This is about a week of catch up or so, so this is one fucking long list!

2009 – The Future Is Soon
Aggrolites, The – IV
Andrew W.K. – Close Calls With Brick Walls
Anti-Flag – The People or The Gun
As Tall As Lions – You Can’t Take It With You
Ataris, The – …Anywhere But Here
Ataris, The – Welcome The Night
Avail – Front Porch Stories
Avail – One Wrench
Bad Brains – Bad Brains
Barry, Tim – Manchester
Big D and the Kids Table, Brian Failure – Beijing to Boston
Black Keys, The – The Big Come Up
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Briggs, The – Back To Higher Ground
Cloak Dagger – Lost Art
Common Enemy – Living The Dream
Converge – Axe To Fall
Death By Stereo – Into The Valley Of Death
Dost, Andrew – Columbus
Drive Like Jehu – Drive Like Jehu
Drive Like Jehu – Yank Crime
Flaming Lips, The – Silent Night
Full of Fancy – Sweet Baby Jesus
Gabel, Tom – Anna is a Stool Pigeon
Ghostlimb, Fischer – Split
Guns N’ Roses – Chinese Democracy
Hatebreed – For The Lions
Hot Chip – The Warning
Jizz Kids, Guts – A Safe Return To The Forest
Judas Priest – Hero, Hero
Lawrence Arms, The – The Greatest Story Ever Told
Longfellow – And So On
Lucero – 1372 Overton Park
Mad Caddies – Just One More
Mars Volta, The – Is Anybody There
Mars Volta, The – Live At The Electric Ballroom
Max Levine Ensemble, The – Ok Smarty Pants
Monikers – Wake Up
Morrissey – Years of Refusal
Motley Crue – Girls Girls Girls
MxPx – Secret Weapon
Naked Raygun – Jettison
Naked Raygun – Understand
Nerf Herder – American Cheese
Nine Pound Hammer – Sex, Drugs and Bill Monroe
No Use For A Name – Hard Rock Bottom
No Use For A Name – Keep Them Confused
No Use For a Name – More Bitterness
Only Crime – To The Nines
P.O.D. – Payable On Death
Protest the Hero – Kezia
Prozacs, The – Playing The Chords We Love
Real McKenzies, The – 10,000 Shots
Real McKenzies, The – Oot and Aboot
Rehasher – High Speed Access to My Brain
R.E.M. – Automatic for the People
Revolutionary Youth – Bleed Decay
Scorch, Al – This Lonesome World…
Sick Of It All – Call To Arms
Sick Of It All – Life on the Ropes
Sick Of It All – Yours Truly
Skatalites – Stretching Out Vol. 1
Skeletonwitch – Breathing The Fire
Smashing Pumpkins – Gish
Snow Patrol – A Hundred Million Suns
Star Fucking Hipsters – Never Rest In Peace
Strung Out – An American Paradox
Swellers, The – My Everest
Tool – 10,000 Days
Used Kids – Yeah No
Vandals, The – Play Really Bad Original Country Tunes
Vandals, The – Sweatin’ To The Oldies
Various Artists – Glory Daze
Various Artists – Mallrats
Various Artists – New Tales To Tell
Wrister, North Trolls – Split

Strolling down Granville Street to Venue, I couldn’t help but notice the somewhat historic 50-foot “Plaza” sign still hanging outside the newly renovated room. That sign was a beacon of nostalgia, much like the veteran headlining act. I never thought I’d miss the Plaza so much; or my youth for that matter.  

Local openers, Party At the Moontower, a tribute to Dazed and Confused apparently, won me over with their brand of post hardcore, despite their affinity for melodic vocals, after I noticed that the lead singer/ guitarist was wearing an In Bear Country t-shirt. If that’s not legit, I don’t know what is. It’s highly recommended that you download the quartet’s five song EP, the O’Bannion EP for free at: http://www.myspace.com/patmmusic.

The Johnstones were a furry of energy, bouncing around the stage so fast that it was impossible to take any decent pictures. Judging from their appearance, it was hard to take the sextet seriously. The singer, with his curly blonde mane and what I hope are ironic tattoos, looked like an ‘80’s aerobics instructor leading the crowd through the motions sporting a neon green wife beater and matching absurdly tight pants. It was so nice to see a band not take themselves at all seriously, but genuinely be there to have a good time and entertain. Case in point: a rousing rendition of Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire.” That is what we like to call a choice cover kids. In fact, the sextet distracted so well from their music with their insanely vibrant antics, impossible facial expressions, sexual tension between each other and, well, capes, that I was truly shocked to find that the energy of their live show is not at all translated on record. But I suppose that ferocity is difficult to capture on record.

By the time the Mad Caddies hit the stage, I was amazed quite frankly that the Vancouver crowd, notorious for being too cool to dance, was still moving; skanking, swaying, slam dancing, stage diving and crowd surfing. It was an almost unheard of phenomena. For a band to crack a Vancouver crowd…well, they had to be doing something right. The band grooved through favourite after favourite, the trombonist in the throws of the crowd, foot barely still on the monitor. I found myself singing along to tracks I had long forgotten. The ska-punk with elements of reggae and Dixieland was an intoxicating mix as the band worked enthusiastically through tracks like “Drinking For Eleven,” “State Of Mind,” “Lay Your Head Down” and “Villains.” Polka numbers like “Monkeys” stirred the crowd into a frenzy, the band feeding off their energy and upping the anti. Everyone was genuinely having a great time, band, girl with “shirt” barely on dancing on stage, militant security unsure or whether to watch or kick her off, and audience alike. The band even debuted a brand new song, one of five recently recorded for their upcoming effort. All in all, I couldn’t ask for a better stroll down memory lane.  

-Kristina Mameli, The Other Press (BCIT Alumni)

I recently accidently demistified a part of my youth, and – while I learnt something about life – it wasn’t too pleasant. How did that happen? I went to see a show of a punkish band (Rise Against), someting I used to do quite often back in the days. And it wasn’t the same any more. *dramatic music*

First off, I wasn’t in “the Zone” at all. When I was a youngster, that’s basically all my friend Michael and I ever did. We went to a show, then a few days later to the next, and so on an on. Every one of these experiences was an episode of this great continuous story. Our story. But today? It has become just some form of entertainment, in between other random stuff you do. Get up, coffee, work, groceries, newspaper, eat, rock show, do laundry, read, go to bed. We were just so much more commited then.

And I noticed: the average age at these events has continually dropped over the last few years. The kids get younger and younger every time, seriously. Or wait, is it because I’m getting older? Help! Okay, let’s just say was a discrepancy in age between me and the average visitor at that show. And thus I felt I didn’t quite fit in there as well as I used to. And that was a very important thing: the feeling of being a little part of something big.

But it’s not just the gap in age, things are different. Kids really look different than we did, and they seem to have different values. While it was normal to have some sort of sloppy style in our times, today seems to be all about the looks. All these emos with their dyed and perfectly in-place-hair, I don’t get it. And the bands they listen to…

That’s when it hit me like a big wiking slapping a dead, cold fish in your face. What was going on when I was younger, and what I was a part of, that was a trend, limited in time (as they all are). It was the big wave of melodic punk rock, and I think we entered it around it’s peak. NOFX, Rancid, Reel Big Fish – there were so many concerts of our favourite bands, and so many people going. I genuinely believed that things were always, and would always stay, like this. But wasn’t, and it didn’t. Many of “our” bands still exist, but a lot of them don’t get to play as big shows as they did, this generation of rock is slowly fading away. So I believed to have found something great, as if made for me. Turns out it probably wasn’t a heavenly coincidence, I was just a mere child of my time.

And that brings me to another question: What if I was ten years younger today? Would I listen to all these pop-emo-bands? Would I dye my hair black/blonde and spend hours in front of the mirror every day? I’d say no assertively, but how can I tell? I just went with the underground flow back then – whitout even realising it – why wouldn’t I just go with the underground flow today? These two bands played at the warped tour, whose line-up used to be almost exactly in line with my taste seven years ago. And now this. Oh my Zeus. I really think that shit is worse than what we were/are into. In what possible universe could I listen to that ridiculous crap? Arrrgh, is my mind playing tricks on me now? I think I’m cracking up. Or am I just paranoiod?

Now I really start to understand my dad who keeps listening to music from the sixties and seventies. It makes perfect sense. You just stay with what you know and what you used to like – and it’s not so bad. And the people saying punk is dead, I get them too. Their punk is dead, like mine is dying.

Chances are that I’m not the first human in history who actually, objectively, listened to better music  in his youth (or did other things better, for that matter – I think this doesn’t apply to music) than a younger generation. I’m probably just an old fart not getting it. I can already hear my future kids making fun of me for liking the Foo Fighters. And for going to see 70 year old Dave Grohl act on stage like he’s still 35. Haha, imagine that.

Fat Wreck Chords estará editando un boxset de 3 cds, esto por motivo de celebrar sus 20 años de creación. La label empezo en 1990 pero edito su primer material dos años despues. El pimer disco incluria exitos del pasado, el segundo canciones raras o “lados B”, el tercero será el 7″ Club del 2001 en un solo cd.

El release incluira 88 canciones de Against Me!, American Steel, Anti-Flag, Avail, Bracket, Chixdiggit!, Consumed, Dead To Me, Descendents, The Dickies, Dillinger Four, Enemy You, Epoxies, Face to Face, The Flatliners, Frenzal Rhomb, Goober Patrol, Good Riddance, Hi-Standard, Lagwagon, The Lawrence Arms, Less Than Jake, The Loved Ones, MxPx, Mad Caddies, Me First and The Gimme Gimmes, NOFX, Nerf Herder, No Use For A Name, None More Black, One Man Army, Only Crime, Propagandhi, Randy, The Real McKenzies, Rise Against, The Sainte Catherines, Screeching Weasel, Sick Of It All, Smoke Or Fire, Snuff, The Soviettes, Star Fucking Hipsters, Strike Anywhere, Strung Out, Swingin’ Utters, Tilt, The Vandals, Western Addiction, Wizo y Zero Down.

A bit of Ska-Punk today to try to forget the fact that it was peeing down on my way to work and i’ve been sat here with a wet ass for ages. Mad Caddies always remind me of summer and this is the best summer chill album I think I have.

It’s quite slow ska with only the occasional punky moment and is probably the most pop album I have done so far, It’s inoffensive and easy to listen to and I think most people could dig this.

Best song is probably Backyard makes me want to just relax with a BBQ somewhere that is actually sunny.

The whole album is on Spotify

Ska punk was alright. at least I could get away with dancing badly…

In the 1990s the revival of ska music, known as the third wave, came in a raw form with strong ties to the punk rock music scene. It’s no surprise since ska music comes with a fast-paced rollicking energy that appealed to young working-class youths. British and American punks ate up reggae and ska, and the sound fused well with rip-roaring punk rock. My favorites from this genre include Operation Ivy, Fishbone, Rancid, and Sublime. Brad Nowell of Sublime had a knack for making great third-wave ska punk rock.

The Aggrolites have mad a distinct impression on the third-wave ska movement, bringing their California soul-drenched sound to the mix. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are symbolic of this genre, laying grimy vocals over ska horns and rock guitars. Some of the great punk bands have made their own ska-infused tracks, including NOFX, Goldfinger, the Offspring, and even the hardcore punk group Propagandhi.

Propagandhi’s track “Ska Sucks” is really a critique of the ska revival. As a representative of the punk intelligentsia, Propagandhi questions everyone and everything, including authority, religion, and the quality of the ska revival.  The song makes a captivating argument why the ska revival “sucks,” singing the message over a wonderful third wave ska sound.

1. Operation Ivy – Sound System
2. Fishbone – Party At Ground Zero
3. Rancid – Time Bomb
4. Sublime – Date Rape
5. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – The Impression That I Get [Explicit]
6. The Aggrolites – Countryman Fiddle (Album Version)
7. Skavoovie & The Epitones – One Mint Julep
8. Reel Big Fish– Walkin’ on Sunshine
9. NOFX – Bob
10. Goldfinger – I Love You More Today
11. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Simmer Down
12. The Offspring– Why Don’t You Get A Job?
13. Manu Chao – Machine gun
14. Propagandhi – Ska Sucks
15. Rancid – Fall Back Down (Album Version)
16. The Aggrolites – Ghost Town
17. The Stingers ATX – Painting Portraits
18. Supervillians – Resin
19. Suicide MacHines – I I Never Promised You A Rose Garden
20. The Slackers – Don’t You Want a Man
21. Hepcat – Marcus Garvey
22. Buck-O-Nine – Irish Drinking Song
23. Sublime & Gwen Stefani – Saw Red
24. Dance Hall Crashers – Lost Again
25. Sublime – Jailhouse
26. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Someday I Suppose
27. Rancid – Ruby Soho
28. Sektacore – Cool Cat
29. The Insteps – The Insteps
30. Mu330 – Hoosier Love
31. The Scofflaws – Grazin’ in the Grass
32. Westbound Train – Check Your Time
33. Hub City Stompers – Leave Me the Fuck Alone
34. The Pietasters – Out All Night
35. Deal’s Gone Bad – Movin’ On
36. The Aquabats – Pool Party
37. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – The Rascal King
38. Stingers ATX – Let’s Be In Love
39. Less Than Jake – We Go Together
40. Mustard Plug – Mr. Smiley
41. Sublime – Wrong Way
42. Skavoovie & the Epitones – She Sure Can Cook
43. Streetlight Manifesto – Keasbey Nights
44. Mad Caddies – Drinking for 11
45. Soweto – Blue Ska
46. Fishbone – Skankin’ to the Beat
47. Sublime – Same in the End
48. No 1 Station – Last Train
49. Skapone – Guns and Steeples
50. Soulsteppers – Warhead
51. Deal’s Gone Bad – Messin’ Around
52. Soweto – Honey Rider
53. Stan or Itchy – Feelin’ Good
54. The New York Jazz Ensemble – Haitian Fight Song
55. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Where’d You Go
56. The Pietasters – Maggie May
57. The Slackers – Better Late Than Never
58. Hepcat – Dance Wid’ Me
59. Super Villians – Mary Jane and Jager
60. Buck-O-Nine – My Town
61. Dancehall Crashers – Don’t Wanna Behave
62. MU330 – KKK Hiway
63. Deal’s Gone Bad – Be Mine Tonight
64. The Slackers – I Shall Be Released
65. The Scofflaws – Ska-La-Carte
66. The Hub City Stompers – I’ve Got A Boot
67. The Stingers ATX – Rock and Ska
68. Mustard Plug – Brain on Ska
69. Skavoovie & the Epitones – Parakeet
70. Westbound Train - Why You Cry

interested? anybody?

mad caddies – souls for sale

source: youtube.com

I finally went to a festival (I dont class radio1’s 1big weekend coz you dont camp) and it was pretty awshum!

Got the train to leeds on the wednesday night and then a taxi to the field where we sat in a little que waiting till 3am when they opened the door. Jagermeister became my new friend.  We (my mate Christina and I) made friends with some kid called Kenzie who had a new suit jacket as he kept calling it for a tenner from oxfam tent (it was blatently a blazer!)  We dumped our tent next to theres in blue coz didnt know where else to put it then me and Tina went for a wander.

Thursday got up really really early coz you can hear everyone else getting up and it wakes you up.  It was sunny so I wore shorts and my converse (I didnt wear my wellies the weekend coz the one day I put them on I felt daft coz it wasnt muddy enough and they made my feet too hot, so now I just have dirty trainers lol) and we went off to Tesco to stock up on more alcohol, oranges and crisps (yea we had no idea what to eat, I forced the oranges on us coz I like fruit).  We didnt want to wait in the massive que for the bus back so got a taxi.  Oh we also waited for an hour to use Tesco loos coz everyone else had the same idea and they only had 2 loos next to cafe.  It would have been so much quicker if theyd made boys use theirs and girls use theirs as there was a lot less girls in the que when I was in it.

Got back to camp and noticed that our new ‘friends’ had vanished and a totally different tent was there (we never saw our ‘friends’ again lol).  Was a pretty crap day coz there was nowt to do cept sit in the sun.  At night they opened the festivaly bit so we went in and went on the big wheel and the waltzer.  Everyone around us was drunk and us two were strangelly sober :/ it kinda sucked.  I think they might have had a silent disco on that night but we didnt go coz we were both shattered from not much sleep, we kept meaning to another night but we were always too tired so just went back to the tent each time to sleep while everyone around us talked, drank, had some raving disco by the sounds of it…I should have camped in a quieter area lol but those are too far away.

Friday we went and got us some merch. I got a nice vest top, it doenst have the bands listed on the back which Im half glad and half sad about, it doesnt even say the year. I think they might have had some originally with the bands on the back but theyd ran out of so many already.  Saw Spinnerette as the first band, they kinda sounded just like the cd which is good coz I love the cd but it would have been nice to have some more energy. But it was frigging awsome to see Brody Dale in the flesh, I love her lots (Im also secretly glad to see she aint mega mega skinny or owt). Wish I could have seen Chuck Ragan but I think he was on at the same time sadly.  I think we saw a bit of the courteeners or something, we also watched some ‘funny’ guy which was quite funny.  Then I think we saw rival schools coz they were on before the Mad Caddies who we wanted to see.  The Mad Caddies were ever awsome but not on for long enough! I made a friend in the pit for that but never got his name lol, he did hold me up the entire time coz my ankle was killing (I had to get a shitty tuby grip from first aid).  Then I saw the bronx :] The singer climbed up the massive pole in the middle of the tent and jumped onto us and I crowd surfed for the first time ever and it was awsome! We then saw a tiny bit of the prodogy at some point, Tina hates them so we didnt get to see much :[ saw a bit of Artic Monkeys then I went to see Rise Against while she stayed and watched AM.  Crowd surfed twice to them, they were amazing, I get to see them for third time in Novemeber (I feel like Im stalking them).  Then like hard core partiers we went to bed coz we were exhausted and Id lost my voice a bit lol.

Saturday our mate Joanne and her mate Lisa (who Tina is also friends with, Id never met her before) came coz they had day tickets, they turned up well early lol but it was good to have some people to talk to.  We saw kids in glass houses who were ok, a bit of Noah and the Whale whoever they may be then the Living End who I love but they would have been suited to a smaller tent to get a nice crowd going.  I think we maybe watched a bit of the view/and or brand new, I remember walking back to the tent when Frank Turner was on the NME stage, shame I didnt see him coz I like think of the Real Damage as my soundtrack coz it sounds pretty much like half my nights out, I did see him doing a song I recognised but not sure what it was, possibly long live the queen or photosynthesis.  Anyway we went to see Vampire Weekend coz the other 3 like them, I new about 2 songs but they were ok I guess.  Then we sat outside NME and watched gaslight anthem, I went to the bar at this point and heard someone shout my name, it turned out to be Robin who used to do a masters at uni but then his funding was cut short or something, so I was talking to him for a bit. I was surprised he recognised/remembered me seeing as I dont have him on facebook or anything lol. I feel bad that I never asked him how he was really coz he was asking how I was doing at uni and that.  But it was good to see another person I knew there.  Then I went to see Gallows finally and omg they were amazing!! I wish theyed play at the uni's instead of accademy coz of the stupid crowd surfing rule they have there.  I hadnt really heard their new album yet but they did lots of old songs too which was good including my favourtie Orchestra of Wolves which I went over the top for of course :]  On their last song a load of random people came on stage from the sides I think, was funny, one guy was just in boxers and they pulled them down at the end and he ran off pretty quick lol.  Then AFI were on afterwards, seen them before and they were just as good this time, I ended up standing next to this guy in the pit and I looked at him and was like “Is your name Sparky?” “yea….” “You go to scarborough uni dont you” “yea…” “You do drama with manda, I used to live with her” Then I ran off, it was pretty weird seeing him just standing there lol…he looks a bit like that kid from skins/about a boy….you know – kinda strange looking lol. I also think I nearly broke someones neck when I went over the top for AFI but I said sorry to him nicely so he cant complain, most people just ignore me when they nearly break my neck!  We went to see Radiohead but they were kinda shit and quiet so instead I ended up feeling really unwashed and seeing Lostprophets (I hate them with a passion yet I have no idea why – I just do!) I suppose they were alright if you like them, I just think Ian Watkins is a twit.

Saturday night was squished coz Joanna and Lisa stayed in our tent before driving back the next day.  Sunday went to see Sonic Boom Six who were great as like last time. Then we sat at the barrier thats in the middle to stop the crowds too bad and watched madina lake and alexisonfire who were all good and I made friends with some lass called Kim from Durham, Im finding it hard to find her on facebook though coz I cant quite remember what she looked like cept she had piercings lol. Dont think I saw riverboat gamblers or anyone like that even though I like them.  Saw a bit of new found glory, they did kiss me and my friends over you and were alrighty.  Saw the aggrolites Im pretty sure =S Deffinately saw the bouncing souls. Missed jacks manquine coz I totaly forgot they were on plus I dont own any of their stuff anymore, also missed the deftones sadly, not sure where I was at that time either.  Saw the end of placebo then all of the kaiser chiefs (they should totally headline, they were the best band on the main stage the whole weekend). I remember seeing them at Radio1 1big weekend sunderland and being really surprised by how good they were. Again I was surprised (Silly really, I should have remembered) and even though it had started raining it was so good that I couldnt tell.  Saw a bit of kinds of leon but wasnt impressed and went to see Billy Talent (who Id gone for anyway) and they were awsome as ever cept I couldnt even see Ben’s face (stooopid crowd) and it was major packed that you couldnt even have a pit.  I told myself I would surf during red flag coz its my fav (woah spoooky, it just came on itunes now lmao!) and they did it last (I was majorly dying of thirst by this point) but it was AWSHUM!!!!

ooo one of the times I was surfin (during rise against I think) I went over the barrier backwards like headfirst, that was fun lol :]

The bad bit: On Saturday I kinda got some weird thing that made feel like I wanted a crap every 5seconds but nothing would come out (luckily I dont mind walking to the furthest portaloos coz they flushed, had paper and were cleaner)…sadly I still have this annoying bowel movement now! I think its due to lack of food, I kinda just had a lot of liquid lunches/breakfasts/teas….mainly cider.

I aquaried tastes for jagermeister, cider (ok I already kinda liked that) and crowd surfin (which I always thought looked mega scary) during this weekend of festivalness. WAS GOOOOOD!

I have over 50 bruises, especially on my shins and my ankle that was swollen from Peru and slowly deflating has now swelled up again :[

sunday night was not good, for some reason Tina made me pack everything up (Even sleeping bag) incase we had to abandon our tent asap due to riot fires that always go on with the illeagal gas canisters that people somehow still get in. So we basically sat and shivered till about 5ish when we packed up and got the bus to the train station, there was loads of people on the buses and we realised theyd probs been on all night and we could have gone earlier. There was a nice cordoned off area in leeds train station with a lot of sleeping smelly festival peeps lol. But no train to newcastle, so we got the one to scarborough and got off at york and got on one to newcastle there where this guy called can hands or something (some long funny story he told us) was talking to us coz he didnt go this year but used to go a lot till they started having mainly indie headlining, he now seems to stick to download by the looks of it...he was in newcastle for the first time and going to the hilton (I really wanted to ask why but didnt, just he had a dreads and didnt really look like a hilton stayer lol)....we passed some weird newcastle 'art' - it was a sculpture made of shopping trolleys, Id never seen it coz the train went in a different way.

All in all though it was a brilliant weekend with decent weather (I had shorts on on saturday too it was that good) :]

Oh and I find this werid, I said I saw Robin right, well I saw him the next day with his girlfriend and 2 other peeps (I think he had the day off or something). I find it strange that I saw him twice yet my mate Paul who lives downstairs and who had texted saying we should meet up…well we never did coz I guess I had more ‘time’ on sat but he was “fucked in a bad way” on drink and drugs and I guess he spent the whole of sat in his tent (he really should learn, he’s 28 or something and goes to Leeds practically every year)

Thats it for now, I should probably sleep but I aint that tired still. Hope you enjoyed the essay =p

Nach dem Donnerstag, der noch ganz ohne Musik ausgekommen ist, widmen wir uns nun dem ersten Konzerttag des diesjährigen Area4-Festivals. (Hier gibt es eine Übersicht über das gesamte Lineup 2009). Wie auf jedem Festival muss man sich die Bands einteilen, welche man sehen möchte, da es aus verschiedenen Gründen (Hitze, Kälte, Hunger, Durst, Regen, Müdigkeit, Lust auf Party oder Chillen auf dem Zeltplatz, etc.) kaum möglich ist, die komplette Zeit vor der Bühne zu verbringen. Das Area4 hat gegenüber allen größeren Festivals dieses Jahr den Vorteil, dass es lediglich eine Bühne gibt. Somit hat man zum einen zwischen den Bands genug Pausen, um sich um die eigenen Bedürfnisse zu kümmern und zum anderen gibt es kein böses Erwachen hinsichtlich des Timetable (Es gibt kaum etwas grausameres, als wenn man sich eine teure Festivalkarte besorgt und dann mit Veröffentlichung des Timetable feststellt, dass von dem Dutzend Bands, die einen wirklich interessieren, die Hälfte zeitgleich auf zwei oder gar drei Bühnen verteilt auftritt).

Sicherlich macht es Spaß in einer größeren Gruppe auf dem Zeltplatz rumzulungern, bei gutem Wetter Blödsinn zu machen, sich ordentlich zu besaufen oder nach Ende des Konzerttages das Partyzelt unsicher zu machen aber generell ist die Livemusik der entscheidende Aspekt, weswegen ich ein Festival besuche. Leute, die zu bedröhnt, zu besoffen oder einfach nur zu faul sind, sich einige der Bands anzusehen oder solche, die nur wegen ein / zwei Headlinern ein Festivalticket erstehen, sind mir persönlich ein wenig suspekt. Daher ist der Freitag nun der erste interessante Tag, der mit Deftones schon einen der mit Spannung erwarteten Auftritte des Festivals für mich bereithält.

Aber von vorne.

07:00 Uhr Weckkommando Dixieleerung. Ne Menge Krach am frühen Morgen, der aber dafür sorgt, dass man schon kurz nach Sonnenaufgang gefahrlos auf einer Festivaltoilette sein Geschäft verrichten kann. Nach so einer Reinigung sind die Dixieklos auch sauberer als die zur Verfügung stehenden Wassertoiletten, für die man, egal zu welcher Uhrzeit, vor allem als weiblicher Festivalbesucher längere Zeit mit Anstehen in Kauf nehmen muss. Einige Mädels aus unserer Gruppe vermissen bei den Dixies noch den Kaugummigeruch des im letzten Jahr verwendeten Desinfektionsmittels aber generell sind wir alle recht schmerzfrei, was die Benutzung der blauen Häuschen angeht (Es ist erstaunlich, wie man sich für ein paar Tage mit den geringsten hygienischen Gegebenheiten arrangieren und zufrieden geben kann).

So früh geweckt zu werden klingt brutal, jedoch scheint die Sonne eh schon ab 09:00 Uhr mit ziemlicher Wucht vom Himmel, so dass es sich empfiehlt, nicht allzu viel Zeit im Zelt zu verbringen. Es ist der Moment für den ersten Einsatz unseres Campingkochers gekommen. Dieses Köfferchen ist weitaus praktischer als die kleinen blauen Kartuschen, da er nicht umfallen kann und man ohne Wasserwaage auch größere Töpfe darauf platzieren kann. Somit ist auch bald der erste frisch gebrühte Kaffee des Wochenendes fertig. Danach noch ein paar Fertigpfannkuchen in der Pfanne und fertig ist das dekadente Festivalfrühstück. (Wichtig: Wer den Pfannkuchenteig nicht richtig schüttelt und nachher die etwas grobkörnige Masse verzehrt, muss – wie ich selber den Freitag über erfahren muss – mit gärenden Magenproblemen für den Rest des Tages rechnen).

Schließlich schaffen wir es auch mit Hilfe der Nachbarn vom Weg gegenüber unseren Pavillon aufzubauen. Die leicht lädierten Stangen werden mit Gaffatape umwickelt und schon hält der Billigpavillon besser als die ganzen teuren Modelle (Merke: Gaffa hält die Welt zusammen).

Nun heißt es faulenzend in den Tag kommen und auf die noch fehlenden vier Leute unserer Gruppe warten. Die ersten beiden kommen Freitag gegen Mittag an, stehen zwar einige Meter weg vom Haupteingang aber immerhin noch auf ‘unserem’ Parkplatz 1. Nach ein wenig Schlepperei sind alle ihre Sachen bei uns ‘zu Hause’. Da die beiden sowohl einen Campingtisch als auch ein gut gekühltes 5l-Fässchen mitgebracht haben, wird es nun wirklich gemütlich unter dem Pavillon und man verbringt die Zeit mit Quasseln und wartet auf das noch fehlende Pärchen.

14:45 – 15:15 CJ Ramone (noch nie live gesehen)

Wenn man es nach einem anstrengenden Donnerstag schaffen würde, sich freitags zum Festivalgelände aufzumachen, um die allererste Band des diesjährigen Area4 zu begrüßen, würde man das mit Sicherheit nicht bereuen. Alleine das, was akkustisch von der Bühne bis zum Zeltplatz vordringt, gefällt mir vom obligatorischen und hier angebrachten und passenden Intro ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ (Andere Bands an diesem Tag sind weniger schlau bei ihrer Introauswahl) bis zum letzten Song sehr gut. Da ich selber die Ramones noch mit Joey am Mikro habe live erleben können, habe ich ein etwas gespaltenes Verhältnis zu einer Coverband, aber wenn es eine sinnige Art gibt, die Kultsongs der Ramones live weiter einem Publikum vorzuführen, dann auf diese Art. Wer also die Chance hat, CJ Ramone – der ja wirklich von ‘89-’96 bei Ramones Bass gespielt hat – live sehen zu können und nichts besseres vorhat, sollte diese nutzen.

15:40 – 16:15 Zebrahead (noch nie live gesehen)

Zu Zebrahead habe ich im Vorfeld viel lobenswertes gehört aber auch hier ist der Donnerstag, das Magengrummeln und die sich kurz vor dem Parkplatz befindenden Reste unser neunköpfigen Truppe Grund genug, sich noch nicht zum Gelände aufzumachen. Unter anderen Umständen, würde ich wohl gerne sehen, wie gut sie als Liveband agieren.

16:40 – 17:15 Turbostaat (noch nie live gesehen)

Nicht ganz mein Ding, daher steht noch weiter chillen am Zeltplatz au dem Plan. Der Pavillon macht sich bei knallend heißer Sonne wirklich bezahlt. Für die musikalische Untermalung sorgt ein Funmix der Nachbarn gegenüber, der in Dauerrotation sowohl ihren als auch unseren Lageplatz beschallt (besonders die Rülpsversion des Biene Maja-Songs sorgt auch bei uns (noch) für ein breites Grinsen). Dann wird’s aber Zeit, denn die erste Band aus der Kategorie „möchte ich gerne (noch) einmal live in Aktion sehen“ steht auf dem Programm, also geht es zu zweit zum ersten Mal an diesem Wochenende Richtung Konzertgelände.

17:45 – 18:25 Mad Caddies (vor ein paar Jährchen mal entweder zusammen mit den Mighty Mighty Bosstones oder auf einem Festival gesehen)

Wegen der unsinnigen Prozedur des Securitypersonals, beim Einlass auf das Gelände separate Einlässe für Jungens und Mädels freizugeben, gibt es noch ein paar Minuten Warterei. Der abschließende Sicherheitscheck ist dafür recht fix.  Diese Einlasshantiererei wird für den Rest des Festivals jedesmal unterschiedlich geregelt und auch die Kontrollen reichen von lapidarem Durchwinken bis hin zum peniblen Kontrollieren sämtlicher Mitbringsel inklusive der Pappschachtel mit den Zigarettenfilter. Dann ist es aber endlich geschafft, wir sind auf dem Konzertgelände.

Erste ungefilterte Eindrücke beim und kurz nach dem Betreten:

• Verdammt ist das riesig geworden hier.
• Vor zwei Jahren, war das weniger als halb so groß.
• Letztes Jahr gab es viel mehr Merchandise-Stände.
• Warum ist nach links soooo viel Platz, hätte man den nicht besser als Zeltplatz nutzen können?
• Ah … da vorne ist der Wellenbrecher.
• Wow, doch nicht schlecht, dass sie dieses Jahr Videoleinwände neben den Boxentürmen angebracht haben (Eigentlich sind das mittlerweile nur noch recht wenige aber wahnsinnig leistungsstarke Boxen, die hängend befestigt und nicht vom Boden aufgeschichtet sind).
• Die Anlage ist aber jetzt schon sehr laut, man kann sich ja hier auf dem Gelände kaum unterhalten.
• Das LM-Zelt scheint das Gleiche zu sein wie letztes Jahr, steht nur auf der anderen Seite.
• Ein HotDog für 4,50 Euro? War das auch nich viel günstiger letztes Mal?

Zu diesen ganzen Impressionen gibt es strahlenden Sonnenschein, abfallende Müdigkeit, steigende Begeisterung wieder hier zu sein und die passende Ska-Punk-Pop-Live-Untermalung der routinierten Mad Caddies, welche die Bühne inklusive Bläsercombo schon ordentlich füllen. Erstaunlich sind die vielen junge Leute bei den alten Hasen da vorne im Halbrund aber Qualität setzt sich anscheinend durch. Ein später aber passender Einstieg fürs diesjährige Area4. Wir gehen erst einmal zufrieden wieder zurück zu unserem Platz.

Die letzten beiden unserer Sippschaft sind inzwischen angekommen, da allerdings der Parkplatz schon voll ist, werden sie auf dem weiter entfernten Parkplatz 2 untergebracht. Meines Wissens hat es die Jahre davor noch nicht mehrere Areale gegeben, die zum Parkplatz umfunktioniert sind. Scheint dieses Jahr dann doch alles ein wenig größer und unübersichtlicher zu sein. Mit Hilfe der anderen schaffen sie es aber, das gesamte Gepäck in einem langen Fußmarsch bis zu unserem Zeltplatz zu bringen.

18:55 – 19:45 Jet (noch nie live gesehn)

Die könnte man sich eventuell anschauen, ist uns beiden aber zu poppig und zu sehr Teeniemusik, als dass man sich die Möglichkeit auf mitgebrachtes Grillgut und kaltes Bier unserer letzten Nachzügler auf dem Zeltplatz entgehen lassen möchte. In Anbetracht der Tatsache, dass danach für alle die ersten Highlights des Festivals folgten (alle wollten Deftones & The Offspring sehen und die Mehrheit von uns freut sich, (zum ersten Mal) die Hosen live zu sehn) auch noch eine gute Möglichkeit, sich für den Abend vorzubereiten (festes Schuhwerk, warme Klamotten für die Zeit nach Sonnenuntergang, Nahrungs- und Bieraufnahme).

20:15 – 21:15 Deftones (gesehen 11. März 2001 | Support: Linkin Park & Taproot)

Alle neun schaffen es, sich rechtzeitig auf den Weg zu machen und man wartet gespannt, was die Deftones im langsam zur Neige gehenden Tageslicht bieten können.

Dann geht’s los. Eine Stunde Musik, Show, Emotion & Stimmung vom feinsten. Soweit vorne, dass man noch genug von der Bühne sehen und die Videoleinwände teilweise ignorieren kann. Bis auf den traditionellen Hüpf-, Spring-, Kopfwackel-Ausraster bei ‘Shove It (My Own Summer)’, welches als zweiter Song gespielt wird, gibt es fast nur noch den Tunnelblick nach vorne auf die Band. Die Musiker (Tragische Randinfo: der eigentliche Bassist Chi Ling Dai Cheng liegt seit November 2008 im Koma und wird seither durch seinen Freund und ehemaligen Quicksand-Bassisten vertreten) sind in Spiellaune und schaffen es auch, die versierteren Takt-, Tempo und vor allem Dynamikwechsel perfekt umzusetzen. Auch wenn das Instrument beim massigen Gitarrist eher wie eine Ukulele aussieht und der (Ersatz-)Bassist aus dem Grinsen nicht mehr heraus kommt, scheinen sie kein Problem damit zu haben zusammen mit ihrem wahnsinnig talentierten Drummer allen Songs an den entscheidenden Stellen genug Druck zu verleihen. Unterstützt vom charismatischen (und wieder schlank gewordenen) Chino Moreno, dem man es ansehen kann, wie sehr ihn der Auftritt begeistert, spielen sie eine Setlist aus 12 Stücken, die keine Wünsche öffen lässt und bei einsetzender Dämmerung und dezent eingesetzter Lichttechnik mehrfach für Gänsehautmomente sorgt. Obwohl wir alle neun nahe beieinander stehen nehme ich kaum einen der anderen wahr; das vorhandene Magengrummeln aufgrund nicht richtig zubereitetem Frühstück ist vergessen und ich verschwende während des kompletten Auftritts der Deftones nicht einen einzigen Gedanken daran, mir eine der vielen Kippen des Festivalwochenendes anzustecken. Mit dem für das Festival auch im übertragenen Sinne passenden Titel ‘Back to School’ endet um 21:15 Uhr das Highlight des Abends.

Fazit: Diesmal sind die Deftones nicht so rockig und mit Zug nach vorne wie beim Auftritt 2001 aber dafür trotz OpenAir-Auftritt um einiges dichter und atmosphärischer. Sehr geil!

21:45 – 23:00 The Offspring (Bizarre 99)

Zurück bei den anderen und mit wieder spürbarem Magengrummeln beschließe ich doch erst einmal ein stilleres Örtchen in der Umbaupause aufzusuchen. Die immer dichter werdenden Menschenmassen nahe am Soundtower lassen es aber kurz vor Beginn der Offspring-Show nicht zu, alle anderen wiederzufinden. Zu zweit und später zu dritt beschließen wir, trotz einsetzender Kälte (nachts gingen die Temperaturen dann runter in den einstelligen Bereich) Offspring am Rand stehend / sitzend via Leinwand zu schauen (Unser ausgemachter Treffpunkt für versprengte Leute ist der Cocktailstand links vom Tower).

Durch ihren Auftritt vom Bizarre Festival ‘99 habe ich The Offspring noch sehr schlecht in Erinnerung, da der Sänger Dexter Holland nicht in der Lage war, die Songs mit der gewohnten Stimme (ob es Stimmprobleme oder Unlust war, ist mir nicht bekannt) abzuliefern, die einen Großteil von den ansonsten eher einfach gestrickten Rock- und Punksongs ausmacht. Daher bin ich hinsichtlich des diesjährigen Auftritts vorher eher skeptisch, jedoch dann schnell verblüfft, mit wieviel Schmackes sie ihr Set beginnen (2 meiner Lieblingssongs vom Debutalbum ‘Smash’ direkt unter den ersten drei Songs). Zwischendrin wird es dann allerdings ein wenig befremdlich, als ein Klavier auf die Bühne gerollt wird und eine Balladenversion von ‘Gone Away‘ folgt (Sehr interessant gerade bei der Klavierversion ist die Ähnlichkeit zu Gary Jules Coverversion des Tears For Fears Klassikers ‘Mad World‘) . Auch die Pause mit Jongleur auf der Bühne wirkt für einen reinen Zuschauer etwas seltsam und das obwohl ‘Intermission’ ein regulärer Albumtrack ist. Das einige Songs live langsamer, ruhiger als auf Platte und vom Sound und Rhythmus eher karibisch angehaucht vorgetragen werden, habe ich in dieser Form von einer Rockband auch noch nicht gesehn. Die Leute vor der Bühne werden es ihnen aber danken.

Mehr Menschen, als von mir erwartet, drängeln, hüpfen, tanzen im Bereich vor der Bühne als auch im Hauptbereich zwischen Wellenbrecher und Soundturm bis ihnen die Luft wegbleibt. Dementsprechend groß ist auch die Welle an Abwanderungen Richtung Zeltplatz nach dem Offspring-Gig, obwohl danach mit den toten Hosen der offizielle Headliner und Abschlusspunkt des ersten Tages folgen soll.

Fazit: The Offspring liedern eine sehr solide Rockshow, die überraschend gut angekommen ist (Unsere Leute, die vorne geblieben waren, berichten später von 75 Minuten Spaß mit einer spring- und pogotanzfreudigen Meute).

23:30 – 01:00 Die Toten Hosen (gesehen März 1992)

Mein allererstes Rock-Konzert sind die toten Hosen gewesen. Das ist 18 Jahre her und in meinen Augen haben die Hosen danach keine interessanten Songs mehr geschrieben und das ganz aktuelle Zeugs löst bei mir nur noch einen Würgreflex aus. Da die diesjährige Soundanlage sehr mächtig ist und der Wind (un)günstig steht, kann man zurück auf dem Zeltplatz alles hören und erhält somit noch einmal die Bestätigung, dass die Entscheidung, das Konzertgelände zu verlassen, nicht nur hinsichtlich der mittlerweile doch sehr fröstelnden Temperaturen eine weise gewesen ist: Den Parade-Introsong ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ der göttlichen Ramones für den eigenen Einmarsch zu nehmen grenzt in meinen Augen schon an Blasphemie. Danach folgen sehr viel Laberei von Campino, etliche Coversongs, manche schlecht (‘Hang on Sloopy’) Manche einfach nur peinlich (‘I Fought The Law‘). Gepaart mit Campinos stetigen Bemühungen, jedem gesprochenen und gesungenen Wort soviel Rotz und Dreck wie möglich zu verleihen, ist dieser Auftritt fast noch nerviger anzuhören als das überall aus den Lautsprechern der Zeltanlagen schallende Ballermanngegröhle ‘Hey, das geht ab, wir feiern die ganze Nacht’.

Zwischen den Songs weist uns Campino ein dutzend Male darauf hin, dass er die Gegend so toll findet, dass er mal beim Bund gewesen ist und dass das Festivalpublikum beim Area4 doch das beste der Welt sei. Mal ehrlich: Die Hosen haben schon tausende Liveauftritte absolviert, sind Lokalmatadoren in Düsseldorf, wo ihnen das Publikum fast aus der Hand frisst, und stehen nun da auf der Bühne und wollen dem Publikum ernsthaft weiß machen, dass dieser Festival Auftritt der mit Abstand beste Gig ihres Lebens ist? Ja nee is klar …

Aber es kommt noch schlimmer. Mit der schlechtesten bis dahin gehörten Ansage eines Songs (Eine 5-Minutentirade von Angela Merkel über Erziehung weiter zu Kitas und schließlich zu Randgruppen und zum Fußball) leiten die Hosen ihr Bayernlied ein. Zu dem Zeitpunkt liegt die Hälfte unsere Gruppe bereits im Zelt und nach einer letzten “Ihr seid das beste Publikum der Welt”-Tirade ist denn endlich Schluss, der erste Konzerttag zu Ende und die Ruhe und die schleichende Kälte der Nacht (Temperaturen unter 10° Grad) halten Einzug und der Freitag verschläft sich in den Samstag …

Teil 3 (der Samstag) folgt in Kürze

ein weiter Bericht erstattender Ausserirdischer

just one more

source : www.youtube.com

now i am soooo back to work! later!

i woke up with mad caddies playing my fav song – drinkin for 11 – and with my perrot who was imitating a car alarm ).. i didn’t sleep very well last night, so today i’m a little zombie.. maybe i’ll catch some sleep later, but this depends on how i’ll manage to finish the plethora of chores i’ve scheduled for today. my list is big, but i’ll start doing work as soon as my coffee is ready .. no coffee..no work! haha!

me + mad caddies + coffee = love… for life! )

08/09 New Bedford, MA @ New Wave Café
08/20 Prague, Czech @ Lucerna Music Bar w/ Mad Caddies & The Flatliners
08/21 Osijek, Croatia @ Pannonian Challenge Skateboard/Music Festival
08/22 Nyirbator, Hungary @ Azfeszt
08/23 Ljubljana, Slovenia @ TRN Festival
08/25 Trier, Germany @ Exhause
08/26 Schaffen, Belgium @ JC Smurf
08/27 Peterborough, UK @ The Park w/ The Flatliners
08/28 Leeds, UK @ Leeds Festival
08/29 Reading, UK @ Reading Festival
08/30 Leper, Belgium @ Leper Festival
08/31 Leicester, UK @ The Shed
09/01 Manchester, UK @ Moho Live
09/02 Derby, UK @ Rockhouse
09/03 Newcastle, UK @ Trillians
09/04 Bristol, UK @ The Croft
09/05 London, UK @ Underworld w/ Polar Bear Club 9/06 Southampton, UK @ Joiners
09/09 Glasgow, UK @ King Tuts w/ Failsafe
09/10 Belfast, Ireland @ Spring & Airbrake
09/12 Dublin, Ireland @ The Village
09/25 Toronto, ON @ REVERB
09/26 Montreal, QC @ Underworld
09/27 Quebec City @ Imperial
09/28 Ottawa @ Mavericks
10/01 Winnipeg, MB @ Pyramid Cabaret
10/05 Fort McMurray, AB @ Reckless Bar
10/13 San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside
10/16 Hollywood, CA @ The Knitting Factory
10/21 San Antonio @ Rock Bottom
10/22 Austin, TX @ Emos
10/23 Dallas, TX @ The Door
10/24 Houston, TX @ The Meridian
10/29 Orlando, FL @ Backbooth
10/30 Gainesville, FL @ The Fest (venue TBD)

I thought I’d make a list of the gigs I’ve been too, and if I can remember, a bit of a description about what I thought of it (can you tell I’m just avoiding work?)

1. P!nk – (30/3/2004) – This was my very first gig, I was 14 and went with my sister and her friend. It was the Try This tour and I loved it. P!nk had a lot of hair and costume changes lol.
2. Faithless – (24/4/2005) – I also went with my sister to this one, I didnt particually like them but she was going to go on her own. They were actually really good, we ended up moving seats too coz the ones we had had a bit of a naff view and the seating wasnt sold out so we moved around to the other side. We Come One was especially good!
3. Radio 1’s big weekend, Sunderland – (7/5/2005) – A free gig and it was bloody awsome! Mainly because the Foo Fighters headlined!! And there was Kasabian who were really good too. We just stayed in the main tent for this.
4. Radio 1’s big weekend, Sunderland – (8/5/2005) – Yea I managed to get tickets to both days :] I got to see Gwen Steffani which I was stoked about because I love her, but I would have prefered No Doubt. Kaiser Chiefs were pretty good, and Jamiroquai and Basement Jaxx but I think my surprise highlight of the day was Black Eyed Peas. Strange because I cant stand them but they really know how to get a crowd moving! (Once again we stayed in the main tent all day)
5. Goldfrapp – (15/10/2005) – First gig in the newly opened Carling Accademy (now O2). They were pretty good and I want Alison Goldfrapp’s hair!
6. My Chemical Romance – (7/11/2005) – Ok so I guess you either love them or hate them and I’m more in the love zone lol. They were pretty amazing live and I was so happy they did Headfirst For Halos as thats one of my favourite songs. All my friends went to the side and I was left in the middle on my own, but then I saw an old friend from school so it was fun!
7. Franz Ferdinand – (November 2005) – I lost the ticket for this gig so I dont know the exact date but do know it was in November. They were really good, Im going to see them again this coming November yay!
8. INME – (1/2/2006) – rescheduled from December. For some reason I dont really remember this gig, I think its mainly because Im not to big a fan so didnt really know half their songs. But Im sure it was good
9. All American Rejects – (5/2/2006) – This gig sucked major. I think its like the 2nd worst gig Ive been too! The support, Towers Of London just totaly loved themselves and the singer seemed to think he was Johnny Rotten, then AAR just spent most the time being really smug with themselves in my opinion.
10. Yellowcard – (6/3/2006) – This was my dad’s birthday and Id totaly forgotten lol, but they still let me go :] They were great and saw lots of people from school and college there. I dont remember the support but Im pretty sure it was Reuben, tis a shame I dont remember if it was them because I quite like a few of their songs.
11. Less Than Jake – (31/3/2006) – I loved this gig so much! If you’ve never seen them you should because they infect the crowd with joy and skankyness!!
12. Placebo – (8/4/2006) – They mainly just did songs from their new album which kinda sucked as I prefered their older ones. It was still a good gig even if Brian Molko did stay mainly at the other side of the stage to what I was on.
13. Panic! At The Disco – (20/4/2006) – Get ready for the worst gig Ive been to yet! They were sooo bad, it didnt help that I was a gooseberry that night. The whole thing sucked and I very nearly walked out. Thank god they only had one album so werent on that long lol.
14. Billy Talent – (6/7/2006) - This was also one of my favourties. I think it was a combination of the booze, sunshine and the room at the uni that it was in. Im going to see them again in June and cant wait!!
15. AFI - (12/10/2006) – These guys were great too. I remember being in the middle of the pit during one song early on (I think it was Girls Not Grey) and my feet werent even touching the ground the whole time, I love that :]
16. Taste Of Chaos – (17/11/2006) – I went with the intention of seeing Anti-Flag and I saw and I loved! I remember running round the massive circle pit thinking what the hell am I doing and it was soo fun! Im pretty sure Taking Back Sunday were the headline and on just after AF but I was so exhausted by that time that I dont remember them lol.
17. Kerrang Tour 2007 – (22/1/2007) – I went to see the Bronx (who I noticed werent plugged as much as the other bands in the magazine and on Kerrang! radio). They are one of my favourite bands and I loved them. Biffy Clyro (is that spelt right?) were on after but I just remember sitting on a stool at the back of the accademy nearly falling asleep…not because they were dull (I dont even know what they sing to be honest lol) but because I was so tired from the Bronx.
18. The Killers – (20/2/2007) – Was pancake tuesday this day I remember. They were alright but Im not too big a fan. I wanted to see the support, black rebel motorcycle club but we had to wait outside for ages for my sister to give her her ticket :[
19. Zebrahead - (2/5/2007) - OMG I totally want to see these guys again at some point. It was fricken awsome! They had us all sitting on the floor for some song (cant remember what it was now) and there was this totaly fit guy there, he had pink lepard print hair! ...and also a girlfriend who looked way to young for him ¬_¬
20. Good Charlotte - (16/5/2007) - Im mainly a fan of their older stuff, but I went for old times sakes just so I could finally see them in the flesh. I wasnt impressed with the crowd. When GC did a few older songs there was hardly anyone around me who knew the words :[ Saw lots of people from school here.
21. Mad Caddies - (23/5/2007) - Ok so by this point my mam was getting annoyed lol coz I was meant to be studying for my A levels. They were great though and Id totaly see them again at some point. They rounded it all up with All American Badass which is one of my favourite songs by them! Oh and that fit guy from Zebrahead was there too so I got to oggle him again :]
22. Sonic Boom Six – (20/5/2008) – A whole year later pretty much. Thats coz Id moved away for uni and Id just never thought of getting the train home to see bands lol…plus I dont think there was any that I wanted to go to that year. Anyway back to this gig, I went to see Big D and the Kids Table who were the second support (first was Random Hand who I caught the end of). Big D should totaly headline their own show, I love them. I missed them doing Little Bitch which is one of my favs as my mate was getting some cash out. The Boom were pretty good as well!
23. Rancid – (1/11/2008) – LOL!!! Finally seen them and I think I spent most the gig standing in the pit staring between Tim and Lars thinking OMFG I’M FINALLY SEEING RANCID! They were pretty dam awsome (urgh I say awsome too much!). They did some operation ivy (knowledge) but sadly not salvation which would have been pretty good live. They didnt do fall back down acoustically like they I think they often do so that was good. Acoustic sometimes bugs me lol.
24. Eastpack Antidote Tour 2008 – (2/11/2008) – Time again were on first, I missed because I thought the doors were later than they were. Saw the very end of street dogs which is a shame coz I like them. Skindred were just weird, no other way to describe them. I think it may also be the first time Ive seen a black welsh man (Im not trying to be racist here, Ive just never seen one). Anyway they were kinda reggae/metal, some songs were ok though. Headlining were Flogging Molly (the main reason I went), and OMG if you’ve never seen them then you is missing out! They were brilliant (I had to try so hard not to say awsome there). I lost my phone in the pit though, I think it fell out my pocket during my jumping times. Made friends with this couple from Glasgow who were also going to see them in Glasgow lol.
25. Pendulum – (14/12/2008) – I so wish I hadnt been ill at this gig because I couldnt get into as much as I usually do. They were really good though, lots of energy. I want to see them when Im NOT ill :]
26. Rise Against – (24/2/2009) – This was in Leeds so kinda strange when they said hello Leeds and people chanted yorkshire lol. Anti-flag supported and had a nice circle pit as usual :] Rise Against did all my favourite songs and it was either them or AF who nearly made me cry with something they said (they kinda get all polical and anti-racism sometimes and it makes me think and depressed lol). I was well annoyed at the price of t-shirts and that though!! Im going to see them again in November, at home this time…will probs end up buying a tshirt this time.
27. Go:Audio – (7/4/2009) – One of the first times Ive stayed at the back through the whole gig. It finished really early because they only have one album. That marines song…I used to think was by Mcfly lol. I guess if Id been a year or two younger they would have been really good. Saving Aimee were ok, theres some song I like by them that Im still trying to find to download.
28. King Blues – (12/5/2009) – First gig on my own. Was at York. They were really good. Itch did a poem about women called 4 bottles of shampoo that was really good. I had two guys with long hair in front of me, neither of them would let me tie it up with my spare bobble so I was miffed at that lol. Sadly getting out of here was not played (thats like my fav song by them) but it was preeety schveet and I want to see them again some point!

So thats it for now, coming up I have billy talent, leeds fest, green day, franz ferdinand and rise against (think thats it so far)

The Lock Up Stage at Reading Festival, run by Mike Davies, host of the BBC Radio 1 Punk Show has been announced for 2009. The Friday show will be headlined by Billy Talent and then Rise Against on Saturday.

The stage will also include:
Bouncing Souls, Mad Caddies, Polar Pear Club, Leftover Crack, The Bronx, A Wilhelm Scream, Chuck Regan, Alexisonfire and Anti-Flag. British acts set to appear include The Ghost of a Thousand, The Plight, The Computers and Snuff.

Mad Caddies são uma banda de ska punk proveniente de Solvang, Califórnia. Formada em 1995, a banda já lançou sete álbuns, entre eles um ao vivo, e um EP. É uma das banda que eu, particularmente, mais gosto. Então está ae a discografia do Mad Caddies!

Quality Soft Core 1997	I’m So Alone Distress Cup O’Tea The Bell Tower No Se Crew Cut Chuck Goleta Big Brother LG’s Polyester Khakis Preppie Girl Mum’s the Word Sad Reggie Download
Duck and Cover 1998	Road Rash The Gentleman No Hope One Shot Macho Nachos Monkeys Econoline The Joust Betty aPathetic Medium Unwell Popcorn Download
The Holiday Has Been Cancelled 2000	Falling Down Nobody Wins at the Laundromat Something’s Wrong at the Playground Destro S.O.S. Download
Rock the Plant 2001	Shaving Your Life Mary Melody B-Side Days Away Bridges We’ll Start to Worry When the Cynics Start Believing Weird Beard Easy Cheese Hound Bound Depleted Salvo Chevy Novacaine Booze Cruise All American Badass Download
Just One More 2003	Drinking For 11 Contraband Villains Silence Just One More Day By Day Leavin Rockupation Last Breath Spare Change? Riot 10 West Good Intentions Wet Dog Game Show Download
	Intro Macho Nachos 10 West Leavin Weird Beard No Hope Contraband Monkeys Days Away/The Bell Tower/Popcorn/Days Away The Gentleman Villains Last Breath Mary Melody Drinking For 11 Preppie Girl Mum’s the Word Road Rash Silence All American Badass Download
Keep It Going 2007	The Dirge Backyard State of Mind Today Without You Reflections Lay Your Head Down Tired Bones Coyote Don’t Go Pyramid Scheme Souls for Sale Riding for a Fall Whatcha Gonna Do End Dirge Download