Lightyear, Reading Festival
FRIDAY
Man, I’ve been here since Wednesday, there’s already been a horrific amount of over-indulgence and there’s a bathtub in my campsite. I haven’t even seen any bands – it must be Reading. I genuinely wanted to go and see VIOLENT DELIGHT (Radio 1 Stage) because I’ve heard such nasty things about them that I just had to check them out for myself so I could form an opinion. And boy, they didn’t disappoint. One of the shittiest bands ever to pick up instruments they peddled some fifteenth-rate attempt at punk rock which was so bland and directionless that the kids blindly lapped it up like sheep. And could someone explain the logic of doing a ‘punk’ cover of a punk song (Teenage Kicks)? (2)
I’ve been told I’m too much of a poser because I apparently don’t check out enough so-called ‘emo’ bands, so with this in mind I readied myself to watch SAVES THE DAY (Radio 1 Stage). It re-affirmed my faith in why I hadn’t seen them before: twee melodies with nothing remotely resembling a backbone and an over-reliance on a falsetto voice that carried no weight whatever. I remember being thoroughly bored throughout the six or so songs that I stayed for. (4)
I’ve seen FINCH (Main Stage) before and thought that they were none too bad, but even the most hardened fanatic would have to admit that this performance wasn’t their best. It seemed flat and lifeless, with the band perhaps daunted by the frankly huge stage that was at their disposal. Nate didn’t look comfortable and a sense of imagination and engagement was sadly lacking from a band that has a lot of potential. (5)
I watched these three bands smug in the knowledge that things were about to get a whole lot better. After one of the best warm up tapes I’ve ever heard (hearing Pack Of Dogs blasting out was surreal and ace) LESS THAN JAKE (Main Stage) strode onstage and proceeded to officially make Reading 2003 ‘good’. With a control over the crowd that only comes from sheer adulation they played a set comprised of songs that just took flight, with ‘Johnny Quest…’ and ‘Al’s War’ being particular highlights. It’s well known that I love LTJ so it’s probable that if they sat and played chess onstage I’d give them a good rating, but they really were on form. One of the most perfect festival bands around, and the aborted circle pit around the sound rig (“Hey, it’s stopped – let’s try the other direction!”) was an example of how much fun the entire crowd had. Stop posing and start dancing motherfucker! (9)
There was no way in hell that I was going to miss ELECTRIC 6. (Radio 1 Stage) Yeah, so the entire crowd wanted to hear ‘Gay Bar’ but they did manage to put on a fairly good show. I had no idea what to expect from the Detroit band but they whipped out a collection of disco-infected songs that, while not up to the heady standards of ‘Gay Bar’, they were certainly enjoyable. It was light entertainment at its best, and the singalong for ‘that’ song could hardly fail to bring a smile to anyone’s face. (6)
The vicious MCLUSKY (Carling Tent) brought their taut punk rock to the smallest tent, with an energy and passion that was sadly lacking from many bands on show at the festival. Playing a brand of music that stems from pure anger they screeched and squalled, with melodies hidden underneath the layers of noise that still managed to flow. Surprisingly enough the crowd sang along with much of the set, so it might seem that McLusky might just emerge from the marginalised sideline that they’ve been inhabiting for so long (7).
Now before I even mention BLINK 182 (Main Stage) I’d like to preface my review with the fact that I still rate Dude Ranch as one of my favourite punk rock albums. I knew they wouldn’t come onstage and say “Hey Reading, this one’s called M+Ms!” but I was really disappointed with their performance. It lacked an urgency and passion that I’ve come to associate with Blink, although their stage presence was impressive and you never once got the idea that they were having anything less than a great time. It’s just that they seemed content with mere adequacy when I think they could have been ace. I saw Green Day in this exact slot a couple of years ago and they played with an energy that Blink just didn’t have. Blink certainly have a strong back catalogue, and the new material seemed to be signalling a bigger sound (perhaps influenced by Boxcar?), it just wasn’t enough. Believe me, I wanted them to blow me away. (6)
With Blink finishing a bit earlier than expected I was able to catch the last half-hour of BLACKALICIOUS (Dance Arena). Mightily impressive stuff, with pounding beats that rattle your spine and an ability to command words and language like no other. The fact that he can speak faster than pretty much anyone else I’ve ever seen helped too. The inventiveness and sheer imagination raised this set above much of what I’d seen from so-called punk acts and got everyone in the entire tent screaming for more. A total party atmosphere and an inability not to dance – the mark of a good show (8).
I chose DEATH IN VEGAS (Dance Arena) as headliners tonight, simply because they’re ace. I last saw them about 3 years ago at Glastonbury and their sound has expanded from the dark, brooding tone that they used to command. With a full live band and bags of ideas they created a dark atmosphere that swirled around the place, with ‘Dirge’ appearing from nowhere and ‘Your Hands Around My Throat’ succeeding in being genuinely creepy.
At times DIV bordered on the mundane, but then they’d just throw in some random line or loop and the whole tone of the song would change. (8)
Thought of the day: “Why the fuck didn’t I put sun cream on yesterday?”
Moment of the day: The opening riff to ‘Gay Bar’ – woohoo!
Band of the day: Less Than Jake – just because they’re perfect for this kind of thing.
SATURDAY
This was the day I was really looking forward to, and with the early entertainment being watching the FFAF crowd file out of the Concrete Jungle while playing ‘Spot The Non-Fashion Victim’ how could it fail? KING PRAWN (Concrete Jungle) kicked off my day and brought their unmistakeable London vibe to a rammed tent. The entire place was a swirling mass of bodies dancing, with the Eastern edge to KP’s music going down extremely well. It’s notable that there was a real sense of unity during the show, even though it was bloody boiling in the tent. A really good show, full of classic songs, and watching everyone throw their hands up for ‘Smoke Some Shit’ was great. (7).
I’ve been told that THRICE (Concrete Jungle) will blow me away once I see them, and that my life isn’t complete until I’ve witnessed their majesty. Bollocks. Maybe I haven’t got the whole mesh cap thing down to a tee yet, but I just couldn’t see the point in Thrice. I did like the more metallic edge to their riffs, and it’s true that they have a melodic sensibility that set them apart from other bands of their ilk; it just wasn’t my kettle of ska. (5) Go on, whine.
Timing changes meant that I missed a bit of THE LIBERTINES (Main Stage), but I got there just in time to see the Pete-less band rip through ‘Boys In The Band’. I really do like this lot, and they have a rough edge that is endearing, even though you sense they’re one step closer to the vortex than is strictly necessary. Jangly melody and a dirty vocal presence that borders on the lazy but always manages to inflect some kind of sleaze into the lyrics, The Libertines are a classic good-time band. (8)
Imagine a band that comes right from the core of society, whose lyrics speak right to the heart of disaffected youth everywhere. A band that doesn’t sugar-coat anything, or use tediously over-employed metaphors for everyday life, but that speaks of real issues and recognisable situations. Not everyone likes them of course, and many people might think that they’re ‘above’ that kind of rubbish, and write them off as being shit, or as being from a culture that they refuse to touch. But the truth is that they’re unique, and a fucking good band to dance to. THE STREETS (Main Stage) are just that, with an arrogance that mixes with humility to the effect of annoying as many people as it is possible to do. And snatches of ‘Ghost Town’ coming from the speakers? Inspirational. The most important thing to take to Reading is an open mind. (7)
Time to take up residence at the Concrete Jungle. Trouble is, I actually managed to fall asleep in the tent during Turbonegro’s set (don’t worry, I was sitting down) but I have no idea how I managed to drift off during a relentless set. THE MAD CADDIES (Concrete Jungle) jolted me into action (and so did Lurch) with a stunning set, opening with the classic ‘Road Rash’ that signalled the whole tent erupting into a sea of dancing sweaty people. Tighter than your average ska band, and displaying a command of melody buoyed no end by the productive brass section and Chuck’s wonderful voice they made a definite impact on an already loving crowd, chunky punk rock mixing with rising brass lines to typically impressive effect. They did play a lot of songs off their latest opus, but that is to be expected – a great set, if not altogether classic. (8)
The chances of me still writing for Punktastic if I hadn’t gone to see THE ATARIS (Concrete Jungle), and I was damn glad I did. Even though I didn’t know much of the set they still greatly impressed me, with a mix of melody and all-out punk rock all combined with a surfeit of genuine emotion. The crowd almost drowned out the band on many occasions; such was the hugeness of the singalong, and this even gave me goosebumps several times. This managed to feel like a personal performance, even though it was possibly The Ataris’ biggest UK performance to date since it was obvious how precious many fans hold them to be, but the music was exemplary; an example of how fast paced, melodic punk rock should be played. (8)
The last time I saw LAGWAGON (Concrete Jungle) they were responsible for one of my favourite memories ever (involving a huge circle pit, bright lights and a certain punk cover). I was lucky enough to be only 3 people from the front for this performance and they were just fantastic. I love this hard edged melodic punk nonsense and truly cannot get enough, especially when Joey was flinging himself around like a ball of energy. Chunky power chords belted around at lightning speed, along with a clearly devoted crowd made this a great performance, and one that left me feeling totally knackered (half because I was so squashed and half because it was so good). I was left with a smile on my face an a sense of anticipation…(9)
…for the band that was one of the main reasons I came to Reading. As much as I love A.F.I., there was no contest. PENNYWISE (Concrete Jungle) took everything to a new level. Stupidly (luckily?!) enough I was on the barrier slap-bang in the middle for the entirety of the show, and from the moment we started singing ‘Bro Hymn’ before they even came onstage I knew it’d be a special performance. And it was. Pennywise played with a verve and passion that was just untouchable tonight, the whole spirit of the gig was that of unity and as such made it even better. You probably know the kind of music that PW play, abrasive skate-punk with a political bent, and they were on blistering form tonight. Real fist-in-the-air stuff from start to finish, the highlights being ‘Same Old Story’ and of course, ‘Bro Hymn’ that caused a lump in my throat to form. Sublime, truly sublime. (10).
Thought of the day – (after PW) “Is this all MY sweat?”
Moment of the day – returning to the stage to sing ‘Bro Hymn’ even after PW had left and the lights were on.
Band of the day – Penny’fucking’wise, no contest.
SUNDAY
I really do think BIFFY CLYRO (Main Stage) are a superb band with a bucketload of potential, and that’s why this performance goes down as such a disappointment for me. They only played for about 25 minutes, and took only one song from ‘Blackened Sky’ – this was an error. They seemed to be a bit empty, without the trademark crushing crunch that is their trademark, although this could easily be due to the perennially shite sound on the Main Stage. I suppose they were never going to measure up to Dillinger Escape Plan this time last year…I just hope that they return to form soon (5).
The curse of being fucking shattered struck again, this time resulting in me falling asleep during Blak Twang – although for the life of me I don’t know how since the bass was making my skull vibrate. I did wake up in time for WINNEBAGO DEAL (Carling Stage), a guitar/drums based unit that specialises in metal riffs and pounding rhythms (probably because that’s all they could do). Innovative up to a point, they did create some sludgy riffs and a quite nutty moshpit for the duration of the short set, but you just wonder how their sound will develop. There wasn’t much variation from the ‘fast and frantic – slow and heavy’ template, and when one riff was repeated on its own for a number of minutes, yawns began to fill the tent. I’d like to see where they go from here, and if their sound changes at all. Promising. (6)
I think people are realising that SUM 41 (Main Stage) are not the kiddie pop band that everyone expects them to be live. Hugely heavy riffs dropped into unashamedly melodic and simple-structured songs made much of Reading sit up and go “Uhhh?!, and the moment when they had the fucking nerve (and balls) to slip the fast solo of ‘…Puppets’ was a joy to behold. Yes, some of their songs are spineless, and their onstage banter a touch tiresome. The fact remains that they are capable of playing some truly impressive punk rock, and should not be written off for being so adored by small children. It’s worth nothing that musically they’re very talented, as the many metal riffs demonstrate. A world away from Good ‘fucking’ Charlotte. (7)
I forgot just how much I used to like SYSTEM OF A DOWN (Main Stage) until I saw them here. The sound was abysmal, but they soldiered on, mixing tracks from their self titled debut with newer, more recognisable anthems from Toxicity to powerful effect. Huge pits were whipped up at the merest hint of a riff, and Daron Malakian looked like an escaped mental patient with a guitar strapped to him (he played like one too), and Serj Tankian has one of the most impressive voices in music. All pounding riffs and Eastern chords which were lapped up by the crowd, even though many were simply waiting for Metallica, with the classics like ‘Sugar’ getting the loudest roars. Good, but not Metallica (8)
I’d waited for years to see this lot. The sense of anticipation was utterly amazing, the buzz was infectious. And when METALLICA (Main Stage) strode onstage to the onslaught that is ‘Battery’ you just knew it would be epic. And then following it up with ‘…Puppets’, ‘Harvester’ and ‘Sanitarium’? It was obvious that this was not Nu-metallica, and boy were they on form. From the old-school punk thrash of ‘Seek and Destroy’ to the crushingly relentless ‘Sad But True’ this will go down as one of the all-time greatest headline sets ever. They even played ‘Creeping Death’ for fuck’s sake. James was in gracious mood, and Lars has even grown a sense of humour as demonstrated by the debut performance by The Black Stripes. Trujillo just looks like a gorilla, albeit an insanely fast-fingered one and Kirk looked majestic, hair whipping around him as he gurned through decades of solos. They played so tightly and so impressively that I just could not talk afterwards, and I do not understand how people can say it all sounded the same. (10)
How the hell could anything follow that performance? Reading 2003 was fading fast and it was up to LIGHTYEAR to make things go with a bang. It matters not that only half of ‘Pack Of Dogs’ and ‘Kid Dynamite’ were played, but what is important is the whole feeling of that night. A huge (far bigger than anyone was expecting according to Bars) crowd just dancing around and having a great time, singing ‘Pack Of Dogs’ with Chas as he hugged everyone in sight…a truly magic experience that will never be repeated. The perfect end to one of the best festivals ever.
Thought of the day – “FUCK! They opened with Battery!”
Moment of the day – The circle pit outside the arena entrance
Band of the day – Both Metallica and Lightyear. Two separate ends of the spectrum, both astonishing.
As a final thought – to all the posers out there – GROW UP.
Ben
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