Oregon Music News

Photography by Jon T. Cruz

PDX Rockfest took place on August 28th at Washington County Fair Grounds in Hillsboro; the weather cooperated as it was in upper 80’s throughout the day. The grounds were dusty and dirty, just the right kind of condition for festival pits. Among the performers on this day; Duff McKagan’s Loaded, All That Remains, Hinder, Chevelle, Queensryche, Five Finger Death Punch and event headliners Korn. All in all the event was a good time for the area’s rabid rock fans. OMN takes a closer look at the two acts that kicked off the event.

Mischa Kianne's hand of doom.

The first sign of a truly great band is when they are able to refine their songs and stage presence by hitting the clubs and touring relentlessly. Such is the case with Seattle doom metal act Witchburn who were first on the bill at Rockfest. Witchburn hit the stage promptly at 12:15 pm. Half the concertgoers weren’t even in the venue at that point. Thankfully the flood gates opened midway into the first song of their 30 minute set. The audience response to Witchburn was phenomenal it shouldn’t surprise; after all the songs are there. Singer Jamie Nova has a raspy, bluesy, melodic vocal and undeniable charisma. Witchburn’s musicianship is top notch; guitarist Mischa Kianne is bar none one of the best guitarist this side of Tony Iommi. Kianne raises more hell with one riff than most of her contemporaries can in an entire album‘s worth of material. Kianne and Nova have help from the backbone of the band in drummer Dana Sims who bashed away effortlessly and who was supported by the rumbling bass lines of Jacy Peckham. They played select tracks from their dynamic album ‘This Is How We Slay Our Demons.’ The track “The Hunted” worked the audience into a frenzy as the band ended on a high note.

Like A Storm show off their brotherly love.

Like A Storm is comprised of three brothers Chris on vocals and guitar, Matt on vocals and guitar and Kent Brooks on bass. The guys relocated to Vancouver, B.C. from their native New Zealand and immediately made an impact in and around the local scene in Vancouver. Like A Storm have opened for several big name acts; most recently they supported Alter Bridge when they played in Portland this spring. Like A Storm have a great image that has a goth/punk influence to it. Like A Storm’s years of taking their lumps in the clubs and their experience on high profile tours has paid off in spades; as they worked they large stage with ease. Their dashing good looks helped melt the hearts of the ladies in the audience and gained ire of the males present. Like A Storm’s debut album ‘The End Of The Beginning’ released in 2009 is a mixture of alternative rock and contemporary industrial akin to Stabbing Westward. Like A Storm closed with the standout track on their debut album “Enemy.” It is an upbeat, edgy, accessible and highly melodic song that is made for radio. When it was all said and done there was no doubt that like Witchburn before them Like A Storm too earned some new fans that day.