D ARIEN CENTER –Buffalo was the final stop for Crue Fest Tour 2009 – and the perfect way to end the summer –at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center Saturday night.

You could hear the energy from the main stage right as you walked in. It was the up-and- coming band simply known as Charm City Devils ripping its hit single, “Let’s Rock-N-Roll.” The band brought an energy and stage presence sure to be familiar to many more people soon, as Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx and his record label Eleven Seven have signed them.

On the Monster Energy side stage was Tampa Bay’s own 16 Second Stare. It clashed blues-like lyrics with New Age metal and rock ’n roll sound. It pounded out hits from its new album, “Red Carpet Material.” I was able to catch singer Chris Davis after the show and asked him what it was like to perform at Crue Fest. “It’s amazing; it’s a great feeling being here,” he said.

The next two acts at the main stage set the bar for the night. Drowning Pool brought the scream to the crowd, playing such favorites as “Bodies” from the days of the late Dave Williams and more recent songs, like “Step Up” and “37 Stitches.”

Then Theory of a Deadman took over and rocked out hits from albums “Gasoline” and “Scars and Souvenirs.” Its final song of the set, “Bad Girlfriend,” really got the crowd going.

As I arrived at Rev Theory’s performance headlining the Monster Energy side stage, I was blown away. The band ripped out every ounce of energy it had, having the crowd belting out hits like “Light It Up” and “Favorite Disease,” off the album “Light It Up.” Rev Theory gave one of the most impressive shows of the entire night and definitely didn’t disappoint the crowd packed around the stage.

When the Monster stage came to a close, it was back up top to the main stage as Godsmack

jammed to the great songs of its past, as the band has not put out an album in about three years. The highlight was the close out, in which lead singer Sully came out on a second drum-set and jammed side by side with the current drummer. It was one of the most creative performances of the night.

Then headliners Motley Crue came on and blew the pyrotechnics up and rocked the entire “Dr. Feelgood” album from track one to its end, celebrating its 20th anniversary. The set was spectacular and the set list was full of its greatest hits since the “Dr. Feelgood” album.

Overall, this had to be the concert of the summer for rock fans, an ideal blend of the old rock and new.

Alex Kaluzny is a junior at Lockport High School.