, I wish we had great weather, but I enjoyed the All Star Sports Hall, a nice idea given the fan base of Alabama Football, which won the football game, barely. They had plenty of hydration stations, plenty of food vendors offering diverse food. There should have been plenty of portable restrooms for the given fan attendance. Also, nice job by HPD to have an easy exit into the Parkway for folks leaving the festival; that was well done. Lastly, I’m thankful for the press tent and the accommodations there on the one day. I have nothing but great things to say about having a place to go to and shelter from the rain and mud, at least for a little bit in between stages.
I hope we get to do this again next year, hoping the weather holds up to fully engulf in the overall experience of a major festival given all its amenities.
https://www.southstarfestival.com/
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