Bloodstock 2018: The Sunday

Final full day at Bloodstock and I was prepared for a long one. Five of the final six bands on the Ronnie James Dio Stage were on my 'must see' list. That gave me some time to not have to wolf down breakfast and chill before I headed to the arena for a final day of metal. However, that was cut short when Teal suggested I make it six of the last seven bands when he recommended I see Amaranthe. Oh well, one more band wouldn't hurt so I went with him and Joe to the arena.
That six of seven could have become seven of eight, at least I wished so because when I got to the Dio Stage, the band Evergrey was finishing up. This was yet another band whom I only caught the last few minutes of and wished I had seen more of them. Maybe it's mellowing with age but I'm getting more into prog-metal bands and these guys from Sweden are definitely worth checking out. Shame I can't say more.

[caption id="attachment_4799" align="aligncenter" width="265"] Evergrey on stage[/caption]

So far at Bloodstock, Teal had been two for two when recommending bands I should see, Kamelot on Friday and Alestorm on Saturday. No surprises that on Sunday, he was three for three when I saw the second consecutive Swedish band, Amaranthe, although they did have some technical difficulties before they came out on stage. Not to worry, while those difficulties were being sorted, bassist Johan Andreassen entertained the crowd with a bit of improv. I can't remember anything he said, damn my Swiss cheese memory, but he had me and the rest of the crowd rolling on the ground in laughter. When the rest of the band emerged, the most obvious sight was that they had three singers. Two males, one described as clean vocals, that was Nils Molin and the unclean male vocals of Henrik Eglund Wilhemsson along with the vocals of Elize Ryd. The best thing is that this combination totally worked. Each singer would come in with their style of vocals at the appropriate part in the song and take it in an unexpected direction. Of course, the other reason it worked was the musical efforts of guitar, bass and drums. The end result was forty minutes of good power metal and another band not known to me who impressed me a hell of a lot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDVycjDLx4Y

[caption id="attachment_4801" align="aligncenter" width="250"] Johan Andreassen doing his improv[/caption][caption id="attachment_4802" align="aligncenter" width="250"] Elize and Henrik on the vocals[/caption][caption id="attachment_4803" align="aligncenter" width="339"] Amaranthe won me over[/caption]

Having seen Fozzy twice before I had already regarded Chris Jerico as a good metal singer. Third time is the charm and if I had any doubt in my mind about him, those doubts were obliterated on this particular Sunday. He even came out on stage in a really cool looking long coat. His vocals, if anything, were even better and he still knows how to work a crowd. His band was as good as ever, especially when they played my all time favourite Fozzy song, "Drinkin' With Jesus." Really love that song and I have made a promise to myself to listen to more Fozzy.

[caption id="attachment_4798" align="aligncenter" width="268"] Chris in his coat[/caption][caption id="attachment_4805" align="aligncenter" width="365"] A shot of the entire band[/caption][caption id="attachment_4806" align="aligncenter" width="244"] I thought I'd get the guitar and bass in.[/caption][caption id="attachment_4808" align="aligncenter" width="239"] Chris engaging the crowd[/caption][caption id="attachment_4809" align="aligncenter" width="242"] Got more good shots of Fozzy[/caption][caption id="attachment_4810" align="aligncenter" width="240"] I thought he was going to attempt a flying drop kick here.[/caption]

Since I didn't want to go back to the campsite but my 57 year old frame didn't want to stand, I went over to the Sophie Lancaster Stage to have a little sit down at the back. Shortly after, the next band started to get ready to go on stage but they too had some technical difficulties. This time, the bass player didn't do improv. Instead, she treated the crowd to a brilliant bass solo, she could play! The band took the stage and played some really cool thrash/death metal. I learned they were from Nepal and it's great to see such a good band coming out from that part of the world. I hope more people will check them out. Unfortunately, someone from either Wordpress or Youtube is being a prick and not letting me paste any of their songs here.

[caption id="attachment_4811" align="aligncenter" width="268"] Bass player shredding away[/caption][caption id="attachment_4812" align="aligncenter" width="267"] Underside finally emerge[/caption][caption id="attachment_4813" align="aligncenter" width="343"] Underside show that you can rock in Nepal.[/caption]

The universal big question asked by many of the 18,000 who attended Bloodstock in 2018 was whether Mr Big was the type of band to play at this Festival. For me, that question was answered in the affirmative on the very first song, it being my vote for their hidden gem, "Daddy, Lover, Brother and Little Boy." I have always loved that song and that set the stage for the rest of their set. Sure, they played most of their classics, "Green Tinted Sixties Mind" was the fourth song and not long after, "To Be With You" which Eric Martin brought out an acoustic guitar to play along to. He did the same with the cover of the Cat Stevens classic, "Wild World." On top of that, Paul Gilbert totally impressed me with his guitar work on the songs and when he was left to play a solo. Eric also explained to the crowd that they had been on a European tour and Bloodstock was their last stop. Their final songs were more metal leaning, one of the being "Take Cover." However, when they left the stage, they proved to everyone that Mr Big belonged at Bloodstock! Even if they didn't play my other favourite Mr Big song, "The Whole World's Gonna Know."

[caption id="attachment_4814" align="aligncenter" width="258"] Welcome Mr Big[/caption][caption id="attachment_4815" align="aligncenter" width="255"] Paul plays a solo[/caption][caption id="attachment_4816" align="aligncenter" width="247"] Paul continues to wail[/caption][caption id="attachment_4817" align="aligncenter" width="246"] Here's a shot of Billy Sheehan[/caption][caption id="attachment_4818" align="aligncenter" width="254"] Eric on the acoustic guitar[/caption][caption id="attachment_4819" align="aligncenter" width="253"] Billy and Paul jamming together. Mr Big were certainly the most photogenic band at Bloodstock.[/caption]

Some might think this might be going from one extreme to the other. Going from the melodic metal sounds of Mr Big to the death metal of Devil Driver. That didn't bother me nor the many others who came to see them. It was metal mayhem to say the least. I can't really say much about their time on stage. I went close to the front with Teal and Joe and therefore, spent the entire time on the edges of mosh pits and passing crowd surfers to the front. That kind of ruins your concentration a bit. What I did hear from Devil Driver, I totally liked and still had a fantastic time during their set.

[caption id="attachment_4821" align="aligncenter" width="246"] Devil Driver[/caption][caption id="attachment_4822" align="aligncenter" width="335"] The mayhem spoiled this shot a little.[/caption][caption id="attachment_4823" align="aligncenter" width="245"] The best shot of them[/caption][caption id="attachment_4824" align="aligncenter" width="258"] I don't remember anything about them but I got a shot of Servers on the New Blood Stage[/caption]

At Bloodstock 2016, I took HMO's advice and went to see a band he recommended on his blog called Ackercoke. So, when he posted about At the Gates a few months ago, I knew I had to see them. He's now two for two in my book because At the Gates were brilliant. Three Swedish bands took the Dio Stage on this day and all three impressed me. For me, they were a natural progression after the more progressive sound of Evergrey to the sometimes more harder one of Amaranthe to At The Gates's death metal although, they did go melodic at times. I always have liked that style so these guys fit in well. During their set, I met a man from New York who had come to Bloodstock just to see them. Apparently, they hardly ever go to the States. The band needs to rectify that! All I can say when they left was "Thank you HMO for showing me another great band."

[caption id="attachment_4825" align="aligncenter" width="365"] At The Gates[/caption][caption id="attachment_4827" align="aligncenter" width="254"] Singer Thomas Lindberg engaging the crowd[/caption][caption id="attachment_4828" align="aligncenter" width="239"] Thomas turned his back on me here.[/caption]

Headlining the Sunday was the Finnish band Nightwish. I had heard many great things about this band and I further liked what I had heard from them so I was expecting good things. I wasn't disappointed. A huge clock at the back of the stage counted down the final minute to their appearance and they came out just as it hit zero. From then on it was pure magic, whether it was the vocals of Floor Jansen, the guitar work of Emppu Vuorinen or the keyboards of Tuomas Holopainen. What impressed me even more was Troy Donockley who played guitar, Bouzouki and an assortment of woodwind instruments and all very well. I now have a full appreciation of what is called Gothic metal. The hour and a half went by too fast and the show ended with a spoken word bit but I can't say who was speaking or what was said but it added greatly to the atmosphere of the show. The band did come back and I was hoping for one more song but they just took more bows. Can't complain though.

[caption id="attachment_4829" align="aligncenter" width="241"] The clock counts down[/caption][caption id="attachment_4830" align="aligncenter" width="237"] Good shot of Tuomas Holopainen on keys[/caption][caption id="attachment_4831" align="aligncenter" width="243"] I tried to get the band but a bunch of lights got in the way[/caption][caption id="attachment_4832" align="aligncenter" width="241"] Flash![/caption][caption id="attachment_4833" align="aligncenter" width="240"] The last shot before they left the stage.[/caption]

Tired and hungry, I went back to the tent to feed, drink my last beer and get some sleep. Next morning would be time to tear down, pack up and go. However, I left completely fulfilled having seen some great bands not only this day but the entire weekend. However, Scandinavia did win the Sunday.

Next post: Bloodstock, My final thoughts.

To buy Rock and Roll Children, go to https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rock-Roll-Children-Michael-Lefevre/dp/1609763556/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1535059396&sr=8-8&keywords=michael+d+lefevre