TOP 5 FESTIVAL SETS
Can’t split these – all were equally wonderful
DREAM THEATER – HIGH VOLTAGE
Although I’ve always been a fan of DT’s recorded work, I’ve always found them a bit hit and miss live – more of a music lesson than a gig- but this set was a perfect end to a perfect weekend
RHAPSODY OF FIRE – BLOODSTOCK
This one just knocked me sideways- Fabio Leone’s voice was incredible, as was the sound. Shame the band split into two immediately afterwards
GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT – DAMNATION
Headlining the third stage, they clearly impressed an awful lot of people who’d never heard them before going of posts on the festival website afterwards- and no wonder- first time seeing them as a 4 piece, they were total perfection
SPIRES – BLOODSTOCK
I already knew they were amazing, and after their stunning tent filling set at Bloodstock, it seems the Spires bandwagon is about to roll big time. If they were nervous it didn’t show and the ovation they got at the end was quite emotional. I’m glad I was in at the start, seeing them play free gigs in boozers because I’m sure fame (and, hopefully) fortune awaits them
NEAL MORSE/SPOCKS BEARD – HIGH VOLTAGE
Talking of emotional- Neal’s solo (well with a ten piece band!) set on the Saturday had the crowd totally engrossed in the story he was telling – Sadly he didn’t have enough time to play the whole of ‘Testimony 2’ but he found the time to leap into the crowd for a hug with his SB bandmates who were in the middle of the crowd, then during the SB set, He ran onto the stage to sing a couple of songs….what.. me.. crying?? No it’s just…that…dust…it gets in your eyes, y’know????
TOP 5 GIGS OF 2011
Again, in no particular order
SONATA ARCTICA – MANCHESTER ACADEMY 2
Having only seen SA at festivals, it was great to see them play a full set – a full house, killer setlist and Tony Kakko’s voice was perfect
JOURNEY/STYX/FOREIGNER – MANCHESTER MEN ARENA
If I could pick my ultimate 3 band line up, this would be it! All three were outstanding but Styx stole it for me – first on, they played like they were the real headliners!!.
RIVERSIDE – HOLMFIRTH PICTUREDROME
Massive crowd for this one – I think the entire Polish community of West Yorkshire had turned up!! Quite possibly the best live sound I’ve ever heard
PURE REASON REVOLUTION = HOLMFIRTH PICTUREDROME
Great shame they’ve split up now, but they went out with a bang- 2 hour set including the whole of ‘The Dark Thirs’
AYNSLEY LISTER BAND – SALE WATERSIDE AWRTS CENTRE
After seeing him open for It Bites a while back I took the opportunity to catch one of his own shows – what a player this lad is , and his band were on fine form too.
..AND THE DISAPPOINTMENTS
OPETH – HERITAGE
I LOVE Opeth- they are probably the band responsible for me getting a taste for death metal- it was their mix of light and shade which drew me in and I’m all for bands trying something different and expanding their horizons but I just don’t get what Opeth are trying to do at the moment. ‘Heritage’ misses me by a country mile- never did like the jazzy proggy stuff back in the 70’s and this sounds like that. On top of that, they ignore 90% of their back catalogue by playing nothing with ‘harsh’ vocals live – bored the pants off me for 2 hours, they did , but I’ll be back next time they tour!!
SKINDRED- UNION BLACK
One of the great British live bands around at the moment, so why was ‘Union Black’ so bland?
BLACKFIELD – WELCOME TO MY DNA
…..ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
ARCHITECTS – THE HERE AND NOW
After the brilliance of ‘Hollow Crown’, it seems the band got their heads turned. Instead of using John Mitchell on production again they went off to North America for it’s follow up- and had all of the things that make them ‘special’ produced out of them. This sounds so (that word again) bland and has the effect of making them sound like a gazillion other modern bands. Hopefully, they’ve got it out of their system now- going off the song ‘Devil’s Island’ they recorded towards the end of the year.. Architects have got their ‘Angry’ back
QUEENSRYCHE – DEDICATED TO CHAOS
(See Blackfield)…
BEST MOMENT OF 2011
HIGH VOLTAGE FESTIVAL
Weather had been abysmal all the way up to the week of the festival – horror stories of mudbaths at the same site the weekend before were all over the internet. However, the skies cleared, the temperature rose and by the time the gates opened, 20,000 middle aged rockers (and a few younger ones) were treated to wall to wall sunshine for 2 whole days…. Music wasn’t half bad either!
WORST MOMENT OF 2011
Too many great bands splitting up.. Thrice, Thursday, Pure Reason Revolution. Cog, but worst of all.. OCEANSIZE. Even now some 9 months on, I can’t believe I will never see these five adopted sons of Manchester performing together again. Thanks for all the great memories guys, but please.. GET BACK TOGETHER!!
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