411 Music's Versus 08.25.10: The Reading Festival Preview Edition
Posted by Daniel Wilcox on 08.25.2010
Guns N' Roses, Blink-182, Arcade Fire and more do battle along with an introduction to some hot new acts as 411's Daniel Wilcox previews the biggest music festival in the UK in this week's Versus!
We begin with a massive thank you to the legend that is Michael Melchor for covering the last edition of 411 Music's Versus while I was away on holiday, or vacation.
In my absence Melchor opted to tackle one of the toughest battles Versus has ever showcased and one that I am glad I no longer have to cover in the future – Prince versus Michael Jackson.
Readership opinion? Well in what was one of, if not the most discussed Versus since its inception, the King of Pop defeated Prince by 31 votes to 22.
If anyone was interested in my opinion, I am with the readership; Michael Jackson all the way.
But back to the future, this week's edition of Versus serves as a preview for this weekend's Reading Festival. Why? Because I'll be in attendance, and am fucking stoked. Versus this week will feature numerous battles between bands' whose timeslots clash at the festival in an attempt for me to work out what stage I need to be at, at any given time. Furthermore we'll be counting down the top ten must-see acts at the festival as well as highlighting some of the lesser-known acts that fans should check out whether they're attending or not.
This means that even if you've no interest in the biggest music festival in the world, it's still worth reading on the off-chance that you discover some great new music. And trust me, you will.
411 Music's Versus: The READING FESTIVAL PREVIEW EDITION
Five New Bands You Should Check Out GENERAL FIASCO
I saw General Fiasco in my hometown in June and they rocked. They're a pop rock trio from Northern Ireland and as such Ash would probably be the obvious comparison. The band released its debut album entitled Buildings earlier this year to mostly positive reviews. They play the Festival Republic stage on Sunday.
"Ever So Shy" - General Fiasco
TAME IMPALA
With a distinct 70s sound, psychedelic rock group Tame Impala also play the Festival Republic stage on Sunday. Debut album Innerspeaker was released just a few months back to rave reviews. Look for it to be somewhere near the top of many of those indie lists come year's-end, but honestly, it's worthy of all its praise – a great album from a band that's going places.
"Solitude is Bliss" - Tame Impala
SURFER BLOOD
Surfer Blood is an indie-rock outfit that will play the NME stage on Sunday at Reading. Their debut record Astro Coast has deservedly earned the band a lot of praise and has seen them been compared with the likes of Pavement and Weezer. Hailing from Florida, this is surely a band with a future and I cannot recommend that debut album enough.
"Swim" - Surfer Blood
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB
Two Door Cinema Club play the same stage on the same day as Surfer Blood, only a little later. An electropop indie band from Northern Ireland, they've grabbed attention through singles with big hooks and an album crammed with creativity and originality. Debut Tourist History was released in April, just weeks after rumours of a collaboration with Kanye West had been dismissed as an April Fool's joke.
"I Can Talk" - Two Door Cinema Club
FREELANCE WHALES
Likened to Postal Service, indie five-piece Freelance Whales put out one of the best records of the year in April. Playing the Festival Republic stage on Saturday, they are an intriguing group with a future, having gained attention by playing their music on New York subways. If you haven't heard this band yet, you will have by year's end. Debut Weathervanes is available now.
"Broken House" - Freelance Whales
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Guns N' Roses versus Phoenix & LCD Soundsystem
The opening night of the festival will be headlined on the main stage by Guns N' Roses, one of the greatest bands of all time. With them receiving a longer slot than either Saturday's or Sunday's headliners, their set will be in direct competition with secondary NME stage headliners LCD Soundsystem and their main support Phoenix.
Now, considering I just labeled Guns N' Roses as one of the greatest bands of all time, one would think that picking which act/acts to go and see here would be a no-brainer. Not so fast. In Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Phoenix put out one of the best records of last year. LCD Soundsystem released This Is Happening earlier this year, another fantastic album that may even eclipse one of the best electronic albums ever recorded, Sound of Silver, which the band released a few years ago.
Furthermore, LCD Soundsystem have a very good reputation as a live band and I've heard good things from a friend about Phoenix's own live prowess. And then of course, there's the argument that Guns N' Roses isn't really Guns N' Roses without Slash.
This argument, however, kind of bugs me. When you listen to a Guns N' Roses, you know it's a Guns N' Roses song not because of the guitar work, but because of the vocals. Yes, Axl Rose is a dick, and yes Slash is a legendary guitarist. But Axl Rose is an iconic frontman and singer. Granted, his voice isn't going to be as strong now as it was in 1985, but one would have to be utterly insane to pass up the opportunity to hear Axl and co. busting out the likes of "Sweet Child O' Mine," "November Rain," "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Paradise City." Undoubtedly these will be some of the highlights of the weekend.
I think Guns N' Roses could play just those four songs and all the shit from Chinese Democracy and it'd still be one of the more memorable sets of the weekend.
Of course, that is assuming Axl bothers to show up. At least I know LCD Soundsystem will provide a good plan B if he doesn't.
Arcade Fire versus Pendulum
This decision was made more difficult for me for two main reasons. Firstly, I enjoyed Pendulum's latest album Immersion way more than I thought I would – I would definitely go on record in saying that it is their strongest yet. Secondly, I saw them live in Milton Keynes last month and I know they can do better. Pendulum, usually, are a tremendous live band and by all accounts should be one of the best bands to see over the weekend. They let me down at Milton Keynes and I really want to give them a chance to redeem themselves.
But it's Arcade Fire. The same Arcade Fire that have released two classic albums in Funeral and Neon Bible, and just last month put out what is probably going to wind up atop a lot of people's year-end lists. It'll certainly be somewhere near the pinnacle of mine. On top of that, they have a reputation as being one of the best active live bands. I've never seen them live and have this strange feeling that their wouldn't translate so well live, especially in front of nearly 100,000 people, But can so many people who have seen them live be wrong?
Well they may be, but they're probably right. I love The Suburbs and the band's previous albums and really want to see them performed live, but a part of me thinks I'll end up disappointed. On the other hand, Pendulum had their chance and blew it.
I am still torn on this one and will probably end up making my final decision on the day, unless one of my loyal readers has some words to persuade one way or another they'd like to leave in the comments section.
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The Top Ten Must-See Reading Acts
10. Lostprophets: Welsh-rockers Lostprophets are playing Reading Festival for the third straight year, having delivered at every previous appearance. Supporting new album The Betrayed, the band's sound is more polished and rocking than ever and with new anthems "It's Not the End of the World" and "Where We Belong" in the arsenal, they're sure to have the main stage going fucking crazy on Friday night. Look for "Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja" to create one of the biggest moshes of the weekend.
"Last Train Home" - Lostprophets
9. 3OH!3: They are possibly the most annoying and obnoxious act on the bill, but they also have some of the biggest anthems. I hate to say it but these guys are going to attract a big crowd to the NME stage on Saturday and they will have them eating out of the palm of their hand. You'd have to be a morbidly cynical prick to not enjoy something of the band's new album Streets of Gold, while the likes of "Don't Trust Me" and "Starstrukk" we'll provoke big responses. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Ke$ha made an unannounced appearance during the set either for "My First Kiss" and maybe "Blah Blah Blah."
"Holler Til You Pass Out" - 3OH!3
8. Paramore: With the success of "Aeroplanes," and number-one album brand new eyes, Hayley Williams' Paramore couldn't be much bigger right now. They have a lot to prove due to the outcry at their high placing on the bill as the penultimate act, but with Blink-182 following them they should have the kind of crowd that will get behind them and make for one of the more enjoyable sets of the weekend. Williams' vocals are superb both in the studio and live and she knows how to work a large crowd. The likes of "Misery Business," "Ignorance" and "Brick by Boring Brick" will go down and absolute treat, and personally I think the organizers have picked a perfect lead-in for Blink.
"Misery Business" - Paramore
7. Queens of the Stone Age: Well this goes without saying, right? In six attempts, Queens of the Stone Age has never put out a bad album. Josh Homme has never been involved in a project that hasn't rocked and yet QOTSA is head and shoulders above all his other acts and most other bands on the bill. While the band has been somewhat inactive lately with the exception of the re-release of Rated R, they have more than enough in their locker to put on one of the best shows of the festival, "Little Sister," "Go With the Flow" and "No One Knows" included. I also fully expect Josh Homme to berate another unfortunate crowd members for some minor offence. Rock the fuck on.
"Go With the Flow" - Queens of the Stone Age
6. Arcade Fire: I think I've said plenty about this band already but reiteration may be required to put over just how good these guys are. I know some think people overrate them, particularly the type that loves all those indie bands that no one has ever heard of, but these guys make genuinely intriguing music and they do it as consistently as anybody in the game. And if what I've heard and read is to be believed, these guys are a great live band, as I'm sure some of my readers can attest. Some thought they shouldn't have been placed above the Libertines on the bill (their main support) and others think they had no right to headline at all, but I fully expect them to draw one of the biggest crowds of the weekend.
"Intervention" - Arcade Fire
5. Dizzee Rascal: Every year the Reading Festival organizers like to throw in a hip-hop or R&B artist with some crossover appeal and this year it's Dizzee Rascal. One of my best friends who'll be attending the festival with me saw Dizzee support the Prodigy last year and by all accounts he killed it. I've seen numerous live performances of his on TV and he always seems to have the crowd having a good time. He went down particularly well at Glastonbury earlier in the summer and I expect him to do so again here. Dizzee even likes to incorporate a "Smells Like Teen Spirit" sample into one of his live songs and that in conjunction with some of his massive this such as "Bonkers," "Dance Wiv Me" and "Holiday," are likely to have Reading jumping up and down in unison for a good hour.
"Bonkers" - Dizzee Rascal
4. Biffy Clyro: Not so well-known state-side, Scot-rockers Biffy Clyro are one of the best bands to have emerged this century, and they cemented that status with Only Revolutions, one of the best albums of 2009 and an all-round instant classic featuring the likes of "That Gold Rule," "Many of Horror," "Mountains" and the josh Homme-assisted "Bubbles." Every track is epic, and they have an accomplished back catalogue to go along with it. They will attract a big audience and they will play their asses of to impress. Biffy Clyro are undoubtedly one of the few current bands who I could see growing to the point that they'd be ready to headline this festival in a few years from now, rather than playing third-last on opening night.
"God and Satan" - Biffy Clyro
3. Guns N' Roses: Admittedly I would've placed Guns N' Roses higher if it weren't for the fact that there's a fairly good chance that this performance won't even take place. We've already had one "hoax" cancellation via Axl Rose's Twitter and a warning from the organizers that if the band is late again as it was for their last festival performance in Leeds, the show won't go on because of the strict curfew and the risk of the festival losing its license. With that said, Guns and motherfuckin' Roses people! The band responsible for the greatest debut album of all time and for some of the greatest rock songs of all time, and they are going to be performing all their hits live in front of ninety-thousand strong. They may be twenty years past their prime but there are still people that are willing to pay an arm and a leg to see them and I am one of them. This shit will be memorable, it will be unpredictable and it will be worth every penny.
"November Rain" - Guns N' Roses
2. Limp Bizkit: Anyone who read Versus a couple of weeks ago when we discussed the relative qualities of Linkin park and Limp Bizkit will not be surprised to see this band placed so highly on our must-see acts list. I've been involved in some mammoth moshes listening to Limp Bizkit in a club surrounding by security and crazy drunken motherfuckers, so I can only imagine how fucking insane hearing the likes of "Hot Dog," "Rollin'" and "Break Stuff" will be in amongst thousand upon thousands of drunken motherfuckers in a muddy field. People have tried to explain it to me, but I cannot for the life of me understand how one of the biggest bands of the decade takes a back seat to Cypress Hill and Weezer on this line up. It's been fifteen years since Weezer put out a good record, fuck those guys. Fred Durst may be a prick, but I'd take his silly Limp Bizkit material over most of the bands on the bill any day of the week. Rest assured I will be roaming the shops over the weekend in search of a red cap.
"Rollin'" - Limp Bizkit
1. Blink-182: Only those with the blackest of hearts fail to appreciate the greatness that is/was Blink-182. For years their records were the soundtrack to my adolescence and now I get the chance to roll back the years and indulge in the greatness of "All The Small Things" et al once again. You don't have to be great musicians or particularly original to be pioneers, but these guys were truly inspiration to a lot of people and very, very talented in their own way. Each member has grown and matured over the years but ultimately when the band takes the stage to close out the festival on Sunday night, it's all about who's having the most fun and who can sing back the loudest. Blink will more than likely draw the biggest crowd of the weekend and although not well known for being a great live band, the chances are they'll blow the metaphorical roof off the place. In answer to any criticism of this band their music, I simply refer you to lyrics of one of their biggest hits and greats tracks; "No one should take themselves so seriously / With many years ahead to fall in line / Why would you wish that on me? / I never want to act my age / What's my age again? / What's my age again?"
