Soundwave 2010

Before I get into the best festival ever, I feel I owe it to you to tell you that Skullduggery (the 'welcome-back-to-uni-party') turned out to be pretty fun.
A few friends of mine (including the ones I went with) ended up rather drunk, as was most people there, so I got to have a good laugh and dance without embarrasing myself!
I must say, it's always inneresting when I venture to HQ.
The kind of people that go to places like that just amuse me.
And God did my feet kill after rocking my studded heels all night!

Right, now on to the important stuff.

February 28th, 2010 saw the greatest music festival experience of my life.
Hands down, an amazing day.
The amount of crazy good acts, the people and the atmosphere all made for a fantastic day.
The weather could have been a little more forgiving but as you will find out, I didn't let it bring me down for long!

So first was our beer breakfast at Jem's.
We were rather late having all slept in but made it eventually.
Most of a bottle of vodka and 4 no-doze later, we were well hammered and on our way.
Having got there just a little later than what I would have liked schedule wise, I missed Set Your Goals, but managed to down the remainder of my punch and dry reach my way in before You Me At Six.


The Brit pop-punks actually surprised me.
I quite like them, but for a relatively unknown on the scene and British band they pulled a pretty good crowd!
The kids that came sang and bopped along to every song, which isn't hard when you've only got one album to work with.
But they did play one song that neither avid fan Ryan nor I knew.
I reckon they've got a new album coming out soon anyways so maybe it was a new tune.
I think the crowd was probably most active for the finale in 'Save It For The Bedroom', it got pretty dusty up in there!


Next on to one of my old school faves, Taking Back Sunday.
I Have liked this band since I first heard 'This Photograph Is Proof' on the original Spiderman soundtrack.
That was back in like year 9 so... 2004.
God, that was ages ago.
I feel so old.
Actually, this band had a rather big part in my transformation from a mindless clone to the wonderful and unique music buff I am today.
I remember Lani calling me from the Taste Of Chaos in 2006 where TBS were headlining.
I answered the phone and could hear 'MakeDamnSure' and figured someone was listening to it and hit call on my number accidentally.
Until I heard Adam Lazarra saying something!
Then I realised it was Lani at TOC and was forever grateful for getting to hear them live, until Soundwave.
They blew me away.
First song they played after I got there was 'Catholic Knees' I think..
Their new stuff is pretty good but I got to hear some abso classics which is what I was there for.
They played 'Liar' which was the first case of me losing my shit for the whole day.
Then Lazarra spoke and they hit 'MakeDamnSure' for a finale.
It was spectacular.
Way better than hearing it on the phone, and they are a well performed band live.
Adam Lazarra did the most amazing thing I've ever seen at a concert by a performer.
Sure, I've seen band member climb up the support columns and jump off and stuff.
But I had never seen anything like this before.
Adam climbed up the railings during the chorus before the bridge and hung himself upside down from about 20 feet in the air to scream the bridge.
"I'm gonna make damn sure, that you can't ever leave. No, you wont ever get too far from me, you wont ever get too far!"
It was breathtaking.
He's a crazy dude.
And might I say a little heavier than the last photo I saw of him!
Excellent performance though, one I've waited a while for and it was worth it.

After catching my breath and having a biiig drink, we tried to make our way over to see Emarosa.
Unfortunately, we got lost and couldn't figure out which stage was which until they were already over.
Shame because I love Johnny Craig voice.
Oh well, theres always next time!
Plus I had plenty more to see as the day wore on!

So as a favour to Harold, I went to check out the Eagles Of Death Metal.
They were actually oretty funny, talking up how hot the girls were (blergh) and proclaiming their sexiness.
The weather at this stage was rather unbearable so we chilled down the back.
I called Harold obnoxiously and he heard one of their older songs.
I'll give them this, they were pretty good dancers!


Alexisonfire.
That they were.
I managed to squeeze my way right to the front row.
After seeing them 2 years ago at Soundwave 08, I expected them to be uh-mayzing, but boy did they blow my mind.
I can't even explain how fucking killer they were. There was a good balance betweek Crisis and Old Crows and they even threw in 'Accidents' for the old school fans.
I have no idea how I survived moshing and jumping around like a retard, but it was short lived.
Stand out songs were 'Accept Crime' (which I didn't realise but is a gay anthem: "we will be free, to use our bodies as we please". Made the song even more awesome if possible), 'Boiled Frogs' and 'Young Cardinals'.
Their whole set was amazing though, and I would have been set for the day just seeing them.


Then came Paramore.
Two very VERY inneresting things happened during this set.
Shall we?
So Paramore busts out opening with 'Ignorance'.
Hayley is so tiny in person, even from up on that stage.
But she couldn't be more adorable.
Se really is like a baby carrot.
Pardon my strange vegetable analogy there.
Then I started to feel shit.
So I stopped jumping and singing along.
My hear was going a million miles an hour and I couldn't slow it down to save my life.
Literally.
So I'm standing there, enjoying the show, taking photos and recording when a very attractive GIRL turns around and starts talking to me!
I have never been hit on by a girl before, so kudos to me for getting one and a HOT one for that matter.
It became apparent that she was hitting on me when she started trying to talk to me over the band and ignored Mel's existance as well as that of her male friend who stood there and rolled his eyes at her.
I felt quite special!
So I go back to listening to Paramore, and start feeling REALLY shit.
The bass from the speakers is making my chest pump harder and the heat is overwhelming me.
It doesn't help that I've had 4 no-doze and exhuded all of my energy during Alexisonfire.
So we get half way through Paramore and I turn around to Ryan and decide I have to get out of there but that he should stay.
I stepped back to make room for some young girl trying to get in, stood on someones leg and blacked out before I hit the ground.
I woke up to Mel and Ryan carryingme out of the pit, but feeling pretty okay now that I was out of there.
So we make our way to the toilets, Mel goes inside, doesn't come out for 2 full songs them emerges telling us that she puked her guts up when I was the one passing out.
Haha, we're a tough bunch!
So while we're sitting there regaining our strenght, this skinny ulgy looking freak comes over to Ryan as if he knows him.
He asks Ryan if he wants a drink then sits practically on his lap.
I ask for a drink and he flat says 'no, it's voodka and you don't want any anyway'.
It was hilarious!
That meant that during the set of one band, both Ryan and I managed to get hit on by someone of the same sex!
Hey, at least mine was a babe!
Apparently Paramore brings out the gays!
I love it!
So, to be honest, Hayley was a little pitchy but it was fuuuuuucking hot.
She wore black in honor of Johnny Cash's birthday too so I doubt that helped much!
They sounded good though, just not the best for the day.

So after Paramore, we decided we should probably chill after passing out and boffing.
We sat for a while, then got up to go see some of Gallows.
I've already seen them, and they're not great but the others were curious.
As I remember from Taste Of Chaos 2007, they were meh.
We ditched and got epic hotdogs, sat and listened to Placebo then AFI.
Got to hear Medicate by AFI but that's all I really paid attention to.
Shame too, cause I've liked them for a few good years now!
Just never got hooked on their stuff.


We had to take off from AFI to get a good spot for All Time Low.
I saw these boys in 2008 at the first Soundwave I went to.
They we're really fun back then so I expected good things.
And they delivered!
Played a few of their old songs and whored their new album.
They had the crowd jumping despite the heat for the whole set and the kids all seemed satisfied.
Good fun pop punk always makes for a good show!
I love ATL.
And I don't even have anything else to say, besides they were damn good!

So next we went to replenish again.
Bottle after bottle of water whilst listning to rock classics Jane's Addiction.
Pretty cool seeing Dave Navarro in person!
And the face thet I've seen them live is pretty awesome because they broke up (yet again) just after Soundwave!
Just another legendary band to add to my impressive list of live acts :)

Jimmy Eat World were next.
I must admit, I was rather disappointed when My Chemical Romance pulled out.
Having said that though, I've seen them twice and I don't blame Gerard for looking out for his most valuable asset (his voice).
Also, I wouldn't have seen much of them to be honest cause I wasn't going to miss any of Escape The Fate.
Jimmy Eat World were more than awesome as a replacement for MCR.
I've liked these guys for years too, never got hooked, but some of their songs are amongst my all time favourites.
"The Middle", "Pain" and obviously "Bleed American" are all great songs so glad I got to see some of JEW.
Had to leave them early too though (busy, busy!!) for...



ESCAPE THE FATE!!!



These boys are so heartbreakingly amazing live!
Probably just to me because I fucking love them so much, but regardless!
I was so pumped for them.
Had my hopes up after hearing of Max's (temporary) break-up of (in my mind) hooking up with him.
He was totes my future husband, but I have since reconsidered this.
He's so fucking immature.
And he's trying waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too hard to be Marilyn Manson.
Get your own gig!
Who shaves their eyebrows?
Honestly.
Anyways, back to the show!
So I was hoping, but not holding my breath, for Ashley to be played.
Denied.
But they did all their stand-outs.
"Not Good Enough For The Truth In Cliche", "10 Miles Wide", "Situations", "The Guillotine" and "This War Is Ours" were all chucked in there.
Monte is such an amazing guitarist.
And Craig was incredible, sans the broken ankle this time around!
Situations is possible the sexiest song ever.
Just makes you want to bone.
But makes me think of Ronnie too, sorry Craig, but that song is too dirty for a dude with a kid!

So I was hanging out to see Four Year Strong.
Hadn't really listened to their old stuff much, never really caught my attention, but there was a lot of hype about their yet to be released at the time new album.
It's fucking awesome.
Enemy Of The World is def one of my fave releases of the year so far.
Shame I didn't get to see them, but I won't be missing them next time.
After all, This Body Pays The Bill$.



HIM.
Ville Vallo.
Nuff said.



A DAY TO FUCKING REMEMBER ALRIGHT!!!
You have NO IDEA how psyched I was to lose my shit to ADTR.
Every single day since getting my dirty little hands on "Homesick", I have smashed my ear drum with it.
Every single day.
Without fail.
It is my favourite album ever.
Not a weak moment in the whole album!
It's mindblowing.
And I fucking love it.
So needless to say, it was the perfect way to end my wonderous experience at Soundwave 2010.
They played a few wicked old songs like "The Plot To Bomb The Panhandle" (went OFF!)
I was pretty disappointed they didn't play "You Should Have Killed Me When You Had The Chance".
But to be honest, all was forgiven when they played "Mr. Highway's Thinking About The End".
DISRESPECT YOUR SURROUNDINGS!!!!!
God fucking damn.
So good.
They did "Have Faith In Me", "NJ Legion Iced Tea", "Downfall Of Us All" and "I'm Made Of Wax Larry".
Mr Highway was the highlight of my entire day though.
I ended up so sore after throuwing myself around recklessly to ADTR.
It was one hundred percent worth it!

So I couldn't have been happier with Soundwave 2010 (besides passing out, not staying for Paramore and missing Four Year Strong), it really was the greatest music festival I've attended to date.
So kudos to you, SOundwave team, and I CAN'T WAIT to see what you've got lined up for me next year!!
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