As y'all know, I've been tending to update Metal Harmony post-gig only of late. However, I feel it's time to reflect upon, nay, discuss one of the greatest things to happen to the modern world since dead sheep got thrown into pitta and served at a reasonable price until well into the early hours of the morning. I am of course,
referring to Download 2009.
It started well. The first
announcement gave us Slipknot, Motley
Crue,
Devildriver, The Prodigy and
Korn. Strong shit. And it's continued to get better and better. Trivium, the might Def
Leppard,
WhitesnakeZZTopBlackStoneCherryLacunaCoilAAAAAAAARRRRGGH! So much quality, so little time!
As you can probably tell, one is a wee bit excited. Even backwards hat-wearing camel rapist Fred Durst and his crew of large
biceped keg drinkers from Limp
Bizkit are going to be a laugh. I challenge any one of you to listen to "My Generation" or "My Way" from the "Chocolate Starfish" album and not do a slightly
embarrassing 'bobbing head up and down, moving feet a bit like
at a school disco, making up gang signs with your hands' dance. Put them in with
Korn, Papa Roach, and pioneers of the genre Faith No More and you've got yourself a
fuckin' fun
wigga-
tastic day.
The organisers have managed to cater for all g-g-generations this year. My teens saw the likes of Marilyn Manson and Slipknot rising through the ranks from annoying angry helmets to school
massacre inspiring powerhouses. Then there's the
Leppard, 'Snake, Top, Tesla and
Crue. I have a feeling the backcombing and waistcoats will be out in force. Combine this with the
prog metallings of Dream Theatre, Southern rasping of Black Stone Cherry and disease-infested groupie nailing of
Buckcherry and the bag couldn't be more mixed.
However, there is one band that I was not expecting. Not hoping for. Dare I say it, I couldn't have even dreamed it.
The one...
The only...
JOURNEY!!I nearly cried happy pant tears when I saw this addition. Having checked out
Arnel Pineda on the Tube of
Youness, I was
pleasantly surprised. In my last Journey-
focused waffle ("You just ask the lonely", Sunday, 10 August 2008) I expressed my concerns as to how anyone could touch Steve Perry's unique vocal style but to be fair, the young Filipino boy don't do too bad. Better than I do anyway. I sound like I've my danglers trapped in a bear trap when I try to sing along.
In summary, Download 2009. Fuck yeah.
Amen.
