From Jelly Roll to Chili Peppers, the best, worst of Harley-Davidson festival in Milwaukee

If every five years wasn't enough, is every year too much?

That was the question going into the Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival this past weekend in Milwaukee.

Traditionally, the motorcycle company had thrown a big bash, often with big concerts from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and Aerosmith, every five years. But with Harley's 120th anniversary last year, the party was rebranded the Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival, the first of what's become an annual event.

Like last year, the 2024 centerpiece was two days of concerts at Veterans Park Friday and Saturday. But just one year later, if they built it, would Harley fans and music lovers still come?

That they did, in big numbers — thanks to A-list headliners like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jelly Roll, with attendance likely on par with the more than 80,000 people who came to the concerts last year. And unlike this year's Summerfest, Tacos and Tequila Festival with Ludacris, and Noah Kahan and Dave Matthews Band's summer shows at Alpine Valley, this year's Harley Homecoming was blessed with perfect weather.

And honestly, the Veterans Park portion of the festival was about as perfect as can be, with smooth operations throughout and shorter lines for Harley merch — one of the biggest hiccups from an otherwise strong first year. Even my phone service worked perfectly in the packed park, with texts going through and web pages loading up quickly late into the night. (Alpine Valley operator Live Nation, take note.)

So, yeah, Harley-Davidson made the right decision to keep the Homecoming Festivals coming.

Here's some of the best, worst and wildest of what we saw at the Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival's Veterans Park concerts this year.

More: Red Hot Chili Peppers disappoint at Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival 2024 in Milwaukee

More: Jelly Roll, Hardy and surprise guest MGK rock 2024 Harley-Davidson Homecoming in Milwaukee

Best set

It's wonderful to see an artist do something special for a major festival headlining set, but more often than not, it's just another gig. But there is no "just another gig" for country superstar Jelly Roll, a convicted felon and recovering drug addict who recognizes how blessed he is to have escaped a life seemingly destined for prison or an early grave, and makes each performance deeply personal and poignant. For the Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival, what he called the biggest Midwest show he's ever done in his career, he really made an effort to make this set truly special, from bringing out co-headliner Hardy for Garth Brooks' "Friends in Low Places" to Priscilla Block for the big finale "Save Me." And there were two other even bigger and better surprise guests …

Biggest surprise guest

Two days before his performance at the Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival, Jelly Roll revealed, he made a call to MGK, also known as Machine Gun Kelly, inviting him to make a surprise appearance during his set. MGK didn't hesitate — even rolling into town to ride his Harley around Milwaukee a day early, Jelly Roll said. On stage, the two teamed up to perform their collaborative single "Lonely Road" for the first time, as well as Jelly Roll's "Need a Favor" and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Simple Man." It was a savvy marketing move, considering the song also came out on Friday, the day of Jelly Roll's Harley set. But there's little doubt of MGK's sincerity when he thanked Jelly Roll, his friend of 15 years, "for helping bring out the best side of me, as a man, as a father, as an artist. … I love those calls that we have where you sit with me for hours, man, when I'm at the lowest lows and you make me feel so high."

Best surprise guest

Jelly Roll's set was loaded with big name guests, but the most exciting guest — certainly for the performer — was an aspiring 13-year-old rapper from Oshkosh named Brady, who confidently took the stage to flawlessly rap Tech N9ne’s verses for Jelly Roll’s “Creature" as if he'd been performing in front of 35,000 people for years, earning chants of his name from thousands and plenty of praise from Jelly Roll himself. Making this moment all the sweeter: This was the same kid who surprised Jelly Roll when he was invited to rap at his Milwaukee show last year. That Jelly Roll and his team remembered him, and brought him back for his latest Wisconsin show, was an incredible gesture.

Most disappointing set

In 2012, Red Hot Chili Peppers made the No. 2 spot on my list of best Milwaukee concerts of the year. In 2024, their Harley headlining show Saturday is a strong contender for worst Milwaukee concert I've seen this year.

That the band, making their first Milwaukee stop in seven years, skipped their biggest hit "Under the Bridge" but played multiple newer songs suggests they don't want to be labeled a nostalgia act — except the new songs are uninspired retreads of their old stuff, which was even more apparent live. That frontman Anthony Kiedis and guitarist John Frusciante dedicated their most passionate performances to ho-hum newer songs "Aquatic Mouth Dance" and "Eddie," respectively, felt like a waste, especially since they were largely going through the motions for everything else. "We gave you everything we've got," Kiedis said at the end of the night, to tepid applause from a mellow crowd that had been thinning out throughout the set. Do you think he knew he was lying, or was he just that delusional?

Most political acts (across a wide spectrum)

You've got to hand it to Harley-Davidson for being willing to book acts for the Homecoming that span the political spectrum. On Friday, the festival had Hardy condemning "(expletives) that live in this country that aren't proud to live in this (expletive) country," who called the United States "the greatest (expletive) country on this planet." Then on Saturday, there was California punk band Destroy Boys, with Alexia Roditis singing a song about being gender-nonconforming and casting doubt about the sincerity of "to serve and protect" via scathing governmental takedown "For What." There may not be much overlap in that Venn diagram when it comes to political beliefs between those two fan bases, but what Hardy and Destroy Boys have in common is defiance, conviction and blistering live sets.

Best Wisconsin fill-in

Priscilla Block didn’t have the benefit of having Justin Moore with her Friday to sing their duet “You, Me, and Whiskey,” so she did the next best thing. She brought her bassist, Waukesha native Josh Beale, up front to sing Moore’s parts, which he did with aplomb. Milwaukee’s own Djay Mando also had a couple of sets Saturday, but I’d really like to see Harley book a few more acts from its hometown next year for its homecoming festival.

Best sets most Harley festgoers missed

I was impressed with Nashville rockers the Criticals' creative approach to Strokes-style post-punk, and by Japanese punk band Otoboke Beaver's electric anarchy. What a pity that they drew such small crowds. The former was given the first slot Saturday, and the latter was stuck on the small, secondary Iron Stage later that night between the Offspring and Red Hot Chili Peppers, when nearly everybody was busy either staking a spot for the headliner, hitting the bathroom or getting a drink or dinner.

Most welcome resurrection of a Camp Randall tradition

Cypress Hill explained that they end all of their sets around the world with a run-through of House of Pain’s “Jump Around.” But I doubt there’s anywhere in the world where that song is appreciated more than Wisconsin, given the “Jump Around” tradition at Camp Randall for Badgers games. So when Cypress Hill’s Harley crowd was asked to crouch down to make the most of their jumping around, they were more than happy to oblige.

Worst time for sound issues

“It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for,” Warren Zeiders teased before playing his final song Friday, and his biggest hit, “Ride the Lightning.” That made it the absolute worst moment for sound problems to show up, which they did with some hideous static seizing the spotlight from Zeiders and the band. Fortunately, a tech fixed it fast, in time for Zeiders and company to jam out for the song’s finale.

Biggest product boost (besides Harley-Davidson)

Nicotine pouch brand Zyn had a trailer on site that offered products, and often had a longer line than the Harley merchandise store. But I’d wager Zyn marketers were happiest when Hardy asked for a Zyn from the crowd, prompting about 10 fans to throw their cans to the stage. Hardy caught one can, took one pouch, and autographed the can for the fan as payment.

Coolest Harley salute

The theme of this year's Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival was a celebration of Willie G. Davidson. The grandson of company co-founder William A. Davidson and son of former company president William H. Davidson, Willie G. Davidson has left his own mark on the company over a 49-year career, retiring in 2012 as chief stylist officer. There were multiple celebrations throughout the weekend, but at Veterans Park, the now 91-year-old Willie G. Davidson was the namesake of the main stage, and he made an onstage appearance before the Red Hot Chili Peppers with his children. The crowd roared.

Best bonus show

Having the Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival overlap for one day with the WaterStone Air & Water Show seemed like a recipe for nightmarish traffic. I didn't experience any traffic parking shortly before the first set Saturday, but seeing jets ripping and hearing them roar through the sky, with pilots pulling off incredible acrobatic flips was a hell of a backdrop Saturday afternoon — and also Friday afternoon with air show rehearsals during Hank Ruff and Priscilla Block's sets. Honestly, I think it would be really cool if the Harley fest happened the same weekend as the air show every year.

Best off-site guest appearance because of Harley fest

Considering Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith plays on Hardy's "Good Girl Phase," I reckon some fans expected him to show up to play the song Friday. No such luck, although Smith was indeed in town. He just had a much more personal gig to do — jamming with his Milwaukee-based older brother Brad Smith. The elder Smith played with his band Kitty Soft Paw at Ope Brewery Friday, which included a guest appearance from his Rock and Roll Hall of Famer younger brother.

Possible Harley Homecoming headliner clue for 2025?

Among the videos hyping up Harley between sets at the Willie G. Davidson Stage, there were multiple ads for Traveller Whiskey, which is owned by Chris Stapleton. Naturally Traveller Whiskey was a fest sponsor to get those ads, but is it possible country superstar Stapleton has already been locked in to headline the Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival next year?

Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or [email protected]. Follow him on X at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: From Jelly Roll to Chili Peppers, the best, worst of Harley Homecoming