Friday 12/06/09 Download Festival 2009, Day One @ Donington Park, Derby

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As the arena gates open the crowds rush down the natural amphitheater of Donington Race Course, revealing the benefits of a venue where there are very few places where people can not see the main stage. All this set into serene Derbyshire countryside... interrupted only by the adjacent presence of East Midlands Airport which provides both a source of entertainment and annoyance depending on what time of the day or night the budget airline decide to fly.
 
Threats that the campsite would resemble the Somme have been grandly exaggerated. Indeed its apparent that quite the opposite problem is in effect by the time that Staind reach the Main stage. The sun is not too much a problem at this stage, as the band's grungey dirge of a set roars out. It's a good performance and despite old favourites such as 'Outside' rolling out, it merits a pretty emotionless response from a crowd.

Roll on the energy of Billy Talent and suddenly there's no choice but to go a bit mental. A vicious bit of (slightly poppy) punk is offset by the simply bizarre and slightly pubescent voice of lead singer Ben Kowalewicz. Still with 'Devil and the Midnight Mass', catchy live in the sins of yesterday and the stellar 'Try Honesty' hitting just the right note this is arguably the first band to truly tear up the main stage.

That is until Killswitch Engage arrive. Technically brilliant and brutally heavy don't necessarily make for the best kind of gig on a hot summer's day. Yet somehow KSE make the whole experience a funny and playful affair; something between the exceptional and powerful voice of Howard Jones and the fact that one of the guitarist is dressed as a Mexican wrestler and threatening to show all the girls his 'throbbing vein-y man trophy'. This doesn't take any of the serious rawk out of ‘A Bid Farewell’, beauty from ‘Last Seranade’ or simple awesomeness from 'My Curse' but it is good to see a band with so much talent still having some fun with it, as well proven by the ending cover of  'Holy Diver'.

Across to the Tuborg stage now and its the 'Download's worst kept secret' gig as Enter Shikari themselves freely admit (the tip a week in advance from their PR people helped as well). Another lot who aren't planning on taking the weekend too seriously, with drummer Rob Rolfe sporting a fetching pair of red y-fronts while the guitarist ‘Rory’ Clewlow  wears flippers (which he'll later admit are a mistake when he can't change pedals). Telling bad jokes along the way they pour through a limited set including No Sssweat', the melodic-y rock 'Step up' and new single ‘Juggernaut’ which sounds far better live than The Streets rant that it comes across as on the radio. All the new record promo however gets in the way though and though ‘Ok, Time For Plan B' gets an airing, it's a pity 'Sorry you're Not a Winner’ doesn't seem to be on the agenda. However, pressure seems to be against them as singer Rou Reynolds says “Don't blame me this is all the time we have”.

Next is a quick saunter across to the Second stage to catch a glimpse of Lacuna Coil. However today it seems the only benefit of doing so is seeing the rather beautiful Christina Scabbia as the new record this Italian band is promoting is coming across rather flat. Anyway there's more important things clearly going on as a deluge of people head to the main stage for, dare I say it, Limp Bizkit. A real surprise winner of the weekend, this band may have been considered a joke of the nu-metal scene but that isn't stopping tens of thousands of people singing along to 'Rollin'' and 'My way'. A  cover of George Michael's 'Faith' also spices things up before the mandatory onslaught of 'Take A Look Around' brings proceedings to a close.

Followed by Korn, anyone could have been mistaken for thinking this was the heady days of early 2000 rather than 9 years later. But a greatest hits set list is just what a doctor ordered in this case and its delivered in a seminal manner. Jonathan Davies aggravated stage performance riles up the crowd like a child poking a hornet's nest and 'Falling Away From Me’ and 'Coming undone' receive an awesome response from the crowd. Its nice to be reminded the amount of good tunes that Korn have. 'Blind', 'Y'all want a single' and 'Freak on a Leash' as highlights are supplemented by a brief version of 'We Will Rock You' and a slamming finale cover of Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick in the wall' are received well.

Now at the end of the climax of the first day comes the first of the weekend's truly annoying schedule clashes. Today's pair are both legends in their own rights. Motley Crue over on the second stage arguably lead the hair metal scene, while over on the main stage the reformed Faith No More, fronted by the massively influential Mike Patton, are absolute stalwarts of the 80's alt rock.
And to be honest it was harder to tell who the better band was on the night. For those who grew up with  FNM (and it is an older crowd) it was clear that every moment of their set was worth it, with Patton being his usual cheeky self.  Their long set allows them to plow through a range of tracks from their past albums, many that only those the die hard fans will remember.

From this, with the band dressed in evening wear afront a large velvet curtain, there could not be  a greater dichotomy with Motley Crue. Huge hair, bad ass tattoos and more make-up than Superdrug, the Crue were out to prove their legendary status. Much like FNM they too have a canon of hits to play from .Yet somehow, despite also being of a certain era, a far more varied crowd appear to be enjoying this lot. And its a far more animate crowd as well. Both seminal performances, at the end of the day 'Kick start my heart' and 'Girls Girls Girls' simply appeal more than 'Epic' and 'We Care a Lot'.

Day One in photos: