The anticipation was building. Each week, more and more people came together, gathering in downtown Salt Lake, rebelling against corporate radio and proving that local power really does matter. The fourth in a series of free shows hosted by 97.5 The Blaze (Utah’s local and independently owned rock and metal station), fans had been waiting for weeks to gather and worship at the altar of Shinedown. The anticipated revelation was more than miraculous – it was a shared religious experience between a Host of fans and Gods of music.

The heat had finally broken over the Salt Lake Valley – white clouds dotted the bright blue sky and fans pressed up against the stage as Jet Black Stare warmed things up.

They went on early, beginning their set at 6:00 pm. The time crunch was a direct result of constraints by a noise ordinance that insists downtown outdoor shows end by ten pm. Given the downtown location of the Gallivan Center, sound checks cannot happen until after five pm – when most businesses have shut down for the day. This leaves a five-hour window for magic to happen. On a night with only two bands there is a little bit of leeway; but, when three groups grace the stage it means keeping to a strict clock.

Like altar boys proceeding the deacons and priests into the sanctuary, Jet Black Stare took the stage. New on the scene, but with a stage presence that belies their youth, they came out hard and strong. They have a fantastic sense of the sensibility of the crowd and work it to their best advantage. Free of the irritating, almost evangelical hyperness that is so prevalent and distracting in a lot of today’s bands, JBS holds court and entertains with a true rock atmosphere. With the ability to both rock it out with head banging monstrosity and yet croon the sweetest of acoustic ballads, they had me from hello. Lead singer Rod Black is a strong tenor who proved that, even live, he can hit the high notes. The 30-minute set included “It’s Over,” “I’m Breathing,” the snarky “Poster Princess,” and the current single “Ready to Roll.”

With an album that dropped in mid-July, JBS evokes a similar feel and style of bands like Rev Theory. If this is the direction music is headed, none of us can complain. With groups such as Jet Black Stare shaping the future of rock with clean, clear guitar riffs, an honest connection to the crowd, and obvious talent in each member of the group, then even the casual attendee to the church of metal is in for some high and fast times.

Then came Red. Taking the stage amidst rabid screams and a slow, thudding introduction by drummer Hayden Lamb, the five rockers from Nashville, Tennessee continued toward that same altar Jet Black Stare had fans bowing to. For me, this was a return visit to Red’s sanctuary – they were part of the set of bands to perform at the first Viva Salt Lake in 2007. If that first performance made a believer of me, then this one reaffirmed my faith in the Gods of live music. The guys in Red are a little more prone to some of those previously mentioned antics that I currently find so irritating in today’s music, but they use those antics to their advantage, reeling the audience in and getting the whole band involved. The sign of showmanship is knowing when to explode and when to reign it in, and lead singer Michael Barnes has full control of that knowledge.

Personally, I prefer Red live to anything I hear from them on the radio. They are one of those bands that truly must be heard live to be appreciated. Even though the bass was loud almost to the point of distraction, it was a strong set that kept the crowd pumped. Barnes was drowned out slightly on the more musically intricate pieces, but his fantastic metal scream and the band’s guitar solos more than make up for the hazards of live music.

In the year since I’ve seen them, they have matured as a band and the stage presence is much more pronounced. Taking command with songs such as the surprisingly Korn-style “Already Over” and the popular hits “Breathe” and “Let Go,” the band walks a fine line between complete chaos and total control of every moment. The result leaves the audience twitching and ready for action. I felt sorry for the poor security guard who tried to step in and break up the mosh pit. By the time he had some sense of control, Red broke into covers of Pantera’s “Walk” and Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name Of.” This is where I get to remind the well-meaning security guards that breaking up the pit isn’t always the best way to keep people safe. Most crowds will control and police themselves. We need you there to help those who get caught in the middle. Trying to stop a pit is like trying to stop the energy of a tornado; it’ll only come back stronger once you walk away. Oh dear Gods, did it.

And then, as the crowd absorbed the remaining energy from Red’s set, Gods took over the stage. Ghosts emerged from the shadows created by epileptic strobe lights and spotlights of shifting colors. The pounding bass of the latest single from the frenetic band induced immediate thrashing and moshing as the five-piece ensemble emerged to “Devour” the audience with their brand of passion, style, and worship of the musical art form.

Performing the 60th date on their current tour, the only evidence Shinedown showed of fatigue was the occasional cracking of lead singer Brent Smith’s voice. To each song they gave wholehearted, full-blown energy that refused to acknowledge anything other than passionate devotion to the music. With a set that was a little full for the stage at the Gallivan amphitheater, Shinedown made the best of the limited space. Their set list of new and familiar material transferred well to the stage without losing any album integrity. From the opening notes, Shinedown had the audience eating out of their hands – and also kicking the crap out of each other.

Fast song or slow ballad, dust rose from the central circle pit, rising up to mix with the smoke the machines on stage were pumping over the audience. Old and new school songs echoed through the park – from the coming of age “Heroes” to the unreleased “Cyanide Sweet Tooth Suicide” - the band never tired and neither did the crowd. Brent is a fantastic storyteller and the tales he wove with each song made me feel as if this was the first time he had told them. I, and the audience, hung on his words and more than once I was moved to wipe tears from my eyes.

About an hour into the set something truly magical took place. Brent asked the audience to sit tight. The curtains closed. When they reopened, a ten-piece orchestra made up of members of the Utah Symphony, The Cremme Music Studio, and friends of The Blaze had joined Shinedown onstage. Dubbed by the band as The Blaze Orchestra, it gave Shinedown the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream – to perform live onstage with an orchestra. Breaking with current recording practices, they’d brought an orchestra into the studio to record with them rather than use a synthesizer, but they hadn’t yet preformed live with an orchestra. The men and women at the Blaze busted ass to put it together for the band and not only was it a dream come true for the band, it was a hauntingly magical experience for the audience. Performing “Call Me,” “The Crow and the Butterfly,” “If You Only Knew,” and “Second Chance,” there was a collective intake of breath when the spell was broken and the orchestra slipped off the stage.

Bringing the night to a crashing and emotional close with “Save Me,” there was only one place for me to go – home to bed to nurse the knee I’d blown in the clashing passion of the crowd. It was a night where the band stole the energy from the fans, but gave back their own. My own sore knee is a badge of honor that I wear proudly.

And so the Wednesday Rocks! series comes to an end. With pride, the listeners of the Blaze can stand tall and know that over the course of a month, they helped to bring four free shows to Salt Lake City. 20,000 people attended and not a single ticket sold. 20,000 people got to see favorite bands without spending a penny and, in doing so, furthered the fight against corporate radio. And on the 27th of August, 2008, they experienced what listeners would call a religious experience the next day.

If this is how Wednesday Rocks! started out, I can’t wait to see next year!

For pictures from the event and more information about 97.5 The Blaze, visit www.theblazeonline.com

Visit the bands here:
www.shinedown.com or www.myspace.com/shinedown
www.redmusiconline.com or www.myspace.com/dropofred
www.myspace.com/jetblackstareband