M3 Rock Festival 2011 at Merriweather Post Pavilion

First let me say thank you to the promoters of M3 for another great event this year. Had a lot of fun as usual and was great catching up with some old friends. As with any festival there are always pros and cons. Here are a few of mine and strictly my opinion.

Cons

Think they need to go back to have a seperate entrance for VIP holders. Was alot of confusion Friday night when the gates opened as many of us stood by the side entrance only to find out once the gates opened there would only be one line to get in.

The VIP pickup was also a bit confusing as they had seperate lines to pick up your stuff by your last name. Alot of people stood in line only to find out they were in the wrong line due to there last name. They did put the last name letters up high once they realized it was an issue and hopefully made it easier for the people that picked up there stuff later in the weekend.

Would have been nice to have a program listing meet and greet times so you knew who was signing and at what time. Makes planning out your weekend much easier.

Also thought it was cool they gave you a ticket for the Megadeath/Rob Zombie show today but I heard alot of people saying they would have booked another night to go to the show if they had known.

Pros

Thought the lineup times were much smoother this year. No bands overlapping was nice as it gave you a chance to see everyone no matter what stage they were on.

Also it was cool they aired some of the side stage bands on the big screens in the main pavilion so you could watch the sets from your seats if you didnt feel like walking up to the side stage.

Glad the show has reached mainstream and aired all weekend on HDNET. Actually DVR the show and it was awesome to go back and watch alot of the performances.

Overall we had a great a time and cant wait for the next one in 2013! Great job to everyone involved in making M3 a huge success once again!

They could upgrade the bathrooms.  Last year there were porta johns, which helped a lot. 

Pro:  Truly staggered staging once they got it figured out.  Nice weather The viewing of the opposite stages was nice, but it was hardly viewable from the second row - maybe a pull down monitor on the stage?   Sat around people I liked this year...well, for most of it anyways.

Cons:  I feel M3 is at the "jump the shark" point.  VIP is getting to be a joke.  They should charge more and limit the tickets back to the floor like year two.  They have expanded it so much that you can't "collect" on the perks.  And with them selling the viewing rights, they are certainly making money at any cost without thinking about the ticketholder.  With that said, they need to consider the "quality" of bands.   While I enjoy some the perrenial bands, they need to be replaced by new blood.  Also, consideration needs to be given to the overwhelming quanities of "SCAB" bands.  I understand that bands can't be all original, but it seemed like M3 was grabbing at straws this year.

Merriweather also needs to crack down better on seat hoppers.  The front row was two people deep just about all day/night.  Not that they didn't try before an act, but didn't do too much during the acts.  They have all of these "security" people on the rail and they can't figure this out?  Also those who feel they are entitled to it need to get over themselves   Photographers also need to be kicked out after a song on those shorter sets.  Felt bad for the front row people having to dodge photographers, especially knowing the cost that some of them had to pay for those seats.

And you drunks...stop it!  If you can hardly walk that might be a clue not to drink anything else.

Great weekend but, housekeeping in the bathrooms needed attention because we're adults, not kids. Last year there were porta johns surrounding fence line at upper B Stage area, one more request for next year is to raise B Stage 2ft' so everyone can visually see the band performance live instead of watching screen...

Mercedes at May 13, 2012 at 5:53 PM

Pro:  Truly staggered staging once they got it figured out.  Nice weather The viewing of the opposite stages was nice, but it was hardly viewable from the second row - maybe a pull down monitor on the stage?   Sat around people I liked this year...well, for most of it anyways.

Cons:  I feel M3 is at the "jump the shark" point.  VIP is getting to be a joke.  They should charge more and limit the tickets back to the floor like year two.  They have expanded it so much that you can't "collect" on the perks.  And with them selling the viewing rights, they are certainly making money at any cost without thinking about the ticketholder.  With that said, they need to consider the "quality" of bands.   While I enjoy some the perrenial bands, they need to be replaced by new blood.  Also, consideration needs to be given to the overwhelming quanities of "SCAB" bands.  I understand that bands can't be all original, but it seemed like M3 was grabbing at straws this year.

Merriweather also needs to crack down better on seat hoppers.  The front row was two people deep just about all day/night.  Not that they didn't try before an act, but didn't do too much during the acts.  They have all of these "security" people on the rail and they can't figure this out?  Also those who feel they are entitled to it need to get over themselves   Photographers also need to be kicked out after a song on those shorter sets.  Felt bad for the front row people having to dodge photographers, especially knowing the cost that some of them had to pay for those seats.

And you drunks...stop it!  If you can hardly walk that might be a clue not to drink anything else.

I thought all the bands performed above and beyond actually to make us fans appreciate what we have... I assumed some bands were going to be SCAB bands also, but did they surprise me when listening to them live, Great job to all and thank you...

CON: This was my 4th year at M3 and every year I have taken a backpack with me. It has always made it easier to carry cigarettes, phone, car keys, a tshirt I was getting autographed, a bottle of water which you are allowed to bring in. This year after a very long walk from my car to the gate, I'm told no backpacks. Meanwhile half the women there had a purse twice the size of my backpack. After making the long walk back to my car to return the back pack, stuffing my pockets with two cell phones, cigarettes, keys, leaving the tshirt behind and making the long walk back I WAS PISSED. I stayed pissed the entire weekend everytime someone walked by with a purse much bigger than my backpack. Seems like complete sex discrimination to me. Anybody know a lawyer that wants to sue Merriweather let me know. How about if I was allowed to bring in the backpack and every woman was forced to walk back to the car to put their purse back. Bet they would be pissed.

Con:My wffe and I also had to take our backpack to the car. This is after we stood beside the damn girl for 40 minutes waiting in line. She waited until the gates opened to tell us, and then was a bitch about it. Ridiculous!! The sizes of some of the bags that were allowed was unbelievable.

Con:  This years lineup was pretty shitty.  Had a great time, but....

The backpack issue was ridiculous.  I think MAYBE it depended on the gate?  I seen men and women that were carrying around backpacks inside.  My son has to carry one at Warped because of his diabetic supplies so it makes me nervous for this year.

my wifes purse is as big as an army duffel bag, an i brought in a backpack ( string strap type) both days without anybody at the gate even saying a word to us . we came in the gate on the opposite side of the parking lot. i didnt realize people had problems , there were shit loads of backpacks, i saw some people i believe from france or canada eating what looked like a picnic lunch!

Jugsy at May 13, 2012 at 6:55 PM

Mercedes at May 13, 2012 at 5:53 PM

Pro:  Truly staggered staging once they got it figured out.  Nice weather The viewing of the opposite stages was nice, but it was hardly viewable from the second row - maybe a pull down monitor on the stage?   Sat around people I liked this year...well, for most of it anyways.

Cons:  I feel M3 is at the "jump the shark" point.  VIP is getting to be a joke.  They should charge more and limit the tickets back to the floor like year two.  They have expanded it so much that you can't "collect" on the perks.  And with them selling the viewing rights, they are certainly making money at any cost without thinking about the ticketholder.  With that said, they need to consider the "quality" of bands.   While I enjoy some the perrenial bands, they need to be replaced by new blood.  Also, consideration needs to be given to the overwhelming quanities of "SCAB" bands.  I understand that bands can't be all original, but it seemed like M3 was grabbing at straws this year.

Merriweather also needs to crack down better on seat hoppers.  The front row was two people deep just about all day/night.  Not that they didn't try before an act, but didn't do too much during the acts.  They have all of these "security" people on the rail and they can't figure this out?  Also those who feel they are entitled to it need to get over themselves   Photographers also need to be kicked out after a song on those shorter sets.  Felt bad for the front row people having to dodge photographers, especially knowing the cost that some of them had to pay for those seats.

And you drunks...stop it!  If you can hardly walk that might be a clue not to drink anything else.

I thought all the bands performed above and beyond actually to make us fans appreciate what we have... I assumed some bands were going to be SCAB bands also, but did they surprise me when listening to them live, Great job to all and thank you...

Not to say the bands were horrible because they were not, but this is a nostalgia trip.  Being 36 I wasn't around to care about the peak of some of the bands.  In fact, I probably missed them all given THIS line-up.  Sorry, don't wanna hear Solinger sing instead of Bach...Banali play drums...Don Dokken tell me what HE wrote and WHEN HE wrote it...I can go on.  I don't think the increase in prices, expansion of VIP, and other monies come in showed in the line-up.  This was my least favorite M3.  Transport me back to 2011 with Night Ranger and I would be a happy camper...minus the rain/mist.

Pros - The fact that this festival exists in the first place. As fans, we have no control over what members wind up in what bands so we have to take what we get in terms of that. But the fact that every year we can go to M3 and enjoy a day and a half of hard rock and roll music like this and see some of our heroes (no matter what state they're in) is pretty damn cool. Of course, on a personal note, another pro is that the festival gives a nod to an independent band like my own. A fantastic experience to say the least. We hope to be back again!

Another con:  No mention of Jani nor Brian Jack (and everyone else) who have passed since the last M3.

And while fans have no control over who is in the band...M3 can certainly look at what is available...how much money they want to pay out and make appropriate decisions.  I am thinking that with repeats and bands that are available to play they should reconsider the two day format.  JMHO. 

PROS: I'm with roundtrip and happy that this festival even exists.  I had a great time seeing some old friends and meeting new ones.  Got to see Loudness after all these years, Lynch just killed on guitar, Night Ranger was excellent and Juan played with Ratt. 

CONS: All of the assholes that can't hold their alcohol. 

Pro: Getting to see some of my favorite bands in a festival setting for a reasonable price.

Con: I was sitting in the left loge area and the boom camera was a major obstruction/distraction.  It's great that this went out on HDNET, but they need to find a way to get good shots without obstructing the view of people who paid full price for tickets.

# 1 CON...The no backpack thing really pissed me off. I would have purchased more merch if I would have had it!

Have to agree with Dave.  I'm just happy they continue to have this festival.  And I'm sure M3 reaches out to a lot of bands to see who is available and books based on avaliablity and costs to book the band.  A lot of people want Motley Crue, Def Leppard, etc... to headline, but these bands can pack MPP without a festival and have you seen the prices Motley Crue and Kiss are charging just for 4 hours of music in one night?  I like that M3 is an affordable music festival that is all about 80's rock music so if some bands or headliner costs too much, than so will our ticket price. Also, we brought in a small backpack in without any issues.  I guess it did depend on what gate you went in.  The only Con I had was that whoever was running the sound board screwed up many times getting the sound mix right on the Pavillion stage.  The sound problems were a lot more magnified on HDNet. Other than that, we had a blast, and I can't wait until next year!

Wow this is starting to look like the old Rocklahoma thread. Ya can't please em all. And the shit people gripe about is kinda unreal.

Had my back pack the whole time because I was selling my leather and guitar string jewelry out of it to pay for food and drinks and I was never told anything. But it was a draw string type like they sold at the merch. My understanding is if was a type of backpack that could contain a water bladder or hidden compartments then it wasn't allowed. Since womens purse dont come with those , thats why they were allowed along with the draw string types.

Ok I'm with the ones that are just happy this fest exists.

Only cons I can think of is :Not having a shuttle service to the side stage for out of shapers like me lol Seriously. I tho I think Lynch and Skid Row shouldve been on the main stage.  The crowds were insane! I'd first say bumping XYZ to 2:15 but it actually worked out since I got closer. But they should've been more on top of the time change announcements but I can understand it cause Monsters of Rock had the same issue.

Pros: LOUDNESS!! They were the best band of the weekend! Getting to see so many friends and customers!! The VIP womens bathroom trailer made the price of VIP sooooo worth it!

Ya'll can bitch all you want about the bands not being elite or original members or what ever else you can find to bitch about but I was expecting Ratt to suck and Oni to be tired. But all the bands perfomed at a killer level and sounded great.