Photo: Luke Hannaford
Hitting double figures is a major milestone age. This Bank Holiday weekend, Slam Dunk celebrates in true punk rock style with not one, but three birthday parties for its 10th anniversary - this is a nationwide invitation to party in the name of the alternative, praise the Gods of metalcore and dance to the tune of pop-punk. We headed to Leeds, home of the foremost party.
These are the 10 greatest things that made Slam Dunk 2016 rock
1. What a site
City centre festivals are always in danger of being over-crowded, with the masses herded around like cattle - but not in Leeds. This is a lesson in how to festival, with all stages minimal distance from one another yet sound divided cleverly, avoiding clashes and interception. The Northern folk are pretty great too.
2. Hit The Lights
Kicking off birthday celebrations on The Key Club stage housed in Leeds’ 02 Academy, three iconic words emerge on the screen in the centre of the stage: Hit The Lights. The third song from second album Skip School, Start Fights opens proceedings, setting the mantra for the day - ‘Stay Out’. Nick Thompson, the band’s lead signer who replaced Colin Ross in 2008 addresses the pop-punk mass; ”It's an honour to be here for this special occasion. If you haven't seen is before, it's nice to meet you”.
Polite and talented, what more could you want? Playing a concise but ranging set including classics ‘309’ and ‘Drop The Girl’, we are pumped. "I'm drinking strongbow tonight,” declares Thompson, “That's how crazy it's getting!” Closing with first album favourite, ‘Body Bag’, Hit The lights provide the perfect pop-punk start to the day.
3. Mayday Parade
Over on the main stage in Millennium Square, the fluffy grey clouds part, allowing the sun to shine down on the five Floridians who go by the name Mayday Parade.
By far the most evocative tracks came from their debut album, A Lesson in Romantics, ncluding ‘Georgia’ and ‘Black Cat’. “We're gonna take you back to the very beginning” says Derek Sanders, a bare footed vocalist with enviably luscious, long locks, “to the first song we wrote.” ‘Three Cheers for Five Years’ fills the heart of the city. This stylishly subdued set provided the perfect set up for all that followed
4. Yellowcard
Yellowcard, a band we fell in love with for 13 reasons wrapped up in one neat package - the fourth studio album released in 2003, Ocean Avenue. The anticipation to hear this album played in full could not have been higher, but 30 minutes into their time slot, still no band. 35 minutes into the 60 minutes slot, they appear, hastily taking their positions. Frontman Ryan Key, wastes no time in explaining, “Shit just wasn't working. We've been standing there for half an hour waiting to play. We're so sorry.” Supportive roars erupt from Millennium Square, Yellowcard receive a hero’s welcome.
"We flew eight hours and drove this morning to play for you,” says a genuinely upset Key. Having half the time to play a whole album, the order was discarded, “We're gonna play the songs we think you'll enjoy”. The album’s title track fires up a formidable ball of energy that ripples through the crowd like wildfire. Playing to perfection, the professionalism of Yellowcard in the face of visceral disappointment is exemplary. We cannot praise the Floridian four-piece more for a job well done, despite the circumstances.
5. The Amity Affliction
This year Leeds’ Atlas Stage sits on Cookridge Street with The Key Club stage (02 Academy) to one side and mid-rise office block on the other - creating the perfect sound tunnel for metal and hardcore. Wasting no time, ‘Open Letter’ from Chasing Ghosts gets us going with these Aussie metalcore exports. Superiority over a small stage is masterful here, feeling more like their own gig than a city centre festival set. They absolutely know how to please everyone, playing all the tracks you could want, ‘Never Alone’, ‘Pittsburgh’ and ‘Youngblood’ to name but a few.
"You're awesome human beings” says vocalist Joel Birch. In true style the crowd validate, a compelling chant begins, “Yorkshire, Yorkshire Yorkshire”.
Their first show back in the UK for six months, they brought flawlessness with them. Ending with ‘Don’t Lean On Me’ from Let The Ocean Take Me, at this point, we’re overflowing with happiness thanks to receiving our metal core fix. Keep your eyes out for their next tour.
6. Memphis May Fire
Opening with ‘Beneath The Skin’, the third single from 2014 album, Unconditional, fuels us for a relentless experience. “For this next song we need hands in the air”, demands frontman Matty Mullins, the most striking Ginger, bearded man to ever grace the North. ‘Prove Me Right’ rings out from the Atlas Stage like a call to arms.
Pausing for rest-bite, Mullins shares some Ontology with us and preludes the next song like a pro, reminding us that we are all creative individuals born to do something, ‘Legacy’. Finishing with ‘Vices’, we have a certainly found ours - Memphis May Fire have fuelled feelings that demand satisfaction - we need more of them in our lives.
7. The Starting Line
Inside the 02 Academy on The Key Club stage, The Starting Line’s vocalist Kenny Vasoli announcess, “We don't do much anymore so thanks for checking us out. It's looking real sexy…”, referring to the beautiful sea of fans. “This tracks called 'Anyways’." Providing the ultimate reset opportunity in the midst of a long and intensively magnificent fest, it’s clear that Leeds’ has a never ending love for The Starting Line. Suddenly, their penultimate track is imminent, "I'm gonna give you a free pass to mosh,” says the calm voice of Vasoli. “But if you're as old as me you probably won't mosh”. ‘Best Of Me’ marks the end of their Slam Dunk gig.
8. New Found Glory
These guys never fail to give us a great time, and last night was no different. Not only do they give everyone the song they want to hear, they make a point of showing their appreciation. The main stage starts to fill, young, dance-possessed girls join their heroes on stage, seeing the festival though the eyes of the band. Ultimate respect goes to NFG for playing as if it was their last ever gig every time for the past two decades.
9. The Story So Far
This band are the optimal dose of re-energising pop punk medicine to enable us to continue with life after Slam Dunk. "If you've never heard us until now,” says impeccable vocalist Parker Cannon, “It's nice to meet you.” The Story So Far hit The Key Club stage with style to the likes of which are rarely seen. Closing the stage, these California rockers are undoubtedly the end of a festival feel-good band.
The Story So Far played:
Heavy Gloom
Empty Space
Quicksand
Nerve
All Wrong
Bad Luck
Distaste
Solo
Things I Can’t Change
Smile
The Glass
Framework
Roam
High Rega
10. Panic! At The Disco
What can we tell you about Brendon Urie’s brainchild, Panic! At The Disco, that you don’t already know? Well, Leeds is clearly can’t get enough of that man, especially when he strips down to just wet-look jeans and Converse. The spectacle was a sight to behold and nothing short of a gift to all the admirers within the city’s Millennium Square. Slipping in ‘Time to Dance’ very early on, the command was obeyed for the duration. Taking a moment for reflection, Urie begins; “This next song is kinda the reason why I get to do what I do”. ‘I Write Sins Not Tragedies’ fills the heart of the city. Two lines in and Urie laughs, “You guys sing it better than I do.” Closing the main stage and the festival for the first night, Panic! are the absolute and essential Slam Dunk band.
Panic! At The Disco played:
Don’t Threaten Me with a Good Time
Time to Dance
Vegas Lights
LA Devotee
The Ballad of Mona Lisa
Hallelujah
Let’s Kill Tonight
Victorious
Girls/Girls/Boys
Golden Boys
Ready To Go (Get Me Out of My Mind)
Crazy=Genius
Nicotine
Miss Jackson
Nine in the Afternoon
Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen cover)
I Write Sins Not Tragedies
This is Gospel
Emperor’s New Clothes
Slam Dunk North is over for another year and already we’re getting withdrawals - thank the Gods of Music there are two more chances to indulge this weekend with Midlands and South.
