Live Review: Download Festival 2010

An army of rock fans of all ages descended on Donington Park on the 11^th – 13^th June, here are some of the highlights of a truly incredible line-up…

Friday

Them Crooked Vultures

As AC/DC had bought their own stage to Donington, the official main stage headline slot is left to Them Crooked Vultures. A supergroup consisting of Nirvana and Foo Fighters legend Dave Grohl, Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age and John Paul Jones of the mighty Led Zeppelin is highly unlikely to be anything but … erm … well super really, and these gods of rock certainly don’t disappoint. It feels like a privilege to watch all three of these men play on stage together with a set that builds and builds to an incredible climax. The tracks taken from the band’s debut self-titled album are instant classics that manage to incorporate the magic from all of the member’s main projects. Alain Johannes has the daunting task of being the band’s guitarist for live shows but with an impressive CV that includes working with Queens Of The Stone Age, Chris Cornell and Spinerette, he has no problem entertaining the masses with an incredible guitar solo whilst the other three take a break. Despite being four years over the free bus pass age, John Paul Jones proves that he can still rock the keyboard as well as the bass, and unsurprisingly seems right at home playing to a huge crowd that spans generations.

AC/DC

For their fourth performance at Donington, it’s clear to see why Aussie rockers AC/DC brought their own stage. With their very own steam train and a huge walk way the band are ready to finish up the Friday of Download in style. After a short video of a speeding train (and lots of girls) the band launch straight into ‘Runaway Train’ and then the massive ‘Back In Black’. The band fire out all of the fan favourites to a crowd of varying ages – and breast sizes as made clear on the big screen during ‘The Jack’. As the show continues it becomes all about Angus as the band’s co-founder struts up and down the walkway and launches into a strip tease, removing his trademark school uniform to reveal some AC/DC boxers. Although it feels so very, very wrong watching a 55 year old strip, it’s hard to look away, even if it does almost kick-start the gag reflex. But it’s clear that the crowd love him as his guitar solo is cheered on for a slightly overdone 20 minutes during which he emerges from the crowd on a raised platform and is showered in confetti. After more hits including ‘Thunderstruck’ and ‘T.N.T’ plus another video of tanks, boats, planes and, yep you’ve guessed it, girls, the band welcome Rosie - a giant inflatable woman with breasts big enough to make Katie Price jealous – on stage for ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’. An incredible encore of ‘Highway To Hell’ and ‘Let There Be Rock’ that continues to get every single member of the crowd clapping and singing is rounded off with cannons and fireworks proving just why AC/DC are one the biggest selling bands in the world.

Saturday

Cancer Bats

Canadian metalcore band Cancer Bats bring energy by the bucket load to the second stage on Saturday afternoon. Their raw power pleases the crowd but it’s clear that many of them are only there to hear their fierce cover of Beastie Boys hit ‘Sabotage’. Let’s hope this doesn’t become their downfall.

The Blackout

The six lads from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales have become seven for their return to Download this year. Joined by Phillip Jenkins from fellow Welsh band Kids In Glass Houses, the band now has two drummers as well as two lead singers, and this only serves to make them stronger than ever. Tracks from their latest album Best In Town are definite crowd pleasers, with mass sing-a-longs to ‘The Consequence’, but it’s the material from debut release We Are The Dynamite that really bring their set to life. Experts at entertaining a crowd, Sean Smith and Gavin Butler provide plenty of banter and bounce around the stage performing provocative acts with microphones. With giant inflatable hands with middle finger raised on stage, mass swearing from the crowd and a snippet of ‘Killing In The Name’, The Blackout serve as the perfect warm up to tonight’s headliners Rage Against The Machine.

Rage Against The Machine

The sheer popularity of Rage Against The Machine is proved when only minutes into their set they are forced to stop be security due to crushing at the barrier. But once lead man Zack De La Rocha has made sure everyone is safe, the band continue with a truly incredible show. Not many bands perform shows at which the crowd sing along to the instrumental intros of their songs but tonight’s massive crowd do just that when Rage launch into ‘Bombtrack’ and ‘Bulls On Parade’. Guitar magician Tom Morello’s performance is as mind blowing as ever and Zack is also on form with his usual political speeches and a big thank you for their Christmas number one success. The set feels a little disjointed at times but it all ties together with the mighty ‘Sleep Now In The Fire’, and an encore of the classic ‘Killing In The Name’ brings the evening to an explosive end.

Sunday

Switchfoot

It’s rare to hear of an American band trying to make it in the UK, but Switchfoot are trying to do just that. The rockers have been around since 1996 but only achieved success in their home country after appearing on the soundtrack of cheesy tear jerker A Walk To Remember. Signature track ‘Dare You To Move’ sparks mass swaying, but it’s not just the power ballads that these guys do well. Although the cover of Sabotage is not a patch on the Cancer Bats version, their anthemic rock is impressive and front man Jon Foreman certainly doesn’t lack charisma, choosing to spend most of the set in the crowd. There could be big things to come for these guys.

Napalm Death

A slightly odd choice to follow Switchfoot, grindcore gods Napalm Death crank things up with a furious whirlwind of guitars and death growls. After 30 years in the business, these Brummies, who hold the Guinness World Record for the shortest song, are showing no sign of slowing down.

The Damned Things

Mix a tablespoon of Fall Out Boy, a dash of Anthrax and a sprinkling of Every Time I Die and simmer for a few months. What do you get? Why, the latest super group to emerge from the US, The Damned Things of course! These guys manage to combine elements of all three of their original bands to create some classic heavy rock. If their Download performance is anything to go by, their debut album set to be released later this year has the potential to be huge.

The Dillinger Escape Plan

Mathcore legends The Dillinger Escape Plan bring the rain and the madness to Donington. Their brutal precision playing kicks starts an epic mosh pit and the guys from New Jersey treat the stage like one big climbing frame. A truly ferocious live performance.

Live Review: Rage Against The Machine Victory

The image of X Factor winner Joe McElderry’s face on a dart board held aloft by a fan in queue perfectly sums up just why he should stay as far away from Finsbury Park as possible on June 6^th 2010. Any mention of Simon Cowell’s latest puppet’s name is met with mass booing and plenty of profanities as 40,000 Rage Against The Machine fans swamp the park in north London. This is RATM’s free victory gig to say thank you to the Great British public for getting their 1992 hit Killing In The Name to number one just in time for Christmas last year, after a campaign which showed just how powerful Facebook can be.

The support bands perfectly reflect RATMs genre busting back catalogue. London five-piece Gallows prove they can smash huge outdoor shows just as well as smaller venues. They power through their set of brutal punk rock sparking huge circle pits and an impressive wall of death, especially considering that they are the first of three support acts. Always good at motivating the crowd, lead man Frank Carter gets amongst the masses for a bit of Bieber banter and a mass ‘F*** You’ in true Rage style. An excellent cover of I Fought The Law once sung by The Clash continues the momentum and the band seem genuinely proud to be part of the occasion, with Carter regularly taking pictures of the gigantic crowd on his phone.

Roots Manuva and an impressive entourage switch the mood from mosh to dance with his fusion of hip-hop, dub and electronica. With an excellent bass player and DJ for company the South London rapper gets a good reaction from a crowd of rock fans, showing just why he has been in this business for 16 years.

Like something straight out of Eurovision, Gogol Bordello bring their gypsy punk to the stage and instantly install a party atmosphere. The group from New York complete with an accordion, violin and lots of impressive facial hair, certainly aren’t lacking in enthusiasm and, if the dancing throughout Finsbury Park is anything to go by, it seem to be infectious. When they leave the stage after an incredible set they appear to take the sunshine with them.

However, the clouds part again just in time for Simon Cowell himself (well, a cartoon version) to introduce ‘the world’s greatest rock and roll band’ – his words, not mine - and Zack De La Rocha and co crash straight into Testify. The fans’ reaction to the instantly recognisable intros of classics Bulls On Parade and Guerrilla Radio is immense and their chanting to Know Your Enemy and Township Rebellion show the dedication of Rage’s loyal followers. Tom Morello demonstrates his mind-blowing skill on guitar with several close-ups on the big screen but manages not to overdo it on the solos like many accomplished musicians. The huge power of Bullet In The Head sees enough jumping from Zack - as well as the crowd - to spark an earthquake and leave many fans without feeling in their toes.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a RATM gig without a political speech but Zack also take a moment to show his appreciation for the British music scene, before the band launch into White Riot by The Clash. Their years of touring mean that RATM know how to put a set list together, winding down the show with Sleep Now In The Fire and Freedom before applauding the crowd as they leave the stage. The encore is announced with quotes and newspaper headlines documenting The Rage Factor campaign and the band return with the knock out winning song Killing In The Name.

As the show ends, everyone leaves with the feeling that they have been part of rock music history, and although Simon was probably not bothered by the army of people wearing ‘Rage 1, Cowell 0’ t-shirts – as he was off winning a BAFTA that very evening – it certainly proved that rock can defeat manufactured pop, as well as scissors.

Interview: Dan Gold - Good As Gold?

Since appearing on reality TV show London Ink, Dan Gold has become one of Britain’s most well known tattoo artists. I caught up with the ‘bad boy of tattooing’ at this year’s Bournemouth Ink tattoo convention to talk homemade tattoo machines, going topless and Britney Spears…

When did you first become interested in tattooing?

I was always interested in tattooing. I remember my mum always said I was quite a weird child. We passed a tattoo shop when I was about five. I looked into the window and there was a picture of the Japanese Yakuza, who have their whole body tattooed. I said to my mum, when I grow up, don’t be scared, but I wanna look like that. So it must have been something that was quite deep inside of me. I started drawing pictures for my friends and took them to tattoo shops. Then one day the tattooist said ‘Dan, you can draw cant you?’ and I went ‘Yep’ and he says ‘Well, I’m gonna go and get drunk, so if anyone comes into the shop, just tattoo them’. I was like ‘What?!’. So I sat in the tattoo shop but luckily no one came in. I was shitting myself, thinking what the hell am I gonna do if someone comes in? But then I thought, this could be quite cool, why don’t I give it a go?

Back then it was very hard to get any kind of information about tattooing. So I ended up having to build my own tattoo machine out of old scalextric engines, my mum’s sewing machine foot pedal and some of my brother’s guitar strings. I’d seen a book about things that were smuggled into Russian prisons, there was a picture of a homemade tattoo machine so I built one myself from that and tried to tattoo myself. Which I realise was a stupid idea because it bloody hurt. So I thought the best thing I could do is actually to do it on other people. And I haven’t really looked back since.

You specialise in graffiti and robot tattoos, what got you into that particular style?

I was part of a big graffiti gang in Denmark when I grew up so since I was 12 I’ve been painting graffiti. That’s what made me want to become a tattooist, because I could never find anyone to do the tattoos that I wanted. I’ve tried to become the tattoo artist that I couldn’t find basically. I love robots, I love sci-fi. I’m a bit of a geek so its quite natural for me to do stuff like that. It’s the kind of art that I love.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of becoming a tattoo artist?

Don’t! No seriously, I think if you really want to be an artist you’ve got to think to yourself, ‘what can I give to the industry?’ It’s no good thinking I just want to do it because it seems cool. It’s a bloody hard job and there’s a lot more to it. It’s not glamorous as we try and make out it is. Tattooing involves a lot of cleaning and studying. But it’s also a lot of fun. It takes a long time. I’d say my apprentice would take about three years before I’d call him a tattooist. So if someone really wants to become a tattoo artist, they should find a shop, a good shop where there’s an artist that you really respect, build up a portfolio, take it there and then start an apprenticeship. I think the worst thing you can do is do it the way I did it and build your own machine and do it from home. Because it takes you so much longer to get to a point where you will probably have to unlearn most of the things that you’ve taught yourself because they are all wrong. And it’s not safe as well.

You were on London Ink, do you think the show has had a positive effect on the tattoo industry?

I think it’s great. There will always be people who slag it off. There seems to be people in this industry who want to keep it in the stone age and liked it when it was underground. But that was bullshit. I was around when it was underground and it wasn’t that great. At least now we get the respect that we deserve. The industry, the art form and the history of tattooing gets what it deserves. The programmes were obviously quite mainstream and they were never made for other tattooists. They were made for middle England, middle class people who didn’t know anything about tattooing. It was sort of an insight into the industry for them so that everyone can see what we’re doing. And it has definitely made everyone a lot busier, which they don’t seem to complain about.

Some people believe that it is possible to become addicted to tattoos. Would you agree with this?

Certainly, I only came in for one! Yea, it’s super addictive. It’s like going to the gym or getting plastic surgery. When you realise that you don’t actually have to accept what you are born with, you can change it and modify it, that in itself is a very addictive thing. I remember when I started out, I was quite shy about my body. I was quite insecure about it. I never liked going to the beach and taking my top off because I always felt that I wasn’t as muscly as the other guys. But I think now that I’ve got my tattoos, I’m proud of my own body and every time someone sees me they’re like ‘wow, that’s wicked!’ That has a positive effect on your confidence and the way you feel about yourself. I think that’s a healthy thing. And now if the sun is shining just a little bit, I’m already half naked. Or if there’s alcohol.

Obviously there’s a fine line and you should be careful. I’ve seen people get a lot of tattoos, especially facial tattoos, and then loose the plot a little bit because it’s almost like they’re trying to erase themselves. That’s a whole different territory. But if you get tattoos to try and make yourself feel better, then I think it’s a very positive thing. Out of all the addictions you can have, it’s one of the good ones. And it makes me rich, so I like it.

You have tattooed quite a lot of famous people including Kate Moss and Peaches Geldof, but who is your favourite person that you’ve tattooed?

I think it’s got to be Kate Moss, if you’re talking about the famous people. She was so sweet and she ended up tattooing me as well. We became quite good friends. To be honest, a lot of them have been a lot friendlier than I thought they would be. The only people that tend to be arseholes are the semi-famous people, like your Big Brother lot and X Factor musicians. When you get to tattoo them they’ve always got an attitude. But when you tattoo people who are really famous they are always quite nice and very polite. Like when Britney Spears came into the shop she offered to make a cup of tea for me and stuff. They are just really down to earth.

What are your plans for the near future?

To get very, very drunk. But that’s the very near future. Like the next 12 hours. No seriously, I hope to spend quite a lot of time in America in the future. And I’ve got a new shop in Liverpool with three artists working there. That’s going really well. Just enjoying life, enjoying what I’ve created and what I’ve done. Life is really good at the moment so I’m just trying to enjoy it as much as I can and not take anything for granted. We are also gonna try and do something on TV within the next year one way or another. But it’s difficult to get anything financed. Making those programmes is very expensive. I’m also planning to go out to Afghanistan for Help The Heroes charity. Maybe tattoo some troops out there.

See what else Bournemouth Ink had in store

Live Review: Mutiny On The Bounty

In a small room above a Brighton pub, the town’s eclectic culture comes alive in the form of an evening of live music. The first band to grace the stage of The Hope pub on Queens Road is Dalla Russia. The group get the minimal crowd tapping their feet with some up-beat indie/rock and prove why the ever popular female-led line-up works so well.

Southampton four-piece Our Time Down Here take the energy levels up a notch with some Gallows-esque hardcore punk. After announcing a recent break-up, lead singer Will Gould puts all his angst into a powerful set. Bouncing around like a kid who’s eaten too many E-numbers, the band take punk for a dip in the mainstream.

Lower Than Atlantis switch the mood yet again, beginning their set with some Nirvana inspired grunge. However, by the time the Herefordshire band unleash their supercharged cover of Foo Fighters classic Everlong the set has delved into something much heavier. The final tracks verge on heavy metal and the band finish their time on stage with some true rock star instrument destruction.

Headline act Mutiny On The Bounty live up to their advertised title of ‘Epic Luxembourg Rockers’, providing an incredible and technically skilled performance. The phenomenal lead guitarist – who turns out to be a stand-in – leaves the crowed in awe of his fast finger work and wondering what the actual band member he replaced is capable of. Although disappointingly short, the cheerful European band’s set is wonderfully unconventional, with the drummer providing lead vocals on a number of tracks.

If variety is the spice of life then the night's line-up has truly blown the lid off of all human existence.

Technological Umbilical Cord

A little while ago I was temporarily separated from my mobile phone. The feeling I felt is something I can only compare to a mother losing her child in the menswear department of Marks & Spencers. It was as if I had lost a part of myself, like my kidneys had fallen out of my backside.

In the few hours me and my beloved phone were apart I left a number of frantic status updates on trusty Facebook in an attempt to track it down. Refreshing the page every few seconds only to be disappointed when the only news the site was ‘feeding’ me was that whatsername who I haven’t spoken to since primary school has ‘LOLd at a picture of …(insert something dull here)’ or that one of my friends would prefer a pork based snack to Cheryl Cole.

When I was eventually reunited with my phone, I must admit that the wonderful feeling of relief and elation was slightly deflated by the discovery that I had no missed calls or texts, but I reassured myself that my phone had probably deleted them for me as I was not around to receive them. It’s amazing what technology can do these days.

But this traumatic event perfectly illustrates why I am reluctant to move over to the pristine white side and purchase an iPhone. Although the thought of being able to give the world minute by minute updates on my trip to the local shop via a series of ‘tweets’ is appealing, the fact that I would be able to lose my phone and iPod in one easy step is not worth thinking about. It is highly likely I would have a mental breakdown and end up shaving off my hair or drunkenly pestering holiday makers in St Lucia.

Film Review: Alice In Wonderland

Lets take a look down the beautifully constructed, yet disappointingly hollow rabbit hole…

As many of the Tim Burton’s dedicated following expected, the director’s ‘extension’ to the tale of Alice and her adventures in Wonderland is simply stunning. 10 years after our first tumble down the rabbit hole, ‘Underland’ is a much darker world than dedicated Disney fans will remember. Yet Burton manages to use his movie-magician skills to somehow make it seem more colourful than ever. Using a combination of live action filming and animation, the film is truly breath-taking and much like Avatar it would be unthinkable to see it in anything other than 3D.

Unfortunately, as was the case with Avatar, it is the story that prevents the film becoming a complete masterpiece. This new tale, written by Linda Woolverton, fails to capture the unpredictable nature of Lewis Carroll’s original story. The very Harry Potter-esqe plot, culminating in an inevitable battle sequence feels very formulaic and to make things worse we are also teased with flashbacks of what Burton’s depiction of Alice’s first visit to Wonderland would have looked like.

However, it is casting which really makes the film worth seeing. From Helena Bonham Carter’s big-headed (in more ways than one) Queen of Hearts right down to Barbara Windsor as the plucky Dormouse, the film leaves you wondering how you ever thought of the Wonderland clan in any other way.

Little Britain’s Matt Lucas manages to put his own iconic spin on Tweedledum and Tweedledee and Stephen Fry’s smooth voice is perfectly suited to the creepy yet loveable Cheshire Cat. Australian newcomer to the acting game, Mia Wasikowska, gives a suitably ‘away with the faries’ portrayal of Alice although is somewhat easily forgettable as she is overshadowed by the other characters, particularly Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter. Looking just like a clinically insane Ronald McDonald, The Hatter is both hilariously wacky and fascinatingly terrifying and proves once again why the Burton-Depp partnership works so well. Plus there is sure to be several broken bones as children try to recreate the Hatter’s spectacular ‘Thudderwack’ dance in playgrounds across the world.

Festival Advice Clinic

In true supermarket style, March seems like the perfect time to start planning for summer. As we all know, summer is all about BBQ’s, wasps and festivals. As my knowledge of the first two is limited, I’m going to provide you with my top tips for making the most – or even just surviving – your festival experience.

1) Think how big your tent needs to be. And buy a bigger one – Trust me, the amount of stuff you take, or simply acquire whilst you are there, will be equal to at least one more person. So unless you want to sleep on top of your stuff then make sure there is enough room for it alongside your sleeping bag. Unfortunately crates of cider do not make a good mattress.

2) Take sunscreen AND wellies - The British weather can be as predictable as the Lottery numbers at times so be prepared. Hell, even take your snow boots if you can.

3) Don’t camp near the toilets – It may seem convenient but believe me its not worth it. When those things start to smell, even that giant puddle of mud next to the water taps will start to look like a desirable place to set up camp.

4) Bring marker pens - You will wake up with a drawing of male genitalia on your face at some point over the weekend. So bring your own pens so you can seek revenge. NOTE: They also come in handy for decorating your neighbour’s tents with such witty comments as ‘Free Sex Here’ and ‘I Love Your Mum’.

5) Leave the ‘Free Hugs’ sign at home – The novelty has worn off. Plus no one will want to hug you when you haven’t washed for a few days, so spare yourself the rejection.

6) Take a flag, and a torch – The search for the Titanic was easier than trying to find your tent at a festival. You may think your tent is ‘unique’ enough to stand out but trust me there will be one just like it in the endless sea of canvas. So why not customise your tent with a flag of some kind to save your fellow festival goers having to wake up next to a bewildered stranger who has stumbled into the wrong tent.

7) Pack a spade – In my experience, one of the best ways to pass the time at a festival whilst waiting for your favourite band to play, is to dig a hole in the path, pull up a chair and watch as drunken fools trip up one by one. Hours of entertainment.

8) Love thy neighbour – festivals are a great way to meet other unwashed people who share your taste in music. Try inviting your neighbours over to your camp for a BBQ and some good old fashioned camp fire songs. Top Tip: furnishing your camp with an inflatable sofa or paddling pool will automatically draw in fellow campers, like a Page 3 girl to a footballer’s mansion.