High Voltage - Sunday
24 July 2011
Victoria Park, London
Sunday turned out to be a bit of a scorcher but venturing out from the shade of the trees we encounter Furyon for the first time. Having heard good things and enjoyed their album it was pleasing to discover they also delivered in the live environment. A major plus for the Brighton band was to have Chris Green back in their ranks who’s guitar playing impressed greatly.With a hint of Alter Bridge, Furyon can certainly write songs and nail down a groove early today that gets head’s nodding along.
Furyon setlist:
Voodoo / Souvenirs / ? / Don’t Follow / Wasted On You / Stand Like Stone / Disappear Again
  
If we could give out a prize for perseverance, Heaven’s Basement would certainly be a nominee. I had thought the loss of talented vocalist Richie Heavanz would sound the death knell for the band, however on today’s performance there’s life in them yet. New frontman Aaron Buchanan presents a less raspy sound but it’s his energy that’s infectious. This isn’t the youngest crowd Heaven’s Basement will play to and his persistence in trying to get a crowd surfer was amusing but won over the crowd. Mixing a few new numbers with songs from the old line up, the young band make a great way to start to the main stage today.
Heaven’s Basement setlist:
Close Encounters / Can't Let Go / Misunderstood / Leeches / Reign on My Parade / Executioner's Day
  
It was a bit weird heading to the metal stage to see The Treatment straight after Heaven’s Basement. Current Airrace and ex-More guitarist Laurie Mansworthy had been instrumental in putting together and managing the band previously known as Hurricane Party and then Roadstar before they split from his guidance and renamed themselves Heaven’s Basement. Mansworthy latest protégé’s are The Treatment which includes his son Dhani on drums. You can definitely hear a link in the song writing but The Treatment have perhaps a bit more AC/DC stomp in their sound. It’s an enjoyable half hour, though as Nothing To Lose But Our Minds kicked in we were a bit concerned about the All The Young Dudes plagiarism.
The Treatment setlist:
Drink, F**k, Fight / The Coldest Place On Earth / The Doctor / Shake The Mountain / Just Tell Me Why / Departed / Nothing To Lose But Our Minds / Way of The World
  
Staying put at the metal stage, Gentleman’s Pistols raise the bar with some stonking retro-rock.Carcass’ guitarist Bill Steer recently joined the band, but it’s his bluesy style from his other band Firebird that gets used by the Pistols. Meanwhile, resplendent in vests, singer/guitarist James Atkinson and bassist Douglas McLaughlin wouldn’t look out of place in a Kings Of Leon photo and there’s certainly some potential for their sound to tap into a wider market. However, don’t let that put you off, pick up At Her Majesty’s Pleasure and enjoy.
Gentleman’s Pistols setlist:
Living In Sin Again / Comfortably Crazy / Widowmaker / Some Girls Don’t Know What’s Good For Them / I Wouldn’t Let You / Mistress Mistrust / Ravesher / Lying & Fooling
  
Michael Schenker had made it clear that this was a solo show and not an MSG show. In truth it didn’t seem to know what it was and aided by dodgy sounded ended up a bit of a mess. Ironically opening with two MSG songs, Schenker then mixed it up with UFO, Scorpions and new compositions with a parade of guests including Doogie White, Pete Way and brother Rudi Schenker. Rock You Like A Hurricane should have been a crowd pleaser but Michael Voss’ vocals weren’t really suited to it and why choose a Scorpions song Michael Schenker wasn’t involved with?
Michael Schenker setlist:
Into the Arena / Armed and Ready / Another Piece Of Meat / Before The Devil Knows You're Dead / Rock You Like a Hurricane / Hangin On' / Rock Bottom / Doctor Doctor
  
Back to the Metal Stage where Graveyard picked up the baton from Gentleman’s Pistols but in a far more laid back style. Far less doomy than their name might suggest, the Swedes have more in common with Led Zeppelin and whilst not hitting the highs of the Gentleman’s Pistols they provided a great soundtrack to sit on the grass in the sun with a pint absorbing their 70s sound.
Graveyard
No Good, Mr Holden / Buying Truth (Tack & Förlåt) / Hisingen Blues / Uncomfortably Numb / Ain't Fit To Live Here / The Siren / Jam / Evil Ways
  
We were now so laid back we decided the walk back to the mainstage was far too much effort and hung about for the Black Spiders. Reports from friends were that an error was made as apparently Thunder stole the Mainstage. Ah well, the Black Spiders weren’t going to disappoint us and whilst this set is feeling awfully familiar after multiple encounters it still impresses.
Black Spiders setlist included:
Kiss Tried To Kill Me / Stay Down / St Peter / What Good’s A Rock Without A Roll / Blood Of The Kings
  
Time to get some food and shade as we sheltered under the trees as Black Country Communion took to the mainstage. With two albums in such a short space of time it has felt quite rushed for BCC to get to next to headline status and we haven’t had the same time to live with these songs as many of the other acts. However, in the live environment things start to make a lot more sense, particularly when you have a guitarist of the calibre of Joe Bonamassa on stage. Finishing their set with Deep Purple’s Burn was a masterstroke, with the crowd in good voice as soon as Bonamassa reeled out the main riff.
Black Country Communion setlist:
Black Country / One Last Soul / Crossfire / Save Me / Song of Yesterday / The Outsider / Man In the Middle / The Ballad of John Henry / Burn
 
Neurosis without visuals is an odd experience but as we’ve been starved off volume and, for the most part, aggression they are just what is required. Certainly not a sing-along band, they send some casual observers scurrying for the other stages with their stretched out musical pieces which veer from grinding to droning.
Neurosis setlist:
Locust Star / Given to the Rising / End of the Harvest / A Season in the Sky / At the Well / Water Is Not Enough / Belief / At the End of the Road / Killing Elk / Through Silver in Blood
  
So it’s left to Dream Theater to bring things to a close and whilst sales would indicate they deserve the position for me they aren’t really a band to close a festival. The dedicated fans were lapping it up but by new boy Mike Mangini’s drum solo there was a steady stream of people heading for the exit. Whilst they play all the right notes and impress with Peruvian Skies, Caught In A Web and The Count Of Tuscany, there seems a lack of soul in the performance, something I’ve found often an previous encounters.
Dream Theater setlist:
Under a Glass Moon / These Walls / Forsaken / Endless Sacrifice / Drum Solo / The Ytse Jam / Peruvian Skies / The Great Debate / On the Backs of Angels / Caught In A Web / Through My Words / Fatal Tragedy / The Count of Tuscany / Learning To Live
  
LINKS:
http://www.highvoltagefestival.com/
|
