Krockathon Reboot concert quenches fans’ thirst for hard rock

“How are we doing, Syracuse?”

The crowd screamed, thrusting their devil horn fists in the air as they smashed themselves up against the black metal barricade. 

And when the next Krockathon Reboot ‘25 band asked that same question? The crowd cheered with the same intensity as before, not letting the oppressive late July heat stop them from enjoying the KROCK radio-sponsored music festival. 

From the start at the New York State Fairgrounds, it was a blur of sweaty bodies as opening band Set It Off encouraged the first mosh pit of the day. Whether gripping a beer, lemonade, Monster Energy or just water, everyone in the crowd was united by one thing – surviving the heat with a drink in hand. It wasn’t unusual to see a crowdsurfer precariously holding their drink high above their head as they glided on top of a sea of hands.

There were whispers of low ticket sales, but if the turnout was underwhelming on paper, the atmosphere at Chevy Court park didn’t reflect it. Newcomers, diehard fans and even families came out to support the bands, both old and new. Many also showed up for the nostalgia, having attended more than once before.

Ariana and Angelo Sweet drove from Utica to see Set It Off, but ultimately missed their set. This didn’t deter them from having a good time, though. 

“I went here last year, too,” Ariana said. “I love seeing live music around, especially because it’s local.” 

Sisters Rebecca Clark and Renee Quade are no strangers to Krockathon. Having attended the rock fest as fans, KROCK employees or photographers, they have been to more than dozen shows with the earliest being Krockathon 3 in 1998. 

“Back then, Krockathon felt like the rock event to go to,” Clark said. “There weren’t many rock festivals in the area yet, and most of the concerts at the fair were country acts.”

“Social media wasn’t really a thing yet, so you didn’t always know the opening bands, but that’s what made it so fun and it’s how I discovered newer artists like Marvelous 3 and Econoline Crush.”

At Krockathon 5, Clark met a photographer named Nadine Swiger. 

“At the time, there weren’t many women in the photo pit,” Clark said. “I was up on the rail, saw her shooting and asked how she got into it.”

That changed everything for Clark and led to one of her favorite Krockathon moments: photographing Boy Hits Car at Krockathon 10. 

“Cregg Rondell climbed up on the stage and did this insane jump,” she said. “I saw it starting from the back of the crowd and knew I had to get back up there.

“I grabbed my camera and ran as fast as I could to catch the moment. I’ll never forget it!”

This stunt would go on to be one of the most iconic and most photographed moments in Krockathon history.

While nostalgia brought many fans out, most battled through the heat to share the love of live music with friends and family.

Krockathon’s lineup this year featured Set It Off, Alien Ant Farm, Drowning Pool, Candlebox and Nothing More. Fayetteville’s School of Rock also performed covers of iconic rock ballads. 

The lineup received mixed reactions on social media, with some commenting that the bands didn’t fit together. But most fans in the crowd didn’t seem to mind.

“Krockathon has always been about bringing together bands you wouldn’t typically see on the same lineup,” Quade said.

There was a band for everyone: Set It Off’s mix of alternative metal and pop punk, Alien Ant Farm’s rock anthems, Drowning Pool’s intense mental classics, Candlebox and their grunge throwbacks, and Nothing More’s explosive hard rock tracks. 

Steve Townsend and his family were excited about the lineup and the chance to see Drowning Pool, Set It Off and Nothing More at the same show. 

“It’s a family affair,” Townsend said about going to rock shows with his family. 

“We started with Lost Horizons back in the ‘80s, and it still hasn’t changed. Now Sharkey’s, I’ve had the kids there, too. It is still the same thing, same stains in the ceilings, same everything. It’s awesome.”

Quade said she was most excited about Candlebox. 

“I thought their farewell tour was the end and I missed it, so this felt like a bonus show I didn’t expect,” Quade said. “Nothing More was also at the top of my list. Their latest album has been in constant rotation on all of my devices.”

Clark said she was “beyond excited” when she heard the announcement for this year’s reboot.

“I’ve been a fan of Nothing More for about 10 years and have followed them to so many shows,” Clark said. “I missed the Krockathon they played years ago, so getting to see them headline this year meant the world.”

The sisters were not the only ones pumped about Nothing More as the band’s set drew the largest, most energetic crowd of the day. 

The day had a faint sense of a family reunion, if your family enjoys headbanging and moshing in 90-degree heat. Kids with noise-cancelling headphones jumped alongside their siblings or raised their fingers in the air as they sat on their parent’s shoulders. 

Quade took notice of the number of families at this year’s festival, adding to the mix of fans.

“The crowd always feels like a mix of misfits coming together,” Quade said. “Some people are there for the music, others are just there to party, and some are making it a fun family day. 

“That combination has always been part of what makes the day so memorable.”

Krockathon Reboot ‘25 may not have been the biggest show of the summer, but to those who came out and braved the elements, it was one of the best shows of the year. 

“I felt like I was living my best life,” Clark said happily. “Moments like that remind me exactly why I fell in love with music and concert photography in the first place.”