Rock Bitches Review – Download Festival 2010

Three days into the aftermath of Download 2010 and the hang over is finally starting to subside, just in time for the pictures to come back from Snappy Snaps – a must have for remembering the weekend!!

This years DL RAWKED!!  Seriously… It couldn’t have been a better weekend.  Firstly, us Rockbitches only found out we had won tickets on Wednesday evening – a huge thank you to Gaymers for these!! Do you know how MIND BLOWING it is to be told two days before a festival that you’re going?  Shock. Joy. Horror. Panic… then you’re totally Amped and ready to rock out!! HELL YEAH!

We made it to the campsite on the sunny Friday afternoon, cruised through to Black for a path-side spot and chilled with a few drinks before heading into the arena.

First stop: Pepsi Max Stage for some As I Lay Dying.

Luckily we arrived just in time to watch their set start, the tent was absolutely rammed!  We had to push and squeeze though just to get inside – let alone get a half decent view.  It was all worth it though, AILD are incredible live!!  They played the majority of the set from their latest album, The Powerless Rise. \m/ \m/

The moment this set was over we bolted to The Maurice Jones Stage to watch Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and John Paul Jones – AKA Them Crooked Vultures.  Although we wouldn’t have missed this performance for the world, we were a little gutted to be missing Job For A Cowboy in the Pepsi Max stage – At least we could have guaranteed the latter would put on an energetic, truly rocking stage performance that TCV… didn’t.  But then, why would three LEGENDS of today’s rock want to jump around on stage?? – that is, unless you’re AC/DC!!

We couldn’t believe that this year they brought in their own stage… THEIR OWN STAGE!!  Can understand why though – where else are you supposed to set up a giant train?? hmm?  Anyway, for a band who have been performing for just under 4 decades, they have no end of energy and talent.  It was incredible watching them perform hits such as Shook You All Night Long, Thunder, T.N.T. and The Jack.

We heard a few grumbles that this performance was incredibly similar, if not the same to their Black Ice Tour (reviewed previously) but hey, I’d pay to see them do it again!  Especially just watching Angus acting like a crazy mad guitarist for one of the longest solos we’ve ever seen, where he gets lifted into the air on his clear-floored stage before confetti and fireworks explode into the air!  Awesome!!

hahaha.  So Saturday we got an early start.  We opened our tent to discover our neighbour had passed out cold in, what looked to be a kids tent.  Unless you were 5ft tall, we’re unsure how on Earth you were supposed to fit in it otherwise!!  We soon got underway with the MOTHER of all brekkies: SMASH, BEANFEAST & KETCHUP!! mmmmmmmmMMmmmmm.  Long day ahead means a full tummy, a plan and copious amounts of booze :)

Most of our day was spent by The Ronnie James Dio Stage, got us a sweeeet spot right in front of the sound desk.  Another glorious sunny day of friends, booze and rock ‘n’ roll.  First band up: Rolo Tomassi!

In case you’re not aware, RT are a British, female-fronted “mathcore” (I HATE THAT WORD!) band.  We’d heard rumours about how good they were and how Eva, the cute blonde looking chick, has one hell of a growl on her….

Ohhh Myyy Godd! They were really tight – to say the least!  Truely awesome.  The guys who were with us were surprised by her sheer vocal range more than anything else.  (check it out for yourself here)

The next few bands on our list were all on the RJD stage so we stayed put and thought we’d check out who else was on.  The next band were My Passion.  Um… just deleted a really long rant about how bad they were.  Not a fan.

*GRINS* We’d been waiting in anticipation all day for these guys to perform and it was worth the wait; Cancer Bats were INCREDIBLE.  The Canadian rockers didn’t disappoint even in the slightest!! We went MENTAL when they started playing the intro to Lucifer’s Rocking Chair – and their version of Sabotage was even loved by our non-CB-fan friends. SWEEET!

Next on was We Are The Fallen.  First word that sprung to mind was Evanescence – and after some quick Googling, seems like we were spot on: Ex-Evanescence members + American Idol Finalist = another Evanescence.  Very (un)original!  We really enjoyed their version of Madonna’s Like A Prayer… Otherwise, not bad, not great – but a perfect time to get some shut-eye before Rage that evening!!

The last band for us on the RJD stage was Volbeat, a Danish mmmmmore rock ‘n’ roll than rockabilly band.  They brought quite a crowd over – and it was clear to see why with their aire of professionalism and catchy riffs!

Set over, we had time for a quick pitt stop for something to munch, a cold beer and the all-important warm portaloo visit – speaking of which, we have a question…

What do you do if your iPhone falls out of your pocket and lands in the toilet?

Do you a) leave it there, it’s insured anyway or b) fish it out with your bare hands – it’s an IPHONE!

mmmm well we soon discovered that one: B. yes. very gross. and yes, it’s stopped working. URGH!

Like Friday, we were back at the main stage for the final two bands of the night.  First up was Deftones; It seems to only be the guys with us who were amped about seeing them play.  Us Rockbitches know who they are but, they don’t really make us want to move – and the damp vibe was around us too.  Which may explain why there was an insane number of tits being shown on screen!?

Of course, the mood picked up and things started to get a bit rowdy when it was Rage Against The Machine’s time to hit the stage.  Even at our distance from the stage meant we were crushed from all sides – so our only movement was up… and down, of course. (I think they call that jumping…)  Their set was pretty awesome, apparently matching their Finsbury Park show only a week before hand (minus the cartoon Simon Cowell, shame!)  We somehow found a black curly wig – wearing it seemed, somehow, only appropriate for the occasion!!

Sunday: Last day of Download Festival 2010.  Initially we’d had a list of about 6 bands we wanted to watch that day but with a late start, having to pack the tent and knowing we had to leave early, we were LAZY!!  Of course, at the time, it was warm and sunny again and everyone was in high spirits for our last day of partying before we part ways (until Sonisphere, we hope!)

We arrived in the arena just in time for some Slash action.  He is exactly how you imagine him to be!! Not exactly sure what else we were expecting, but Slash does just dress and sound and stand… like Slash!  Nothing wrong with a bit of predictability, I suppose.  Thumbs up to Myles Kennedy on vocals for Sweet Child O’ Mine; that song made our day – just in time for the rain :)

We swiftly headed over to the RJD stage to watch the A-MA-ZING Dillinger Escape Plan.  Getting totally drenched couldn’t stop us from watching their set; one of the original “mathcore” (I HATE THAT WORD!) bands, they shine with raw energy,  musical technicality, and lead by Greg (the lead vocals) charismatic stage presence.  Oh, and they used the stage like a tumblegym – jumping off amps and running around.

Last band of the day was Motorhead.  By this point, we were DRENCHED and since Dillinger had finished we had been on the hunt for a human-sized condom.  Luckily we found one just in time to survive the Motorhead set!!  The bonus of heavy rain is that the crowd seems to… disappear!  Wash away :)  So we could get comfortably close to the stage without slipping on our arses if anyone started jumping. haha. It was awesome watching Lemmy perform live, though we were gutted to not see him holding a bottle of JD at any point – booo!  The closing memory of Download 2010 will be us covered in plastic coats, muddy feet and drunkenly shouting “Ace of Spades”!

\m/ 360 days until Download 2011 – See you there!! \m/