Post by Catfood on Jun 14, 2005 23:54:11 GMT -5
I was determined not to go to this festival following how dire the '03 event was. If there was an excuse not to go, I probably thought of it. However, Kev was even more determined that we should go. And after much arguing and a look at the line up, I finally agreed that I would go. If nothing else, it was a weekend off work.
Wed/Thurs:
Travelled down to Download on the Wednesday, getting lost along the way(Kevs fault). Anyway, we finally get there and find that there is massive walk to the campsite, which is not fun when you are loaded down with camping gear and booze. But we finally get in, get tents up and get the beers open. Well I do, Kev had sworn off the booze. This lasts for all of 2 hours. So we pass the time sitting, chatting and trying to decide whether some of the people are fatter than me. Then its a quick walk around, get wristbands and then back to the camp.
Thursday is much of the same until Vic turns up, actually can't remember that much about Thursday. Drank too much, went on some fairground rides and met some friends of Vics. Anyway, Vic and Kev decide to go to bed, I call them wusses and go and watch the Five a side football with my bottle of whiskey and coke. I end up collapsing and being taken back to my tent by the security, apparently one of them told Kev that if I didn't behave I'd be kicked off the site. Nice.
Friday:
We all decide to head out to the Snickers stage to see Flogging Molly who are very good. Fozzy who are pretty dire and Lordi who are good despite the fact that they are pure cheese on toast. Then me and Vic watch Underoath who do very inventive Hardcore with some nice use of electronics. Then I take a walk around, looking at stuff, quite drunk by now if I remember rightly, then decide to see a band. I decide to go and see Hurricane Party on the Napster stage, who are fucking awesome, I think the nearest comparison is The Darkness, only better. One of the finds of the weekend and definately worth checking out. After a quick trip to the bar I decide to check out A Change Of Pace, who are exactly that and after Hurricane Party sound really dull. After 3 songs I walk out. But it's back to the Napster stage for Paradise Lost, who really should have been on the main stage, they are quite brilliant and dedicate "One Second" to the British media for ignoring them for 15 years. I was going to see Raging Speedhorn and I can't remember why I didn't. Damn, my memory's hazy. Anyway, its off to see Feeder on the mainstage, Feeder have everything to prove and they come out rocking. Much of the stuff from the new album is ditched for the rockier older stuff and they quite possibly are the band of the festival. Songs like "High", "Insomnia", "Perfect Day" and "Buck Rogers" are fantastic, its easy to tell Feeder are enjoying their headlining slot. Then its off to see the caberet on the Napster stage which is pretty good. Then its back to the camp and then ummmm...
Saturday:
Me and Vic intend to see Hondo Maclean, but first we have to endure The Children Of Fortune. Who are annoying, so we go and get food and beer, but sit outside the Snickers tent and are still able to hear them. They don't get any better. Hondo Maclean are quite good though but I only see a few songs as The Mad Capsule Markets are on the main stage. Why MCM aren't huge I will never know, they are inventive enthusiastic and they boast the most attractive man in the world as their guitarist. I'm not gay but...anyway they rock and then its back to see Open Hand on the Snickers stage. I almost get killed in the crush of people fleeing the stage after American Head Charge have played, but to be fair, these people don't know what they're missing. Open Hand are a band I'm quite obsessive about, think QOTSA meets Smashing Pumpkins and to be fair they are fucking awesome live. Its slightly annoying that the drummer and the keyboardist are doing all the talking, but the moment singer, Justin Isham, opens his mouth, its quite clear that the guy is on another planet. Anyway, its onto see a little bit of Bowling For Soup, who are good at what they do. Then I go and see Days Of Worth on the Snickers Bowl stage. I kinda wish I hadn't. Don't get me wrong, I like them, but the stage is miles away from the crowd, there is no atmosphere or crowd interaction. Then its over to the Napster stage to see Towers Of London, I saw a picture of one of these guys in Kerrap! and they looked like an '80's hair metal revivalist band, I went thinking they could be fun. The moment they take the stage, I know I'm wrong. Swaggering, arrogant and fucking brilliant. The singer in himself is a star in the making, heckling the bottle throwers and just looking every inch the rock star he was meant to be, I'm sure there's more cliche's I could use, but the fact the music was great too made them even better. These guys are playing Reading, FUCKING CHECK THEM OUT. After that I go and meet Kev to watch some BMXers jumping about and then go and see The Explosion. Who lets face it are bound to be shit after Towers of London. And they were. So I join back up with Kev who decides he wants a burger, though he wants a burger from one of the vans facing the main stage, unfortunately HIM are playing at the time and lets face it, HIM owe everything they know to latter day Paradise Lost. Only watered down so that it appeals to young girls. I quickly move away before my brain turns to mush and I start getting heartagrams tatooed on me. I think I went to see Lucky Nine, but I must have walked out after one song. Then I went to see Black Sabbath who the only thing I can remember about them is that they weren't as loud as they were when I saw them at Milton Keynes Bowl in '98. The I went to see the caberet again, who were bottled mercilessly unless it was nubile young dancers on stage, which to be fair was uncalled for because they put on a good show. Then it was back to the campsite and a bit of booze before bed. Then I was woken up by Kev and Vic, its Kevs birthday of course, reaching the right old age of 25. So we sit up all night drinking to his health. Vic on the other hand has pulled and is "entertaining" in his tent and is heckled mercilessly by me and Kev. Some guys turn up with a bong looking for a light and offering me a hit on it. The bong is the hardest thing I've ever had to use and I end up burning my eyelashs. Anyway, we stay up until 8 in the morning. Gonna suffer, I know I am.
Sunday:
Well, I was right, I had to be woken up by Kev and Vic. Really don't want to get up. Anyway, waiting to get into the arena, someone spots my The Streets t shirt(which to be fair I did wear to try and get some reaction) and I start to fear for my life. The first port of call is the Napster stage to see Henry Rollins do his stand up routine, which is hillarious. Then its over to see if Gizmachi are any good, they're not. Then I went to see Papa Roach who seem good, but I don't seem to taking any of it in. I go to see Caliban and I realise I'm not feeling too good at all. Tired? Dehydrated? Sunstroke? I dunno, but I go back to camp for a for an hours kip and feel much better, so I go see The Glitterati who seem quite good at their melodic rock. Then I take a walk around the market and finally find the Guiness bar, which is quite possibly the best idea at a festival ever. Though maybe saved for a last day treat. Anyway, for no reason at all, I decide to see Nightwish who are fucking good, the female singer in particular had a voice that made me think "I miss my cats." Unfortunately, due to them being held up at the airport, they only get to play 4 songs, something that really doesn't please the guitarist/singer. Anyway, I'm in the mood for some goth, so I go and see Lacuna Coil, who were pretty average. After that I go and see some Slayer who are better than I remember, before going to check out Team Sleep. I wish I had of stayed with Slayer, Chino's side project are fucking dull. Disappointed I go and checkout Slipknot. I really wish I hadn't. There were so many good bands this weekend and of all of them, Slipknot were one of the worst. I'm not the biggest Slipknot fan, but let me put this into perspective. I caught the end of Society 1's set earlier in the day and the singer was suspended by meathooks through his back screaming like his life depended on it. The best Slipknot can do, some guy hanging from his drumkit while they play their limp death metal. I walk off in disgust, to be fair, I'm not the only one. But then its Therapy? Who quite possibly could be the only band in the world to put a smile back on my face at that time. They are fucking amazing and to be fair are thoroughly deserving of their headlining slot and they make the most of it, even if there is nothing from Semi-Detached. Then its System Of A Down and I dunno, they should have been great, but they weren't. It didn't help that they looked as if would rather be somewhere else and at the beginning it sounded as if they were just just going through the motions. It got better as the set progressed and just as they really started getting into it, they fucked off. No encore, no nothing.
Well, anyway its an early night for an early start. And we have to lug all the stuff back to car. Then I realise my driving has gone to pot, how I didn't kill both me and Kev is beyond me. But on a whole, a good weekend, plenty of bands, some good, some bad and far too much booze drank. The organisation didn't suck as much as I remember, but something really should be done about the amount of walking you have to do. Above all that am I going next year? Maybe.
Wed/Thurs:
Travelled down to Download on the Wednesday, getting lost along the way(Kevs fault). Anyway, we finally get there and find that there is massive walk to the campsite, which is not fun when you are loaded down with camping gear and booze. But we finally get in, get tents up and get the beers open. Well I do, Kev had sworn off the booze. This lasts for all of 2 hours. So we pass the time sitting, chatting and trying to decide whether some of the people are fatter than me. Then its a quick walk around, get wristbands and then back to the camp.
Thursday is much of the same until Vic turns up, actually can't remember that much about Thursday. Drank too much, went on some fairground rides and met some friends of Vics. Anyway, Vic and Kev decide to go to bed, I call them wusses and go and watch the Five a side football with my bottle of whiskey and coke. I end up collapsing and being taken back to my tent by the security, apparently one of them told Kev that if I didn't behave I'd be kicked off the site. Nice.
Friday:
We all decide to head out to the Snickers stage to see Flogging Molly who are very good. Fozzy who are pretty dire and Lordi who are good despite the fact that they are pure cheese on toast. Then me and Vic watch Underoath who do very inventive Hardcore with some nice use of electronics. Then I take a walk around, looking at stuff, quite drunk by now if I remember rightly, then decide to see a band. I decide to go and see Hurricane Party on the Napster stage, who are fucking awesome, I think the nearest comparison is The Darkness, only better. One of the finds of the weekend and definately worth checking out. After a quick trip to the bar I decide to check out A Change Of Pace, who are exactly that and after Hurricane Party sound really dull. After 3 songs I walk out. But it's back to the Napster stage for Paradise Lost, who really should have been on the main stage, they are quite brilliant and dedicate "One Second" to the British media for ignoring them for 15 years. I was going to see Raging Speedhorn and I can't remember why I didn't. Damn, my memory's hazy. Anyway, its off to see Feeder on the mainstage, Feeder have everything to prove and they come out rocking. Much of the stuff from the new album is ditched for the rockier older stuff and they quite possibly are the band of the festival. Songs like "High", "Insomnia", "Perfect Day" and "Buck Rogers" are fantastic, its easy to tell Feeder are enjoying their headlining slot. Then its off to see the caberet on the Napster stage which is pretty good. Then its back to the camp and then ummmm...
Saturday:
Me and Vic intend to see Hondo Maclean, but first we have to endure The Children Of Fortune. Who are annoying, so we go and get food and beer, but sit outside the Snickers tent and are still able to hear them. They don't get any better. Hondo Maclean are quite good though but I only see a few songs as The Mad Capsule Markets are on the main stage. Why MCM aren't huge I will never know, they are inventive enthusiastic and they boast the most attractive man in the world as their guitarist. I'm not gay but...anyway they rock and then its back to see Open Hand on the Snickers stage. I almost get killed in the crush of people fleeing the stage after American Head Charge have played, but to be fair, these people don't know what they're missing. Open Hand are a band I'm quite obsessive about, think QOTSA meets Smashing Pumpkins and to be fair they are fucking awesome live. Its slightly annoying that the drummer and the keyboardist are doing all the talking, but the moment singer, Justin Isham, opens his mouth, its quite clear that the guy is on another planet. Anyway, its onto see a little bit of Bowling For Soup, who are good at what they do. Then I go and see Days Of Worth on the Snickers Bowl stage. I kinda wish I hadn't. Don't get me wrong, I like them, but the stage is miles away from the crowd, there is no atmosphere or crowd interaction. Then its over to the Napster stage to see Towers Of London, I saw a picture of one of these guys in Kerrap! and they looked like an '80's hair metal revivalist band, I went thinking they could be fun. The moment they take the stage, I know I'm wrong. Swaggering, arrogant and fucking brilliant. The singer in himself is a star in the making, heckling the bottle throwers and just looking every inch the rock star he was meant to be, I'm sure there's more cliche's I could use, but the fact the music was great too made them even better. These guys are playing Reading, FUCKING CHECK THEM OUT. After that I go and meet Kev to watch some BMXers jumping about and then go and see The Explosion. Who lets face it are bound to be shit after Towers of London. And they were. So I join back up with Kev who decides he wants a burger, though he wants a burger from one of the vans facing the main stage, unfortunately HIM are playing at the time and lets face it, HIM owe everything they know to latter day Paradise Lost. Only watered down so that it appeals to young girls. I quickly move away before my brain turns to mush and I start getting heartagrams tatooed on me. I think I went to see Lucky Nine, but I must have walked out after one song. Then I went to see Black Sabbath who the only thing I can remember about them is that they weren't as loud as they were when I saw them at Milton Keynes Bowl in '98. The I went to see the caberet again, who were bottled mercilessly unless it was nubile young dancers on stage, which to be fair was uncalled for because they put on a good show. Then it was back to the campsite and a bit of booze before bed. Then I was woken up by Kev and Vic, its Kevs birthday of course, reaching the right old age of 25. So we sit up all night drinking to his health. Vic on the other hand has pulled and is "entertaining" in his tent and is heckled mercilessly by me and Kev. Some guys turn up with a bong looking for a light and offering me a hit on it. The bong is the hardest thing I've ever had to use and I end up burning my eyelashs. Anyway, we stay up until 8 in the morning. Gonna suffer, I know I am.
Sunday:
Well, I was right, I had to be woken up by Kev and Vic. Really don't want to get up. Anyway, waiting to get into the arena, someone spots my The Streets t shirt(which to be fair I did wear to try and get some reaction) and I start to fear for my life. The first port of call is the Napster stage to see Henry Rollins do his stand up routine, which is hillarious. Then its over to see if Gizmachi are any good, they're not. Then I went to see Papa Roach who seem good, but I don't seem to taking any of it in. I go to see Caliban and I realise I'm not feeling too good at all. Tired? Dehydrated? Sunstroke? I dunno, but I go back to camp for a for an hours kip and feel much better, so I go see The Glitterati who seem quite good at their melodic rock. Then I take a walk around the market and finally find the Guiness bar, which is quite possibly the best idea at a festival ever. Though maybe saved for a last day treat. Anyway, for no reason at all, I decide to see Nightwish who are fucking good, the female singer in particular had a voice that made me think "I miss my cats." Unfortunately, due to them being held up at the airport, they only get to play 4 songs, something that really doesn't please the guitarist/singer. Anyway, I'm in the mood for some goth, so I go and see Lacuna Coil, who were pretty average. After that I go and see some Slayer who are better than I remember, before going to check out Team Sleep. I wish I had of stayed with Slayer, Chino's side project are fucking dull. Disappointed I go and checkout Slipknot. I really wish I hadn't. There were so many good bands this weekend and of all of them, Slipknot were one of the worst. I'm not the biggest Slipknot fan, but let me put this into perspective. I caught the end of Society 1's set earlier in the day and the singer was suspended by meathooks through his back screaming like his life depended on it. The best Slipknot can do, some guy hanging from his drumkit while they play their limp death metal. I walk off in disgust, to be fair, I'm not the only one. But then its Therapy? Who quite possibly could be the only band in the world to put a smile back on my face at that time. They are fucking amazing and to be fair are thoroughly deserving of their headlining slot and they make the most of it, even if there is nothing from Semi-Detached. Then its System Of A Down and I dunno, they should have been great, but they weren't. It didn't help that they looked as if would rather be somewhere else and at the beginning it sounded as if they were just just going through the motions. It got better as the set progressed and just as they really started getting into it, they fucked off. No encore, no nothing.
Well, anyway its an early night for an early start. And we have to lug all the stuff back to car. Then I realise my driving has gone to pot, how I didn't kill both me and Kev is beyond me. But on a whole, a good weekend, plenty of bands, some good, some bad and far too much booze drank. The organisation didn't suck as much as I remember, but something really should be done about the amount of walking you have to do. Above all that am I going next year? Maybe.
