Rock In Rio Day One — A musical overview

“I feel like we’re gonna make a lot of new friends today,” proclaimed Saints of Valory singer Gavin Jasper to the earliest strangers on opening day of Rock in Rio USA.

He knew the melodic Austin rock band was the only game in town, as those trickling in the main gates found their way to his stage on a unseasonably blustery Friday.

Still, he was probably right. New friendships were forged and old ones rekindled all through this scattershot musical day.

“I like you guys. I feel a good energy right now,” proclaimed Smallpools singer Sean Scanlon.

If Friday was the festival’s “get acquainted” day with the new $25 million City of Rock fairgrounds, and you spent part of your $169 day distracted by the leprechaun dancing on the medicine ball, the music at least made a strong enough impression to inspire followup YouTube visits.

The lineup was in a sense the weakest of the four days (continuing May 15 and 16), or at least the only one lacking a universal draw. Ageless ’90s pop-rockers No Doubt and Mexican rockers Mana can each fill arenas, but their fan bases don’t much overlap, and Saturday headliner Metallica can still pack a stadium.

Friday was more the eclectic musical sampler, where the whole added up to more than the parts. But those who came for the music found success at both ends of the mile, from a still-endearing No Doubt to the amazing 18-piece “frevo” big band of Spok, aka saxophonist Inaldo Cavalcante de Albuquerque.

The sound and video systems are pristine, though the main stage is angled into the site in a way that leaves less room than you’d think for those trying to squeeze up close. Far easier to hang back and watch the two side screens while still listening at front-row volume.

A couple of acts much care if you looked at them anyway. Gary Clark, Jr. talked with his guitar, with big blues-rock hooks spelled by eloquent phrasing that sounded equally authoritative if you were crowded up front or wandering around checking out the beer choices. (And let me save you micro-brewery guys some steps: Looks like Corona and Modelo cut an exclusivity deal to monopolize the place.)

Foster the People was more about silhouettes and video patterns on the secondary Evolution Stage. All the luckier that the clarity of the sound system delivered the piano and ambient keyboard sounds on the likes of “Coming of Age.”

Smallpools offered the same kind of tuneful, textured pop on the main stage, only frontman Scanlon worked harder to make contact. At one point he even asked the crowd to pocket their phones for a minute to “experience real life together.”

Scanlon would have liked Theopholis London, the singer-rapper who stepped in as a last-minute sub for Bleachers on the second stage. If London’s playfully stoney hip-hop party had broken out later in the evening instead of when most people were first showing up, he would have had a lot more takers follow his dance-lesson lead from the stage.

Then again, this was billed as “Rock Weekend,” not “eclectic, Life Is Beautiful, college-radio, whatever passes for alternative rock these days weekend.” Metallica fans killing time with their two-day pass got a test preview of sound system’s peak volume levels and a dose of Guns N’ Roses-style ’80s bluster with The Pretty Reckless, and former “Gossip Girl” Taylor Momsen doing her “Legends in Concert” tribute to Axl Rose on “Heaven Knows.”

Mana followed on the main stage at what literally seemed like half that volume. Their Spanish-language set worked hard to be the most inclusive, delving into Santana territory with “Corizon Espinado” and immediately following it with some Prince-funk guitar boogie in “Dejame Entrar.”

No Doubt also reminded us they are quite the musical samplers, dipping into reggae waters on “Underneath It All” and the band’s Southern California ska origins on “Ex-Girlfriend.”

The band didn’t come onstage until midnight. Some were filing out while others were just hitting their dance-party peak for “Hella Good” and “Hey Baby.” Sonic details emerging from fun, simple songs seemed to be the overriding theme of the day

Gwen Stefani’s marching orders for the tired or flagging: “I’m not messing around tonight. You better do what I tell you to do or you’re gonna be in serious trouble.”

No trouble, ma’am. As Smallpools’ singer Scanlon had earlier determined, “It’s a good moment.”

Read more from entertainment reporter Mike Weatherford at bestoflasvegas.com. Contact him at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter: @Mikeweatherford