And finally onto Sunday, with the sun still going full tilt and the exhaustion really starting to creep in (getting old sucks). Still, a hell of a lot of good bands to see and talk to and the press tent was buzzing as ever and things were really busy. I spent a lot of the day loving the pink as well. In memory of Sylvia Lancaster, the festival had asked people to wear pink on the Sunday and the fans did her proud. From full on pink dresses to a subtly armband or glove, it was lovely to see so much pink on display. My pink beard is still getting asked about a month later, a great opportunity to let people know about Sophie, Sylvia and their legacy.
First up, though, a trip to the New Blood tent to see Prolapse A.D. With a bonkers set which conjured up horrifying images of what would happen if Raise By Owls and Lawnmower Deth got drunk and shagged, they left the stage sweating as if they’d been in sunshine outside. Laughs and metal aplenty, and it was great to finally see them on a Bloodstock stage.
With a lull in interviews I got talking to one of the many PRs present at the festival. These unspoken heroes keep so much ticking over in the background that you wouldn’t believe it, so I’d like to give them all a quick shout out. All the interviews we do, that’s scheduled by them. Getting the bands on stage at the right time? That’s them, too. Plus all the promo material that we get to let you know about tour dates and album releases, that all comes under their remit.
Due to reasons, Life of Agony couldn’t make it so some stage juggling was done. Scarlett Riot opened the Ronnie James Dio, leaving a gap on the SOPHIE running order, and Vended shifted up to fill the vacated slot on the main stage. Just before they came on, said PR asked if I wanted to go and watch them. Well I had a gap in my interview schedule and I’d heard a little about the band (featuring two sons of two Slipknot members), so why not? Expecting to walk out and round to the crowd, I was instead ushered down “The Tunnel” which takes the photographers to the main stage photo pit, up some scaffolding stairs and to the side of main stage itself.
Bucket. List. Tick.
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Now it’s an experience to be up there at all, even if “only” for an early doors band, but the icing on the cake was watching Vended burst multiple blood vessels on their first ever UK live show. As mentioned, two of the band members have famous fathers and the band have been at pains to emphasise that anything they do, they do off their own backs. Sure they’ll have some connections and they know how the whole thing works, but they put in the graft and want everyone to know that they’re at Bloodstock, for example, on merit. Today’s show 100% backs up those claims.
The opening strident backing tape definitely has Slipknot vibes but once that’s passed… Vended are Vended. Lead singer Griffin Taylor (son of Corey) sounds a bit like his dad, but of course he does. His stage presence is definitely different, though. More manic, more engaged with the music and less performance. More traditional as a frontman, if you will. I was pretty much level with drummer Simon Crahan and he was great to watch throughout. There was one moment right at the end where he stood up while hammering away and there, right there for five seconds as he swung his arms up and down at the now-distant skins, you could see Clown. Just in that swing of the arms; like father, like son.
But that was it. Vended had the crowd going nuts. They sweated, swore and jumped for their forty minute slot and the earned every minute of it. I spoke to Griffin very briefly afterwards, and a nicer guy you’ll never meet. He was hugely grateful for the praise he was receiving from those who passed, not in the least arrogant or expecting of it. Between their performance and their attitudes, Vended gained a fan today.
It was pretty full on for the rest of the day, but later on I chilled out and made the most of the beer tent in the VIP area. Including a rather dangerous brew at 10%. Eek. While gathering brews from the bar I heard what sounded like a “drum karaoke” kicking off. Further investigation revealed this to be a showcase by the ridiculously talented Caleb H Drummer (probably not his real surname) who I’d actually seen earlier sat behind Simon Crahan’s kit for the Vended set. I’d assumed he was Crahan’s own offspring, but no – he belongs to someone else! One guy walked away from the show, shaking his head: “I’ve been drumming for years and I’m not that good!”
I had a brief word with Caleb after the show and he was really pleasant, polite and cheerful. Full marks to his folks on all counts! Oh, and did I mention he’s only 7 years old? Face it, when you’re that age and Lamb of God’s drummer introduced your set you know you have it made. Here’s a video of him playing “Ace of Spades” from the set.
Back on the big stages I made sure, to catch Ill Nino who I’d first heard of many years ago, but failed to keep up with. I am now annoyed at myself a they put on a superb show, and I’ll definitely be getting back on board with them.
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At the urging of a friend, I went to see Strigoi who were filling the slot that Soen had left open. It was unusual seeing Paradise Lost’s dreadlocked guitarist Greg Mackintosh go front and centre and belt out some rather guttural vocals, but the band were good. This was, I gather, only their third live show and put together at pretty short notice due to the circumstances of being asked.
I had a bunch of stuff to do and a load of people to catch up on, so I confess I skipped a load of bands after this including Lamb of God (mainly as I’m going to seem them in December for my birthday, after a whole three years of delayed tour dates!). However, we couldn’t miss the ideal festival closers, Night Flight Orchestra who I’d heard so much about. I know last year they were one of the biggest disappointments in terms of bands forced to cancel so the crowd was out in force for this belated celebration of 70s/80s cheesy hair metal. And, lo, it was good. I mean, really good.
With no real expectations other than people telling me how much they were looking forward to seeing them, I was blown away by the sheer fun of their set. It was wonderfully tongue in cheek with the added bonus that the songs were actually good! Sadly, I couldn’t stay for the full set as we had to empty the press tent and get sorted for the journey home but what I saw was enough to convince me to add them to my “keep an eye one” pile with so many bands from this weekend.
And so, barring the long journey home the next day with my brilliant travelling companions, that was it for 2022. Despite my work’s best efforts to put a spanner in things for 2023, I will be there and for the whole weekend. Bloodstock is my pilgrimage – and I mean no disrespect to any religious readers. It’s the one place I travel to annually where I meet so many people I only catch up with once a year, where I walk and sing and smile and hug. If there is such a thing as spirituality, Bloodstock is where I feel it. And I can’t wait to see who else is on the bill for next year!
Catch you all there. Look for the t-shirt and say hello!
