Originally announced in 2019 with a different lineup and subsequently postponed while the world was shut down, WDHA’s Rock the Rock Fest has been three years in the making. The day finally arrived this past Thursday, April 28 and Newark’s Prudential Center welcomed a stacked radio fest featuring Godsmack, Three Days Grace, Black Veil Brides, Wage War and Lilith Czar.
Photos of Godsmack:
A household name for the past couple of decades, Godsmack needs absolutely no introduction. Lighting up the stage – literally – the band played a beefy 90 minute set that was worth any amount of Newark traffic it might have taken to get there. While the band pulled more heavily from 2018’s When Legends Rise, (“Bulletproof,” “Under Your Scars,” “Unforgettable” and “When Legends Rise,”) the setlist was perfectly balanced so that both dedicated and casual fans had at least a couple of songs to sing along to.
Follow Godsmack: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Photos of Three Days Grace:
Three Days Grace is back with a new tour and new music from the upcoming album Explosions due May 6th. The Canadian rockers sounded crisp, clean and full of an intoxicating energy that – I totally admit it – had me singing in the photo pit. While it’s fun to joke that Three Days Grace awakes the emo kid inside all of us, the fact is that the band continues to perform (and create!) accessible earworms.
Follow Three Days Grace: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Photos of Black Veil Brides:
Black Veil Brides just wrapped up a massive tour with Ice Nine Kills and Motionless in White one night before returning to New Jersey to play Rock Fest. Having just toured in support of 2021’s The Phantom Tomorrow, the band played a much too quick 7 track well-balanced set featuring some old favorites like “Knives and Pens” and “In The End.” Always a ton of fun to watch, Thursday’s performance was no difference. Black Veil Brides knows how to work a crowd, who in turn was more than happy to reciprocate the band’s seemingly endless energy in turn.
Follow Black Veil Brides: YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Photos of Wage War:
Definitely the heaviest hitting act on the lineup, Wage War came on hard and did a fair job of riling up the crowd with the energy needed to last the remainder of the night.
Follow Wage War: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
Photos of Lilith Czar:
With an early 5:30pm star time, the crowd was admittedly a little slow to arrive, which is a shame because Lilith Czar is a force to be reckoned with. Performing songs from 2021’s Created From Filth and Dust, Lilith Czar sings of darkness and rebirth with an undeniably gritty rock edge. Despite technically being the opening act, this was one of the bands I was most excited to finally experience live. It’s exciting to see her transformation and I can’t wait to see where Lilith Czar will take us next.
Follow Lilith Czar: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
