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Saturday at Hard Rock Hell 9, there was a palpable sense of loss and sadness. News of the terrible attacks in Paris had filtered through almost as soon as UFO had left the stage the night before, and it shook fans and bands alike.
Throughout the day, band after band, during the DGM TV interviews, expressed bewilderment, sadness, and latterly anger. But what was clear with every act was that, despite the deliberate targeting of a rock show, not one member of any band was going to back down.
Sure, Saxon’s show the following night in Paris with Motörhead had to be cancelled, because of the French government declared a state of emergency, but one part of the UK – on the western Welsh shores – was saying that rock and metal would not be cowed.
For some, the circumstances were extremely testing. No Hot Ashes’ drummer Steve Strange manages Eagles of Death Metal, and when singer Eamon Nancarrow stood up to complete our interview, it was clear that Steve had taken the difficult decision, but had behaved like the trouper he is to take his turn behind the kit.
With a batch of early interviews planned, we didn’t get anywhere a venue until the recently reformed Trespass were rocking Stage 2 with a collection of both older and newer material, all with that unmistakable NWOBHM feel, to a very healthy, and appreciative, crowd.
That comfortable familiarity was discarded when SuperCharger took to the stage with an immediacy that shocked, initially. As their set progressed, I saw nods of approval, and a realization of, “Jeez! That boy can wail!”
Stepping into the main arena, I was shocked by the scarcity of the crowd for No Hot Ashes. As my eyes adjusted, I could see there was actually a decent amount of people in attendance, but they seemed hesitant to come down to the front. Yes, the PA comfortably pushed the sound to the back, but it made it difficult for the energy being pushed out by the band to be reciprocated.
Sky Valley Mistress, next door, had no such problem. Their filthy, bluesy, raucous brand of rock ‘n’ roll ensured all eyes and ears were fixed stagewards, with Kayley Davies summoning her inner Joplin, and stealing all of Plant’s best moves (and hair!)
I can’t figure out where all these people came from, but Stage 1’s arena was packed to the rafters all of a sudden when Hard Rock Hell veterans, Black Spiders appeared! To be fair, I shouldn’t have been surprised. They tick every box on any self-respecting HRH-goer’s checklist… classic heavy rock, punk attitude, big riffs, great songs, and the best banter of the weekend. Best served with a pint!
‘Pointyest band of the festival’ went to City Of Thieves, taking to Stage 2 to assault the senses with some hard-edged rock ‘n’ roll, resplendent with a pair of Gibson Explorers and a Thunderbird bass. More angles than dyslexic heaven!
Having enjoyed Trespass earlier, another ‘blast from the past’ came in the form of Rock Goddess, who showcased a set full of joie de vivre: riffs, solos, and in reality, a three piece reveling in glories. Perhaps their set was best epitomized by ‘You’ve Got The Fire’, a rousing anthem that set the tone for their set.
Hailing from darkest Cornwall, King Creature were an unfamiliar name to many in the crowd, but they soon made a sizable impression, not only with their riffs, licks, and thunderous grooves, but also with their stage presence, underpinned with confidence and self-belief.
The fire was burning in Faster Pussycat when Tamie and co rose to the stage, and brought the spirit of the 80s into the 21st Century. There was a real fire to their on stage performance, and many who had doubts about them cast those thoughts aside and joined in this mass affirmation of the spirit of hard rock and metal. Yes, the crowd welcomed songs like ‘Where There Is A Whip There’s A Way’ and ‘Slip Of The Tongue’, but they showed more depth with a tender, emotional ‘House of Pain’ reflecting personal and global pain.
Covering INXS’s ‘Don’t Change’, Carly Simon’s ‘You’re So Vain’ and Supersuckers ‘Pretty Fucked Up’ didn’t lessen the set, but enhanced and added to the intensifying atmosphere. The promise of 2016 dates now felt like it cannot come soon enough.
As Saxon took to the stage, Biff and his cohorts did so knowing that their show the following night with Motörhead and Girlschool had been cancelled because of the declaration of a state of emergency by the French government.
‘Crusader’ may have been ill-advised, given the circumstances, but Saxon really don’t give the proverbial fuck! They play heavy metal, no airs, no graces.
Yes, there were new tracks from ‘Battering Ram’, but the crowd were there to celebrate the classics.
‘Power and the Glory’, ‘Heavy Metal Thunder’, plus ‘And The Band Played On’ were welcomed like old friends, and the intensity just kept on growing. ‘747 (Strangers in the night), and ‘Princess Of The Night’ were but teasing the audience before an encore of ‘Wheels Of Steel’, ‘Strong Arm Of The Law’ and ‘Denim And Leather’. The songs may be dated, but the performance (and the audience response) was not. Each lyric, each call and response, was as warm and welcoming as if it was ’79. Saxon have outlasted many of their contemporaries, and still deliver a set guaranteed to delight.
As the crowd filed out of the main arena, many shuffled through the short yards in the rain to the second stage to see Chase The Ace deliver a fresh-faced and energetic close to Hard Rock Hell, as the party carried on into the wee small hours.
Three days, three uncompromising collections of rock and metal. The family that gathers at Hard Rock Hell is a family of bands, of fans, and of like-minded spirits, who come from a diverse range of backgrounds and ages… as Biff says, we’re bound by Denim and Leather… and great songs.
Our thanks and gratitude go out to all the sponsors, organisers, runners, and security, who make Hard Rock Hell all that it is for all involved.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”40″ gal_title=”Hard rock hell, Saturday”]Review: Jonathan Traynor and Rob Nankivell
Images: Rob Nankivell
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