X-96 BASH, USANA Amphitheatre, Saturday

WEST VALLEY CITY — Although it's nearly a week into autumn, thousands of music lovers headed to the USANA Amphitheatre to celebrate summer's last gasp with the X-96 BASh Saturday.

And this year there was no rain.

There were 12 national bands and seven local bands that played on two stages throughout the all-day festival. And while the Live and Local stage shows ran only from noon to 3:30 p.m. some fans were torn between seeing their favorite local band or seeing their favorite national band.

Still, the local artists — Larusso, Fail to Follow, the Market, Steady Machete, Fourteen Days From Forever, Funk and Gonzo, and Elizabethan Report — held their own with a little bit of sweat, determination and fine playing.

While local-band fans were moshing around the little stage, the USANA main stage, which was divided in two, was accommodating the quick-paced 12-band schedule.

Mury, the Brobecks and InnerPartySystem set the tone with their short, punchy sets. And by the time Mindless Self Indulgence hit the stage, the audience was primed and ready.

MSI's set took off with a bang. And lead singer Jimmy U. had the audience in the palm of his hand. With his hyperactive stage presence and vocal delivery that rivals the great John Lydon during his Johnny Rotten days with the Sex Pistols, Jimmy U. was all over the stage but didn't miss a beat with his singing.

The band — guitarist Steve Righ?, drummer Kitty and bassist Lyn-Z — amped it up with "Mastermind" and "Stupid MF" while Jimmy twirled his microphone stand like a baton and a martial arts staff.

MSI members seemed a bit surprised at the energy the audience showed during the early afternoon set.

"It's too early," said Jimmy U. "But you are the most beautiful audience in the world — until tomorrow." MSI set the standard for the rest of the bands — Local H, Ludo, 10 Years, Trapt, Atreyu, Jack's Mannequin, Hawthorne Heights and Shiny Toy Guns — who were scheduled to follow.

One of the highlights of the day came when Ludo pulled out a great version of Faith No More's "Epic." But all the bands played well and connected with the audience, although during the first part of Trapt's set, the band looked a little jet lagged.

However, with a good live sound mix and dozens of adoring fans screaming along to any and every lyric they could, the bands wasted no time and gave their all.

The festival was emceed by "Radio From Hell" DJs Gina Barberi, Kerry Jackson, with appearances by Todd Nuke 'Em.

Each year X-96 organizes and executes the BASh. It takes a lot of work, and the ones who benefit are the fans.

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E-mail: scott@desnews.com