Gallery: Jovi, hot dogs, cholos, brews and 'Lies'

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

Hundreds of spectators packed into the west-of-Arizona-Avenue side of Dr. A.J. Chandler Park in downtown Chandler on Oct. 3 and 4 for a fun early-autumn celebration.

Enjoying much cooler daytime and evening conditions than at a similar event in early fall of 2024, bands and brews flowed in the Rocktoberfest celebration of drink and food, with food trucks and fun contests accompanying the live music.

Dog races, hot-dog throwing, eating and stein-holding contests were held in between the afternoon and evening live-band sets on stage.

The father-son team and the rest of the Ultimate Bon Jovi band got the crowd into its music during the Oct. 4 sets.

Ultimate Bon Jovi was followed by the hilarious, resonating schtick and smooth tunes of the Red Hot Cholo Peppers, whose lead singer praised DayWeather, the opening band of the day, especially for the Red Hot Chili Peppers cover in its set.

Lies and Roses, a Guns & Roses tribute, headlined Saturday evening’s set, with lead singer Richard belting out the most Axl Rose-like vocals heard in Chandler in some time.

The Oct. 3 lineup for Rocktoberfest, sponsored by local brewers Huss and Santan, included cover band The Chadwicks and hair-band tribute The Dirt.

In between sets, Chandler’s Xavier Alvarado won one of the highly competitive stein-holding contests, while a woman named Alice entertained the crowd as one half of a successful hot dog throw-and-catch team.

Jason W. Brooks can be reached at jbrooks@iniusa.org.  Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our  Civility Guidelines.

INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.