High Voltage 2010 - Day 2

Day 1 had taken its toll. My feet ached from the previous day I’d left home at 10:00 I arrived home at 1 am on the Sunday, 15 hours, most of which I had spent standing and drinking and of course listening to some fantastic rock music.

When the alarm went off on Sunday morning I discovered that; I had blisters on my feet, the back of my legs were sunburn, I a ringing in my ears and a slight hangover as well as being 48 quid lighter (that works out at about a pint an hour which wasn’t bad as I was travelling for at least three of those hours).

Day 2 required that I abandon my trainers and put some proper boots and socks on as well as sun barrier on my legs.

I wasn’t quite so eager to get out of the house so arrived to hear the last 30 seconds of “The Reasoning”. Before making my way across (via a beer tent) to “The Qureboys”. I think some of the band had been drinking, but a great opening to my day two.

I broke with tradition and went to look for some food. On a side note the larger on site was crap, so mostly drank the cider. The food... there was a lot of choice. Some was a rip off and other was OK value wise. You could tell the best value as food as they had the longest queues

Anyway some food and a second pint I was ready for some "UFO". Now they did have some problems with the sound of one of their guitars again ... and again... and again. I think the sound man should have been shot as he appeared to give up. However "UFO" played on. I could imagine other bands storming off, but not "UFO".

Bachman Turner... I have to admit I lost interest and wondered off to the Metal stage via the Prog stage

Clutch is a band that my son introduced me to and I have to say “Thanks Dan! You owed my for introducing you to Led Zeppelin” I think “Clutch” play some inspirational music. I’d seen them once before live and was not going to miss another opportunity. They didn’t disappoint.

I got into early Led Zeppelin some time ago and that lead to bit of obsession with the blues. During this time I discovered Joe Bonamassa. Technically brilliant but pretty much the same intricate guitar solos one after the other. The medley of guitar riffs was a high light, but Joe needs a band around him to add some colour to his repertoire .

“The Down n’ Outz”, I’d seen these at the Borderline a couple of days earlier. I think it’s commonly known as a warm up. I think the band were there for the same reason! There was some f#@king around at the start and waiting for Ian Hunter to come out. This cut their set short and the crowd were deprived of some sing-a-long stuff they had finished with at the Borderline Alas they finished on a low as they were cut off to prevent an overrun that would have eaten into ELP’s allotted time.

Finally “ELP” – by this time the 55 to 65 year olds were flagging. At one time the audience resembled hungry starlings as they simultaneously yawned while the “ELP” rig was going on. Several gave up and left as sleep become more inviting than “ELP”. But they should have stayed as ELP did not disappoint. Fantastic way to finish off the festival. Hats off to Palmer, we worked so hard, Emerson hasn’t lost the ability to tickle those keys nut the knife thing is old hat find something new. Lake voice sounded OK actually the sound was the best it had been for the whole show. But Lake... leave the pies alone!

Some tips for next year – obviously the music needs to be at least as good. But recognise your audience has a high percentage of old gits that like real ale. Their Mrs will probably drink wine. The food needs to have a Marks Simply Food style option.

Some more seating! We are relatively rich, but we are old! Deck chair hire, or am I just taking the piss?

Put the headline act on as the penultimate band. Finish off with a tribute band to play the crowd on their way home. I know that is crap idea but the odd (but excellent) tribute band would go down extremely well.

High Voltage 2010

The last music festival I went to was at Reading in about 1973.

A bat out of hell, High Voltage was not.

Having less responsibility over the past 4 years I’ve started going to gigs. Venues like the 12 Bar, Camden Bar Fly, Charlotte Street Blues Bar and the 100 Club are usually good for a few bears and to hear a band or two.

-ve = The Charlotte Street Blues Bar can work out expensive for beer.

+ve = If you’re not too narrow in the music you like (some rough with the smooth) the 12 Bar is a small but and reasonable venue.

In amongst these gigs there has been those little gem bands that I can’t remember the names and you never see again. Whatever happened to “Frop” best night out at South London Poly (or was I just drunk?) in 1972, but the band disappeared.

On that point I have to say that rising above the nostalgia of most of the bands that I saw was (at the Ace Cafe London stage) “The Malchicks” check them out if you ever get the chance. Back to the mainstream...

First up was “Touchstone”. I saw these on the Thursday before, supporting “Joe Elliot’s Down n’ Outz” at the Boarderline.

The lead guitar and singer did an acoustic set, which was OK. I have to say that this type of “fantasy” prog rock is not for me and I found it less appealing than the acoustic set I’d seen.

So toddled off to the Metal stage to catch some of the “New Device”. Not bad! Energy and passion and good music. Over the two days when ever I visited the Metal stage it didn’t matter who was on, the band and the crowd had much more life in them. Maybe because so many of the stages attracted the 50+ audience. (I’m 55 by the way).

Next up “Black Spiders”. A competent metal bad I’ve seen as support once or twice. Maybe I don’t know their songs as well as the rest of the crowd seemed to.

Next up for me was at the Main stage, “The Union”. I’m a bit of a “Thunder” fan. having rediscovered them a couple years ago. Managed to see a couple of gigs before they split, gentlemen of rock! Anyway, saw “The Union” at the O2 Academy at the Angle a few weeks back. This is good classic rock style, with an edge that has the potential to be very sharp.

Next (just for a contrast) over to see at least part of “Focus”. I have to admit I hadn’t listened to

them for ages and I was awash with nostalgia. I can’t say objectively if it was good but they hit all the right notes for me. I’ve got to dig out some old vinyl over the next few days.

Then across for “The Answer.”

When I first heard this band 3 years ago – Led Zeppelin but new – was my only though. But I don’t feel they have moved on Classic style and classic old. A Led Zep cover might have lifted

the set, as Jon suggest. If you are not going anywhere move over.

“Heaven’s Basement” could have made better use of the exposure.

Next up was Gary Moore. If life’s been good to someone, it’s not Gary Moore. Where has the fire and passion gone that was in “After Hours”? I think I might have been a bit woozy by now so the photos are a bit blurred. I think I wondered off for something to eat and found the Ace Cafe with “The Malchicks” playing.

A short stagger away and I was at the Metal stage to see “Saxon”.

Fantastic! But same ol’ same ol’.

So I popped across to Asia. Some classic stuff played without making them a tired and stayed repertoire. Smaller audience than most of the bands I saw over the two days or that could have been because they were spread out a bit more and enjoying the occasion!

Final two bands of the first day, for me anyway, so over to the Metal stage for “Black Label Society ”

Great band great performance but a mixed bunch of supporter. I could quite make out. Many with pristine Black Label Society branded clothing, as if they had just bought it on the way in. The band launched 50 or so Black Label Society branded beach balls into the crowd. Presumably, with the idea that they got bounced around during the final songs their adoring fan base simply captured them and tried to deflate them. As they carted off their memorabilia of an event that would have been far more memorable (not to mention fun) if the balls had just been used the way they were intended.

The final band of the night was “ZZ Top”.

Cool, laid back, uninspired and almost totally unmemorable.