Jun 12, 4:03 pm
Believe it or not, going to Download with Kitt and Sarin last weekend was my FIRST EVER festival. The idea of slumming it and being subjected to smelly portacabin toilets isn’t my ideal way to enjoy live music - living in London means there are plenty more civilised gigs on offer anyway. However, with a free hotel room and the chance to play Jam Sessions on offer, it was impossible to say no.
It was a beautiful sunny day when we stepped off the train. The pale complexions and funny-coloured hair (like I can talk!) on the Download-visitors soon seemed as natural as the permatans and Croydon face-lifts of South London.
Phil, Jacqui and Jam Sessions’ very own guitar hero Mike greeted us from Ubisoft. Straight away we huddled ourselves around a collection of DS’s, trying (in my case in vain) to master the delights of built-in songs such as ‘No Woman No Cry’ and ‘Yellow’. We strummed the DS touch screen with a plectrum, the sound coming out of tiiiiiny Marshall amps clipped to our trouser belts. If you’ve already seen the video clips, I can confirm that the sound quality is absolutely stunning. Very realistic. I never knew the DS was capable of such things.
“And it was aaaallll yelloooooowwwwwww...”
Of course, a festival isn’t a festival without music, and I dragged Sarin off to experience the delight’s of Machine Head. Just to give you an idea of how old and rubbish I am, I saw this band ten years ago in Birmingham, when my friend and I thought it would be ‘ace’ to draw cobwebs on our faces using black eye-liner. Later Sarin and Kitt subjected me to a performance from Marilyn Manson (c’mon people, he only had one good album and you know it) and Linkin Park, but after ten minutes I sneaked off to watch Motley Crue instead.
Busier than a Primark sale
As I wandered around the venue, I was continuously amazed by the sheer scale of it all - from the three gigantic stages to the whole field full of portacabins (best to hold your nose when passing through this area.) Ubisoft kept up the theme of big-ness by having a giant truck on site, fitted with two 56” screens on which passers by could indulge in some Rainbow Six: Vegas goodness. It was great to have people approach us, recognising our pink and black Frag Doll T-shirts. I even met some guys I’d played on previous Frag Doll Fridays.
Kitt and I didn’t dare tell Sarin that neither of us could drive
After two days of scary festival food, sunburn, and - eek - sharing a room with Kitt, it was time to go home. It was a crazy experience and I can’t wait for this weekend, when I’m off to the 02 Wireless festival in London. In the mean time, check out our gallery for all the latest photos from Download. Keep checking back for updates!
