Download 2022 Review of Day 3 12 June 2022

Everything I personally wanted to see on the third day was on the Opus stage and it felt good to change it up a little. So instead of wandering all over the enormous Download site a lot, as I had over the first two days, I decided to have the barrier experience on the final day.

I made it for The Last Internationale who I have never seen before, although I have played their singles. Singer Delila Paz reminds me of the singer of The Bangles in that she is ridiculously good looking in a very gamin sexy way and manages to look like this is effortless. I can see her being a huge sex symbol. She has a pure clear voice and tons of energy making her an ideal front woman. Like Doro she is also not afraid of the crowd and indeed she goes down into the pit to interact with them twice during the set and looks keen and delighted to do so. They are from NY and announce this before doing the song ‘Hard Times’ about their home town. The sound is a little like When Rivers Meet but heavier and with a less bluesy vocal.

Next up are Massive Wagons who have a huge gathering of fans wearing their pink t shirts at the front. I ask the lady next to me why they love the band so much and the answer was “It’s hard to say. I think it’s just their energy.” They are definitely very full on from the get go with front man Baz Mills dressed in eye catching black and white racing check with matching knee length socks twirling his mike and doing split leg jumps before the first track is over. While he is not what you would call a conventional sex symbol he shows his tummy to the crowd in unparalleled self confidence and belief. As well as the catchy songs, there’s always an element of comedy to their act and they do their crowd favourites such as ‘Bangin In Your Stereo’ and ‘The Curry Song’ and a new song ‘Fuck The Haters’. Baz runs right along the barrier high fiving the crowd and reminds the crowd to “talk about mental health – it’s very important” echoing the message on his t shirt. They are a force of nature leaving a bit of a vacuum on the stage after their enormous presence. They are a hard act to follow.

Whilst Tremonti are a bit transatlantically all things to all people for my taste they bring their own fans who go crazy singing all the lyrics and clap without being prompted. There are some good fast and hard solos which are made to look easy when they are most definitely not. Overall it’s a bit too 90s for me, but I understand this is purely a matter of taste. They pleased their fans and I guess that’s what matters.

Baroness also attracted hard core fans to the front with their melodic choruses, heavier bass lines and some thrashy guitars which sound a bit Nirvana at times. They do have a harmonised guitar duet though that sounds a little bit Thin Lizzy. They tell us its their second time playing Download, the first time having been one of their guitarist Gina’s first performances with the band and say they are delighted to be back amongst so many wonderful bands.

Next up are Skillet and a new breed of young girl fans flock to the front with signs that say ‘Call Me’ and give their phone numbers. It appears singer John Cooper is the epitome of their idea of the ultimate male and there is almost hysteria when he comes into the pit to interact. Either they don’t know that striking guitarist Korey Cooper is his wife or, if they do, it’s no deterrent. One particular girl who could only have been about 5 foot tall and very young kept crowdsurfing to get closer to the band. The message of the songs is inspirational ‘Hero’ and ‘Invincible’ and they make a disabled fan’s day by allowing him to come on stage and dedicating a song to him.

But I am mainly here for the Darkness and they do not disappoint. Justin comes on looking like (a very trim) Elvis in a pink jumpsuit and quiff as they hit the bangin quotient immediately with ‘Growin on Me’. There’s pyro, massive split leg jumps from the drum riser and plenty of joyous celebration of their biggest hits. There’s only nine songs and so it is over way to quickly for their big fans at the front, some of whom have stood there all day to be at front for just this band. ‘Givin Up’ (which Justin quips that Dan considers to contain their greatest riff) is followed by single from the new album ‘Til My Heart explodes’. ‘Love is Only a Feeling’ is a chance for big solos and the crowd sings along right through. Justin takes his shirt off to the delight of many of the crowd. Encouraged by the crowd’s reaction Justin says ‘We have to make more noise than Korn’ as they launch into ‘Get Your Hands off My Woman’ and another big hit ‘Love Is only a Feeling’. Security look a little surprised when the crowd agree eagerly to hear the Christmas song ‘Christmastime (Don’t Let The Bells End).’ and the band wish the crowd ‘Merry Christmas’ as they take their leave. The Darkness are always a pleasure: It was just too short, as the actress said to the Bishop. That’s my only complaint.

If security thought they were entering the Twilight Zone they had not seen anything yet as Steel Panther take the stage and tell their worst scatalogical, dick, sushi and incest jokes until finally the penny begins to drop that this must be comedy. As usual it’s cringingly great and a fun show if you can take the humour. If you are expecting it, it comes as less of a shock, but even if you are some of the things such as jokey impressions are intentionally bad taste designed to make people laugh from sheer embarrassment. They have a new bassist ‘Spider’ who fits right in with backcombed high hair, bandana and Cinderella t shirt. Lexy gets a mention when they report with mock seriousness that he got a better offer in gay porn. The songs are fun if not every one is a masterpiece, lyrically or musically. Also they do demonstrate some real skill, catching drum sticks and hats from a long way off stage with tricks which are quite impressive.

The best moment for me is when Justin Hawkins comes back on stage to sing ‘Party All Day’ taking the ribbing from Satchel for being the support band in his stride.

They get a girl up on stage as usual, but are actually must less insulting than usual to her, maybe they are mellowing in their old age. She comes off stage still smiling. Things get really crazy for security when the band invite all females (and one male in a wedding dress) up on stage for 17 girls in a row. The huge stage is jam packed and the band joke that they can’t find each other. Cue a rash of flashing in time honoured Steel Panther fashion during ‘Community Property’.

When the stage is finally cleared they finish up with ‘Death to All but Metal’ and ‘Glory Hole’ before attempting circus tricks with Michael’s hat that it is fair to say don’t quite go to plan.

In truth I really think The Darkness should have headlined, but with all their circus tricks and naked girls it is true to say that Steel Panther would be a very hard act to follow. That Justin Hawkins is more intelligent than he looks.

As I leave the field Biffy Clyro is still playing. This was a headliner that did not inspire the same devotion from the TotalRock team as KISS or Maiden and while we respect his huge fan base many of which were wearing his T shirts Biffy was not quite our cup of tea. Plus getting a taxi on the Saturday took an enormous amount of time and with less sleep as a result I am ready to hit the hay on a high with a shorter taxi queue after seeing The Darkness and Steel Panther who were the real headliners of Sunday for me.

Thank you Download we had an amazing time. I don’t know how anyone had time for dodgems, death defying fairground rides, disco raves, shopping and all the other attractions on site. I had trouble finding time to eat such was the amazing line up on offer. Truly something for everyone! Can’t wait for the next year 20th anniversary which will reportedly be four days instead of three.

Dawn Osborne

 

Photo credits: Steel Panther and The Darkness backstage shots, Last Internationale, Tremonti:Matt Eachus; Justin Hawkins jumping and with fire, both Skillet: Matt Higgs; Massive Wagons and Download Dog: Beth Miller; Baroness: Sam McMahon; Satchel and Justin Hawkins upside down: David Dillon; Michael of Steel Panther: James Bridle.