Do want to just side note actually checked out the Comedy Tent in the village on the Thursday and I don't remember any of the names of people we saw but it was enjoyable and was a good giggle for an evening, though we did seem to spend about 3 hours in there! If you want to know who was preforming go check out the Download Website.
Friday this is all main stage. If not going to move only doing it to find food or beer.
So we shall start with well where we started which would be Clutch. Been around a while and still able to put on a show, solid set nothing flashy several of their better known songs and just all together an enjoyable watch. Nothing to complain about nothing to praise was just a solid rock and roll show.
Five Finger Death Punch followed, you know what I like FFDP and have all their albums but the last few times I have seen them at Download I have never been impressed with their set's at all, For some reason they just didn't seem to get me going which is a little bit upsetting and I was starting to think their production with the CD quality was the problem, but everyone I know had seen them play at their own tours and things said they were good and I was failing to see how. This year they surprised me. I was just blown away by their presence on stage and the ability to play, I'm going to guess it might just be down to what I was going through when they played before and more me than them. One day they will be headlining at Download they will be deserving of it.
Judas Priest. I've never seen them play badly yet but then I have only seen them twice and even as the years roll on they never fail to impress me.
Slipknot. You know what, even with the new guys in the band I couldn't tell anything was different.
If you weren't at download but caught the rock am ring live feed then you pretty much know what happened. Identical set other than the German section at Rock Am Ring was in English. Still an incredibly high energy 90 minutes of a group of Guy in masks making a very loud noise. An making the pulse race and hair fly.
Shall we go back to camp and check we've not flooded yes yes we will. Tent 4 and 4 still standing.
Saturday, tent still standing, still raining.
An the first band is 11am! WHAT THE HELL! In all the Downloads I don't think I have ever made the arena before the first band it ends up being a long day on your feet and with the ground sodden and muddy it is hard walk from the camp site all the way in the bottom of green which is my favourite place to camp to the actual arena. So onto the Lounge Kittens, I have been watching their you tube videos for a while. An live they did not disappoint. Funny and very musical. An from here we wander to 4th stage for New years Day. Had seen a couple of their you tube videos, wanted to check them out, good vocal range, very jumpy and high energy set rather impressive fingers crossed they keep at it. Now where whats next! Beer. Right band find a band what band... Apocalypitca. Who appear to have got a singer for their latest work and while there were technical issues due to weather still put on a show though I feel with having this singer it detracts a lot from what originally got them to the party. We shall see how long this lasts. Musically even with the technical issues can't fault them for their preforming ability. Right food and over to main stage for Hollywood Undead who seem to have somewhat evolved pretty far from their roots. First album did impress me a little but this latest incarnation of themselves just don't float my boat, though the rain was seeming to be able to do that at this moment. Back to 2nd stage for Motionless in White. These guys have so much potential. Both on album and live, though to get bigger they need to do something radio friendly I guess and that would totally be against what they are and while I think they could go a long way if they could find their audience of which I am gladly a member. That audience will never be big enough to have them standing as a head liner upon the hallowed ground of Download Main Stage though I do think they will get to that stage one day. More food and off to Faith No More. It's faith No More what can I say! tight as always funny and ever and doing that thing they do being brilliant and random and a little but crazy. Good set nice mix of new and classics with some re-imagining of some classic songs. Such a good set. Mental Dash over to catch the End of Andrew W.K. An yeah not getting any where near that stage. He is on 3rd which is a Tent it is a large tent but so many people wanted to see him as he tours over here so rarely now a days, Would have liked to have seen him on second stage, while this would have given the fans more room, I'm not sure the energy levels would have been the same. I did catch a bit of Muse, Couple of songs, but not really my thing. Musically can not fault them. I forgot Manson! How could I forget Manson! Especially as he actually played a blinder I was in total shock. Every time I have seen him play Download I have been greatly unimpressed as he mumbles and fumbles his way through the set. More like he is just doing it cause he is being paid too and can't be bothered I even watched his Rock Am Ring set and wasn't that impressed as he couldn't be bothered and just made a half arsed attempt to play music. But Download this year WOW he was up there with how he was on the Twins of Evil Tour and I shall give him his dues on this one couldn't fault it, didn't really watch the stage as was stuck near the bad but what I could hear sounded really good.
Sunday. Sun Shine! We start with Sunshine!
I wanted to check out Pop Evil, they were playing at 11am, I wanted to see Evil Scarecrow, I would have liked to have seen the Von Hertzen Brothers. Not a chance, while the sun had got me up early after pulling a full 12 hours in the arena the day before my feet were not up to it!
So what did we start with well Tremonti, They were an acceptable rock and roll band. Didn't blow me away didn't suck was just good old rock and roll, bit heavier than Alterbridge. I got nothing here I am afraid just a good old generic rock band. Then on to Black Berry Smoke, I like these guys some country some rock all soul but while the odd song dropped into a play list of many varying songs makes for a good distraction and a bit of a sing a full set for me is a bit too much, it was raining again and once more some minor technical issues but they played on. Didn't really blow me away but once more it's a personal preference isn't it what works for one don't always work for another.
Billy Idol. Still plays amazingly well to say he has been doing it for a little over 30 years now. Still plays the classics and adds in new stuff, Good to dance along and sing along too.
Slash. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators. Now don't read this the wrong way I am a MASSIVE GnR fan it is where I started on my road with music if it wasn't for them I don't know the late 80's and the 90's would have been a very different world for me I guess wouldn't have had that gate way band I fell in love with all them years ago and no one has ever managed to turn me against but I do wish they would play their own stuff, they have two complete albums and a partial album in the way of the first Classic Rock Presents Slash album. Every moment from Night Train to Paradise City and all in between. The dirty and amazing rift that screams out the introduction of Anastasia. To singing along with the track I can't remember the name off from World on Fire. (I have been writing this since around 6pm and it is now midnight download this year was hard work) One day these guys will be Headlining Download and they deserve to be doing.
Motley Crue. Slammed on the barrier for this and not a great place to be. While musically it was fantastic, Being so close to the stage made it hard to see what was happening on it even at 6'2" tall it was uncomfortable while it didn't dishearten me or my enjoyment of the set I would have liked to have been a little further back for a better view of what was going on instead of having to make do with flashes on the large screens.
Okay you're not going to like this but.. I don't get KISS. I just don't. The ego the bravado and the ignorance and arrogance of them just grinds my gears. (see I still managed to get a family guy joke in) Then to berate other bands for using pre-recorded samples when playing live. Or too gloat that their day had sold 85,000 tickets, not realising their was possible 5-10 thousand round the corner watching Enter Shikari. Oh and to me Kiss are still well Boring I do not get the fascination with them. 85,000 tickets is a nice amount to sell. But Maiden, Sabbath, Metallica. They all sell out Download. Kiss You wouldn't have even sold out the old in track arena.
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| Obligatory Photo of Me |
Monday Morning, Glorious weather to leave on, once of these years it will stay all the way through. Here is too 2016 and another 6 days of Friends, Music, and Mud.... I mean no mud there is always mud.
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| Ready for Download 2016. |
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