After a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19, the Fiesta Oyster Bake returned last Saturday for the 106th rendition at St. Mary’s University and brought out all of its customary characteristics to first timers and festival veterans alike.
Rock music, country stylings, Tejano offerings, classic rock, R&B/rap and cover bands. Oyster shots, chicken and steak on a stick, chocolate covered strawberries, roasted corn, chalupas, burgers, $20 turkey legs.
There was no end in sight to the culinary and musical madness. And that’s just how everyone preferred it.
A perfectly sunny and comfortable day blanketed the campus throughout the 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday night festivities accompanied by death-defying carnival rides that could only be washed down by fried twinkies and alcoholic suds (see 110-photo slideshow below).
On a night the Oyster Bake was also competing with the 100th Valero Texas Open golf tournament in town, Wrestlemania 38 in Dallas and the NCAA Men’s Final Four basketball games on television, the rock music came courtesy of headliners Pop Evil, Hinder, Puddle Of Mudd, and the Brett Scallions Band. Austin natives Black Heart Saints and Groove Monkey performed for the early afternoon revelers as well.
While Pop Evil played a bevy of tunes in the 9:15-10:30 p.m. slot, it was Hinder’s variety-filled performance and the continued road along the path of sobriety of Puddle Of Mudd frontman Wes Scantlin that were the most noteworthy storylines emanating from the rock stage.
Hinder, a replacement for originally scheduled Saint Asonia, also played a slew of its hits to the delight of the largest portion of the thousands in attendance. Hinder took advantage of the Bake’s ideal 7:30-8:30 p.m. time slot, which benefits bands even more than the headliner slot in terms of attendance due to the fact many families head home with their kiddos’ bedtime approaching as the final band is about to go on.
Hinder jacked up the energy, brought out the acoustic guitar and saw bassist Mike Rodden on several occasions jumping down from the stage to give fans a closeup look at his musicianship, including one jaw-dropping female who couldn’t believe she was inches from a rock star (see slideshow). Watch ATM footage below of the band performing “King of the Letdown.”
Scantlin, the only remaining original member of Puddle Of Mudd, has had his share of well-documented issues throughout the years. Arrests, alcoholism, bantering with fans on stage . . . you name it, Scantlin has probably done it. He has earned a reputation for often being a ticking time bomb waiting to happen to the point that if he makes it through an entire show without something going wrong, some may actually be disappointed by that.
Truth be told, with all the musicians we have lost in recent years — especially those who have purposely taken their own lives — music fans should be applauding Scantlin for the road to recovery he has taken. Scantlin and his band sounded great when they performed here in 2019 at the Aztec Theatre, and they continued again at the Bake. Scantlin brought the energy, the positive vibes and told the audience how much he loved them and San Antonio so often, you would’ve thought his life depended on it.
Perhaps it did. The fact that Scantlin is still performing “Control,” “Blurry,” “She Hates Me,” “Away From Me” and the group’s other hits rather than joining the suicidal or drug-riddled deaths that befell Chester Bennington, Chris Cornell, Scott Weiland, Mike Howe and, more recently, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins is a victory for Scantlin more than anyone, of course. But it’s a triumph that should be celebrated by everyone who enjoys rock music in general and/or Puddle Of Mudd’s contributions to the scene. Watch ATM footage below of “Spaceship.”
It’s hard to believe Pop Evil opened for Judas Priest and Whitesnake on July 25, 2009, at Freeman Coliseum and has been making music since 2008. Truth be told, vocalist Leigh Kakaty founded the band in Michigan in 2001, so it’s even more mind blowing to realize Pop Evil is celebrating more than 20 years.
The group, like many others, has persevered through several lineup changes and had another temporary one at the Bake. England-based drummer Hayley Cramer was experiencing visa issues and could not make the trip to S.A., Kakaty told the crowd. Blake Allison of the group Egypt Central “learned the set in 24 hours,” Kakaty said.
Kakaty also shared a story of how he ventured to North Star Mall shortly after landing in town and came across a little girl who asked if he was the vocalist of Pop Evil. After confirming, she evidently requested to hear “Inferno.” Kakaty, admitting that he was in “dad mode,” told her, “I’m sorry, but we’re not playing that tonight.” So of course, while sharing that anecdote, the band performed it. Kakaty then dedicated the ironically titled “Monster You Made” to “that sweet little angel.”
Watch ATM footage below of “100 In A 55” and the festival’s final two tracks “Trenches” and “Waking Lions.” This writer would’ve loved to hear the always uplifting “Last Man Standing” as well, but Pop Evil put that tune aside on this night (see setlist in slideshow).
The eponymous Brett Scallions Band featured three former members of Fuel in singer/guitarist Scallions, guitarist Jason Womack and drummer Shannon Boone. They performed a slew of hits from that group including “Shimmer” and “Hemorrhage (In My Hands).” Watch ATM Facebook Live footage of “Innocent” and “Falls On Me” plus video below of “Sunburn,” and see setlist in the slideshow.
While the Oyster Bake often recycles the same style of rock bands each year due to it being sponsored by 99.5-KISS FM, this year’s version was a welcome sight back no matter who was on stage. With several of these artists making their first appearance at the Bake, it only made it that much more of a good time on a (drum) stick. And music to everyone’s ears thanks in large part to St. Mary’s, its staff and volunteers.
The way festivals should be.
