All Photos by Matt Stasi
Southern California’s largest motorcycle show and concert event, the Lost Highway Festival, took place at the San Manuel Amphitheater and Festival Grounds on July 23rd. With temperatures close to 110°, leaving Hollywood for a dry and shadeless San Bernardino desert, overpriced junk food and a toxic Sunday hangover seemed like a really bad idea. However, in only it’s second year, producers of this festival have thought of everything. The bathrooms were constantly clean and Rockstar gave out free, chilly drinks all day. There were giant fan misters to stand in front of and cool off between sets, tons of sweet motorcycles and eye candy, shopping, and the Lost Highway staff was organized and hospitable, all making for a splendid time.
Lost Highway is a one day event, but camping sites were available for two nights with accommodations that exceeded expectations. Once visitors got through the tight security check, they were greeted with live music, free cold beer from PBR and fresh, homemade tacos. Orange County’s own Brett Young and cover band Hall Pass helped the audience get their drink on, but the mysterious desert night was properly ushered in by the rebellious rock-a-billy group, Bullets and Octane. These guys literally made those who promised to pace themselves forget there was still an entire day of festivities ahead of them. Late night corn hole games and Jell-O-shots abound, followed the next morning by a complimentary breakfast of biscuits and gravy provided by Roadhouse Biker Church.
On Saturday, a high-octane band called Them Evils opened the festival grounds stage as winners of this year’s “Slidebar Battle of the Bands.” Hair flipping circles with amazing guitar riffs set the precedent for the day’s musical energy. Paul Cauthen followed in opposition with his deep baritone voice and unique cadence, throwing us back to the Johnny Cash era.
The Super Hooligan Races, sponsored by Indian Motorcycles on a RSD (Roland Sands Design) flat track drew a significant, shirtless crowd. The race is a street-legal motorcycle competition that has original roots in SoCal as early as the ’30s. Testosterone driven and aggressive, with riders racing at high speeds around a tight turning oval track on whatever bike they bring in (some of the bikes can weigh up to 800 lbs). Crashes, spills and injuries are part of the game, and we witnessed one rider knocked unconscious. Fortunately, shortly after an ambulance arrived, the rider slowly got up and walked off the track with audience chants of “Get back on your bike!” He probably should have taken the ambulance.
Chevy Metal’s cover of David Bowie’s “Under Pressure” was a big favorite, as was Foghat’s opener, “Fool For the City.” The desert took on a warm afternoon breeze, making the giant Rockstar balloon dance to the beat. Fans began tailgating in the parking lot and the amphitheater, called the Outlaw Stage, was filling with country fans. Justin Moore, using his powerful weapon of ‘Good Ole Boy’ charm, was a big hit. But, his dueling guitar version of “Purple Rain,” as a tribute to Prince, set him apart from previous performers Colt Ford and Tyler Farr.
As the sun began to set, Palm Desert’s own Eagles of Death Metal rocked the festival stage with their outlandish silliness and childlike, eccentric attitude. Lead singer and ordained minister, Jesse Hughes, was spotted a few times riding a golf cart through the campgrounds or a mini motorcycle behind the big stage with a contagious grin. The band performed with a different sort of joie de vivre than the others, maybe because they are still only seven months removed from the brutal Paris shooting at their concert where 130 people died. That would be quite the humbling perspective to bring to any show.
Rushing back to the Outlaw stage was no easy task as the festival had now tripled in attendance. It was shocking to see the crowd had transformed from Moore’s conservative country sweethearts into tattoo and converse clad dissidents in anticipation of Social Distortion, the festival’s maverick extraordinaires. Opening their set with a bang, this battle-scarred, cowpunk fraternity sent their fans into a frenzy as they jumped over barriers trying to get closer to the stage. Fiddle player David Bagger pushed the live sound forward in a way that gave the band a timeless touch, which is important since they have been doing this since 1978. Lead singer Mike Ness can be just as vulnerable as he is awesome, making him the ultimate front man. “Rock and Roll saved my life. It almost took it too, but then saved it again,” he said before playing “Me and My Guitar.” The crowd sing along of “Ball and Chain” was surprisingly emotional, and the slam dancing to their hard driving version of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” was equally as exciting as the motorcycle burnouts earlier that day.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC) played back at the festival stage. Just as the sooty entity was making their way up through billowy smoke with their intoxicating, militant rhythm by drummer Leah Shapiro. “Beat on the Devil’s Tattoo” was a perfect song for their dark lighting and seductive silhouettes. Their fan favorite, “Berlin,” was no frills, straight gunmetal rock ‘n roll. This band does what they do, with no heed given when it comes to approval or popularity, leaving them seeming disavowed and mysterious, a lost art with our current cultural situation.
The amphitheater now overflowed with curved bill baseball hats, cut-offs and cowboy boots. A massive stage screen video showing Brantley Gilbert being released from prison, followed by a backstage prayer with the band, captured the packed arena’s attention. In the crowded silence, the stage exploded with light and confetti as the band appeared ghost-like in bright lights for a sold out show, all in anticipation for their version of outlaw. Gilbert had a completely opposing performance strategy than BRMC, with a walk up very similar to a UFC fighter. His beefcake build and hip-hop appearance screamed of “Magic Mike” energy and sent the girls into high-pitched squeals. Gilbert loves his fans and his highlight was bringing Colt Ford out to sing a duet to “Dirt Road Anthem,” written by the pair, a song that became a best seller for Jason Aldean. The band was “dirty south” fun and Gilbert’s live charisma was dangerously contagious.
An easy walk back to the campgrounds got us to our comfy retreats much faster than the masses of cars trying to exit the festival grounds. For some reason, the Team America anthem was rippling through different groups of people as they laughed and sang the profanities as loud as possible. We snacked on chips, cold beer and boxed wine as we discussed all the things we couldn’t get to at the festival, until our obliging neighbors called us over for carne asada and a game of can jam. We stopped for brunch the next morning, connecting with Internet, only to discover that LA had been under a red sky all weekend from the Santa Clarita fires and people all the way in West Hollywood were feeling the heat and experiencing the falling ash. It turns out that a July festival in a shadeless desert was a pretty good idea after all.
– Bylle Breaux
[…] Published in Elmore Magazine […]