Grungefest: The Night My Soul Finally Breathed Again
- Mickey Miller
- Jan 17
- 4 min read
The past few weeks—honestly closer to a month—have been rough. I was laid off from work for two weeks while also dealing with health issues with my elder beagle. When you’re carrying that kind of stress and worry every day, it starts to feel like nothing is moving forward, or even feels like it’s getting better.
Then came Grungefest.
Grungefest is something everyone should check out. It’s a powerful combination of tribute bands honoring Stone Temple Pilots and Alice in Chains. The Stone Temple Pilots tribute band, Creep, kicked off the night, followed by the Alice in Chains tribute band, Hollow. Together, they brought everything that made the grunge era so powerful.....raw emotion, heavy sound, and unapologetic honesty. Every musician on that stage gave it their all, and it showed. Each member of both tribute bands did an incredible job bringing this music to life.
I got to the venue just before the first band came on. What should have been a 40-minute drive turned into well over an hour thanks to horrible road conditions, but the moment I walked inside, none of that mattered anymore.
One of the things that made this night so special for me was the vocalist for both tributes, Mick Blankenship. I first saw Mick perform a few years ago at Rock 4 Vets, and I was instantly hooked. His stage presence, his vocal ability, and the way his lyrics pull you in—it’s pure talent. Not the manufactured kind you see so often today, but raw, old-school, 80s-style talent. The kind of talent you had to have back in the day to make it. I’ve been a fan ever since.
Before Mick went on stage, I got to hang out and talk with him, we talked about music, family, venues and fans. I will say, I felt genuinely happy for him, seeing the excitement building and knowing how many people were about to cheer him on. I was sporting my Rock Soldiers hoodie, repping Mick for the night, and it felt exactly right.
I don’t know if it’s the promoter in me, or if it comes from years of working with bands and putting on shows, but I’m always on my toes making sure my friends and their bands are being taken care of and treated well. I’ve always believed that bands deserve to be treated like rockstars, this isn’t just a hobby, this is their livelihood, their passion, and the embodiment of who they are. If you take care of the bands, they’ll give you everything they have on that stage, and it means a lot to see that same respect and care reflected back.
There is something about live music that just changes everything inside you. I wasn’t just there to hear live music, I was there to support someone I truly believe in. Instead of simply attending a concert because it featured my favorite bands, I found myself taking in the crowd, feeling the energy in the room, and watching someone I believe in receive the recognition he so deeply deserves.
When Creep took the stage, watching Mick take on Scott Weiland’s persona was captivating. The swagger, the movement, the attitude...he didn’t just perform the songs, he embodied them. The crowd locked in immediately, and the energy in the room surged.
Then Hollow took over, and the mood shifted into something darker and heavier. Taking on Layne Staley’s vocals is no small feat, but Mick handled it with authenticity and deep respect. He captured the tone, emotion, and haunting depth that defines Alice in Chains without turning it into imitation. It was raw, powerful, and emotionally charged.
One of the coolest moments of the night was during the Alice in Chains set when Mick went live on TikTok, allowing the entire Mick Blankenship Rock Soldiers community to watch in real time. Being trusted to hold his phone so his TikTok fans could be part of the experience was truly an honor.
I walked out of this concert with a full heart and a full soul. I walked out in complete awe of Mick’s performances. And most of all, I walked out proud to say, that is my friend. I also made sure to take a piece of the night home with me, grabbing a Grungefest shirt and heading to Mick’s website to purchase his signature drumsticks to add to my growing collection of memorabilia. Some nights are worth holding onto forever.
What a perfect night.
Next weekend, people will get to see Mick not as a tribute vocalist, but as himself, an independent artist performing his own music. I can’t wait to watch him take that stage and do what he does best.
If you have never seen or heard of Mick Blankenship, please go check out his music. Follow him on social media, watch his YouTube videos, and really take the time to listen. If his music touches your soul and you believe in what he’s doing, please consider supporting him, whether that’s by donating, buying his merch from his website, or subscribing directly through his site. In this day and age, it truly takes the fans to help independent artists get out on the road and keep the music alive.
Tonight didn’t fix everything, but it gave me hope. And right now, that’s more than enough.
Peace, Love and Loud Music
Mickey
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