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It’s a festival truism that you can’t get to enjoy every band at a festival, but the DGM team did their damnedest on Day Two of Hard Rock Hell 9, and it was worth the effort.
With a reviewer doing interviews, a photographer doing review notes, and another photographer shooting and shuffling off to edit videos, it was time to run around the Hafan y Mor site.
Opening the day’s proceedings, and blasting Thursday night’s cobwebs to oblivion, was an energetic Bigfoot, who played better than ever I have seen them play before! Riffs aplenty to open Stage 2’s ‘HRH Riffage’.
Entertaining the main stage early doors, with their bluesy, country, groovy breed of rock were Thirteen Stars. Freshly signed, an excellent album to promote, and thoroughly enjoying the ‘big stage’ experience. They were followed by last minute Pat Travers replacements, Federal Charm. They too took to the bigger stage with confidence and aplomb. Look out for these guys supporting Tracer on their UK tour in the spring.
Back over on Stage 2, Riot Horse had pulled in a decent crowd with their clankety-clank groovy basslines, bluesy solos, and extreme tightness. Then came the first big decision of the day to make. Skånska Mord were impressing the faithful on Stage 2, but in the main arena, Crobot were whipping up a storm to a near-capacity crowd. Word had got aound that they were one of the ‘to do’ bands, with their recent tour with Scorpion Child getting a lot of interest. Their tour with Black Label Society, earlier in the year, also stood them in good stead. They didn’t disappoint, playing with unbridled energy, superb musicianship, and (dare I say it?) swag! I was pleased to see Skånska Mord pull in a decent crowd as their set progressed. They deserved to be heard.
Toseland enjoyed a warm reception on Stage 1, with a set of fairly vanilla rock standards. Nothing too edgy, nothing too safe… James Toseland is an engaging front man, and while it wasn’t as bad a set as when I last checked them out at Ramblin Man Fair, it still was standard fare. At least most of those in the main arena seemed to be enjoying James’ easy banter. Aussies, Dead City Ruins played with a sense of purpose that combined enjoying themselves on stage, and making sure the early evening audience were also enjoying themselves. Mission accomplished!
Stage 2 then slowed things down a bit, firstly with Kentish stoners Stone Kings, followed by up-and-comers, Nine Miles South, the latter have really impressed lately with their debut EP. Their laid back, country infused ‘rock lite’ going down well with the more chilled out fraternity at Hard Rock Hell.
Scorpion Child have, perhaps unfairly, had the label ‘psychedelic’ attached to them, when their set is composed more of a blues-tinged hard rock. The early promise, when they signed to Nuclear Blast, is now blossoming into a formidable live act, with the performance to match the music.
While Hellion Rising were ramping the grooves up, and the Wild Lies boys were filling the smaller stage with stadium-sized tunes, the debate next door was as to whether Helloween or UFO should have been the headliners. The running order dictated Helloween were to be first up, and they, like UFO, delivered an aural assault on the audience. Using every inch of the stage, jumping on every riser, and cajoling the audience to join in the merry mayhem this was the perfect blend of NWOBHM influences and European Power Metal. Even the title track of their latest album ‘My God Given Right’ was given the same support as the older tracks. Sure, Markus and Michael may be the only members who remain from the beginning way back in 1984, but that mattered not a jot. Andi already has more than 20 years under his belt as Helloween’s vocalist and whether it was the newer ‘Lost In America’ or ‘Futureworld’ he mastered each nuance with style. He is also a frontman who is aware that there is a time to step back from the limelight, especially when Michael and Sascha were trading licks. Sure, the drum solo was maybe a little verbose, but the segue of ‘Halloween/Sole Survivor/I Can/Are You Metal/Keeper of the Seven Keys’ more than made up for it.
Faced with the dilemma of nipping out for a pint/smoke/food, or risk losing a space at the front, the DGM team opted for a break into the brisk air. And, as always with Hard Rock Hell, the camaraderie of the crowd made sure that there was plenty of friendly rockers and metallers willing to accede to the gentle push back to the front.
It is, as always, in the rock and metal community the friends, old and new, who make the scene so cohesive. And, old friends of most present are UFO. For feck sake Phil Mogg and Andy Parker have been in the band since 1969 (off and on – but more on). But despite their age, this is one act that keeps on rocking in a way that many younger acts could learn from. Sure, Phil had to take one or two breaks, but his pipes can still pound out. ‘Fight Night’ – amongst the new(ish) tracks on display really got the party started as track two, but Vinnie (guitar) and Raymond (rhythm and keys) were exchanging jaw wide grins by the time Mogg had the audience chanting along to ‘Lights Out’. ‘Only You Can Rock Me’ also had the audience baying along to the chorus to such an extent that vocal chords among the thousands were strained to breaking point. Easing back the pace for ‘Burn Your House Down’, it is clear that the band know how to pace the set, and themselves, to keep the interest level high. Moore is an excellent guitarist, but his solo was at times bloated… perhaps to afford Mogg, et al, a well-deserved break. ‘Love To Love’ is one of those tracks that deserves lighters in the air, and thankfully, they were not replaced by too many smartphone-wielding amateur videographers. But the party ended with a bang. Mass bouncing, shouting, and cheering to ‘Rock Bottom’ and Doctor, Doctor’. The proverb says that the old ones are the best, and UFO prove that in shovel-fulls of hard rock par excellence. Mogg left the stage with a smile, as did the audience filing out of the main arena.
With news breaking as we emerged into the chilly Welsh air of the tragedy in Paris, that sense of community, family, and friendliness seemed all the more important to all, as we filed back to our accommodation. That family settled down to watch the horror unfold, shocked but unbowed; and with ears still ringing from a superb, but unwitting show of defiance to those that would try to stop what will never be stopped.
Review: Jonathan Traynor
Images: Jamie Sweetlove
Filling the gaps: Rob Nankivell
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