ROCK REPORT

Another MMRBQ has come and gone but nothing compares to a day full of rock and roll. The MMRBQ is a one day festival hosted by Philly’s legendary rock station, WMMR, and has been a tradition since 2007. Each year the lineup typically consists of a local band as the opener, some up and coming bands, and of course the famous headliners. The concert typically starts at 1pm and wraps up around 11pm, so you’re definitely in for a long day. Over the years the MMRBQ has hosted many legendary bands such as Stone Temple Pilots, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and more.

Each year I look forward to the show, and I get to catch up with my fellow rock music lovers. There’s also different activities throughout the day such as The Preston and Steve side stage karaoke, where only 10 singers get a chance to sing to the live crowd. Each year singers submit their audition and listeners vote for their favorite performer. Another fun activity is when Jacky Bam Bam takes over the side stage and plays a DJ set, also free entertainment of Jacky being annoyed when the sound doesn’t work. Another stop you can make is at the WMMR live broadcast tent, where there’s at least one DJ on the air giving concert coverage to anyone listening. You may also catch and interview or two if you’re lucky to stop by at the right time.

The MMRBQ is typically always held in May, but once it got put on hold during Covid, the event did occur in September in 2023 and 2024. While I do usually prefer the festival in May, it was also a nice way to end the summer when it took place in September.

This year things took a sudden turn on the Thursday before when Alice in Chains cancelled their show due to a medical emergency. The band made a statement that due to a medical emergency with drummer Sean Kinney, that they would have to cancel the remainder of tour dates. Fans were left wondering what would happen now that Alice in Chains was the headliner for the MMRBQ on Saturday. On Friday evening, WMMR and the venue announced that Bush would be added to the lineup and Three Days Grace would now be the headliner. I was suprised that they were able to book another band with such short notice, but luckily the guys in Bush were nice enough to travel from far in Canada into Philly for this show.

As my friend Renee and I made our way into the venue, you could tell it was going to be a nice day. Usually when it’s held in May it can be a really hot day, but this year the humidity seemed lower and the wind gave a nice breeze. Throughout the day I was able to catch up with some of the WMMR Djs, as well as other friends I made from social media or attending other concerts. Since we wanted to save our energy for Three Days Grace, we didn’t check out the main stage until Dorothy began her set. Another fun fact about the MMRBQ is you can sit anywhere in the venue for the first half, but you do have to go where your designated ticket is for the second half.

I was a little cautious about entering the pit, just because I’m not typically the type of person who goes hardcore and moshes. Luckily for us there were a decent amount of people in the pit but on the ends there was enough room to have your own personal space but still have an up close view. The first performer we checked out was Dorothy, and I was excited to hear some of her songs I’ve heard on the radio such as Rest in Peace, Black Sheep and Tombstone Town. Her vocals sounded great and her band really brought the energy.

Next up on the lineup was Mammoth WVH, who I’ve seen previously two times before. The band never disappoints and I always look forward to hearing them play Distance. A new fact I learned was that they recently changed their name to just Mammoth, instead of Mammoth WVH. I feel like the change makes sense and it’s easier to say after dropping the WVH at the end. Apparently singer Wolfgang Van Halen offered to fill in on drums for Alice In Chains since Sean Kinney could no longer perform, but that plan did not end up happening. Instead Wolfgang thanked Bush for saving the day, and praised them for their last minute efforts.

Bush came in next with a strong set, as they opened with Everything Zen. You could tell Gavin was holding back a bit on his voice, but his vocals still sounded great. The band powered through all their classic hits even after all the travel and lack of sleep they just went through. Gavin slowly started to make his way to the pit, and quickly approached the back lawn during Flowers on a Grave. Gavin is known to come out into the audience and greet his fans, so it’s always nice to see him interact with the crowd.

Three Days Grace came out on the stage with an explosive opening, as they started with the heavy track “Animal I Have Become”. I have been a Three Days Grace fan since the early 2000s, and would even consider them one of my favorite bands growing up (and maybe having a crush on Adam). I had only seen Three Days Grace once before, and that was the MMRBQ 2010 when Adam was still in the band. For those who don’t know, Adam left Three Days Grace in 2013 and former My Darkest Days singer Matt Walst took over as lead singer. Matt Walst also happens to be the brother of Three Days Grace bassist, Brad Walst, so he grew up watching the band from the beginning. It was interesting to watch the dynamics as the band now has two lead singers, and I thought they did a good job of taking turns. While I would say Adam came off as more of the leader of the vocals, it makes sense since a lot of the hits are from his era. I will give credit to Matt for putting his spotlight aside, and letting Adam have his moment. Matt did do lead vocals for the tracks from his era, such as Painkiller and I Am Machine. Funny enough their vocals and harmonies blended well together too, since they sang together on a lot of the songs.

Adam took a moment to send out his thoughts to Alice in Chains, and did a surprise cover of their song Rooster. It was a magical moment as the stage went dark, and it was just Adam and his guitar, with the audience singing back to him. I can’t explain the feeling I felt seeing Adam back on the stage with the band, but it felt like things were back how they’re supposed to be. While I never got the chance to see them with just Matt as the lead vocalist, I am glad to see they are both part of the band now. If you get to see Three Days Grace on an upcoming tour, you will not be disappointed.

Overall it was another successful MMRBQ, and apparently was the first concert for a lot in attendance. I always say that even if the lineup isn’t all of your favorite bands, it’s still a fun event worth attending and is a great way to support the rock community. WMMR is such a unique and cherished station, so the MMRBQ is a great way to connect with their listeners and showcase all the bands they support. See you there next year.

Watch the MMRBQ 2025 vlog below: