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.