The Killers Reading Festival 2008
I pulled back, I didn’t fancy being in the middle of a scrum at the front, I ended 15 or so rows before the first barrier and I was eagerly waiting The Killers, although anticipation for the band from Las Vegas, the hype and excitement did not match Rage Against The Machine set.
Less moshing, more singing was in order and despite the sound problems and the crowd chanting “Turn it up” in between the songs, it was a credible performance by The Killers not reaching the same level as the other headliners of Rage and Metallica.
It was Somebody Told Me that prompted the first major sing a long from the crowd but it was a song that was dogged with sound problems and the song therefore lost some bite to it
"We're going to pick it up a notch, we're going to steal some souls, shake some bones, get some meat," Flowers told the crowd and the band launched into 'When You Were Young'
The Killers played Spaceman off the new album before launching into their biggest hit Mr Brightside
They closed with the song that is part of Nike’s new advert which coincides with the Beijing Olympics. It was a great end to the set, and saw a big load of confetti fall onto me (Like it was snowing)
Monday, 17 November 2008
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Reading Festival 2008 Saturday
Reading Festival 2008 Saturday
I was slowly running out of booze but I woke up in a tired state of mind (After experiencing a historic Rage Against The Machine set), the bands on today had a difficult job of trying to live up to the bands that performed on Friday.
I was annoyed that the fucking “Security” took my bottle of water yesterday, which meant I had to purchase a tiny bottle in the arena for 2 quid (Which absolutely disgraceful in my opinion), but they didn’t check this time and I was let in with my bottle.
They shouldn’t confiscate bottles of water anyway, it’s a matter of safety surely that people don’t dehydrate whilst watching a band. It is absolutely ludicrous that they force you to buy a bottle within the arena.
The first band I briefly saw was British Sea Power in all honesty I didn’t really like them or get there music, although they went down well with the crowd.
I was eagerly awaiting The Subways on the main stage, for the 2nd time I saw them this Summer. It was such a slow start to Saturday, and I was still knackered from the night before. A high energy performance from The Subways is what I needed to kick me into life.
A firm favourite at Reading, this was there 5th performance, and I was desperate to see them at last years Reading Festival, they kicked their set with Oh Yeah and that sparked the crowd into life. Don’t get me wrong a lively crowd is brilliant, but I was surrounded by the types of people that read the NME magazine, but that’s the trouble when you like a band that is held in such high regard by the NME magazine.
I swear some bastard tried to pick pocket my phone out of my pocket, but fortunately they didn’t get particularly far.
I don’t believe there Reading performance wasn’t as good as the one at Glastonbury, but perhaps that was because the crowd was expected an incredible performance, whereas at Glastonbury, it was almost unexpected. The Subways had been given a really early slot after Kate Nash and just completely blew everyone away.
The Reading Festival performance by them was very good, but not at the same level as they were at Glastonbury.
It was awesome to let go and jump around and you can certainly do that whilst watching The Subways.
I stayed to watch Dirty Pretty Things; We Are Scientists and Editors, before I headed near the front to watch The Raconteurs rock hard on the main stage.
I saw them at Glastonbury, and I don’t think again they were as good as there Glastonbury performance but one of my favourite modern rock acts, performed well and I thoroughly enjoyed their performance.
Last year, at Reading Festival on the Sunday, I saw Bloc Party perform a flawless set when the Sun was going down the Sunday of Reading 2007 Festival and I made a promise this year that I would actually listen to some of Bloc Party’s music before this year’s festival.
Trouble was it was the return of the NME crowd, and I was involved with must have been some of the worst pushing (No not moshing there is a difference!) at the front. I know this is going to make me sound like a grumpy tosser, and I know how its free for all in terms of trying to get a decent vantage point to view the band at Reading, however, I don’t appreciate twats coming in groups of like 50 – 60 people chains barging there way to the front, literally 5 minutes before bloc party come on.
“Your tall, I’m going in front of you” – says a girl to me, look I may be tall but that’s beside the point… Don’t whine about having a shit position behind my head when you only bothered trying to get a decent spot all of about 5 minutes ago.
It was the first performance by Bloc Party since the release of their 3rd album, and expectations were high to live up to their Reading Festival 2007 performance. They kicked off with Mercury off the new album, and it was truly horrific. It was definitely one of them “What the fuck?!” type of moments. It was ambitious to say the least to pull of this song live and they should have laid of looping his voice over and over… definitely did get off to a good start.
Hunting For Witches was a much better effort as I tried to stay on my feet (Whilst chaos and severe pushing occurred all around me) during this song
I was gutted, I survived Rage Against The Machine and yet I went down twice to a bunch of NME Bloc Party fans. I am ashamed.
Just before they played Like Eating Glass we were asked to hold our hands in the air and tingle are fingers around, and with everyone around me participating at holding their hands up, and with it just starting to lightly rain, it was one of them moments to loose yourself in.
They unleashed the lasers, and these rays of green laser beamed off the stage in what was an imposing sight.
Helicopter was a great end to set which didn’t live up to my expectations.
I was slowly running out of booze but I woke up in a tired state of mind (After experiencing a historic Rage Against The Machine set), the bands on today had a difficult job of trying to live up to the bands that performed on Friday.
I was annoyed that the fucking “Security” took my bottle of water yesterday, which meant I had to purchase a tiny bottle in the arena for 2 quid (Which absolutely disgraceful in my opinion), but they didn’t check this time and I was let in with my bottle.
They shouldn’t confiscate bottles of water anyway, it’s a matter of safety surely that people don’t dehydrate whilst watching a band. It is absolutely ludicrous that they force you to buy a bottle within the arena.
The first band I briefly saw was British Sea Power in all honesty I didn’t really like them or get there music, although they went down well with the crowd.
I was eagerly awaiting The Subways on the main stage, for the 2nd time I saw them this Summer. It was such a slow start to Saturday, and I was still knackered from the night before. A high energy performance from The Subways is what I needed to kick me into life.
A firm favourite at Reading, this was there 5th performance, and I was desperate to see them at last years Reading Festival, they kicked their set with Oh Yeah and that sparked the crowd into life. Don’t get me wrong a lively crowd is brilliant, but I was surrounded by the types of people that read the NME magazine, but that’s the trouble when you like a band that is held in such high regard by the NME magazine.
I swear some bastard tried to pick pocket my phone out of my pocket, but fortunately they didn’t get particularly far.
I don’t believe there Reading performance wasn’t as good as the one at Glastonbury, but perhaps that was because the crowd was expected an incredible performance, whereas at Glastonbury, it was almost unexpected. The Subways had been given a really early slot after Kate Nash and just completely blew everyone away.
The Reading Festival performance by them was very good, but not at the same level as they were at Glastonbury.
It was awesome to let go and jump around and you can certainly do that whilst watching The Subways.
I stayed to watch Dirty Pretty Things; We Are Scientists and Editors, before I headed near the front to watch The Raconteurs rock hard on the main stage.
I saw them at Glastonbury, and I don’t think again they were as good as there Glastonbury performance but one of my favourite modern rock acts, performed well and I thoroughly enjoyed their performance.
Last year, at Reading Festival on the Sunday, I saw Bloc Party perform a flawless set when the Sun was going down the Sunday of Reading 2007 Festival and I made a promise this year that I would actually listen to some of Bloc Party’s music before this year’s festival.
Trouble was it was the return of the NME crowd, and I was involved with must have been some of the worst pushing (No not moshing there is a difference!) at the front. I know this is going to make me sound like a grumpy tosser, and I know how its free for all in terms of trying to get a decent vantage point to view the band at Reading, however, I don’t appreciate twats coming in groups of like 50 – 60 people chains barging there way to the front, literally 5 minutes before bloc party come on.
“Your tall, I’m going in front of you” – says a girl to me, look I may be tall but that’s beside the point… Don’t whine about having a shit position behind my head when you only bothered trying to get a decent spot all of about 5 minutes ago.
It was the first performance by Bloc Party since the release of their 3rd album, and expectations were high to live up to their Reading Festival 2007 performance. They kicked off with Mercury off the new album, and it was truly horrific. It was definitely one of them “What the fuck?!” type of moments. It was ambitious to say the least to pull of this song live and they should have laid of looping his voice over and over… definitely did get off to a good start.
Hunting For Witches was a much better effort as I tried to stay on my feet (Whilst chaos and severe pushing occurred all around me) during this song
I was gutted, I survived Rage Against The Machine and yet I went down twice to a bunch of NME Bloc Party fans. I am ashamed.
Just before they played Like Eating Glass we were asked to hold our hands in the air and tingle are fingers around, and with everyone around me participating at holding their hands up, and with it just starting to lightly rain, it was one of them moments to loose yourself in.
They unleashed the lasers, and these rays of green laser beamed off the stage in what was an imposing sight.
Helicopter was a great end to set which didn’t live up to my expectations.
Friday, 31 October 2008
Rage Against The Machine Reading Festival 2008
I never had seen the main stage field so packed, all I could see was heads of excited Rage Against The Machine fans and you just knew that this was going to be something epic.
My plan to avoid being 3rd row from the front right in the middle of the severe mosh pits had failed, and there I was to the left of the stage, with a cracking view of the stage and in prime position for when Rage decided to come on.
My heart was pounding, I was completely shitting it, not wanting to be in position I was, but there was no way I would miss Rage Against The Machine perform in England the first time in 8 years. I was absolutely terrified of what injuries I would sustain of what would be the biggest mosh pit of my life.
One thing was certain, there would not likely to be any NME indie loving wankers sitting on people’s shoulders blocking not only my view, but about tens of people behind them.
I would compare the experience of the build up before Rage Against The Machine came on, to an unpleasant, apprehensive state of uncertainty. Was I going to end battered and bruised? Would I make it through the Rage Against The Machine set still conscious? I am ashamed to admit I was incredibly worried.
The excitement was hitting fever pitch, and along with the crushing at the front, the moment we had all been waiting for. The lights on the arena were blacked out and all could be hear was a siren noise, the crowd knew what was coming next, and roared back, Rage Against The Machine walked on in Guantanamo Bay-style orange overalls and hoods, and stand stock still for long enough to inspire a decent degree of awe, before launching into the track Bombtrack.
The sound of the bass coming from the speakers was phenomenal and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. As so the moshing began, and it was really backs against the wall time as there was no chance of escaping this for the next 90 minutes, I began to let go and join in. It was just incredible, despite being dressed head to toe in orange suits they still played a perfect rendition of the song.
Hits such as Tesify and my all time favourite Rage Against The Machine song Bulls On Parade
This is Know Your Enemy, by this point I was gasping for water and hoping that the crowd surfers eased up a little rather than kicking me in the head.
Rage Against The Machine performing Bullet In Your Head
Despite Rage Against The Machine refusing the BBC to film them, they couldn’t quite stop everyone and someone filming using a professional camera from the sound tower, captures Guerrilla Radio being performed and it’s a magnitude of how fucking mental it was down at the front. I was so hyped up at this point I passed caring about the elbows flying into my back and decided just to enjoy it.
There was slightly more calm momentarily when songs such as Ashes In The Fall, Calm Like A Bomb, Sleep Now were being performed and was a useful opportunity to grab some water from the security handing out water during some of the more “Slower” songs.
Rage Against The Machine is a band fuelled by politics and the whole set up on stage was very minimalist, almost raw in some respects, which goes hand in hand with Rage’s music. Most bands have some artwork backdrop behind them with the bands logo on; Rage simply had a giant red star. No gimmicks, just raw great music, performed by 4 brilliant musicians.
They had the smoke machines going at the front of the stage which just added to the atmosphere. When you view it on the video below, I think it almost looks like smoke from all the people moshing so furiously at the front.
They performed wake up, which was time for a legendary speech by Rage’s front man
"Last April I came over and said a few things. And the next day Rupert Murdoch's Fox News ran a piece on us saying that I said the President should be assassinated. I need to reframe what we said so that a band can stand up and tell the truth. What we said is that President Bush and the whole administration should be brought in front of a trial for War Crimes and hung. And based on all the news we saw of all of you marching in the street before the war makes me think that Tony Blair should be right up alongside him.”
"This made me think what are they so afraid of? Are they afraid, really afraid, of four musicians from Los Angeles who speak their minds? I don't think so. You wanna know what the fuck they're so afraid of? They're scared of you. They're scared 'cause they know that if they don't start pulling all those troops out of Iraq, all those poor soldiers left in the desert to die, that you might go and start some shit in the streets, that you might stop working, that you might get together and organise a strike to stop them from ever invading another country again. That's what they're scared of."
The crowd lapped it up, despite some of the absurdity of what he was saying, but it was an epic song, with what felt like the whole field screaming “WAKE UP!”
They went off, before coming back on for an encore
There was one final killer song, to end the performance of all performances and Killing In The Name which had the whole crowd going. Not just those in front of the front barrier, but everyone in the field at that time.
The cries of “Fuck you I won’t do what you tell me” were loud and it was the best crowd participation I have seen, it was the perfect end to a brilliant set. I don’t think that headlining performance will be topped for many of year. It was just astounding.
My plan to avoid being 3rd row from the front right in the middle of the severe mosh pits had failed, and there I was to the left of the stage, with a cracking view of the stage and in prime position for when Rage decided to come on.
My heart was pounding, I was completely shitting it, not wanting to be in position I was, but there was no way I would miss Rage Against The Machine perform in England the first time in 8 years. I was absolutely terrified of what injuries I would sustain of what would be the biggest mosh pit of my life.
One thing was certain, there would not likely to be any NME indie loving wankers sitting on people’s shoulders blocking not only my view, but about tens of people behind them.
I would compare the experience of the build up before Rage Against The Machine came on, to an unpleasant, apprehensive state of uncertainty. Was I going to end battered and bruised? Would I make it through the Rage Against The Machine set still conscious? I am ashamed to admit I was incredibly worried.
The excitement was hitting fever pitch, and along with the crushing at the front, the moment we had all been waiting for. The lights on the arena were blacked out and all could be hear was a siren noise, the crowd knew what was coming next, and roared back, Rage Against The Machine walked on in Guantanamo Bay-style orange overalls and hoods, and stand stock still for long enough to inspire a decent degree of awe, before launching into the track Bombtrack.
The sound of the bass coming from the speakers was phenomenal and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. As so the moshing began, and it was really backs against the wall time as there was no chance of escaping this for the next 90 minutes, I began to let go and join in. It was just incredible, despite being dressed head to toe in orange suits they still played a perfect rendition of the song.
Hits such as Tesify and my all time favourite Rage Against The Machine song Bulls On Parade
This is Know Your Enemy, by this point I was gasping for water and hoping that the crowd surfers eased up a little rather than kicking me in the head.
Rage Against The Machine performing Bullet In Your Head
Despite Rage Against The Machine refusing the BBC to film them, they couldn’t quite stop everyone and someone filming using a professional camera from the sound tower, captures Guerrilla Radio being performed and it’s a magnitude of how fucking mental it was down at the front. I was so hyped up at this point I passed caring about the elbows flying into my back and decided just to enjoy it.
There was slightly more calm momentarily when songs such as Ashes In The Fall, Calm Like A Bomb, Sleep Now were being performed and was a useful opportunity to grab some water from the security handing out water during some of the more “Slower” songs.
Rage Against The Machine is a band fuelled by politics and the whole set up on stage was very minimalist, almost raw in some respects, which goes hand in hand with Rage’s music. Most bands have some artwork backdrop behind them with the bands logo on; Rage simply had a giant red star. No gimmicks, just raw great music, performed by 4 brilliant musicians.
They had the smoke machines going at the front of the stage which just added to the atmosphere. When you view it on the video below, I think it almost looks like smoke from all the people moshing so furiously at the front.
They performed wake up, which was time for a legendary speech by Rage’s front man
"Last April I came over and said a few things. And the next day Rupert Murdoch's Fox News ran a piece on us saying that I said the President should be assassinated. I need to reframe what we said so that a band can stand up and tell the truth. What we said is that President Bush and the whole administration should be brought in front of a trial for War Crimes and hung. And based on all the news we saw of all of you marching in the street before the war makes me think that Tony Blair should be right up alongside him.”
"This made me think what are they so afraid of? Are they afraid, really afraid, of four musicians from Los Angeles who speak their minds? I don't think so. You wanna know what the fuck they're so afraid of? They're scared of you. They're scared 'cause they know that if they don't start pulling all those troops out of Iraq, all those poor soldiers left in the desert to die, that you might go and start some shit in the streets, that you might stop working, that you might get together and organise a strike to stop them from ever invading another country again. That's what they're scared of."
The crowd lapped it up, despite some of the absurdity of what he was saying, but it was an epic song, with what felt like the whole field screaming “WAKE UP!”
They went off, before coming back on for an encore
There was one final killer song, to end the performance of all performances and Killing In The Name which had the whole crowd going. Not just those in front of the front barrier, but everyone in the field at that time.
The cries of “Fuck you I won’t do what you tell me” were loud and it was the best crowd participation I have seen, it was the perfect end to a brilliant set. I don’t think that headlining performance will be topped for many of year. It was just astounding.
Reading Festival 2008 Friday
I woke up that Friday morning, in anticipation and excitement at Rage Against The Machine’s first English performance in little more than 8 years. This was not Friday at Reading this was RAGE day and you could truly sense it amongst the crowd. This was the band everyone was desperate to see; this was the band that even overshadowed the headliners of the 2007 Reading Festival last year, when it was announced and strongly linked that Rage would be at the 2008 festival.
Looking at the whole day, it was epic for many reasons for me; perhaps it was the massive adrenaline rush I got from being in one of the largest mosh pits I’ll ever undertake in my lifetime.
Unlike the Glastonbury festival, where the performers that were performing where a bit his and miss, I have been excited the very moment this line up had been revealed. This line up was in a different league to what the Reading Festival had to offer last year, and arguably was one of the strongest line up for good 5 years. I could not wait for it to begin.
As I trudged from my Green campsite towards the main entrance arena, it brought back found memories of the same walking trip I made a year ago at the 2007 Reading Festival
It was a bright sunny, Friday and the first band I saw was Anti Flag who was one of my favourite punk bands, and despite being the first act on the main stage, the crowd were still in fine voice.
It was a gutsy performance by Anti Flag but it was too early and still a bit too hot for me down at the front, for me to start seriously moshing along to the songs.
It was one of few bands early on that was performing I was genuinely excited about, there wasn’t too much on at the main stage that I was desperate to see until the evening. It was all about pacing myself.
I headed over the BBC introducing stage, which saw some unknown band, perform to us, singing songs to us, which we don’t know… For me part of the fun is bouncing along to a band, belting the words out of a band’s songs in a slightly drunk manner. I can’t understand why some people were so fascinated about try to find out about new bands at festivals; in my view it’s not really the place for it.
At festivals in my view should be all about trying to see as many bands as you like and know, rather than discover bands you have never heard of.
I headed into the Lock Up tent to listen to an enjoyable set by The Briggs and Frank Turner, who turned out to be less hardcore act than I was expecting, he turned out to be one of the finds of the festival weekend for me.
Afterwards I sat outside eating a posh burger (Yes you really do get these at the festival) and I saw this guy drop his phone out of his pocket, coming to the rescue I picked the phone up and chased the guy and handed the phone back. The person was relieved and thanked me for returning, I felt good knowing that I saved someone the hassle of losing their phone and I kept thinking back to the day when I lost my wallet at Glastonbury. It was sheer despair when I’d lost, with sheer adulation when I got it back, and I’d like to think that being honest at festivals is the way forward and would be considerably selfish of me just to leave the guys phone their on the ground, whilst he walked off and not return it. Common decency and human kindness is an important part of the festival spirit that all festival goers should fight to maintain.
I hang around before The Enemy graced the main stage with their presence. They are definitely a band to appeal to male chavs/pikeys/lads in my view. Any band dressed in polo shirt by Nickelson or Hackett, three-quarter-length shorts by Top Man will appeal to the common chav, needless to say I enjoyed them thoroughly as they prompted what was the first major sing a long of the Reading festival so far. Away From Here was a cracking way to open a festival set and it certainly had the festival crowd going.
Even the crowd started to get inventive, as all of a sudden baguettes started being lobbed around the front area of the crowd, and it was certainly a sight to behold. You’re used to bottles, beer cups etc being chucked around a rock venue arena, but it made a change seeing bread baguettes being lobbed into the air.
Overall I though The Enemy put out a decent performance and an enjoyable set.
Before The Fratellis came on football was on the agenda for a few festival goers and I just so happened to be standing near some Coventry City and Manchester City fans. They were a great laugh as we got into a chant off with some West Ham fans.
I enjoyed it before The Fratellis came on, I have to say much like their Glastonbury performance, it was a bit flat and didn’t really get the crowd going, with the exception of Chelsea Dagger song, but other than that it was a let down really.
There were too many wankers in the crowd who insisted that sitting on each other’s shoulders was the best way was to fuck up everyone’s view. I had a delightful view of a chubby girl’s lower back and black thong sticking out above her trousers. Nice. I wished I had the balls of someone else, but someone grabbed her thong and preceded to wedgie her. Absolutely classic and I would buy that guy a drink for the sheer amount of balls that took, trouble was with me standing directly behind her I got the blame for such action!
A load of us were getting restless with the one girl that refused to get off her friends shoulders and when Queens Of The Stone Age finally came on, I had peer round this girls buttocks in order to bloody see!
This was when me and few others around her decided to promptly fight back, we decided as soon as the main song kicked off we would create a mosh pit around this girl and her friend prompting her to get down.
Queens Of The Stone Age kicked off with go with the flow and as soon as the drums kicked in we moshed hard and this was when I experience the mosh volatile mosh pit I had ever experienced at Reading festival and the movement amongst the crowd was fucking epic. It didn’t matter about the girl on her mates shoulders anymore, she promptly got down and I was propelled forward as the movement of the crowd carried me to the front.
Sick Sick Sick was Queens Of The Stone Age next song and prompted more movement from the crowd and the scary thing was that despite being towards the back (Near the first barrier) I had ended up 4-5 rows from the front. I didn’t mind being their for Queens Of The Stone Age but thinking ahead on what was on after them and what the mosh pits would be like for Rage Against The Machine I didn’t particularly want to be in the mix of all the hardcore moshers.
Mosh pits can in some ways be the only way to get some relief from the crush, as people that don’t want to be involved in the moshing step back and open up like a mosh circle for you and momentarily whilst you get pounded or jumped into by this that and whoever, you can instantly feel the coolness of not having to share body heat with everyone else!
There was one moment when things turned ugly and this 2 people started slugging it out with their fists. It was a surreal experience as at first you don’t know if they were really fighting each other, but when it became clear that when one guy was on the floor and this other guy kept launching punches towards him then I had to step in and ensure the guy on the floor didn’t get completely obliterated.
At the time it just felt like the right thing to do, but it the end it took like 7-8 of us to break the fight up, and looking back on it, it was a fairly brave thing for me to do.
I calmed down a bit, and didn’t mosh again until No One Knows was played by the band, which prompted wilder crowd movement down at the front. It was one of my all time favourite songs , and it’s typically the song that accompanies me on my mp3 player whilst I’m running and you know what the experience of it being played live whilst, the yellow stage lights obscured my vision whilst moshing with many others was one of the highlights this year for me at Reading.
A Song For The Dead ended a hugely enjoyable festival set by Queens Of The Stone Age and for me one of the best bands I had experienced watching live.
Yet the main attraction was still to come, and I was like 3 rows from the front with no visible escape route from the mosh pits that will undoubtedly I would be involved in for the next 90 minutes.
Looking at the whole day, it was epic for many reasons for me; perhaps it was the massive adrenaline rush I got from being in one of the largest mosh pits I’ll ever undertake in my lifetime.
Unlike the Glastonbury festival, where the performers that were performing where a bit his and miss, I have been excited the very moment this line up had been revealed. This line up was in a different league to what the Reading Festival had to offer last year, and arguably was one of the strongest line up for good 5 years. I could not wait for it to begin.
As I trudged from my Green campsite towards the main entrance arena, it brought back found memories of the same walking trip I made a year ago at the 2007 Reading Festival
It was a bright sunny, Friday and the first band I saw was Anti Flag who was one of my favourite punk bands, and despite being the first act on the main stage, the crowd were still in fine voice.
It was a gutsy performance by Anti Flag but it was too early and still a bit too hot for me down at the front, for me to start seriously moshing along to the songs.
It was one of few bands early on that was performing I was genuinely excited about, there wasn’t too much on at the main stage that I was desperate to see until the evening. It was all about pacing myself.
I headed over the BBC introducing stage, which saw some unknown band, perform to us, singing songs to us, which we don’t know… For me part of the fun is bouncing along to a band, belting the words out of a band’s songs in a slightly drunk manner. I can’t understand why some people were so fascinated about try to find out about new bands at festivals; in my view it’s not really the place for it.
At festivals in my view should be all about trying to see as many bands as you like and know, rather than discover bands you have never heard of.
I headed into the Lock Up tent to listen to an enjoyable set by The Briggs and Frank Turner, who turned out to be less hardcore act than I was expecting, he turned out to be one of the finds of the festival weekend for me.
Afterwards I sat outside eating a posh burger (Yes you really do get these at the festival) and I saw this guy drop his phone out of his pocket, coming to the rescue I picked the phone up and chased the guy and handed the phone back. The person was relieved and thanked me for returning, I felt good knowing that I saved someone the hassle of losing their phone and I kept thinking back to the day when I lost my wallet at Glastonbury. It was sheer despair when I’d lost, with sheer adulation when I got it back, and I’d like to think that being honest at festivals is the way forward and would be considerably selfish of me just to leave the guys phone their on the ground, whilst he walked off and not return it. Common decency and human kindness is an important part of the festival spirit that all festival goers should fight to maintain.
I hang around before The Enemy graced the main stage with their presence. They are definitely a band to appeal to male chavs/pikeys/lads in my view. Any band dressed in polo shirt by Nickelson or Hackett, three-quarter-length shorts by Top Man will appeal to the common chav, needless to say I enjoyed them thoroughly as they prompted what was the first major sing a long of the Reading festival so far. Away From Here was a cracking way to open a festival set and it certainly had the festival crowd going.
Even the crowd started to get inventive, as all of a sudden baguettes started being lobbed around the front area of the crowd, and it was certainly a sight to behold. You’re used to bottles, beer cups etc being chucked around a rock venue arena, but it made a change seeing bread baguettes being lobbed into the air.
Overall I though The Enemy put out a decent performance and an enjoyable set.
Before The Fratellis came on football was on the agenda for a few festival goers and I just so happened to be standing near some Coventry City and Manchester City fans. They were a great laugh as we got into a chant off with some West Ham fans.
I enjoyed it before The Fratellis came on, I have to say much like their Glastonbury performance, it was a bit flat and didn’t really get the crowd going, with the exception of Chelsea Dagger song, but other than that it was a let down really.
There were too many wankers in the crowd who insisted that sitting on each other’s shoulders was the best way was to fuck up everyone’s view. I had a delightful view of a chubby girl’s lower back and black thong sticking out above her trousers. Nice. I wished I had the balls of someone else, but someone grabbed her thong and preceded to wedgie her. Absolutely classic and I would buy that guy a drink for the sheer amount of balls that took, trouble was with me standing directly behind her I got the blame for such action!
A load of us were getting restless with the one girl that refused to get off her friends shoulders and when Queens Of The Stone Age finally came on, I had peer round this girls buttocks in order to bloody see!
This was when me and few others around her decided to promptly fight back, we decided as soon as the main song kicked off we would create a mosh pit around this girl and her friend prompting her to get down.
Queens Of The Stone Age kicked off with go with the flow and as soon as the drums kicked in we moshed hard and this was when I experience the mosh volatile mosh pit I had ever experienced at Reading festival and the movement amongst the crowd was fucking epic. It didn’t matter about the girl on her mates shoulders anymore, she promptly got down and I was propelled forward as the movement of the crowd carried me to the front.
Sick Sick Sick was Queens Of The Stone Age next song and prompted more movement from the crowd and the scary thing was that despite being towards the back (Near the first barrier) I had ended up 4-5 rows from the front. I didn’t mind being their for Queens Of The Stone Age but thinking ahead on what was on after them and what the mosh pits would be like for Rage Against The Machine I didn’t particularly want to be in the mix of all the hardcore moshers.
Mosh pits can in some ways be the only way to get some relief from the crush, as people that don’t want to be involved in the moshing step back and open up like a mosh circle for you and momentarily whilst you get pounded or jumped into by this that and whoever, you can instantly feel the coolness of not having to share body heat with everyone else!
There was one moment when things turned ugly and this 2 people started slugging it out with their fists. It was a surreal experience as at first you don’t know if they were really fighting each other, but when it became clear that when one guy was on the floor and this other guy kept launching punches towards him then I had to step in and ensure the guy on the floor didn’t get completely obliterated.
At the time it just felt like the right thing to do, but it the end it took like 7-8 of us to break the fight up, and looking back on it, it was a fairly brave thing for me to do.
I calmed down a bit, and didn’t mosh again until No One Knows was played by the band, which prompted wilder crowd movement down at the front. It was one of my all time favourite songs , and it’s typically the song that accompanies me on my mp3 player whilst I’m running and you know what the experience of it being played live whilst, the yellow stage lights obscured my vision whilst moshing with many others was one of the highlights this year for me at Reading.
A Song For The Dead ended a hugely enjoyable festival set by Queens Of The Stone Age and for me one of the best bands I had experienced watching live.
Yet the main attraction was still to come, and I was like 3 rows from the front with no visible escape route from the mosh pits that will undoubtedly I would be involved in for the next 90 minutes.
Sunday, 19 October 2008
Reading Festival Adventured (Thursday)
One thing you cannot control at festivals, and despite the freedom, to go anywhere and do whatever you want, it is impossible to control the weather and I’ve still not worked out a way to stay warm in my tent during the middle of the night. I wear a few additional layers when I go to sleep, thinking that’ll be enough to keep me warm, then at 5:00 in the morning I’m freezing cold, thinking “Shit!”, wondering what on earth I could do to keep warm. Then as soon as the Sun comes up for the new day, your left to suffer in the sweltering conditions of the tent.
As the crowds came entering in on the Thursday, I was hoping for some fun loving, female companions to camp up right next to me, to make up for the fact that the current group of neighboring tents a bunch of idiots. Well I say that, there was a group of tents behind me, who were well alright, but it was the group directly in front of my tent, I wasn’t overly keen on.
I knew I was in for a crappy camping experience when I saw the “Leavers 08” hoodies that some of their groups were wearing.
There was a group of metal heads who I spoke to briefly and seemed a decent bunch, I just need to get over my shyness and talk to these people instead of hiding away in my tent.
Regrettably unlike Glastonbury I was camping alone, and in desperate need of some company. I was half tempted to move my tent to a more lively camp, but I decided I could not be bothered to deconstruct my tent, find a free spot in some other field in the hope of finding better camping neighbors. If I was so desperate to move I should have done it before the hoards of new festival revelers that were coming in on the Thursday.
The final blade of grass was taken up by this couple and I knew, I’d have to lump the campers that surrounded my tent.
I was regretting where I had camp, as it the grass was really boggy and as soon you reached the entrance of my tent there was this bogmarsh swamp, which soaked your feet whenever I entered/exited my tent.
I decided to head around the campsite, to soak up the festival vibe, and despite walking around for an hour all the differented coloured campsites, I returned back to my tent, a bit deflated at the fact there was nothing for me to do.
Reading Festival 2008, should have been called the Rage Against The Machine festival, as that was what everyone was talking about. It was the act that everyone was anticipating seeing, and wherever you went you could sense the excitement at the Los Angeles band performing.
I was camped in Green campsite point 6, and the other side of the river near I was camped was this, burger van playing Rage Against The Machine Killing In The Name Of at full volume, and it was great, definitely the first vintage moment of the festival for me. Everyone around me started joining in
Then all of sudden, halfway through the song, some prick decided it would be a good idea to stop the song. Cue mass cries of “Turn the fucking song back on” to which after 5 minutes of bellowing, it was turned back on and played in its entirety.
I just chilled before heading to the food stalls outside the main arena, to which I had tea, before walking past the Action Aid tent, which was attempting to break the air guitar record.
I thought this sounded like a laugh and decided to join the hoards of people outside the tent, and join the queue in trying to break the air guitar world record.
To drum up interest about the stunt, cue lots of “BOLLOCKS” chanting and eventually we were let into the tent.
It was like me sticking on my greatest air guitar album in the world ever… album they started to warm the crowd up, with such classics such as Deep Purple Smoke On The Water , Beastie Boys Fight For Your Right.
The atmosphere was pretty good considering, loads of people were singing away, bouncing along to the song and then once enough people had crammed into the tent, and the crowds were nicely warmed up, were off on our world record attempt.
We all did our bit, everyone in the tent was playing the air guitar and it was shortly announced afterwards that we had broken a world record!
I headed back to my tent to drink myself stupid, and I downed around 5 cans of strongbow in quick succession, and I wondered over to the beer tent, which seemed to be a breeding ground for meeting women, many came over started talking to me.
It was a nice change to me going out to the pubs normally, and felt at ease talking to these beautiful blond girls, and not for what minute did I start thinking “What on earth are they doing talking to a ugly fuck like me?” for this was the Reading Festival, at place of which even the ugly can feel at ease and make friends.
As the crowds came entering in on the Thursday, I was hoping for some fun loving, female companions to camp up right next to me, to make up for the fact that the current group of neighboring tents a bunch of idiots. Well I say that, there was a group of tents behind me, who were well alright, but it was the group directly in front of my tent, I wasn’t overly keen on.
I knew I was in for a crappy camping experience when I saw the “Leavers 08” hoodies that some of their groups were wearing.
There was a group of metal heads who I spoke to briefly and seemed a decent bunch, I just need to get over my shyness and talk to these people instead of hiding away in my tent.
Regrettably unlike Glastonbury I was camping alone, and in desperate need of some company. I was half tempted to move my tent to a more lively camp, but I decided I could not be bothered to deconstruct my tent, find a free spot in some other field in the hope of finding better camping neighbors. If I was so desperate to move I should have done it before the hoards of new festival revelers that were coming in on the Thursday.
The final blade of grass was taken up by this couple and I knew, I’d have to lump the campers that surrounded my tent.
I was regretting where I had camp, as it the grass was really boggy and as soon you reached the entrance of my tent there was this bogmarsh swamp, which soaked your feet whenever I entered/exited my tent.
I decided to head around the campsite, to soak up the festival vibe, and despite walking around for an hour all the differented coloured campsites, I returned back to my tent, a bit deflated at the fact there was nothing for me to do.
Reading Festival 2008, should have been called the Rage Against The Machine festival, as that was what everyone was talking about. It was the act that everyone was anticipating seeing, and wherever you went you could sense the excitement at the Los Angeles band performing.
I was camped in Green campsite point 6, and the other side of the river near I was camped was this, burger van playing Rage Against The Machine Killing In The Name Of at full volume, and it was great, definitely the first vintage moment of the festival for me. Everyone around me started joining in
Then all of sudden, halfway through the song, some prick decided it would be a good idea to stop the song. Cue mass cries of “Turn the fucking song back on” to which after 5 minutes of bellowing, it was turned back on and played in its entirety.
I just chilled before heading to the food stalls outside the main arena, to which I had tea, before walking past the Action Aid tent, which was attempting to break the air guitar record.
I thought this sounded like a laugh and decided to join the hoards of people outside the tent, and join the queue in trying to break the air guitar world record.
To drum up interest about the stunt, cue lots of “BOLLOCKS” chanting and eventually we were let into the tent.
It was like me sticking on my greatest air guitar album in the world ever… album they started to warm the crowd up, with such classics such as Deep Purple Smoke On The Water , Beastie Boys Fight For Your Right.
The atmosphere was pretty good considering, loads of people were singing away, bouncing along to the song and then once enough people had crammed into the tent, and the crowds were nicely warmed up, were off on our world record attempt.
We all did our bit, everyone in the tent was playing the air guitar and it was shortly announced afterwards that we had broken a world record!
I headed back to my tent to drink myself stupid, and I downed around 5 cans of strongbow in quick succession, and I wondered over to the beer tent, which seemed to be a breeding ground for meeting women, many came over started talking to me.
It was a nice change to me going out to the pubs normally, and felt at ease talking to these beautiful blond girls, and not for what minute did I start thinking “What on earth are they doing talking to a ugly fuck like me?” for this was the Reading Festival, at place of which even the ugly can feel at ease and make friends.
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