Friday: Got a phone call early in the morning saying my appointment at the Job Centre was cancelled because my advisor was sick, the woman who called me tried to re-schedule it for the day after I come back from Download, no thanks. Walked around Rochester in the rain then went into Morrisons to get some stuff came home in time for a woman to do wine tasting with my parents showed up, I cooked some ramen and stayed it the kitchen, she asked my Dad if I wanted to take part and he told her I dont drink then Mum explained about me getting shot in the eye with a paintball gun the last time I was drunk then swearing off alcohol (like I really need to hear this). Later Dad mentioned he didnt have a sense of smell due to an accident and the woman said that wasnt a paintball incident too was it? (fucking idiot). Walked into Strood to get the bus to Chatham, bought a paper from the newsagents and read it in the Tap until Chris got there. Went to bastard Manor, met up with Rhiannon, pretty shit as per usual but they played Sepultura and Pantera. Saw Geoff and Lindsay and sorted out meeting up for Hoods the next day. Saw that girl who got off with a guy in front of me last week, tried my best not to go near her all night. After Manny came on I jokingly went up to him and asked do you have anything thats like, good? We all got collectively bored at half eleven so we went to Tap with Ollie, who showed up later, there was a little confusion as to whether wed get in or not because the bouncers turned away a big group of people saying only students could get in at that time of night, but it was a bunch of Chavs and Ive seen the bouncers turn away Chavs for made up reasons before. Spent most of the night on top floor, wasnt as shit as usual but Chris and/or Ollie (not sure they were standing very close together when it happened) spilled a drink that was left by the side all down me, I had to go to three different toilets before I found one with a hand drier. I had a thought that even though the music in the Tap and Manor is shit, if they played Vision Of Disorder instead of System Of A Down I probably wouldnt like it as much because the main reason I listen to the bands I do is because hardly anyone has heard of them and I can keep them to myself like something special. Got hungry at two oclock and left for the kebab where it took me nearly half an hour to get served because of drunk cunts pushing in the queue.
Saturday: Managed four hours of sleep, went out feeling like shit in the muggy weather and bought some Vegan food and last minute Download provisions then went home. Got a text from Geoff saying they be at Strood train station to pick me up at six oclock. Walked down at half five, met some nice Jehovahs Witnesses who asked about my lip ring and gave me a flyer for some rally at a stadium or something then Geoff drove up with Lindsay and her little sister, Iz. Lindsay brought a navigator with her so I didnt need to give directions when we got to Folkestone that much. Lots of kids hanging around the entrance not going in because that seems to be the cool thing to do at small Hardcore shows like this, the door was open so we just went in.
Go For Broke: Sounded like any Hardcore band from London.
Your Demise: Had a definite old school influence, also were really into playing which is where the first band fell down, the singer was pacing around the stage and kicking the wall and at one point actually kicked a big hunk of plaster off it. They played covers of Down To Nothing and Terror but I didnt hold it against them, picked up their demo for a quid after they finished.
Love That Kills: Shit. Trendy. Hardcore.
Awoken: Played better than the last time I saw them but still wouldnt buy their stuff. Scott is definitely the happiest looking front man in UKHC, fuck it, xThe Break Inx should have got him to be the singer instead of that Coby-Dick-alike they got now.
November Coming Fire: Its strange to see the singer walking around with a drink and a cigarette, but in a way its cool because hes definitely got it out in the open that hes broke his Edge and not trying to cover it up, I noticed hes had the two Xs on his neck covered over with bat wings extended from the green face he has under his chin. Played a bunch of stuff off the new album and The Boys With Nails. off the first EP (would it really kill them to play Transgression again?) No where near as insane as when they had Thom in the band but still pretty cool.
Hoods: When did they get a new singer and why was I not informed. Only just picked up the new album that afternoon so I didnt know most of the songs they played but I did find myself climbing on stage to sing along to I Own You, finished their set in twenty minuteswhat the fuck?
We were hungry so we drove around Folkestone until we found a kebab shop. Eat then drove home, directed Geoff to my house then thanked them for taking me out and went inside.
Sunday: Actually managed a decent nights sleep, took a leisurely, two hour stroll around Rochester and Strood (well the sun was out and I could wear shorts. Had Dad drive me to the place I have an interview on Thursday, thankfully it wasnt too far into Strood Industrial Estate so I could just walk there on the day.
Monday: Woke up before six and couldnt get back to sleep, I was so excited. Found an alley way to use as a shortcut to the place Ive got an interview at on Thursday then strolled down to Strood train station to make sure there was a bus service going because it was a bank holiday. Steve picked me up at quarter past two with Danny in tow (first time me and him have spoken in well over a year, apparently hes got from under the thumb of Kat and got himself a nicer bird) Steve told me Matt Lucas had been an idiot and left booking their Download tickets so Im going by myself now (fuck), drove round to Mills house then walked to Gillingham station and got a train to Charring Cross. Everyone else got something to eat at Burger King while I went to WH Smiths to check Kerrang for what other gigs were on that night, almost completely forgot Hoods were playing the Underworld. We walked to Berwick Street from Charring Cross, I picked up the new Jesu EP from seven pounds and the Orchid CD for fourteen. We then walked to Metal Militia on Oxford Street, found a Straight Edge belt buckle and a Youth Of Today baseball cap, was planning to get another military cap because my old one is going brown from sweat but Ive been thinking lately that everyone is wearing them now so I could go with something different. Tried to get a drink in the Crobar but it was too packed so we decided to go to The Intrepid Fox. On the way we stopped at the Vegan Chinese place so I could get something to eat, Steve followed me in because he was still hungry and he didnt realise that it was all Vegan food, we all took the piss out of him for ripping on me for being Vegan then he goes and gets some Vegan food himself. Had a few drinks in the Fox then joined the end of the queue, for the first time ever the doors opened early, I told everyone the story of when I saw Sick Of It All at the same venue and got stopped by a bouncer and asked if I was drunk so I knew what was going to happen today, got pulled to the side an integrated by a particularly meaner bouncer this time whether or not Id had something to drink (everyone else had like three beers, not to mention the spliffs Steve was rolling and passing to everyone else and he picks the one guy who doesnt drink) we saw Mike and one of his house mates from Reading, we let them push in the queue before we went in. Me and Steve sat on the wall above the stairs going to the main floor, the Israeli girl who used to work at the Tap saw us and asked us to move up so she could sit down, she offered me a spliff but I declined. The pre-show film started at half seven, it wasnt entirely what I expected, they showed footage of them making their last album and their home videos of them pissing about but they also showed live videos of bands they liked (ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Black Sabbath and much to my elation the music video for We Gotta Know by Cro-Mags, which I didnt even know existed). The only person I know who saw Pantera before was Chris from Sounds Perfect he said Phil Anselmo was a cunt, it was great Down hit stage and opened with Lysergik Funeral Procession, it would be a lot easier to list the songs they didnt play their set was so good (the only song that I wanted to hear they missed was Hail To The Leaf, that must sound strange coming from a Straight Edge kid), they played half of Dazed And Confused before going into Lies, I Dont Know What They Say Butand later they were all pissing about playing bits of Chemical Warfare by Slayer, after one song Phil broke a mic stand which was replaced by a new one when he turned his back somebody bring me a new one or Ima punch somebody in the face then the female roadie pointed him to the one she just brought out for him. After the first encore of Jail (a song Phil said they never played on any US tour) some cunt spat on my hat, I spent much of the second encore of Stone The Crow wiping it out the backs of unsuspecting people in front of me, before the third encore I ran down to the toilet and washed what was left off, I came back up before they finished with Bury Me In Smoke and spent eighteen quid on a Down shirt (the bootleg ones may have been cheaper but they didnt look as good and at least Id be assured that it was official merchandise that wouldnt fall apart after a few washes). Got outside Steve bought a bootleg shirt and Mills and Danny each got bootleg zip up hoodies. We all got something to eat before we got on the train (incidentally Ive never been to a gig where I recognised a load of people from back home who where also all on the train going back. Everyone pissed me off by throwing their rubbish at each other, hitting other people sitting around us, we got to Gillingham and walked back to Mills house, we got in the car and Steve drove me to my house then drove off to go to Dannys.
Saturday: Managed four hours of sleep, went out feeling like shit in the muggy weather and bought some Vegan food and last minute Download provisions then went home. Got a text from Geoff saying they be at Strood train station to pick me up at six oclock. Walked down at half five, met some nice Jehovahs Witnesses who asked about my lip ring and gave me a flyer for some rally at a stadium or something then Geoff drove up with Lindsay and her little sister, Iz. Lindsay brought a navigator with her so I didnt need to give directions when we got to Folkestone that much. Lots of kids hanging around the entrance not going in because that seems to be the cool thing to do at small Hardcore shows like this, the door was open so we just went in.
Go For Broke: Sounded like any Hardcore band from London.
Your Demise: Had a definite old school influence, also were really into playing which is where the first band fell down, the singer was pacing around the stage and kicking the wall and at one point actually kicked a big hunk of plaster off it. They played covers of Down To Nothing and Terror but I didnt hold it against them, picked up their demo for a quid after they finished.
Love That Kills: Shit. Trendy. Hardcore.
Awoken: Played better than the last time I saw them but still wouldnt buy their stuff. Scott is definitely the happiest looking front man in UKHC, fuck it, xThe Break Inx should have got him to be the singer instead of that Coby-Dick-alike they got now.
November Coming Fire: Its strange to see the singer walking around with a drink and a cigarette, but in a way its cool because hes definitely got it out in the open that hes broke his Edge and not trying to cover it up, I noticed hes had the two Xs on his neck covered over with bat wings extended from the green face he has under his chin. Played a bunch of stuff off the new album and The Boys With Nails. off the first EP (would it really kill them to play Transgression again?) No where near as insane as when they had Thom in the band but still pretty cool.
Hoods: When did they get a new singer and why was I not informed. Only just picked up the new album that afternoon so I didnt know most of the songs they played but I did find myself climbing on stage to sing along to I Own You, finished their set in twenty minuteswhat the fuck?
We were hungry so we drove around Folkestone until we found a kebab shop. Eat then drove home, directed Geoff to my house then thanked them for taking me out and went inside.
Sunday: Actually managed a decent nights sleep, took a leisurely, two hour stroll around Rochester and Strood (well the sun was out and I could wear shorts. Had Dad drive me to the place I have an interview on Thursday, thankfully it wasnt too far into Strood Industrial Estate so I could just walk there on the day.
Monday: Woke up before six and couldnt get back to sleep, I was so excited. Found an alley way to use as a shortcut to the place Ive got an interview at on Thursday then strolled down to Strood train station to make sure there was a bus service going because it was a bank holiday. Steve picked me up at quarter past two with Danny in tow (first time me and him have spoken in well over a year, apparently hes got from under the thumb of Kat and got himself a nicer bird) Steve told me Matt Lucas had been an idiot and left booking their Download tickets so Im going by myself now (fuck), drove round to Mills house then walked to Gillingham station and got a train to Charring Cross. Everyone else got something to eat at Burger King while I went to WH Smiths to check Kerrang for what other gigs were on that night, almost completely forgot Hoods were playing the Underworld. We walked to Berwick Street from Charring Cross, I picked up the new Jesu EP from seven pounds and the Orchid CD for fourteen. We then walked to Metal Militia on Oxford Street, found a Straight Edge belt buckle and a Youth Of Today baseball cap, was planning to get another military cap because my old one is going brown from sweat but Ive been thinking lately that everyone is wearing them now so I could go with something different. Tried to get a drink in the Crobar but it was too packed so we decided to go to The Intrepid Fox. On the way we stopped at the Vegan Chinese place so I could get something to eat, Steve followed me in because he was still hungry and he didnt realise that it was all Vegan food, we all took the piss out of him for ripping on me for being Vegan then he goes and gets some Vegan food himself. Had a few drinks in the Fox then joined the end of the queue, for the first time ever the doors opened early, I told everyone the story of when I saw Sick Of It All at the same venue and got stopped by a bouncer and asked if I was drunk so I knew what was going to happen today, got pulled to the side an integrated by a particularly meaner bouncer this time whether or not Id had something to drink (everyone else had like three beers, not to mention the spliffs Steve was rolling and passing to everyone else and he picks the one guy who doesnt drink) we saw Mike and one of his house mates from Reading, we let them push in the queue before we went in. Me and Steve sat on the wall above the stairs going to the main floor, the Israeli girl who used to work at the Tap saw us and asked us to move up so she could sit down, she offered me a spliff but I declined. The pre-show film started at half seven, it wasnt entirely what I expected, they showed footage of them making their last album and their home videos of them pissing about but they also showed live videos of bands they liked (ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Black Sabbath and much to my elation the music video for We Gotta Know by Cro-Mags, which I didnt even know existed). The only person I know who saw Pantera before was Chris from Sounds Perfect he said Phil Anselmo was a cunt, it was great Down hit stage and opened with Lysergik Funeral Procession, it would be a lot easier to list the songs they didnt play their set was so good (the only song that I wanted to hear they missed was Hail To The Leaf, that must sound strange coming from a Straight Edge kid), they played half of Dazed And Confused before going into Lies, I Dont Know What They Say Butand later they were all pissing about playing bits of Chemical Warfare by Slayer, after one song Phil broke a mic stand which was replaced by a new one when he turned his back somebody bring me a new one or Ima punch somebody in the face then the female roadie pointed him to the one she just brought out for him. After the first encore of Jail (a song Phil said they never played on any US tour) some cunt spat on my hat, I spent much of the second encore of Stone The Crow wiping it out the backs of unsuspecting people in front of me, before the third encore I ran down to the toilet and washed what was left off, I came back up before they finished with Bury Me In Smoke and spent eighteen quid on a Down shirt (the bootleg ones may have been cheaper but they didnt look as good and at least Id be assured that it was official merchandise that wouldnt fall apart after a few washes). Got outside Steve bought a bootleg shirt and Mills and Danny each got bootleg zip up hoodies. We all got something to eat before we got on the train (incidentally Ive never been to a gig where I recognised a load of people from back home who where also all on the train going back. Everyone pissed me off by throwing their rubbish at each other, hitting other people sitting around us, we got to Gillingham and walked back to Mills house, we got in the car and Steve drove me to my house then drove off to go to Dannys.