Taking the main stage by storm on Sunday morning, Against Me! kicked things off with their signature punk vigour. Starting in style with ‘True Trans Soul Rebel’, not even the impending rain could dampen our dancing.
Wearing a black vest with bold white print reading, ‘Gender Is Over’, Laura Jane Grace owns the stage with power vocals, pushing out good vibrations across the fields of Reading. Bassist Inge Johansson is to her right, sporting a welcoming smile - there was no way this wasn’t going to be great.
“This is love song”, says Laura, “it’s ‘Fuck My Life 666’”, from their latest album Transgender Dysphoria Blues. “So, here we all are. As a proper punk band should, we stand against racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, all phobias.” a supportive and passionate crowd through their fists to the heavens and fill the air with rallying yells, marking their fervent agreement.
Drawing to a close with 2010 hit ‘I Was a Teenage Anarchist’, we’re with Against Me! all the way.
Photo: Danny Payne
“We’re gonna play and then we’re going home”, says Gaslight Anthem frontman Brian Fallon through a smile, reinforcing that this is the band’s last UK festival before going on hiatus.
“You’ve got loads of cool bands playing today,” Brian reminds us. “The Libertines - one of the coolest bands in the world. You’re gonna have a great day, good for you.” Agreed.
Playing a varied set, Gaslight Anthem go out on a high, pleasing the main stage crowd come rain or shine.
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Photo: Richard Gray
Beartooth, what can we tell you about these melodic hardcore heroes? Well, for a start, it's go hard or go home. “If you wanna open it up in the middle,” frenzied frontman Caleb Shomo announces, “this would be a very good time”. ‘Dead’ erupts from the front to the back of the domed Pit stage, riotous reactions blossom.
Having appeared at Download Festival in June, Beartooth bring beautifully dirty beatdowns, divided by deceptively catchy choruses thanks to the former Attack! Attack! vocalist.
Compressing key tracks from their debut album Disgusting, including ‘Body Bag’, ‘In Between’ and ‘Beaten In Lips’, they deliver life-threatening, palpable energy to a ready and raring crowd. Just when we thought it couldn't get any better, lead guitarist Taylor Lumley abandons the stage to stand aloft in crowd.
“To all you out there on the floor keeping it real, thank you so much” assures Caleb. With dangerously infectious beats and cutting vocals, this band have stunning promise and potential. Beartooth will be back in the UK for a very limited time from 24 November. Miss them at your peril.
“Reading. Now is the time to fucking move!” commands fierce frontman Dani Winter-Bates as Bury Tomorrow whip up a frenzy on the Pit stage. The rising temperature of the moshing mass radiates beyond the tented setting and across the fields of Reading.
‘Man on Fire’, first track from their current album Runes, starts proceedings and the crowd live up to the name of the stage, creating pit upon pit of messy madness. On the stage and pit alike, a swell of heads crash back and forth like a wave, all sporting the uniform of black tees and black jeans.
“I understand that everybody here is into heavy, aggressive, abrasive music”, growls Dani. “Put your arm around the person next to you. This song is called ‘Of Glory’” - another perfectly selected addition from Runes.
‘An Honourable Reign’ unleashes chaos. The band demand a girls vs. boys circle pit on opposing sides of the stage - it happens. The unfathomably energetic crowd are rewarded for their participation, “this is a brand new song.” ‘Earth Bound’ will feature on their fourth studio album which is in the process of creation right now. This new track is bold, invigorating and is getting us very excited about this band’s future.
Wanting to go out on a bang, Bury Tomorrow instruct crowd surfers to make their way over the barriers to the edge of the stage - putting the strength of the security team to the test. “Let’s play the high-five game”. Bodies pour over one another to make hands meet, high-five complete, these exemplary fans run to the back of the surf and repeat. This mass participation is accomplished to the tune of ‘Lionheart’.
Watching Bury Tomorrow as a passive observer is not an option - you must get involved. This might just be the band to headline this stage in the not too distant future. Until then, we look forward to the next album.
More from the Pit stage - the relentless home to the heaviest metal this year’s Reading had to offer.
“To all those people on the outskirts who think we’re a German ska band...Allow me to formerly introduce ourselves, we are the fucking Cancer Bats”, declares lead noise maker Liam Cormier.
Playing ‘R.A.T.S.’, ‘True Zero’, ‘Hail Destroyer’ and many more, tearing the place apart is what the Cancer Bats do best - and they didn’t disappoint.
