Live: It's Day 2 of Welcome to Rockville in Daytona

Congratulations, Welcome to Rockville fans!

You stayed hydrated and made it through the near-100 degree temperatures to catch all the highlights of Rockville’s opening day on Thursday.

There’s more to come on Friday, when the four-day heavy-metal fest at Daytona International Speedway continues to work through its lineup of 150 bands. On Day Two, the most anticipated headliners include The Offspring, Mr. Bungle, Jelly Roll and Limp Bizkit.

Check back often for observations about the scene on the infield, interviews with fans and a look at the array of non-musical diversions, among other dispatches from the heart of Rockville in Daytona Beach.

Catch up on Friday's blog: Welcome to Rockville is underway in Daytona Beach and diehard fans are loving it

More: Heading to Welcome to Rockville 2024 in Daytona Beach? Here's everything you need to know

Register your Welcome to Rockville wristband 

Don't forget to register your wristband before heading to the festival. Registration is mandatory, according to the Rockville website and it’s easy to do online. The registration code is listed on the back of the RFID saddle of the wristbands.

Surprise guest elevates Thursday set by Disturbed

Among the most talked-about moments to emerge out of Thursday's Welcome to Rockville performances was a surprise cameo by Ann Wilson, the vocalist half of the classic duo Heart, during Disturbed show on the Octane Drift Stage.

Wilson, who moved to Clay County a few years ago, joined the band for "Don't Tell Me," reprising the vocals that she contributed to the band's studio version of the song. For many, it qualified as the genuine surprise of the day.

Here's a short snippet of fan-shot YouTube video of the moment:

Potential for bad weather delays opening of Friday's Rockville

With advisories of the potential for severe storms on Friday, Welcome to Rockville has delayed opening the gates on Friday to 11:30 a.m., according to the festival's post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

No changes to band set times, as a result of that delay.

Here's what the festival has posted earlier on Friday:

"Rockville, we have an important update this Friday morning. We are closely monitoring weather and we are preparing for the potential of inclement weather to come through late morning. For your safety, we will be delaying doors until the weather pattern passes. For those of you camping with us, our staff will be driving through with updates if you need to seek shelter and providing guidance. Thanks for your patience and stay tuned to our socials for updates on what time doors will be opening for day two."

Meanwhile, here's the latest update from the National Weather Service in Melbourne, also via X:

"There is a risk for a few strong to severe storms today mainly across areas north of Kissimmee to Melbourne, and particularly northern Lake and Volusia Counties. Gusty winds and lightning are the primary threats. Hot again with records possible!"

Palm Coast in the house!

Among the early bands on Thursday was Palm Coast-based Rain City Drive.

Led by singer Matt McAndrew, a past runner-up ON NBC's "The Voice," the band moved confidently through a 25-minute set that mixed melody and muscle on songs such as "Medicate Me."

Under cloudy skies, the band members counted their blessings weather-wise.

"How about a big hand for this weather?" McAndrew asked the crowd at the Turn 2 Garage Stage.

"I heard it was, like, 168 (degrees) yesterday," he said. "We dodged that!"

All hail the beer guy

Although temperatures were noticeably cooler on Friday, beer vendor Ron Morgan was still among the busiest guys on the Rockville midway.

How many bottles of beer, water and sport drinks does he move on a typical Rockville day?

"I honestly have no idea," said Morgan, who works for Jacksonville-based distributor Frozen Drinks."They go so fast, it's hard for us to keep track."

In case you're wondering, it's $13 for a Budweiser, $4.50 for bottled water and $6.50 for a sports drink.

What goes faster, beer or water?

It depends on when you ask, Morgan said.

"We sell more water early, when it's so hot. It was just miserable yesterday. The beer sales pick up when the sun goes down and it starts getting cooler."

Art for rock's sake

Surrounded by paintings of Dave Grohl, Metallica, ZZ Top and other rock idols, Fabian Santoyo is singing the praises of Welcome to Rockville."We've been coming for years," he said of the indie art company that specializes in rock stars and like-minded films such "Nacho Libre."

"It's an incredible event," he said. "It's like family when you come here."

He feels the same way about artist partner Stidham, out of San Antonio, Texas, who started painting "as a form of therapy" that turned into a business.

Stidham was away ordering a pizza, but Santoyo described his persona as a cross between Will Ferrell and Matthew McConaughey.

"He's almost like a planet, where people gravitate to him."

You paid how much for those fries?!?

There has been some grumbling this year among the Rockville crowd about the cost of food and drink.

As I watched Donald Sherman nosh on his $25 basket of loaded Philly cheesesteak fries, I asked him if they were worth the investment.

"They're good," he said, without enthusiasm that would warrant an exclamation point.

Sherman, 43, who is retired from the Army, is making his third trek to Rockville from his home outside Syracuse, New York.

In town with a four-day pass, he is most looking forward to seeing closing-night headliner Slipknot.

Though the cost of food and drink hasn't reached a breaking point for him, he has noticed the increases, he said.

"The prices this year seem to be definitely more than last year," he said. "I paid $50 to park today. I didn't realize it would be so much.

"This may be the last time I come."

This one goes to 11

Speaking of complaints, there have been plenty on social media about the festival's sound mix on its main stages.

Here's a sample of comments from "Welcome to Rockville -- Rockvillains," a Facebook fan page with more than 50,000 followers.

"We couldn't hear Dusturbed at all!" posted Tami Burdick Denhart, of Apopka. "So muffled."

That was echoed by Sarah Ashe-Duenas, of Holland, Michigan.

"Crue was the worst for sound," she wrote. "I couldn't believe how distorted they were, and bass was way overdone."

No one with festival promoter Danny Wimmer Presents was available to comment on whatever issues there might or might not be with the sound.

Another poster on the Rockvillain FB page did come to the sound crew's defense.

"It's the wind," said Joe James. "You can't control Mother Nature."

Hey, at least it wasn't raining.

Hey newbie, just chill

As the sun started sinking, it was easier to tell the savvy Rockville veterans from the newbies.

The vets are the ones reclining comfortably on the inflatable sofas, often with a space-age towel that stays chilled wrapped around their shoulders.

That was the situation for Laura and Seth Hassan, who were waiting for In This Moment to take the Apex Stage.

They had traveled from Marysville, Ohio, to attend their first Welcome to Rockville with friend Jennifer Gradias, of DeLand.

"It's everything we're used to in a concert, but on steroids," Laura said. "It's huge."

Like some other Rockville fans, they had a few issues with the sound mix on the Octane Drift stage, but otherwise, no issues.

"Yes, it was hot yesterday," Laura said, "but as long as you're watered up and you have your towels, you're good to go."

Three amigos tackle Rockville

Accessorized with cone-shaped headgear adorned with long tentacles and bulging eyes, the three friends in front of the Apex Stage were easy to spot.

That's the point.

"We're just easy to find," said Max Wakefield, who traveled from Atlanta to meet his two buddies at Rockville.

Those friends ― Max Phelan, of Jacksonville, and Ian Stuart, of Akin, South Carolina ― nodded enthusiastically.

"They are Army friends, and we are childhood friends," Ian said, pointing at Wakefield. "We're all metal fans."

They offered three thumbs-up for this year's Rockville.

"We're really enjoying the good weather we're getting," Stuart said. "No rain delays. The people are fun."

Wakefield also offered the day's last word in the ongoing debate over the prices at this year's festival.

"There's no better place to buy a $20 beer."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Live: Here's your Friday updates for Day 2 of Welcome to Rockville