So I wrote this once, but just as I hit post, the electricity went out, so the router went down and I lost my post. Thus, this may not be as complete as it should be since so much time has passed. That being said, here goes.
Due to jet lag and feeding the kids and Atlanta traffic, we arrived about 3:00 to the concert. So we missed Armor for Sleep, who I was quite interested in seeing. They have a good album, so I was disappointed. Hawthorne Heights apparently followed them, but we have seen them at a previous concert and they suck.
The Venue, Lakewood Amphitheatre:
We had trouble finding the Revolution Stage because it was outside an area that said, No Re-entry. We finally found it and got there in time to see 10 Years, but more on that a little later. The food was horrible. Chris had a hot dog and I had pizza. Both were nasty. The Main Stage area was open to walk through only for 5 hours. You could not sit or stop in the area. I failed to understand that. It was ridiculous. You also had to show your pit ticket every time you entered the seated area, despite having a pit wristband. It seemed excessive and redundant. The pit was incredibly small. No more than 7 people deep anywhere due to physical constraints. It was an incredibly tame pit, especially for the frenzy level of excitement during LP. The drinks were the highest priced that I have ever seen to the point of excessive, and I understand that this is venue pricing, but it seemed excessive for venue pricing. Overall, I did not like this venue and the food was awful.
Venue Grade: D-
10 Years:
I have been listening to 10 Years for 5-6 years now. I love their music and they put on a solid performance. We saw them in Dallas at an EdgeFest concert and they were awesome. Their songs are all solid and they put on another great performance. Jesse has a haunting voice, especially combined with the lyrics. I love that their songs have real meaning and those meanings can be argued, as Chris and I have done repeatedly. We found it interesting that Jesse cut the dreds. He now looks much more like an emo rocker, which may be more conducive to the style. They have hit a much bigger audience when they paired with Amnesty International for "Wasteland". This video is awesome and the lyrics are amazing. What I find even more amazing is that the song was originally written about drug addiction and when you see the original video, it seems so obvious. (Although Chris does not believe that, but I always was better than he was in English. 
) I love that their songs are very versatile and can be interpreted in a multitude of ways. They worked the crowd well, and chose a good time to play "Wasteland" and "Beautiful", their new single. Jesse emotes so well through his voice that he draws you into the music. Their new album is great and has shown tremendous growth, while maintaining true to the sound of 10 Years. We will go see 10 Years whenever possible. They are fabulous in concert.
Grade: A
Atreyu:
Atreyu took the stage next. They seem to be undergoing a metamorphisis. Their first three albums fall into the metalcore category, according to Wikipedia. These albums feature the lead singer screaming and no real talent. Their latest album though shows a lot more potential. I like "Becoming the Bull" and they opened with this. The drummer is actually a talented singer, but their lead vocalist is talentless and simply jumps around the stage. We watched the first song and then decided to leave, because we were not interested in hearing songs from the first three albums. Atreyu has potential if they drop the lead vocalist or balance him with the drummer's vocals much more in the Slipknot fashion.
Grade: C, but they could have the potential in the future to be much better
Street Drum Corps:
Busta Rhymes failed to show up, which was not a problem for me, so SDC got moved to the Main Stage. Chris and I were perplexed why they would be moved, but it made sense later on. We decided to squat on some seats in the covered area. SDC was an interesting band with drum-driven songs. Their lyrics were pedestrian, but the stage performance makes up for it. They have a lot of energy and had a 30 minute set that ended before you got bored of it. They then came out and opened for Linkin Park. They did an awesome job when the crowd was hyped and they were drumming to a Linkin Park beat. They also helped close out the show with LP on "Bleed It Out". It was quite awesome. They definitely worked hard and deserved the Main Stage nod. They were not bad, but I would not go to see them as a main act.
Grade: B-
Ashes Divide:
We saw this band at Band Camp. They performed consistent with their album. It was a repeat performance of Band Camp. They offer no improvement over their album, which is a definite standard that I apply. If I can get the same feel from pumping the music up at home, why should I pay to go to the concert? It is especially disappointing that Billy went from A Perfect Circle, a band that plays great music, to this adult contemporary/pop rock/whatever band. I felt he really devolved here. The band is nothing special and is filler. Not to mention that their stage performance is essentially non-existant.
Grade: C-
The Bravery:
Chris and I both knew that we were not interested in seeing The Bravery from the playlist that I listened to before the concert, but Chris was ready to get down in the pit before Cornell came on. The lead vocalist got up there and after playing their opening song, started talking about writing this new album mostly at the Pink Pony, an Atlanta strip club and I forget which restaurant. We stayed through two songs. His vocals were so off-key that it wasn't funny. He was either drunk or stoned. They sucked, but they did sound similar to their album. So I guess if you like their album and can handle some off-key notes and bad stage performance, then maybe you should pay to go see them. But they could not pay me, literally. You know they are bad, when I tell Chris, let's get out of the pit; I want to save my ear drums.
Grade: D-
Chris Cornell:
Chris Cornell has been lead vocalist for three huge rock bands and now has a solo career, so Chris and I were completely prepared for his ego to take over and have him be a punk. While we hoped that he would play Soundgarden and Audioslave songs, we did not hold out much hope. Considering that Temple of the Dog was Cornell with the guys that ended up forming Pearl Jam, I did not even consider that he would play any of those songs. It was not very encouraging either when they were asking you to text which song you wanted him to play and 4 of the 5 were off his new album. My opinion of his new album is not favorable. At one point I said, someone lied to him and said that he could sing and he believed them. I was not impressed with the new album.
Right before he walks out on stage, they start playing one of his Soundgarden/Audioslave songs instrumentally orchestra-style over the sound system. It definitely got the crowd hyped and he walked out on stage. He immediately launches into "Cochise" and all doubts vanish. He gained all kinds of respect in that moment for not punking everyone out. He proceeded to play two more old school songs back-to-back, chatted and then played a third. Then he starts in on "Hunger Strike", where Vetter normally performs back-up, and out walks Chester to fill the role. You want to talk about freakin' awesome. That was an amazing rendition. He follows that with a song off his new album, which I admit sounded better in concert. Then he starts with more Soundgarden and Audioslave hits. At one point he throws himself into the pit to crowdsurf. Security tries to pull him back to stage and he swings his legs to surf some more. The energy was electric. He finishes up with a new song, which again sounded better in person and exits the stage with a different old school instrumental-orchestral song playing over the sound system.
His performance was incredible. The crowd was hyped. It was like I attended a concert for all three of those bands. He put on a spectacular show. I would definitely pay to see him again.
Grade: A+
Linkin Park:
After Cornell exits, the excitement is on the rise. LP has one of the most elaborate stage set-ups that I have seen, next to U2. U2 puts on the best "show" for your money. The drums start and SDC walks out. They definitely take the crowd to the next level of hype. It was excited before they walked out. They take it to frenzied. Then LP walks out. Chris and I love LP and I cannot think of a song that I do not love of theirs, but we had said that several of their songs would just take the crowd to that next step and be "off the hook". They start with "One Step Closer". You want to talk about being blown away with shock; we did not expect them to start with that. It was crazy. The crowd knew every single word. Chester then goes straight into two more songs back-to-back. He was jumping all over the stage and downing Monster energy drinks at every rest. At this point, he is rivaling Steven Tyler in sheer energy, but after a couple of songs he backs off, so Steven still has the overall highest energy level of any performer.
They have the lights synched to one of the songs and Mike is more amazing than I thought. I realized that he rapped and wrote a lot of the songs, but I had no clue that he was so talented with instruments. He played the keyboard and guitar and was amazing. I have a whole new level of respect for him. He also put on a great performance singing. He is extremely talented.
They play a ton of songs and the energy of the crowd never flags. Then Chester starts "Crawling" and Chris Cornell walks out. I cannot even describe the level that the crowd energy went to at that point. They finish with "In the End" and leave the stage.
They come back for an encore and play "What I've Done", "Faint", and "Bleed It Out" with SDC on drums. That final song was amazing with the enhanced drums. That is definitely a song where talented drummers shine. LP leaves the stage and SDC beats it down to the end.
Overall, LP is the best band that I have seen. While U2 puts on a better "show" aspect with their laser screens and elaborate sets, and Aerosmith has more sustained raw energy, LP was the best. The crowd far outdid any of the other concerts that I have been to. The money we spent on pit tickets was well worth the price and I would spend it again just to see LP; as it was we also got to see 10 Years and Cornell as a bonus.
Grade: A+++
Overall:
Despite the heat, bad food, and exorbitant food price, the concert was awesome. LP was incredible. Chris Cornell allowed me to see all three bands that he has been a part of and 10 Years always delivers a solid performance. Everybody else I would skip and I would definitely not pay to see. (Armor for Sleep being the one band that I will exempt, since we missed them.) Definitely worth the price!
Overall: A