Download 2010.

There's been several gigs in between Download 2009 and Download 2010, but this is the one most fresh in my mind, so I'll review this one first of all.


All the week before Download, we had been panicking that it would pour down all weekend, but thankfully when we arrived on Thursday it was a glorious day despite the mud in the village. Festivities began as soon as we arrived, and we drank ourselves stupid, before retiring to the tent for the weekend ahead.

Friday was a strange day, as nothing was happening until 3pm due to the diva-like demands of AC/DC. 
As we walked around the track which had recently been re-opened to allow a shortcut to the arena, we reflected on past Download Festivals and anticipated the bands we'd see that day. After a browse around the shops/stalls in the arena, we ventured to the Ronnie James Dio (Dio) stage (2nd stage) to take in Coheed & Cambria (8/10). They put on a fantastic performance, marred only by sound issues. Some of the set was unfamiliar to me as I'm just a casual fan, but they impressed me. 
After C&C, we headed over to the main stage to get a decent place for AC/DC, meaning we had to sit through Them Crooked Vultures (3/10) who were terrible. The best part was seeing Dave Grohl on drums, which is what gives them their three points. Josh Homme seemed uninterested in the crowd and they played through their songs with the bare minimum of interaction. 
Thankfully, AC/DC (9/10) were up next. They were phenomenal.
The day was fantastic up until the walk back after AC/DC, where I slipped off a stone and sprained my ankle.

Saturday was a scorchingly hot day, as we woke early to take in the whole day. We arrived at the arena after a painful walk and found some seats towards the back of the arena to sit on until bands we were really interested in came on. Firstly, we sat through Hellyeah (5/10) who actually impressed me. I wasn't expecting much of them as I don't really like them, but they were watchable. Next up, which was a change to the schedule, was Atreyu (6/10), who I watched the majority of before heading to the first aid tent for painkillers, bandages and sympathy! 
After being dosed up on several painkillers on top of the alcohol, I headed back to my friends and watched Flyleaf (5/10). They were ruined by bad sound even though they put on a good show, but the vocals didn't impress me as much as they did on record. Still sitting in the seating area, Five Finger Death Punch (7/10) came on. They played a really good set, with a great show until they took it too far and invited thousands of people on stage. Unsafe and stupid in my honest opinion. 
Once FFDP were done, we wandered over to the 3rd stage to catch Rock Sugar (9/10). The tent was rammed by the time we got there so we took a seat outside to hear the band, which is why they aren't a 10. While we were sitting, we could also hear the fabulous Lamb Of God (8/10). Having not seen their showmanship, I am basing the score off the sound, which I was very impressed by regardless of them interrupting the last Rock Sugar song. Sticking with the third stage, we sat outside listening to Halestorm (9/10) as again, we couldn't get in the rammed tent, and I've never enjoyed a female vocals band as much except Nightwish two years ago. Fantastic. 
Back over to the mainstage now, as we found our lovely seating area again and sat to watch Deftones (7/10) who I'd heard nothing by until they were announced for Download. Still, I enjoyed their songs and show from what I saw on the screens.
Now for our Saturday headliner; Michael Monroe. 
We headed over to the third stage as soon as Deftones ended so we could get a decent place, but the tent was still rammed for Skin (8/10) leading us to sit outside in the remaining sun until it cleared. As we made our way in, I found a fantastic place in the 3rd/4th row centre... until my friends reminded me that I wanted to stand tomorrow so should move out of the crowd. Taking their advice, we moved to the side of the crowd and leant on the barrier at the front. Michael Monroe (10/10) came on stage and blew me away. Him, coupled with Ginger from The Wildhearts and every other band he's in, was a match made in heaven. They belted through Hanoi Rocks and solo stuff with Monroe climbing the rigging a few times and at one point, hanging upside down. Towards the end, Ginger's son came on stage to play tambourine, and all in all, it was a special moment. As we left the arena that night, every one of us vowed to see MM next time they toured.


Sunday was and early start for me as I blew up balloons, and decorated the tent and gazebo for my friend's 21st birthday. After drinking copius amounts, firing party poppers and suchlike, we headed in to the arena to see Saxon (9/10). Fantastic early morning performance, and I'd imagine they gained a lot of new fans that day, they were incredible. Cinderella (7/10) were up next and they slightly disappointed me. I was expecting so much and they just didn't live up to my expectations. Not to say they weren't good, they just weren't amazing as I'd thought they'd be. 
Next up was the moment I'd been waiting for all weekend... Slash (10+/10). I'll try and keep this brief, but from start to finish I was blown away. Myles covers Guns N' Roses songs better than I thought anyone could, and Slash's conversing with the crowd is something I'm not used to seeing. He's usuallly the shy, quiet type, yet on stage at Download he was talking to the crowd, joking with us and even miming the original lyrics to Paradise City while playing. Outstanding doesn't even cover this, and the inclusion of Rocket Queen made my weekend.
Sadly, the rain set in after this, and we stood and got soaked through while watching Billy Idol (9/10). He wasn't quite as good as the previous time I'd seen him, but he was still amazing, and kept the crowd going regardless of the pissing down, torrential rain that had set in. After Billy Idol, we couldn't take any more so went back to the tent to keep dry and get changed. However, I discovered I only had one paid of clean jeans so needed to keep them for the journey home the following day. So after a little pap, I kept my sopping wet clothes on, nipped to the village for a plastic poncho and headed back to the arena. Having done so meant we'd missed Porcupine Tree and Ginger, which I was gutted about, but it had to be done. I bought a chair as my ankle was killing me and plonked ourselves towards the back of the crowd to watch Stone Temple Pilots (9/10) who were surprisingly on form. Scott was blatenly off his face on whatever his chosen substance is nowadays, but his singing was perfect, even if his conversation was garbled. The performance was great though, a fantastic return to England for STP.

After a fantastic weekend, Aerosmith (10/10) made things brighter. They stormed through their best known material with some lesser known songs dotted around, Steven and Joe being the main focus as always but showing a united bond after the facade earlier in the year. An amazing end to an amazing weekend!

Overall; 10/10!

Download Festival 2009

Again, I'm not sure why it's taken so long to get around to reviewing this... 







I'll review by day I think, so;

Friday:

Our day begun on a nice hot day, thankfully all the rain had stopped on the Wednesday, and as we made our way in to the arena, excitement built even further. 
The first band of the day was Steadlur (7/10), an American 'glam metal' band. They were newcomers to the scene at the time, and it showed slightly in their performance, but with some thumping anthemic tracks blasting out of the Second Stage, it was a good opener for what would turn in to an awesome day of music.
Next up, through no choice of my own, was In This Moment (3/10). They are a 'metalcore' band, which doesn't fill me with joy anyway, but the fact that the frontwoman is famed for her good looks and ability to scream in her vocals put me off even more... I hate screaming vocals. Anyway, the band themselves weren't too bad, hence the three points.
After this experience, we hit The Doghouse, a cocktail bar towards the back of the main stage area. Music overflowed from the 4th stage while we sat at drank cocktails, before hitting the main stage for Billy Talent (8/10). Having never seen these before, but wanting to for a few years, I was rather excited, and they lived up to my expectations. So much so, I bought a ticket to see them at a headline show too. 
After Billy Talent, we headed for a look around the stalls/to get food, which was typical festival fares, and chilled on the grass for a while, before I was time for Lacuna Coil (8/10). 
To be totally honest, I wasn't looking forward to these either, but they really impressed me. They were fantastic, well worth watching, with very catch songs. 
Opeth (9/10) followed, an amazed me more than I thought they would. Lead singer Mikael Akerfeldt was fantastic, hilarious and gracious to everyone, a true nice guy, and the music was out of this world.
Then came the moment I'd been waiting for. I made my way to the front (2 rows back) and waitd patiently for Motley Crue (10/10) to hit the stage. As soon as they did, the crowd went wild, and I remember struggling to stay on my feet, but it was worth it. After about 75% of their set, I was pretty dehydrated after not getting any water for a while in such heat, and no matter how much I asked, the security wouldn't pass me any water, so unfortunately I had to make my way out of the crowd and to a ice cream van to get some water. At this point, I'd lost my friends, so I sat against the fence for the final two songs, before rising to find my friends. Luckily, I hadn't moved far away from the stage when they came back on for Home Sweet Home, their encore, so I caught that, with shivers shooting down my spine at the utter emotion coming from the stage. Amazing.

After a fantastic day in the arena, we headed back to the campsite for booze, sleep and rest in preparation for the next day.

 Pic = Nikki Sixx and Mick Mars of Motley Crue @ Download















Saturday:

The sun was unbelieveably hot as thousands of rock fans made their way in to the arena for the second of three days of pure rock n' roll.
First band of today was Hardcore Superstar (8/10), another glam/80's influenced band, who do it well. They were fantastic, really impressed me, and it was made better by just chilling on the grass at the back, watching and listening, while taking in the sights and scents of Download. 
Next up was The Answer (9/10), a fantastic Irish band. Their mixture of old time rock n roll and 80s heavy metal fused together perfectly to make another band which were fantastic to laze on the grass and take in.
We caught about 10 minutes of YouMeAtSix (4/10) before we could take no more and headed to The Doghouse again. From there, we met a few new people and had a brief chat, before heading to 3rd stage to catch Thunder (10/10) who were the 'secret band'. Fantastic. No other words will describe how awesome it was.
After Thunder, we rushed over to the main stage to see the rest of Marilyn Manson (4/10), which was a complete waste of time. He seemed uninterested, sang loads songs no-one knew and barely interacted with the crowd... rubbish.
Then, finally, for the last band of the night... Slipknot (9/10). Now I wasn't a fan of Slipknot until that day, and they blew me away. Possibly one of the best performances I've ever seen at a festival!
After all the excitement, we headed back to the campsite, and over to a friend's camp for lots of cocktails, tickling a random man and laughing at his girly laugh. Oh how we laughed at you, Pezza. <3 the people we met that night!

Pic = Slipknot @ DL09










Sunday:

Well, this was the day I'd been waiting for, the 'classic rock Sunday'. We woke quite early, and headed to the arena for the first band of the day. 
First up was Stone Gods (10/10), a band I'd seen twice before, but loved. They were mindblowing for such an early time slot, and it set the pace for the day perfectly. Next was Tesla (7/10), a band I'd only heard of through Download. They impressed me, but it wasn't as awesome as it could have been had I known some of their material. Another band came next which I'd heard nothing by. Skin (7/10) performed really well, and it was a reunion show if I remember rightly. It all built up to what was to follow in an amazing set of bands. 
Black Stone Cherry (9/10) were next up, and playing through their greatest hits and some new material, they were amazing. Little did we know that this wouldn't be the last time we saw Chris on stage that day. 
Next, was Journey (10/10). I'd been waiting for this moment all weekend, and they surely proved all the doubters wrong. The singalongs to all their songs were amazing, but the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end when they dived in to the first few bars of Don't Stop Believin'. It was the best festival moment yet, possibly ever.
After that, we dashed over to the second stage to see Shinedown (10/10), who blew my mind. Chris from Black Stone Cherry came on stage for a song with Brent, but that wasn't even the highlight. The whole set was breath-taking. 
We quickly dashed back over to main after this for Dream Theater (10/10), which cemented my love for experimental music. With their epic long songs, they didn't get much played, but I missed the end anyway travelling over to the second stage to see Buckcherry (10/10). They impressed me so much that as soon as I got home I bought a ticket to their July show. After them, Papa Roach (10/10) graced the stage. I'd waited to see them for years, so I was in my element. With a perfect mix of new and old material, they were EPIC!
Sadly, that's where my festival hits a downward slope in to pure boring. We nipped over to main stage to see Def Leppard (5/10), who were very boring up until the last half hour. They got interesting after a tribute to their drummer, Rick Allen. He got upset, and happy too, and cried, which seemed to spur on the rest of the band and play some decent material. Their last half hour was amazing.
This is where the festival ends, apart from going back to the camp, drinking and sleeping!

Rick Allen of Def Leppard @DL09