Saturday bought Marilyn Manson back to Donnington (Photo: Jack Kirby)
After a Friday night that metamorphasised Donington Park from a racetrack into a swamp, Saturday came. With more rain. But Saturday’s line up has an excuse to forget the rain.
Download 2015 bought some big hitters from Saturday. Today was the say Muse were baptised by the flames of the legendary stage.
In Hearts Wake opened up the 3rd Stage on the Saturday (Photo: Jack Kirby)
First up today are The Lounge Kittens. A trio who sing covers in a lounge style, who many would say are a novelty act. However, their enthusiasm is infectious, and has many of the crowd singing along. They launch a Download Medley, a mix of songs from across the weekend’s line up. All in all, they seem to be having fun, as do the crowd.
Another day, another run. Of sorts. Funeral For A Friend are on the Main Stage soon, and the fastest way would probably be to slide. Having got there about 2 minutes before the set starts, using a method I am not going to share. Stood, covered in mud, I am excited to watch Funeral For A Friend once more. When Funeral come out, they go straight into “Roses For The Dead.” This sets the scene for a professional, tight set, that leaves you wanting more than the 8 songs they played.
Apocalyptica rocked the main stage with their new lead singer (Photo: Jack Kirby)
A little later, Hollywood Undead are up. Many would say that HU do not belong at Download, because they are a rap group. Many people would be wrong. Charlie Scene wants a show of hands for whoever has seen them before, followed by if it’s your first time. And thn asks if it’s your first time and you think that they are… well, for want of a better word, crap. A couple of “f**k you’s” later, and it’s back into the set that spans their career, and contains a surprisingly good version of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.” With so many big songs, you’d be hard pressed to call that they’d end on “Hear Me Now,” an anthemic singalong, whereby Danny’s vocals are perfect.
Just over an hour later, after missing Rise Against to do some interviews, A Day To Remember are up. They comfortably draw one of the biggest crowds of the weekend outside of the headliners, with good reason. First song up is “Downfall Of Us All,” which has the crowd involved from the first microsecond. A few tracks in, we get to one of the heaviest songs in their repertoire; “Mr. Highway’s Thinking About The End,” which has the entire crowd screaming “DISRESPECT YOUR SURROUNDINGS!” before launching into one of the biggest pits of the weekend. All in all, A Day To Remember are one of the biggest upcoming bands in the world, and I am sure we will see them headlining a stage soon enough. The production is already there, with pyro and CO2 cannons set perfectly against the Eagle backdrop.
Black Veil Brides bought all the pyro they could to the 2nd Stage (Photo: Jack Kirby)
Slog over to Zippo Encore with me through the swamplands. I always look forwards to seeing Black Veil Brides live. I don’t know what it is, but their theatricality, though reduced in recent years, is hypnotising. The way that they have the crowd eating out of the palm of their collective hand is truly commendable, and not too many bands have it down to the art form that BVB do. Their live DVD is out next month, and this, as I was told earlier in the day by Jake Pitts, would be a taster of what to expect. Hit after hit was broken by a song getting its live debut. However, the BVBArmy in the crowd already know the words as if it were Bon Jovi’s “Living On A Prayer.” Crowd participation goes through the roof for the 2 closing songs, “Fallen Angels” and “In The End,” where we can fully appreciate the Whoa-Oh’s of Black Veil Brides’ set. Expect arena tours from this band in the next year or two. It would appear that their expectations are the same.
Marilyn Manson bought a full set to Download (Photo: Jack Kirby)
Ok, I’m not a Muse fan. I was one of those who said that Muse shouldn’t be on the bill, that they’d be better off headlining Reading and Leeds. But I don’t know, I think Matt Bellamy and co. were reading the naysaying and thought, ‘we’ll show them all.’ Out they come, to a large drill sergeant on the video wall behind them. The crowd tonight isn’t as big as for Slipknot last night, but Marilyn Manson is on the Zippo Encore stage, so it could be that. What they lack in number, they more than make up for in passion. This crowd bend and cater to every whim that Muse request. To me, it all sounds a bit samey, but then, that’s my opinion. These lot are loving it.
The light show is explosive, and frankly, Muse leave me feeling like there should be more lights, but then, they play a couple of the songs that I actually know. “Supermassive Black Hole” draws a huge cheer, but the biggest is for the encore’s closer. “Knights of Cydonia” is a technical masterpiece, with fingers moving faster than one would think possible, and the air guitars in the crowd are off again. This band brings a lot of joy to a lot of people, but to me, the music is a repetitive monotone, and the vocals are just wailing noises. But hey, personal opinion. It’s a good show, and frankly, I wish I liked Muse so I could enjoy it fully.
Adam Reynolds
