07/06/24
The third and final day of Wild West Fest (website) began with a parade down Main St. at 10 am. Families lined the streets as everything from fire trucks to vintage cars and horses made their way through the crowds, waving and handing out candy to kids. Later in the day, following a two-hour weather delay, those of us who were willing to brave the winds and potential storms gathered around the stage for the festival’s final two performances.
Starting the evening off were Sunset Sinners. The Salina, Kansas natives who describe their sound as a fusion of Southern 70s rock blended with red dirt country, opened their set with “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater, immediately followed by the instantly recognizable “Tush” by ZZ Top. Mixing a few originals into the set, including “Coming Home,” a poignant tribute written for friends grappling with the challenges of returning home from war. Tony then belted out the lyrics: “So what do you do when the fightin’s not done but you’re already home and there’s nowhere to run, stand alone until you fade away or get some help to keep your demons at bay.” The song struck a deep chord; undoubtedly, there were members of the audience keenly aware of the toll of war on both the mind and the body.
Lead guitarist Nick Schlyer peppered the entire set with blistering hot solos, while Tony Bowell’s voice was a match made in heaven for hits like “Midnight Rider” by The Allman Brothers, “Can’t You See” by Marshall Tucker Band, Ted Nugent’s “Stranglehold,” and “When The Levee Breaks” by Led Zeppelin. They offered several more of their own originals, including “Friday Night,” “Two Beers,” and “Chaos.” Sunset Sinners really brought the heat and primed the audience for the main event.
Quiet Riot’s set was everything it was promised to be, exceeding all expectations, serving as the perfect finale to Wild West Fest. For a moment, I forgot I was standing in a park in Hays, Kansas. The rock and roll phenomenon took the stage and ripped into “Run For Cover” and “Slicked Back Cadillac.” Vocalist Jizzy Pearl was effervescent, electrifying the crowd with his energy and charisma. Legendary bass player Randy Sarzo had a magnetic stage presence, playing with mind-boggling precision even with his guitar hoisted atop his head. “Sign of The Times” acted as a catalyst, increasing the intensity throughout the crowd. Positioned to the left of the stage amongst a young group of shirtless fans going wild at the barrier, I couldn’t help but smile as I looked around at the varying ages of the crowd. Few bands can transcend both time and age, uniting generations with their timeless rock anthems and performances. Quiet Riot made it look effortless.
“Love’s a Bitch” had a stellar intro with piercing falsettos from Pearl. Lead guitarist Alex Grossi was incredible to watch as he repeatedly tore through solos and riffs. Quiet Riot played “Thunderbird” and paid tribute to Randy Rhoads, who was the original guitarist of the band before joining Ozzy Osbourne and tragically passing away in 1982. The band recorded “Thunderbird” as a tribute to Randy Rhoads shortly after his passing. “After Randy’s passing, we went into the studio to record this song. It’s a tribute to his memory. Tonight we dedicate this song to the memory of Kevin DuBrow, Frankie Banali, and Randy Rhoads. Never forget!”
The band treated the audience to “Blackout in the Red Room,” a song from Jizzy Pearl’s former band Love/Hate. Quiet Riot launched into the highly anticipated “Cum on Feel the Noize,” undoubtedly one of the band’s most iconic songs. Originally a song by British rock band Slade released in 1973, Quiet Riot covered the song in 1983 with a heavier, harder-hitting sound. The song quickly became a major hit single propelling the band’s album Metal Health to commercial success. The crowd loved it and sang along to the famous hit. Finishing off the set, the evening, and the weekend was “Bang Your Head (Metal Health),” and the crowd embraced every last moment of the performance.
Ending a fantastic week filled with unforgettable moments of music, delicious food, and quality family time, this year’s Wild West Fest was a resounding success, and I look forward to more events like it in the future.
