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DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL 2014 | Donington Park | 13-15th June
* IS IT TIME TO GO BACK YET?! *
First and foremost – let me make all my excuses not crooked from the jump. It’s violently enough writing a review for individual band, on one night, in one place… You have to try and take in the air, clock key points, remember the division list… all whilst trying to truly enjoy the show instead of staring at the ‘notes’ app on your phone. Now take that direct of difficulty, multiply it by near 4 gaziliion, add a LOT of bands crack over 5 stages in a remarkable area of green field and throw in 3 days to which place it is completely acceptable (if not expected) to chop open a Strongbow at 8.30 in the peep of day. You see my dilemma right? I in truth am going to try my with most propriety, but I am not Multiple Man (hurt – Marvel geek moment) so it was that cannot be to cover all grounds. Plus I was also busy enjoying myself. Sue me.
I’ll differ off, logically so – on the Friday. After we’d arrived, plant up camp and downed a midday Jägerbomb, the primitive band I got myself down to look to was Royal Blood. I had heard strange things about these 2 Brighton lads – and from the exceedingly second I heard the opening of ‘Out Of The Black’ in c~tinuance Radio 1 (useless titbit – I actually signed up for the Radio 1 Playlister absolutely for this song. That should reply something right off the bat no?) I knew they were going to store up my attention firmly locked on them. I was not disappointed – and not either was anyone else in the packed used up crowd that obviously wanted a part of this as much as I did. What a raise to the weekend. If you’ve not had the solace of seeing this band live – conduce it your mission for this year. They are gonna have ~ing HUGE! Brilliantly powerful riffs, instantly likeable, catchy tunes and a staging presence that has you bouncing forward like Tigger on acid. GREAT BAND – and human being of the highlights of the good weekend for me.
Next up were Crossfaith. These guys gaze like Polly Pocket made a mini metal party version of their toy for the emo kids. They are SO abundant fun to watch. They have a much time on stage and are genuinely small enough to be ecstatic to have existence there. With stage diving and an awesome cover of The Prodigy – ‘Omen’, this is a chain that are sure to be invited back year subsequent to year.
Powerman5000. I’m not gonna malicious, I had never heard of them, only the way my head spun in a circle when they started playing almost require to be paid Aviva a whiplash claim. With a little of the Andrew WK’s nearly them, they were definitely different and they’re a company i’ll be checking up forward a lot in future. As as far as concerns Skindred… Well, they’re not indeed my bag and I must acknowledge I went off on a little wander when they came on (it was the decoy of the cocktail slushies in the Guest Area. I was powerless to counteract). What I DO know tho is that Benji Webbe looked nimble and started off a Harlem Shake. Yes you heard that proper – a Harlem Shake. At Download Festival.
Second from the rise above others on the bill was Rob Zombie. What each absolute L.E.G.E.N.D. I loved attention him, from the dreads, the skull mic stand, the make up (including the thousands in the horde who partook in ‘Zombie Friday’ and looked like they’d crawled rectilinear out of the ground – a feat I was only able to accomplish on the journey home on Monday), and the anthemic chant along tunes that reverberated around the principal stage. He put on quite the pretext. Not bad for a man who recently celebrated his 127th birthday! (JK RZ).
Now, I’m not a cool of Avenged Sevenfold. I’ve tried, honestly I have, but I’m proper not. ‘Hail to the King’ is alright, and ‘This Is War’ gets a favorable bit of play from me, but that’s about it. I apprehend, I know… I’m merely liking stuff from the newest album which is obviously a sacrilege in itself – to what degree very dare I? So I stayed as antidote to approximately 42 seconds before scuttling most distant to the Zippo Encore stage to watch The Offspring.
Much more desirable.
These guys played ‘Smash’ in it’s entirety. I was 10 when this album came thoroughly (another celebration of a 20 year long-cultivated album – shit, I’m pristine!) so the concept was pretty plenteous lost on me. Yeah guys, that’s principal and all, and ‘WOOHOO GO TEAM’ on this account that having so many years of lucky hit – but I (and I’m enduring I’m not alone on this unit) would have much preferred ‘Americana’ or ‘Conspiracy of One’ played not at home in full. Quite frankly, Dexter Holland looked like he was going through the motions. Although catalogue perfect and very well performed, he was up there on that stage with his for aye-present bleach job and social unite together suit jacket and I got the defined impression that his heart just wasn’t in it. The Offspring are a prominent Pop Punk band that formed a ample portion of the soundtrack to my minority – and with them only playing ‘Why Don’t You Get A Job’ and ‘Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)’ public of all of their countless hits, I felt cheated.
Saturday by-word me scampering off as fast of the same kind with my little pink welly clad legs would take me to the Pepsi Max stage-coach to see Marmozets. A band I had been defective to see for months and who be the subject of caused quite the stir of after the proper time. Rebecca Macintyre has got a unswerving set of lungs on her, but that she looks out of place fronting a ‘screech metal’ band. It’s like a part about her, all doe eyes and Disney princess good barnet doesn’t quite fit the poster. The audience seemed less than participating to affirmation the least, a few down the forepart (myself included) were belting out ‘Why Do You Hate Me’ while best they could muster, whilst the vast majority looked like they’d wandered into the erroneous tent. I stayed for 3 songs in the van of I lost interest.
Thank heavens sooner or later for small mercies. Mine came in the conceive of Bury Tomorrow on the vital stage. I’d heard of this fetter, but I’d never heard them – such was a casual bystander when they earliest came on. Let me tell you this. I esteem seen this band play ONE 45 sixtieth part of a degree set, and a week later I admit their entire back catalogue and require tickets to their UK Tour (October 2014 populate – get involved). They’re excellence. Somewhat politely spoken was this employee (Dan. That rhyme was unintentional. Promise.) gracing the face of the stage in his villanous spray-on jeans and hoodie, hitherto showing a cheeky rebellious streak through telling us repeatedly that their favourite figure was a circle and whirling his touch in the air like he was invigorating for a line dance. “You know what to do!!!” – yea, yes we did. (Circle pits were obviously strictly not to have ~ing enforced or encouraged. This stopped nay-one from enforcing and encouraging them). Then, matter extraordinary happened. The growl that he emitted made me genuinely worry because of his soul. Surely no earthly substance could make a sound like that? As demonically possessed taken in the character of it was – it was in a great degree melodic and, for a change through this kind of vocal, didn’t require you wince and want to throw a assortment of Strepsils at his head. Oh, did I cursory reference that this was only so remarkable because he is BEYOND beautiful? Like – in earnest. (Sorry – that was unprofessional. Do I await like I give a fuck?) Ahem, back from my touching – they are a solid belt, every member gets stuck in and they don’t disappoint. They are clearly along the course of to earth and like to take the piss and I genuinely consider that’s what will take them to their highest heights. Another highlight of the weekend.
Bowling For Soup. Yes. Yes. ALL OF THE YES! These guys are joyful, fun and provided some welcome instruction relief to the afternoon. As to this time another band celebrating a 20 year milestone (I be attentive a theme forming don’t you?) they powered from one side all their hits (‘Girl All The Bad Guys Want’ went from the top to the bottom of an absolute storm) and got everyone in c~tinuance their feet and smiling, laughing and chanting together with them to ‘kill the sheep’. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them, they were ace! (No positive animals were harmed during this execution – but that inflatable ewe took quite the beating).
After every one of that lightheartedness it was time to become back down to business and watch Killswitch Engage. Frontman Jesse is considerable and they come across as verily humble and pleased to be in that place. Also – I like his t-shirt. (Yeaaaaah I didn’t positively pay much attention to them, I was stocking up adhering Cider and waiting for Fall Out Boy).
I be delivered of seen Fall Out Boy 4 state of things now – and every time they influence better and better. It is complaisant to forget the countless super hits they possess until you’re standing in a range belting them out and holding 1 finger in the air and swirling it circular to ‘Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down’. (Don’t act incapable of speech – you know precisely the mouth-piece I mean!!!) They’re not a garrulous bunch ol’ FoB – but they set in as many smashers as they mayhap can in their sets and Patrick’s spoken sound doesn’t falter once. Even the for the greatest part Metally of Metallers were singing in a line to these guys. They are FANTASTIC and I in spite of one will go and see them frolic every opportunity I get.
As conducive to Saturday’s headliners Linkin Park, I managed to engender spectacularly lost from my group in a gleam of an eye and found myself fending not on a man with neon paint thrown ‘artfully’ in successi~ his face who kept trying to lick me. Yes you read that up~. LICK ME. I’ve only perpetually seen LP play live once – and ~t one-one had ever managed to surpass them for me. I felt positively shivers run down my spine which time the opening bars of ‘Papercut’ started up and I was shot back in time to my place of education days when that album first came off. Every single word was sung back to them ~ means of every single mother fucker in that herd. I was stood, fist balled up into my case, doubled over and screaming ‘CRAAAAAAAAAAWWWWLLLLLIIIIIIIING IIIIIIIIINNN MYYY SKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN’ like I was a first round contestant on the X Factor. I cried while they performed ‘Shadow Of The Day’ and ‘Wastelands’ and ‘Guilty All The Same’ made me forgive them for the shockers of albums they’ve bring forward out in the past few years. They’ve gone back to their roots – entirely record scratching, happy rapping and Chester’s neck mood. By the by - Chester Bennington is GOD. Just in this way you know. They are one of the hardly any bands who make their songs strait better than the CD and by solo’s from each member giving them the opportunity to showcase their absurd talent, they were in reality superb. Welcome back guys – you’re well and in fact back to your best.
Sunday dictum me spend 2 and a half hours in queue at the signing portable lodge waiting for a scribble from The Pretty Reckless (I got person – but that’s another invention). During this time the first act I got to beware perform was Richie Sambora. As a life long-winded Bon Jovi fan I was queer to see how this one would act out. As it turned out, it played used up precisely how I expected it to – ~ means of him dying a death. (Sorry Richie). Starting away with a song no-one had aye heard (and couldn’t hum back to you on the supposition that their life depended on it) he momentarily brought a glimmer of hope over the faces of the crowd by launching into ‘Lay Your Hands On Me’ – and promptly forgetting the discourse. It’s ok Richie – we be sure them. You stick to the harmonies yeah?
Sharp Dressed Man Joe Bonamassa was up nearest. In all fairness he’s a pretty cracking guitarist – but he didn’t sound a chord with me (sorry – that was awe-inspiring). After some last minute t-shirt shopping and a unproductive trip to the Jägermeister stage (in that place was no-one on) we made our highroad back to the main stage despite Steel Panther. With a following diverse any I have ever bore corroborate to, the crowd was a mass of men in hide tight leggings (with socks stuffed into disrepute them. No, really – I saying more fake bulges that day than I care to call to remembrance), and women with their tits disclosed (why is it never the poor, pretty ones? Just saying…) Watching this chain can only be compared to sleeplessness WWE. Bad acting, terrible hair cuts and worse outfits. You be sure it’s not real – trifle so preposterously ludicrous could ever have ~ing taken with anything but a stupendous pinch of salt – yet it’s strangely compelling and – venture I say it – some of the best entertainment I saw all weekend. With songs such as ‘Asian Hooker’ and ‘Pussy Whipped’ er… castigation the crowd into a frenzy they utterly deserve the cult following they have attracted. The single thing I will say is this: they talk too much. The theatrics are countless and so obviously such a discourse in cheek part of the prove (or is the whole show projecting part in cheek?), but I found myself looking at my watch hinder 10 minutes of babble and minded them to just play another sanguinary song. Please?!
All too willingly it was time for me to constrain a sharp exit and make my high~ to the Zippo Encore Stage to watch the sparkling, and devastatingly underrated Seether. Starting against their set with ‘Gasoline’ and powering through all the hits (‘Fake It’ and ‘Remedy’ inmost nature the obvious favourites) Shaun Morgan mixed up the arrangement of some of their songs (not ~ly how I feel about ‘Broken’ heart messed about with) but ultimately gave the fans the kind of we wanted. They teased us through some tracks off the new upcoming album (not at home July 2014) and if they are anything to fare by this newbie is going to have existence one of their best yet. The horde was nowhere near as big for the re~on that they deserved but never the inferior I’m looking forward to their 2014 course. If they’re coming to a city near you – go and suffer them. You won’t regret it.
Next were the coterie I’d been waiting to experience all weekend. The Pretty Reckless. Again, they are insanely underrated and, in imitation of almost 5 years are only deserved starting to get the kind of following that warrants them. Taylor’s gravelly, 60-a-daytime voice is note perfect and it at no time fails to astound me when it comes lacking of that tiny, blonde slip of a maiden standing on the stage behind her aviators. If I could warble like her I’d be like a fucking emo Maria Von Trapp and in no degree speak a word again. Every word would be sung. It’d be annoying as hell. I digress. Starting right side with ‘Follow Me Down’ (consummate with the sexually explicit moans and groans at the origin) they proved beyond all reasonable indecision that they are a SERIOUSLY of talent 4 piece. Although predominantly playing tracks from ‘Going To Hell’ it was cautious to hear some older tracks – ‘Red Blooded Woman’, ‘Miss Nothing’ and of road ‘Make Me Wanna Die’ amongst the footmark listing. As biased as I am towards this band I have to offer up more criticism. Taylor’s interaction with the host is limited at best, with her preferring to stand with her back to the crowd awkwardly grinding herself up the face of Jamie’s bass drum. Also, for the re~on that someone who has watched countless live performances ~ward YouTube – I’ve noticed that Taylor sticks to a script whenever it comes to what she says control each song. To be honest I intend this is something that will arrive in time – once she’s completely established herself and has shaken opposite to the image of the little maid from The Grinch once and with regard to all. She’s almost there, and they’re at rest my favourite band in the world.
Now people (if you’ve got this estranged – fair play) we are from a high to a low position to the last 2 bands. Opposing headliners forward different stages with a very favored (but brief) time overlap. The penultimate cincture of the weekend for us was Trivium. Before this lifetime if you’d said they’re authority to me you would’ve been greeted with a blank stare only the utterly clueless are skilful of achieving – but by the platform set up they were erecting, I knew I was in in quest of something a little bit different. There were polystyrene mountains attached the stage with dry ice pluming from the peaks and I had beyond peradventure no idea why. Half a line into the first song I knew I liked them. They were metal Jim, if it be not that not as we know it. Catchy, uplifting songs that every person in the crowd (bar me apparently) was singing word for word. I wish I could own stayed and seen more of these guys, however come on, let’s be positive here – Aerosmith were starting. I’m not gonna malicious to you boys and girls – I practically ran to that sheer stage, Arriving over the peak of the hill just in time for the introductory bars of ‘Eat The Rich’ I was greeted with the sight of 66 year advanced in years Steven Tyler in all white (including lean jeans even I wouldn’t exist brave enough to wear) and a famed big massive indian head-dress. Aerosmith esteem been top of my bucket inventory for approximately 20 years and I at this moment I was finally witnessing the brilliance I had been told likewise much about. I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. In deed, they were better than I could to the end of time had hoped for. Playing hit for hit after hit they just blew completely the other acts on the neb out of the water. Of total the men that had stood in c~tinuance that stage over the weekend – THIS was the rudimentary real Rock Star I had witnessed. He is NEXT LEVEL bright. Launching himself into the crowd and well stocked on frenching any poor unsuspecting woman he could be~ hold of, Tyler could be a vassal 30 years younger. Boundless energy, a vocal dimensions that only he is capable of achieving and of the like kind confidence in his abilities he made it gaze like the easiest thing in the world to get up and do. To exist fair – to him it probably is. ‘Love In An Elevator’, ‘Janie’s Got A Gun’, ‘Sweet Emotion’… he lawful kept them coming. Then he came in successi~ the stage on his own, form in a blue spotlight and started.
“I could stay watchful, just to hear you breathing….”
When I speech I have goosebumps as I form this and recall the event in such a manner vividly, I am not exaggerating. All 8 of us stood in that multitude, arms around each other, swaying in the summer adversity air and singing our little hearts used up. Never before has the lyric ‘I could stay missing in this moment forever’ been for a like rea~n significant. It is something I leave never ever forget and a recollection I will cherish forever. Sorry Linkin Park – you possess been completely and utterly usurped. Aerosmith, erect here and now cannot ever exist topped. They were INSANE and I am in the same state happy I got to see them.
All in every part of Download Festival 2014 was an prodigious weekend. I will most definitely have existence returning next year. Of all the contrasted festivals I have attended, these guys nailed it. They’re organisation was most honorable position notch, everything ran like clockwork and they have power to most certainly be attributed to attracting the most friendly, down to earth festival goers of them completely. But hey, that’s rockers despite you. I couldn’t imagine root a part of any other group of genera.
01 Jul
This entry was published adhering July 1, 2014 at 8:49 pm and is filed in Concert, Download Festival, Live Music, Metal, Music, Review, Rock. Bookmark the permalink. Follow ~ one comments here with the RSS subsist for this post.
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