The Pink Slips - Download Festival

Pink slips kicked off Saturday's Main stage at Download this year with a fantastically expressive and engaging set from the LA based quintet. Frontwoman Grave (Grace McKagan) is a force in her own right delivering an engaging performance with full on sass.

The title track from their recently released the EP 'Trigger' went down well with its brooding rhythmic march tinged with a 60's surf garage sound.

'Gimme' was deliciously bassy, a really good use of a driving bassline and a slow pace interspersed with crashing drums for an atmospheric hard hitting effect.

'Animal and 'Attack of the Valley Girls' were also highlights of the set, with wonderfully badass basslines The Pink Slips fuse the energy of punk, with a synthy shimmer of pop into a sound all their own.

The whole band put on a good show with an intensely passionate drummer and a bassist that had so much energy throughout which really enthused the audience. Grave was so expressive writhing on stage and giving the performance her all, switching between gracefully demure and alluringly sassy fierceness.

It was a supremely entertaining set which was all the more easy to enjoy when you can tell how much a band enjoys doing what they do and the effort they put in.

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Guns N' Roses - Download 2018 - Review

Review by Danny Francis-Butler

Friday saw current hard rock goliaths Avenged Sevenfold provide the pyro, the teenage anthems and more pyro; while Saturday saw 30+ years rock and roll veterans Guns N’ Roses dominate the mainstage with their sleazy riffs, soaring vocals and spectacular stage presence.  When first announced that Guns N’ Roses were to play a three hour plus set, reactions were similar across the board.. “Really? Three hours? That’s way too long!” The Guns N’ Roses back catalogue though, featuring two definitive line ups, spans back to their first recording 1986’s EP Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide, their 1987 magnum opus Appetite for Destruction containing massive hits Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise City and Sweet Child of Mine, and their musically profound Use Your Illusion 1 & 2 double release which highlights the bands ability to write songs packed with raw energy and vicious lyrics, as well as the more delicate, epic piano ballads such as November Rain and Estranged. However, the band still felt the need to fill the setlist with covers from Hollywood Rose (the precursor group that would eventually become Guns N’ Roses), The Who and Eric Clapton. Without a doubt, Guns N’ Roses bought together one of the largest crowds to be seen at Donington Park as men, women and children were buzzing in anticipation to see one of the most critically acclaimed rock bands of all time.

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The intro video rolled and bassist Duff McKagan coolly entered the stage on his own, plucking out the intro to It’s So Easy. The rest of the band joined when their queues hit, and it really was a marvel to see Duff, recently returning guitar hero Slash and Axl share a stage together….let alone, on time. As soon as the song stopped, drummer Frank Ferrer hammered the band into a blazing rendition of Mr. Brownstone.  It seemed as if the band were still trying to get warmed up and were trying to gauge the crowd. The next song was an odd choice. The bands decision to play songs from Chinese Democracy took a few in the audience by surprise and it somewhat perplexed the crowd.. “What is this song? I’ve never heard this song in my life!” ..but I get it, some people bought the album, some people didn’t. However, it goes to show the lengths of professionalism from Slash and Duff to learn the songs from an album they never wrote for nor played on to fill out there 180-minute set. Once that song was over and done with, Axl roused the crowd, screaming “Do you know where you are? You’re in Donington Baby! You’re gonna diiiiiie!” as Slash teased the delayed intro to Welcome to the Jungle. You’d be forgiven if you were to accuse them of dragging out their intros, in fact, most of the filler happened at this point of the set. An Izzy Stradlin deep cut from Use Your Illusion 1 (Double Talkin’ Jive), another song from Chinese Democracy (Better), and the near 10-minute epic A-side release Estranged. You could almost see half of the audience drifting off to sleep but the true Guns N’ Roses fans were loving every minute of it, it is a killer song after all. They then segued into Live and Let Die and the crowd sprung alive once more, singing in unison.

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What came next was truly baffling. Guns N’ Roses covering a Velvet Revolver song? You bet your ass they did. And musically it was perfect. Vocally, not so. Axl did not possess the combination of power and silkiness that Scott Weiland had in his voice.  The guitar solo on the other hand was superb, Slash nailed it note for note. Maybe it was a compromise between Slash and Axl: “You play my Chinese Democracy songs, I’ll play your Velvet Revolver songs”. When you look back at the history and bad blood between Scott Weiland and Axl Rose in the press, Scott Weiland calling Axl Rose a “fat, Botox faced, wig wearin’ FUCK”, you’d be hard pressed to find a reason why Axl would want to cover a Velvet Revolver song. Perhaps a belated tribute to Weiland. Or perhaps it’s Axl’s response in a way of saying “I’m alive and you’re not.” Combined with the next song on the set, it may just be apparent that it was yet more unnecessary filler. A dragged-out intro to the Appetite for Destruction closer Rocket Queen swiftly follows. There seemed to be a pattern emerging, for every massively popular anthem played, they played a lot of filler afterwards.

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The next sequence of songs featured the highly energetic You Could Be Mine. The drum and bass thundered on the intro and then the band hit the crowd with that sleazy, greasy, finger lickin’ good riff of the ages and the crowd came to life once more. A cover of Attitude by the Misfits followed, Axl exits stage left to take break and Duff sings. Perplexing the crowd once more, Axl re-emerged and the band played another song from Chinese Democracy and a Hollywood Rose cover. From here on out they performed another eclectic mix of anthems and fillers including Civil War which was very good. Almost record quality.

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Axl introduced the band, including “your fellow Englishman, Slash”. For those who don’t know, Saul Hudson AKA, Slash, was born in Stoke-On-Trent to an English father and an African American mother. Slash then showed off his sweet-sounding blues rock guitar skills for a good ten to fifteen minutes and brought the band into an instrumental version of Johnny B Goode and eventually got into Sweet Child of Mine, the big one everyone had been waiting for. It was next level stuff, we witnessed a band that had sworn down it would never play together again playing their biggest hit, and they didn’t disappoint. Following that was the 10-minute album closer to Use Your Illusion 1, Coma. Slash was now brimming with energy, hopping from one side of the stage to the other. It’s a great riff, lets face it. Following that was Wichita Lineman, which one can only assume was a tribute to the late great Glenn Campbell and an all instrumental version of Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here, which sounded amazing. To bring this sequence to its climax, Axl sat behind the piano and played the band into the piano coda of Derek and Dominoes Layla which lasted a good five more minutes until he carries the band into a rousing rendition of November Rain. 100,000 metal heads swaying in time to the music, lumps in throats, tears on cheeks, singing as loud as they possibly can.

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They followed onto a tribute to Chris Cornell by playing a cover of Black Hole Sun, which didn’t stop the tears from the crowd. It was beautiful. Slash broke out the double neck and played what felt like an endless version of Knocking on Heavens Door. Immediately afterwards the energy picked up and they kicked into Nightrain to cap their set, a song about a cheap American fortified wine. The band was a tight unit, a wrecking ball of hard rock playing music that perfectly highlights the alcohol fuelled debauchery that exists within the trenches that is the legendary campsites of Donington Park. The band exits the stage and after a while a jangly acoustic guitar pumps through the PA as Axl whistles the melody to Patience, followed by an electric cover of the Who’s 1970 single The Seeker and then straight into Paradise City. The music and the atmosphere have Slash gyrating from one side of the stage to the other and again, Axl struggles to reach the notes. The band left the stage with literally a bang, as a gobsmacking firework display lit the sky beyond. 

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What was witnessed on that Saturday night was something not a lot of people have ever or will ever witness again. While they did fill their unnecessarily long festival set, which saw earlier bands have to cut their sets short or start earlier, with unnecessary covers and dragged out intros, the music and the energy that Guns N’ Roses bought to Download Festival was spectacular. Not all the songs were a hit, but they weren’t exactly a miss either. Guns N’ Roses reset the bar for the festival in terms of performance, musicianship and the ability to grip the crowd as they did. This wasn’t just a rock show, but an out and out experience. Some people ask once the Rolling Stones have gone, who will replace them as the worlds everlasting rock band? After this show, you couldn’t argue that it would not be Guns N’ Roses, so if you ever get the chance to see them, I’d highly recommend going. Guns N’ Roses are simply outstanding.

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Download 2018 - Friday

Download opened its gates to early campers with so much going on in the Village was easy to see how this festival is an all encompassing event like no other.

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With cult films in the Cinema tent as well as comedy and pre-party bands it is well worth heading along early and making a holiday of the festival. With planes flying over the site there is a real feeling of getting away from it all.

The dust blew over the sun-scorched earth as you entered the aptly named Village where there is always a great sense of community. Walking through the market stalls and the fun fair rides you may well come across people enthusiastically appreciating a roaring song's beat down and just generally being themselves enjoying the atmosphere. 

Further into the belly of the beast, the campsites have various groups from all corners of the UK and beyond, getting involved and intermingling as they challenge each other to beer bongs for the shining prize of a wrestling belt.

What hits you most though is the enthusiasm for music, with many a friendly yet passionate conversation on the bands performing over the weekend.

With over 100,000 music fans descending on the 'spiritual home of rock' the weekend kicked off in full force Friday with a plethora of acts across the 4 stages.

Boston Manor

Boston Manor

Boston Manor by Sarah Koury

Boston Manor by Sarah Koury

First band to open the Main Stage for the weekend were Boston Manor who bounded onstage with a heartfelt scream. Their emotive punk anthems drifting out across the already burgeoning crowd. With that classic hardcore hugging the mic stance, singer Henry Cox was bouncing around full of energy. The pounding track 'Lead Feet' was pure pop-punk with its catchy hooks and a breathless pause of anticipation between songs led into latest single ‘Halo’ from the upcoming new album which is due out this September.

Over on the Dogtooth Stage at the same time Cellar Darling singer Anna Murphy's sugary vocals contrasted beautifully with the heavy backdrop of their sound. Black Moon was a standout track, with a classic Faith No More-esque clear bass and captivating chorus. Avalanche was another great standout track with the line ‘this is who we are' echoing their confidence for uniquely combining grand heavy riffs and the folk tones of the hurdy gurdy while driving drums break though fusing heavy rock with folk in a wonderfully poetic storytelling style.

Walking through the site, there were a fair few people in fancy dress, more than expected … an inflatable dinosaur, umpa lumpas, multiple jokers and most notably a group of bananas who seemed to be at every great set we saw.

Employed To Serve by Caitlin Mogridge 

Employed To Serve by Caitlin Mogridge 

With their new album 'Bay Dream' out next week Californians Culture Abuse were over on the Zippo stage starting out on their European tour, unfortunately we only caught a small part of their set, but it was well worth hurrying along to the Avalanche stage for Employed To Serve. Flocks of keen people were making a beeline for the tent and you can see why they drew a good crowd. We caught the soundcheck where you got to hear the full force of Justine Jones' awesome screams isolated. Amusingly the in between set backing music was lighthearted and cheesy, meaning 'Another Day In Paradise' accompanied Justine's raw and fiercely formidable mic checks. A point made clear by the instruction 'just me in the monitor, no-one else wants my vocals please'. From last year's album 'Warmth of a Dying Sun', standout track of the set was the brutal 'I Spend My Days Wishing Them Away'. They let the crowd know that they are playing the album in full on tour next month and the tent was heaving with revelers with the banana dudes keeping the pit going. So powerfully strong vocally, with awesome deep screams we loved the Justine's voice pushed through with just a tinge of melody. Pounding drums and beat down awesomeness enthused the audience in this set full of energy, where the whole band was on form and Justine was top of her game, a sea of constant hair screaming to the sky.

Walking back across the site we caught a little of Avatar on the Main stage who clearly have a good sense of humour to their set, they introduced 'Smells Like A Freak Show' saying “if they say you look like a freak show, damn right, if they say you sound like a freak show, damn right … you haven't seen the best bit” as he paused and took a great whiff of his armpit, “we smell like a freak show”.

Stray From The Path by Caitlin Mogridge

Stray From The Path by Caitlin Mogridge

Back at the Avalanche stage, NYC alternative hardcore band Stray From The Path who recently had Employed To Serve joining them on tour stated they were on a mission to bring pissed off music to the world. As a self-confessed outspoken band, they gave a rousing introduction to their track 'Good Night Alt-Right' “everything we're talking about everything we're doing is real and it's from the heart. All these songs are about real important issues that are going on in our world and in this generation. I look around this tent and all I see is beautiful people coming together in support of music that they love”. The band then asked the crowd to raise their fists in the air “one thing that is not welcome at a Stray show is racism … this is for anyone who's been a victim of segregation or racism” as they launched into a blistering barrage of driving punk and a snippet of Dead Kennedys 'Nazi Punks F**k Off'. The inter-song banter continued as they stated they were “not proud to stand on this stage and tell you Donald Trump is the president”. Closing tracks 'The House Always Wins' and 'First World Problem Child' defiantly blended piercing vocals with squealing guitars and pounding rhythm section. “The people want a riot" they sure did, with their immense crowd interaction and driving sound in this packed out tent.

Marmozets at Reading 2017

Marmozets at Reading 2017

Next up on the Main stage, Marmozets opened up with 'Play' and 'Meant To Be'. The marching drums and stadium-worthy Muse-like guitars gave a really fired up start to the set. Becca has a great urgent tone to her vocals which can switch in a second from a harrowing scream into fierce melody. By 'Particle' the drummer was so enthusiastic headbanging along to each precision beat. It was great to see them in a main stage slot, they showed it was well deserved and did it justice. It was an entertaining set with unwavering stage presence from the whole band. Becca told the crowd how last year they were “camping with you lot” showing they are still down-to-earth as they continue to rise in popularity. Again on 'Move, Shake, Hide' there was expert switching from awesome expressive screams to sassy singing. The storming 'Vibetech' had a great breakdown with the band tight band on all counts - bass and drums powering and building up, quiet parts throughout the set gave a fresh contrast where Becca's voice really shines through. They have a great dynamic, literally family as are made up of two sets of siblings. The set went down really well with loads of movement in the audience more than you might expect in a mid-afternoon slot.

Andrew WK earlier this year

Andrew WK earlier this year

Next we headed back to the Zippo stage to see the nuclear level energy entity that is Andrew WK. Looking out over the crowd he remarked that it was "so beautiful" before bringing out the guitar shaped like a slice of pizza for a solo the whole crowd clapped along. It's at this point and during his frequent flurries on the keys that you're reminded that not only is he the undisputed king of party, but also a talented multi-instrumentalist. He then dedicated 'She Is Beautiful' to all the women, and following that enthused that the song 'Tear It Up' was unsurprisingly a song about tearing it up all night long. Bringing his positive party vibes to an already friendly and partying festival he stated "it feels good to be alive" and really meant it - he clearly loves what he does with a full on unwavering passion and the audience in turn is infected by the party vibes, no more so than after the epically long countdown finally erupts into 'Party Hard'.

Andrew WK

Andrew WK

Back over on the main stage Volbeat played 'Lola Montez' about a "shady lady named Lola, are there any shady ladies out there? Sure there are I can smell you". Anchored by a heady mix of rockabilly, early rock & roll and metal Volbeat put on a great show.

Volbeat

Volbeat

Canadian hard-core metal band Cancer Bats were next up on the Avalanche stage playing material from their new self-released album 'The Spark That Moves' which was out a month ago. The Beastie Boys cover 'Sabotage' got a good reception from the crowd with a roar in unison eminating out from the tent as the final beats of the intro punched in, unfortunately we weren't feeling it, as a cover of an awesome song although a good rendition it leaves out some of the essence of the best qualities of the classic track ... a cover is best when it ingeniously or substantially changes the original. The rest of the set was really good executed with furious energy and finished with sustained chants for more after. 

Cancer Bats

Cancer Bats

The Bronx were next up on the Avalanche stage. Dedicating a track "for all the cavemen and women" they were one unit of boundless energy with constant guitar solos and crowd surfing aplenty. Playing 'Side effects' and 'Two Birds' they then dedicated a song to Anthony Bourdain "for everyone that loves music and art".

The Bronx

The Bronx

Napalm Death headlined the Dogtooth Stage with songs like 'Scum' the title track from their '87 debut it was a roaring heavy set. One guy came out of the tent with a bloody nose seeming fine with it, like a badge of honour from a truly energnetic set. They played "two very different songs" that were all of 1 second long, short but oh so sweet. 

Avenged Sevenfold said how "the UK was the first country to embrace us this goes put to you". With a massive production and a two hour set delving into their extensive back catalogue they paid service to their oldest fans, going all the way back to 2005 classic ‘Unholy confessions’. With ‘City Of Evil’, ‘Hail To The King’ and also songs from latest surprise album ‘The Stage’ the Californian group proved that they are here to stay as festival headliners.

Avenged Sevenfold

Avenged Sevenfold

You Me At Six delivered the second stage headline performance – as they announced their new album at the festival while punk Legends Bad Religion smashed through punk masterclass and tech metal front-runners Tesseract headlined the dogtooth stage.

UK metal torch-bearers Bullet For My Valentine roared through rock-club anthems ‘Tears Don’t Fall’, ‘Scream Aim Fire’ and new hits ‘Letting You Go’ more as they march toward album number six ‘Gravity’.

With the sun shining the atmosphere was electric in what is widely regarded as the UK friendliest festival, celebrating inclusivity, self-expression leaving us looking forward to the next 2 days.