Back over to the main stage, it was time for Aaron Lewis and company to entertain. I was a little nervous about Staind keeping things up on the rock-o-meter. After all, they were the band on the bill that can most naturally pull off an acoustic tour and have the mellowest sounding hits of all that played the festival. While Staind did slow the pace down a little here and there, they mixed up the mellow with the rock so as not to lose the energy of the show. It was, however, the lighter tunes that highlighted Staind’s set. The singles “Outside” and “It’s Been Awhile” quieted the crowd, and sent many to the beer stands; they really missed out. The best part of the show was hands down Aaron Lewis’ solo cover of “Turn the Page.” Although Staind has a new album due out this summer, no new songs were showcased. Bummer.

The first band reunion of the festival was Filter, headlining the second stage on day one. The band played one of their first shows together after embarking on their first tour in over five years. Speaking of reunions, before taking the stage, Richard Patrick reunited with his former band brethren from his side project, Army of Anyone, Robert and Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots. Robert DeLeo stood side stage with his arm around Patrick just minutes before he took the stage. Filter isn’t so much reunited as they are rebuilt. With a completely new lineup that features Mitchell Marlow, John Spiker (Tenacious D), and Mike Fineo (Red Skeleton), the band is packed with more talent than ever. Filter took the stage ready to rumble as they immediately got the crowd rocking with “Welcome to the Fold.” Although there were three other guys on stage, Richard Patrick definitely owns this band. His stage presence, killer rock scream, and enviable sunglasses steal the show. Patrick and company also treated the fans to other classics including “Hey Man, Nice Shot” and “(Can’t You) Trip Like I Do” from the ‘Spawn’ movie soundtrack. New material was also played off of the recently released ‘Anthems for the Damned,’ Filter’s first studio album in six years. Of course, no Filter show would be complete without their #1 hit, “Take a Picture,” a song inspired by Patrick’s battle with alcoholism.

An afternoon well spent between both stages renewed my passion as a spectator for two of my favorite sports, crowd surfing and beer chugging. There are even a brave few that combine the two (seen at very few places other than Rock on the Range). It’s a good time placing bets on which crowd surfers are going to make it to the barricade before violently being dropped on their head, watching the security guards scramble to catch the incoming deliveries, and taking a head count of how many pissed off people have their beers kicked out of their hands or get squashed by a fatty passing overhead. Equally as entertaining as marveling at crowd surfing is scouting out the massive beer consumers. There aren’t many things funnier than watching "Bubba" (you all know who I’m talking about, the guy with the beer gut wearing the shorts and black wife beater that barely makes it down to his navel, exposing his hairy belly) holding three beers in hand get knocked over in the pit, his trio of beverages all foaming in different directions, and then watching his struggle of picking his drunk ass off of the ground. And maybe this is just a guy thing…but only at a rock festival can you hear another man from three portable toilets over scream in relief as $9 beers exit his system. And speaking of portable toilets...you haven’t heard Serj Tankian until you’ve listened to him through the walls of a port-o-potty.

The second favorite crowd pleaser of the festival has to go to Disturbed. Their set also takes the crown for the loudest set, most blaring bass, and most dangerous pit. The unique vocals of frontman David Draiman and the band’s heavy meatalish sound made for one of, if not the most “rock” sets at Rock on the Range. With three solid albums and combined sales of over 10 million copies, Disturbed didn’t have much to prove when taking the stage. Opening with the trio of “Prayer,” “Liberate,” and “Perfect Insanity,” the pit brewed to a code orange, on the verge of busting into code red. Fallen crowd surfers were helplessly trampled and pit surges wiped out dozens at a time. The impressively friendly fans banned together, trying to help one another back to their feet, but just couldn’t keep up. Disturbed closed their set with one of their biggest hits, “Down with the Sickness.” Absent from their set was arguably the band’s best song, “Voices.” Boooo.

The closing set on day one is what truly made this year’s Rock on the Range one for the history books: the reuniting of Stone Temple Pilots. Hats off to the festival organizers for creating a show solid enough that STP chose to make their comeback here. Bravo. Fashionably late, Stone Temple Pilots casually strolled on to a dark stage to what was by far the greatest ovation of the entire festival. Frontman Scott Weiland, dressed in a black suit, matching black vest, black & white striped tie, black hat, and dark sunglasses, slowly advanced to the mic with cigarette in hand. The DeLeo brothers and drummer Eric Kretz followed. The drums and guitars kicked in together and the stage finally illuminated as “Big Empty” kicked off the show. The expressions on each members' face said it all: “We’re glad to be back!” The excitement of this reunion was like none I’ve ever seen. STP ploughed through their 17 song set, loaded primarily with songs that the crowd knew word for word including “Vasoline,” “Big Bang Baby,” “Creep,” “Interstate Love Song,” “Sex Type Thing,” and the set closer, “Down and Bloated.” Robert DeLeo engaged in banter with the crowd early and often. Dean DeLeo stated in a recent press conference that the STP will return to the studio as soon as their summer tour concludes. Ladies and gentleman, Stone Temple Pilots are officially back!

What an amazing first day!

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