High Voltage: The Rest Of Day One Reviewed
OK, time for the second part of the first day of High Voltage. Time to find out about Bigelf, Zappa Plays Zappa, Cathedral, Saxon, Foreigner, Heaven & Hell, Black Label Society, Asia, Transatlantic and ZZ Top.
Words: Malcolm Dome
As the sun rises ever higher in the sky, and glasses of water (ahem!) get ever emptier, it’s time to catch a glimpse of Bigelf on the Prog stage, a band with a growing profile. Guess what? They live up to that reputation. Led by the enigmatic, yet charismatic Damon Fix, these fellas deliver a set that brings to mind Atomic Rooster – only with a little more humour. Definitely a band who win over a lot more fans.
Now, it’s time to do the 360 degree head turn, in the time honoured Exorcist style, because there are great bands everywhere you turn. On the Metal Hammer stage, Cathedral are giants as they slam their way through a performance that might owe something to doom and stoner rock, but is actually now a lot closer to early 70s heavy rock. They are a band who just get better and better.
At the same time (phew!), on the Prog stage Dweezil Zappa leads Zappa Plays Zappa through a set that reimagines (ah, that phrase) the catalogue of his father, Frank. Now, you could call this a tribute set, or even a cash in, but Dweezil is such a talented musician – and his band are so inventive – that it ends up being the right sort of celebration. Because the songs are turned inside out and completely retold. Frank himself might smile at the irony of the iconoclastic way his son has approached this heritage.
Foreigner have the ability to be one of the bands of the day, if they stick to a classic set. And that’s what they do. Opening with Double Vision, the band don’t lose sight of the fact that the festival audience wanna dance. So, apart from the title track of new album, Can’t Slow Down, it’s hit after hit after hit. Even those born long after these were recorded are getting into the groove. And when they climax with I Wanna Know What Love Is, with a massive backing choir, we get perhaps the greatest moment in UK festival history. Because while this is being performed on the main stage, the impressive Saxon are leaning into 747 (Strangers In The Night) on the Metal Hammer stage, and Asia are starting their rather excellent mix of new and traditional songs on the Prog stage with Only Time Will Tell. Come on, has ever been a moment in the lengthy narrative of British outdoor shows when three such great songs were being performed at the same time? Remarkable. Only to bettered by…
A week ago, Geezer Butler told Classic Rock that he was dreading playing the Ronnie James Dio tribute set with Heaven & Hell. One can understand why. But chocking back the emotions, Butler, together with Tony Iommi and Vinny Appice, send shivers down the spine as they deliver the ultimate tribute to the man who’s not there. It has to be said that singers Jorn Lande and Glenn Hughes do a stunning job, not only reminding us all of the tragic loss – and there are some truly lum in the throat moments – but also underlining the way Dio’s legacy has united us all. And when Wendy Dio comes on to read out a message for the cancer charity Stand Up And Shout, there are tears in almost every eye,. Mind you, Heaven & Hell also offer the day’s most surreal moment, when Phil Anselmo dashes on during the encore of Neon Knights and snatches the microphone from an aghast Hughes. Hat stand time.
Meanwhile on the Metal Hammer stage, Black Label Society are in hell-raising form, as Zakk Wylde proves his worth as singer and guitarist. While supergroup Transatlantic are inevitably impressive finishing off the day in style on the Prog stage, being joined by Steve Hackett for a landmark cover of the Genesis masterstroke The Return Of The Giant Hogweed.
Finally, as dusk takes orders from the bar, ZZ Top come on the main stage, reminding us once again that they are a titanic mix of great songs, brilliant musicianship and a cunning sense of humour. Is there any better way to end the first day of this tremendous festival? Oh yes… the promise of a second one to come! See ya down the front for that. Roll on the morrow.
it’s Damon Fox not Fix…..though he probably does fix a lot of appetites for great melodic songs…..
Foreigner were fantastic! Reminded me of Journey’s “all killer no filler” slot at MOR a few years ago. Heaven and Hell were magnificent musically, but I struggled to hear the singers! this is not some lame “they are not Dio” criticism because I am a huge Glenn Hughes fan, but from where I was standing they were buried in the mix. Hughes was a bit more audible than Lande. But what a set of songs! Superb! Was in heaven when Steve Hackett came on to do Return Of The Giant Hogweed with Transatlantic. What a day!
I hope the Heaven and Hell tribute was filmed as I would gladly pay for a dvd of it
For me ‘Heaven and Hell’ were the highlight, excellent set list with an air of dignity to the great man. Wendy Dio must have been very proud! All in all a great tribute and nice to see that Tony Iommi can still play like a demon. ‘ZZ Top’ need a mention, excellent set with a sense of humour. Also enjoyed Gary Moore who didn’t want to leave after playing a blinding set. Maybe now he will play more rock than blues! Thought the festival as a whole was brilliant, nice setting, great bands and very well organised. Well done Classic Rock and all else involved. Roll on 2011!!
Well what a great Day 1 of the first High Voltage.
My poor feet didn’t know what way to run…. Prog Stage, hold on Main Stage…back to the Prog Stage… Main Stage again…now the Metal stage, Prog Stage…Phew!!! a lot of too-ing and Fro-ing.. The only band I wasn’t bothered about was ZZ Top who should be a permenant resident in a hotel in Vagas now…. its not a gig its a chorographed show which is too well stage managed for my liking.
Great Stuff…… Great Day!!! best of the 2 days by a long way.
Let’s have a sense of perspective:-
The good – Foreigner took the day by a country mile, totally understood the way a festival set should be put together all (but one) were classic songs and had the crowd in the palm of their hands. Big Elf, Trasatlantic and Asia were also great. Heaven & Hell excellent set but somehow it fely uncomfortable to watch. Don’t quite believe that they will bury the Dio era and I would bet serious money that they will carry on with Jorn Lande (as they should). The general organisation and vibe was great too.
The not so good – Gary Moore totally killed dead the atmosphere of a decent opening salvo by playing 2 brand new songs, one being very slow and then having a long slow instrumental intro to empty rooms, then another new song before what was a barnstorming out in the Fields and Walkin by myself – an opportunity missed I think. ZZ Top’s set was meandering and dare I say quite boring and stop start, (I’m a massive ZZ fan and have seen them numerous times but this was bizarre). Finally the positionof the Prog stage meant that you could frustratingly hear the bludgeon from the Metal stage all the way through certain prog bands sets – a bit off-putting
Let’s hope it’s back again next year; can we have Van Halen, Ted Nugent, Journey, Boston, Kansas, Styx, Over the Rainbow, (annual tribute to Ronnie James Dio), Black Country Communion, Chickenfoot, Mott the Hoople etc, etc. Thanks for a great day.
Col: as far as I know, highlights of the festival (therefore hopefully the Heaven & Hell tribute) will be shown on Sky Arts 1 at the end of August.
Well next year, how about this:
Scorpions (Main stages headliners) it is thier final tour year after all.
Rush (Main stage Headliners).. they are planning on comimg to the UK in 2011.
Porcupine Tree, Journey, Styx, Kansas, Kamelot, Vanden Plas, Threshold, NWOBHM reformed bands, Black Label Society, Buckcherry, The Tangent, Spocks Beard, Karmakanic, Edguy, FM………. now that would form a great weekend of music…and some!!!
Great day out spoilt by the volume restrictions on the P.A,s (my suspicions confirmed when biff announced that very fact) – the sound throughout the day was muted and muffled. If youre gonna do it next year i suggest you find an outdoor space where the council fascists will leave the sound alone. Also ZZTop were absolutely atrocious – they look totally bored and the playing was so amateurish it was unreal. people were heading for the exit in droves, including me. whatever they once had, theyve now lost for sure. Apart from this though, congrats on putting together a great day but please – next year, get the sound right or dont bother