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High Voltage Festival 2010 (Sunday) - Day 2 @ Victoria Park, London |
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High Voltage Festival
Day 2 - Sunday
25.07.2010
@
Victoria Park, London
United Kingdom
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It’s day two of London’s first High Voltage festival and the sun is still burning bright. It seems relatively busier today and with no guesses as to why, it’s ELP’s first show in 15 years - Ooooh yeahhhh!
The Prog stage is absolutely mobbed as Martin Turner and his version of Wishbone Ash take their positions. Performing the popular ‘Argus’ in its entirety, Martin and gang rock into ‘Time Was’ followed by the solo orientated ‘Sometime World’ which receives the biggest of applauses on its descending note. Having time to roll a joint (if wanted) before the singing on “Throw Down the Sword”, everyone is completely zoned out to the originators of the twin-guitar harmonies as they finish rocking their nine song set - way too short. One of the highlights of the entire festival so far, without a doubt.
Over at the Classic Rock sponsored main stage, local lads UFO are having technical problems with Vinny Moore’s faulty amplification. Continually cutting out, the reoccurring error has taken away five minutes (plus) of their stage time, cockney Phil Mogg keeps the crowd entertained with his sharp edge banter. Just as people begin to leave, an applauding roar welcomes back the missing guitar. Inevitably having to knock off a couple of songs from their set, the audience excitably rock out to the fistful played ‘Lights Out’, ‘Rock Bottom’ and ‘Doctor Doctor’.
Increasing the decibels a tad it’s time to check out stoney sludge scumbags, High On Fire. So this is where all the young people have got to. As they thunder through such songs as ‘Hung, Drawn and Quartered’, ‘Rumours of War’ and ‘How Dark We Pray’, the crowds enthusiasm begins to wear out as the tracks begin to mould into a fuzzball of distortion. Sometimes compared as a weaker, simpler version of Mastodon, High On Fire are possibly not quite suited for this bill as festival-goers leave a little disappointed heading towards the Prog stage.
Taking a ponder backstage and meeting such notables as BBC’s Danny Baker, a surprise acoustic performance from old-timers The Strawbs was about to take place. Set up in a relatively small tent with carpets and cushions laid out on the ground, those luckily enough to see the English folk/rock band have gone purely into chillax mode as champagne is moderately sipped for 40 minutes. With an immaculate amount of songs to select from, the band chose such classics including ‘Hero and Heroine’, ‘Autumn’ and ending on what is quite possibly their most legendary track, ‘Lay Down’. An absolute privilege to see as a three-piece.
With the pleasant unexpected modification to the day’s plan, only segments of Uriah Heep and Planet Rock’s Joe Bonamassa were caught. Unfortunately missing the magic that is Uriah Heep’s ‘The Wizard’, the delicacy of witnessing the great ‘Paradise’ and ‘The Spell’ is a spiritual sensation indeed. Once again, there is an overwhelming amount of people occupying the Prog stage - a fixture that will surely need re-working for next years festival.
Meanwhile over at the prioritised main stage, bluesy rock extraordinaire Joe Bonamassa is in the groove with his snazzy outfit as he mildly struts back and forth across the platform. Finishing with such favourites as ‘Blue and Evil’, and ‘Mountain Time’, an entertaining cover of ZZ Top’s ‘Just Got Paid’ finished his set of wondrous style and variety.
Progressive metal masters Opeth have just started on the Metal Hammer stage and with more technical problems, their set has been cut down to just five songs - but don’t worry that still comes to just under an hour. With a large majority of the audience consisting of younger fans, there is also a fair amount of older proggers watching eagerly in interest. As they languidly perform ‘The Drapery Falls’ and ‘The Lotus Eater’ the odd joke is cracked from the droll presence of front man Michael Akerfeldt, finishing with the 10 minuite exquisite ‘Deliverance’, hair can be seen swinging in the distance. Their diversified set was certainly suited to the weekend’s criteria.
It’s now that time of the night, people have travelled from all over the world to witness their triumphant return and after a break of 15 years, Emerson, Lake & Palmer are back as ELP to celebrate their staggering 40th anniversary. As the godfathers of progressive rock casually stroll out onto the big stage, a monumental roar vibrates through the field as they pelt into their first number, ‘Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression, Part 2’. Immediately followed by a trip back to their first (self-titled) album, they perform ‘The Barbican’. The excitement from the crowd is unreal, pure and utter adrenaline is pumping throughout Victoria Park tonight. Ending with the classic ‘Fanfare for the Common Man’, a spinning Carl Palmer rolls into a frenzied drum solo which acts as the grand finale for an absolutely mind blowing festival. |
Reviewed by Dave Sherwood
Photography by Daniel Gray
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