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Haigh Hall
17th June 2007
 Wigan
Borough’s biggest and best recently hit the Haigh stage for what has
been described by many as the greatest Haigh Music Festival in it’s five
year history.
As the sun put up a valiant effort to shine down on the thousands of
eager music fans, top acts such as Strain, Dirty Circus and You Remind
Me Of Rasputin gave it everything they had, and then some.
Catching all the action, as well as an unhealthy degree of sunburn, The
LINC were there from start to finish, and here’s what we thought:
Things kick off, somewhat earlier than we expected, with The Gekko who
welcomed the arriving masses with a spiralling, sharp attack of fast,
furious rock. They look the part too, all done up like true rock stars
as they cavort about the stage and open up proceedings in fine style.
Maybe The Gekko could give a lesson in stage presence to The Mod Cons,
who, perhaps understandably daunted by the task at hand, look somewhat
nervous as they start their set, almost huddling together in the centre
of the stage and looking far too small to command such a large platform.
Yet in the end, their jangly, indie pop tunes win through, dancing into
the air to create a real festival vibe and adding a real sense of fun to
the early afternoon.
As local emo heroes Smudge hit the stage next, it’s pretty obvious that
nerves are not a concern for the big-fringed bunch.
Throwing themselves around as though caught in the tsunami of their own
music, Smudge captivate their devoted following, and more besides, with
their swooping, colossal anthems. Their sound is huge, fast, lively and
goes down an absolute storm as the crowds continue to arrive.
Up next are The Hicks, who almost immediately show just how awesome they
really are.
Having lucked out on getting a spot on the Haigh’ bill year-after-year,
we’re not the only ones who feel that few bands deserve to be playing
today than the mighty ‘Hicks, and they’re here to show everybody why.
Kicking off with an unbelievably groovy riff and a powerful drum beat
that ricochets around inside your chest, the band kick up a storm with
their monstrously marvellous hard rock tunes. All the while frontman
Alex, a man for whom the word ‘Charisma’ was invented, stalks the stage,
gurning and pulling the sort of faces that suggest he’s as surprised as
anybody by the towering riffs being spat out from his fingers.
Not even what can only be described as a ‘few small technical glitches’
can stop this tour-de-force of musical madness, and you have to wonder
how so much noise can be made by just three men. As brilliant as we’ve
ever seen them, The Hicks have rocked this place like nobody else can.
A welcome respite from such madness comes next in the form of The
Maladies of Bellafontaine, who calm things down with their breezy and
buoyant summer ditties. Looking somewhat eccentric and sounding almost
the same, the Maladies’ come across as the sort of thing you might
imagine Bob Dylan would sound like if he were a young lass from Wigan
and had an ensemble cast of cellists, xylophonists and sundry other
musical talents behind him.
It’s all pleasant, likeable enough stuff, at first sounding somewhat
haunting yet quickly developing into a soothing, gentle sound that wafts
around into the summer breeze.
Dave Rybka keeps the Dylanesque move flowing next as he sets the sage
alight with his bluesy acoustic numbers.
With a wailing harmonica, simple drum beats and various guitarists and
bass players behind him, Rybka rocks with taut vocals and springing
guitars, and whilst a young woman and a bloke in drag strut around
ballet style beside him, Dave, who looks to us like the folk equivalent
of Johnny Depp, looks serious and intent throughout. Over all, a great
set and a man we’ll be keen to check out again.
Next up come You Remind Me Of Rasputin, who open up with a new track
entitled ‘Dinosaur’ which they’ve earlier promised us is going to be
“exciting.” It is, no doubt about it, but we can’t help but compare it
to Sheffield scallywags the Arctic Monkeys.
Yet from there, YRMOR really come into their own, frontman David
brimming with what you can only assume is pride as the crowds applaud
their arrival and he leads his troupes through a magnificently up-tempo
set.
Joyously fun and with oodles of energy, the Rasputin boys’ dancefloor
filling frolics are sure to see them go along way, and if they can keep
up the kind of first rate performance they deliver this afternoon, they
sky’s the limit for the young band.
Admittedly, we don’t manage to catch all of Wallgate Circus’ set due to
reasons unbeknownst even to ourselves, but what we do see is all good.
The first of today’s two circus performers, the Wallgate lads are a
refreshing change from the same old, done-to-death indie pap currently
polluting the airwaves. Sounding at once like both Status Quo and Danzig-era
‘Misfits, they deliver some stomping rock ‘n’ roll mixed with a deep,
almost Elvis-like vocal melody that sounds much better in the open-air
than we’ve previously heard on record and does a fine job in making the
people bounce.
A storm of people flock to the stage next as Dirty Circus hit the stage
amidst a maelstrom of noise.
With a vocalist who’s obviously been listening to Oasis bellowing over
tunes that pack more weight in a few chords than Kasabian, the group the
‘Circus are oft compared with, do in a whole album, the band have a
clearly devoted following who lap up everything they have to offer,
chanting along as though at a football match between each song.
The fervent atmosphere continues as Plasmastorm hit the stage at exactly
the right time. With the day hitting it’s peak, the dance act whip up
the already excited crowd into something nigh on hysteria.
Clearly enjoying themselves throughout, Plasmastorm have the strange
honour of uniting metalheads, indie kids, punks and folks from all
sub-sections of the alternative community through the sheer power and
brilliance of their riotous electronic storm.
Plasmastorm are infectious bunch. Even if you’re stood around doing
nothing in particular, you can’t help but nod your head and move your
feet, such is the power of their dynamic musical assault.
Scorching guitars whip across insane blips, beeps and beats whilst the
group’s excitable hype man bounces around the place like he’s on some
sort of vitriolic sugar rush, leaping high into the air before grabbing
the mic and inciting the crowds to go ballistic. Then he’s climbing to
the top of the stage, back down and stripped to his undies, and off all
over the show again.
It’s a truly awesome show, and even with the mighty Strain up next, it’s
clear that Plasmastorm have stolen the show.
Yet the Bolton bruisers aren’t going out without a fight and are as
bold, brash and brilliant as ever. Reminding us much of metal
super-group Down, especially when they include a vocalist who has all
the viciousness and stage presence of Phil Anselmo and screams like the
devil is about to tear out his insides.
Add that over monolithic riffs that are brutal, sharp and heavy as hell,
and it’s clear to say that Strain are definitely in a league of their
own.
Yet still, the honour of ‘Best of the Bill’ goes to Plasmastorm, if for
no other reason than their god given talent to unite the whole festival
in dancing the night away.
Recommended Links:
The Gekko
►
www.myspace.com/thegekko
The Mod Cons
►
www.myspace.com/themodcons
Smudge
►
www.myspace.com/smudgerock
The Hicks
►
www.myspace.com/thehickswigan
Dave Rybka
►
www.myspace.com/rybkaroll
You Remind Me Of Rasputin
►
www.myspace.com/youremindmeofrasputin
Wallgate Circus
►
www.myspace.com/wallgatecircus1
Dirty Circus
►
www.myspace.com/dirtycircusmusic
Plasmastorm
►
www.myspace.com/plasmastorm
Strain
►
www.myspace.com/strainmetal
►
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