Day Two of High Voltage Shockin Awesome

Review and Photos by Mark Taylor

Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends. I’m so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside.

Click here for Mark Taylor’s impression of Day One at High Voltage,
and check out the images from the scene in the BareFoot FotoBlog!

Day 2 of the High Voltage Festival would be another busy day with plenty of non-stop action which would see classic albums performed in their entirety, powercuts, fisticuffs … and not forgetting that the day would end with a performance from the reformed Emerson Lake & Palmer. Who ever said prog rock was boring?

Click through for the story and don’t miss the Bigger Photos in the FotoBlog!

The Quireboys were waking up those in front of the Main Stage with their feel-good ragtime rock ‘n roll.

I was over at the Prog Stage to witness Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash, who were here today to perform the classic 1972 lp Argus in its orignal sequence. (Not to be confused with the Wishbone Ash that is fronted by Andy Powell, Martin Turner was the orignal voice and bassist of the Ash.) It is always a joy to hear these delightful songs where there is is not a dud in sight. Orignal Ash guitarist Ted Turner makes a guest appearance towards the end of the set to make a triple lead guitar attack. It’s easy to see how, a few years later, The Eagles may have stolen a few ideas from Wishbone Ash when recording “Hotel California.”

If anything can go wrong, then it will happen to legendary English rockers UFO. After the opening number of “Saving Me,” Vinnie Moore’s guitar amp decided to cut out, and despite looking like the problem was solved, as soon as he started to play “Only You Can Rock Me” the amp cut out again, every time, in the first few bars. For a full five minutes the band stood around patiently. Singer Phil Mogg took it as humourously as one could, but one minute longer and I think Mogg would’ve of punched Vinnie Moore’s lights out in London. Problem finally solved, the band delivered a set harking back to the classic Strangers in the Night.

Steve Hackett was keeping the connoisseurs happy with a set full of solo material ending with an encore of the Genesis track “Los Endos.”

You ain’t seen nothing yet as Bachman Turner were putting things into overdrive. The music of BTO has almost been forgotten in the UK as they havn’t been on these shores since 1976. The truck driving rock of Bachman Turner was an early winner today with a selection of old and new tracks. Even Turner takes a turn in singing with the heavy ballad of “Sledgehammer," a song that is like putting your head under a gullotine whilst being read your last rites by your loved one. I’m certain a renewed interest in the band will ensue in Europe.

Uriah Heep were also giving it the classic album treatment and delighted us with a run-through of the Demons & Wizards lp. Although guitarist Mick Box is the sole survivor from the ‘72 classic, the band surprised many with some great renditions which also featured some great guitar slide work from guest Micky Moody, the former Whitesnake six-stringer.

Joe Bonamassa was giving it some young man blues, showing the doubters how it’s done. Heavily influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughan, he showed some chugging riffage in his cover of ZZ Top’s “Just Got Paid.” If only the Texan headliners the day before could reignite this song in that fashion.

It had been 37 years since the original Argent had performed together and this was my most anticipated moment of the weekend. The heavy swirling Hammond sounds of Rod Argent is always music to my ears. Kicking off with some hardcore Argent material including “Liar,” a song that would later be a top-5 US smash for Three Dog Night. From then on the band showed off their credentials, an electric “She’s Not There” is simply magnificent. Renowned singer-songwriter Russ Ballard joins Argent on the keys for “I Don’t Believe In Miracles” before going into the Rainbow hit “Since You’ve Been Gone,” one of many hits written by Ballard. Ending with “God Gave Rock And Roll To You,” a song later popularised by Kiss, the band have every right to boast about their achievements.

My favourite band of the weekend that just oozed class, Marillion ended the weekend on the Prog Stage featuring a set consisting of material mainly from the Steve Hogarth years –and were, oddly, being watched in the audience by original singer Fish.

Phil Anselmo was on the correct stage tonight, fronting his doom sludgy metal merchants Down on the Metal Hammer stage. Anselmo was in commanding mood who gave plenty of relief to those metal fans who weren’t necessary here for the prog action. For some the band of the weekend, if not the heaviest.

Riding high in the US charts with “England Rocks” is Joe Elliott’s Down ‘n Outz. The Def Leppard frontman has got together with some of the boys from the Quireboys to play homage to Ian Hunter and the history of Mott The Hoople. Orignally an idea as a fun band which supported Mott The Hoople for one night only at Hammersmith last year, the band has taken on a life of its own, playing tracks mainly from Hunter’s solo career and the latter day Mott lp’s. Luckily, I caught the band a few days before doing a warm-up at the Borderline club. Today Elliott’s vocals were a little sore and he struggled with the high notes at times. However, with such a high billing, the band were still entertaining with a set that wasn’t too familiar with the audience.

What everyone was waiting for was the guest appearance of Ian Hunter to sing some classics. There was an almighty rawr as he came on stage. We all sang along to “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” thinking the party is about to start, but after the acoustic “Who Do You Love?” and with another four songs to go, a voice announced over the PA: ‘’Ladies & Gentleman, that was the Down ‘n Outz,'’ leaving a hapless Elliott and Hunter speechless as they couldn’t even get their voices heard over the microphones.

Arguments ensued as the stage crew started to move the band’s equipment off stage immediately, leaving a finger-waving Elliott fuming. Fists were thrown backstage and Ian Hunter almost smashed his guitar over someones head. Rumour has it that Jimmy Page had to keep the warring factions apart. I know times at festivals have to be run like clock work, but it also left many fans feeling short-changed as this was billed as one of the highlights of the weekend, a once-in-a-lifetime opputunity for many.

The night sky darkened as Emerson Lake & Palmer were making a rare appearance, celebrating the 40th year of their career. The progressive heavyweights gave a dark and moody set, giving me a brain salad surgery. There is no disputing their musicanship, which is needed to bring these songs into life. Keith Emerson, boxed in amongst a cauldron of keyboards, turning around at all angles like a mad professor, sometimes plugging in long leads of wires to bend some notes. Carl Palmer is centre-staged at the back on an orchestra of drums looking at his bandmates not missing a beat. Greg Lake on bass and vocals (who has clearly eaten too many pies in recent years) stands alone in the spotlight.

At times the music sounds like it should accompany silent movies and I could see why punk exploded when it did, destroying this self-indulgent music, but towards the end I was captured by the etheral wall of noise. Orignal ELP fans lapped up every second; younger music fans were left wondering what a load of old pompous twaddle. Myself? I’m off to get an afghan jacket, wear a flowery shirt, have a smoke and talk to the birds and trees.

Now Click Here to find photos of Day Two in the BareFoot FotoBlog!

Bachman Turner set list: Roll On Down The Highway / Rock Is My Life, This Is My Song / Not Fragile / Hey You / Rollin’ Along / Stayed Awake All Night / American Woman / Slave To The Rhythm / Four Wheel Drive / Sledgehammer / Let It Ride / Taking Care Of Buisness / You Ain’t Nothing Seen Yet

Argent set list: The Coming Of Kohoutek / It’s Only Money / Keep On Rolling / Rejoice / Liar / She’s Not There / I Don’t Believe In Miracles / Since You’ve Been Gone / Hold Your Head Up / God Gave Rock And Roll To You

Emerson Lake Palmer set list: Karn Evil 9 pt2 / Barbarian / Bitches Crystal / Touch And Go / Knife Edge / Take A Peeble / Tarkus / From The Beginning / Lucky Man / Farewell To Arms / Pictures At An Exhibition ..encore.. Fanfare For The Common Man