I traveled to the Loch Lomond Festival on a dreary Sunday afternoon hoping the whole day would be worth the hassle.I took my car and a few mates in what seemed a never ending journey,not helped by me taking the wrong road and ending up at the other side of the Loch!!
Anyway....eventually we make it to the Festival site,roughly 3pm and to say I was shocked at the amount of mud on show would be an understatement.So it was on with the waterproofs and a wander around and see what was on offer.
Earlier this summer I was at the T in the Park festival which is a really big festival in Scotland.Loch Lomond was small in comparison but still looked like it would be fun!!
First band I saw were The Haze a local band that got the crowd jumping.
uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Da3B8_ms_JgThey were ok...nothing spectacular but worth watching....We went and had a walk about to check out the other stages,tents etc.Not a bad set up considering it was only 50 pounds a ticket for the day.
Next up was The Complete Stone Roses[Stone Roses Tribute band]They really got the crowd going...I enjoyed their set as I knew most of the songs anyway..ha ha..
uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rQYg4Jq_DX8&feature=relatedSo...they finished and it was a bite to eat and then onto one of the smaller tents as we heard a band from near our area of Scotland were playing...thought it would be interesting...and it was.
Future acts tent was quite small,maybe 100-150 people maximum but it was really quite good,check them out if you like ska.
They were called Root System and I had a great time watching them.Everyone was stomping about...
uk.youtube.com/watch?v=u4Tk9Og-2dQ&feature=relatedSo it was only half past 6 and still time to kill until the Sex Pistols would come to the party.....
Another wander around and into the Dance tent passed the time as it was raining again...and outside the mud was getting deeper and deeper....
Walked down to the Good Vibrations and watched a few songs from Unkle who were quite good as well....made our way back up to the Main Stage to see a few songs from Ocean Colour SCENE..
uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RH7WlyHVwb0&feature=relatedSounded good live,a fight broke out in the crowd at this time..man and wife I believe that led to a few others joining in.The rain was a pain with the underfoot conditions getting worse by the minute but it was all adding to the fun!!
Again..a small trip back down to the GV stage as the Happy Mondays were due on stage .This was looking to be a good gig but it was crossover with the Pistols and there was no way I was missing that...prior to us leaving and going up to see the Sex Pistols another fight broke out between a group of about 12 women and men..too much drink was the cause!
uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eKf0gpDZ0GQAnyway..aside from walking about in the rain..getting muddy and not even having a beer as I had a long drive home,the reason I and many others was here was approaching.....
I took a good spot just at the side of the stage where I bumped into a guy I knew who was doing the pit security.I asked him if he could get any set lists from the band when they had finished,he says he has got me one but until I get it I will not get too excited..ha ha
Anyway..the roadies were out tuning up the instruments the backdrop was down and the crowd...well the crowd seemed to me a mixed bag to be honest.I think most of them were there out of curiosity rather than being fans of the band.
At last the band came on to a tremendous ovation after "There will always be an England " was replaced with "I belong to Glasgow"...
John come to centre stage and greeted the crowd with his usual witty remarks and it was onto...
uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oURRlMSbAbc&feature=userAbsolutely blinding live...the sound from Steve,Glen and Paul was amazing,John was putting everything into it and the mosh pit was bouncing.That is the thing that surprised me,at the other 3 gigs I have been to in the last year it was funny to be watching the band perform without the crushing I had endured at the Manchester,Glasgow and Birmingham shows.
John was calling it great with some of his comments to the crowd...the one before Liar was excellent to the extreme...watch and enjoy!!
uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wTIGYYE0CVc&feature=userI am so glad for these videos as it gives people a chance to enjoy what was a great night for everyone...band included.
Jones and Matlock have a great understanding and chemistry on stage,Steve had me in fits with his quizzical looks at the crowd when missles were raining in...it was his bewildered look that had me laughing.
The band were playing at breakneck speed and their timing was amazing,all these gigs they have had recently showed a polished and professional attitude from all the band .
Talking of things being thrown...it really pisses me off when idiots throw plastic bottles,plastic cups with beer or any object for that matter.Anyway this guy next to us copped a full pint of beer off his head.It was a sickening blow...as it happens it was Phil from God Save the Sex Pistols site...
www.philjens.plus.com/pistols/pistols/2008_loch_lomond_review.htmHe tells you more about it ...glad to hear he was ok though.
The songs were excellent...No Fun always one of my favourites
uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0l8ipKCp2MoThen of course John had his wee rant about the alleged Racist attack that has been in the press and he let fly with both barrells..then onto Baghdad was a Blast ..
Not great quality this footage but anyway...
uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eTPDNTRHHTU&feature=relatedThe show was flowing along and song after song was near note perfect.I had a great time just soaking up the atmosphere and singing along word for word.
The band left the stage with the words of John that they were going for a smoke break and if you want more give us a shout.
They returned to Bodies then Anarchy..again away for a short break and John returns with a cigarette on stage looking at the security and laughing.
What followed I really enjoyed as I have never saw the band doing Silver Machine before....
uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zAG-H4goVFE&feature=related
An excellent Roadrunner and that was it..will this be the last time I see the band? I hope not as every time I have saw the this past year it has been different and enjoyable each and every time.
First time I have seen the Pistols at an outside venue and it was great musically and also great for me watching the whole performance from the vantage point I had.
At last the day was over...was it worth trampling about in the rain and mud for over 7 hours...well of course.
I hope someone knocked the shit of whoever did THAT 