Reading/Leeds 2010 Armchair Preview
This year I will not be at Reading (I think Glastonbury has killed off any real motivation to go to another festival this summer) and, whilst this saddens me since it is held only half-an-hour away from where I’m based, the rain that is pouring down at a rather consistent rate is reminding me that I’m better off, this year at least, watching it all on television. This year’s line-up for Reading and Leeds is a very peculiar one, mixing tried-and-tested artists that have succeeded at bringing audiences together in perfect harmony all summer and bookings that are either highly anticipated comebacks or very high-risk. In this preview, it’s the latter that is the focus. Here are some acts of note for this Bank Holiday weekend:
Blink 182 – Since they announced their reunion in early 2009 they have been long overdue to play some shows in the UK and, at long last, they will get their moment of glory as they headline the ‘rock day’ of the festival. It’s easy for people to dismiss them as just some second-rate pop punk band from the 90s but you’d be forgetting that they wrote some damn good tunes. Songs like All The Small Things and and What’s My Age Again should get mammoth responses.
Guns ‘n’ Roses – Axl Rose’s Massive Ego Band was a surprise choice for headliner. The last time he came to play this festival, he only did the Leeds leg and arrived late. Melvin Benn, the man in charge of Festival Republic, has assured festival-goers that he will appear, will be on time and that if he’s not then he will not be allowed to go past his curfew. Whether or not you like Axl’s “band” you can’t deny that this might a strangely engrossing watch, just to see what happens.
The Libertines – The hype around the whole weekend is based around the reformation of the indie rock quartet. The obligatory buzz-worthy preview show has already been achieved and the NME have gone all Libertines crazy trying to convince you that you must care about their return. The only question that remains is this: are the band still playing to their own generation or just a sea of people trying to be hip and cool? On Saturday evening, we will know for sure.
Queens Of The Stone Age – There we were thinking that Them Crooked Vultures would dominate the summer festival circuit this year and then all of a sudden Josh Homme brings back his original band for these sole UK performances of 2010. No one is expecting any new material but anything less than a hits heavy set will disappoint.
Weezer – Excited? No? Ok, the newer material does suck so hard when comparing to the genius of Weezer’s early work but this set will not be about new material that is bland and forgettable but old material that is timeless and classic. Personally, I will be thrilled if they play a lot of Blue Album songs and, let’s be honest, in the summertime songs like My Name Is Jonas, Say It Ain’t So and Buddy Holly are wonderfully effective.
For humorous tweets over the weekend, follow me on Twitter. Which sets are you anticipating, either from the site itself or from your sofa/armchair?
Posted on August 26th, 2010 by Max
Filed under: Features, Gigs | No Comments »
