Festival Review: Rockstar Energy Drink DISRUPT Festival

Words and Photos by: Joshua Guerra

A new touring festival made its way down to Austin, Texas and brought some talented bands with them. The talented roster included: The Used, Circa Survive, Thrice, Sleeping With Sirens and many more. Alt rock fans suffered through the hot Texas sun to support their favorite bands and there were plenty of hot, sweaty mosh pits throughout the day.

JOSH7191.jpeg

The day started with early sets by Hyro the Hero, Juliet Simms, Four Year Strong and the festival stage being headlined by Sleeping With Sirens. The main stage began with Texas band Memphis May Fire, and they certainly did not disappoint in front of their home state crowd, acknowledging their Texas roots before beginning their set. Next, a strong and very energetic set came from Circa Survive. Within the first minute of their set Anthony Green came out into the crowd and jammed out with die hard fans standing at the barricade. Crowd surfers made their way to Green, mosh pits were started in the back, and Green kept on melting the faces of the front row crowd.

JOSH7855.jpeg

Continuing things were Thrice, with a very heavy set that kept the mosh pits and head banging going. They performed some of their hits and fan favorites such as “Black Honey,” “In Exile,” “Of Dust and Nations,” and ended their set with “Beggars.” The eagerly waited fans stuck through hours of being in the hot Texas sun, pushed around in mosh pits all to watch The Used headline the festival. They opened the set with “Take It Away,” from their 2004 album In Love and Death. Staying on topic with that album, they had the dripping heart from the cover hanging from the top of the stage over lead singer Bert McCracken. The band also did a short cover of “Wonderwall,” by Oasis. After performing the song McCracken said how he disliked the band and went on into their song “I Caught Fire.”

JOSH8676.jpeg

The band ended the night with “Pretty Handsome Awkward,” from their 2007 album Lies for the Liars, and “A Box Full of Sharp Objects,” from their 2002 self titled debut album The Used. We sure hope this festival continues as an annual event and that they bring new and exciting talent in the future.