Live Review

Groezrock 2011 – Belgium

• 10th May 2011

Going to festivals abroad is always more exciting, not only because the beer is cheaper, but the atmosphere is always so much better. Groezrock was no exception.

Arriving first thing Friday morning, we were greeted by marshalls and long queues everywhere. And no signs. Not even signs in Flemish, it seems the Belgians must know everything?! Tent up, oiling sun on our backs, wristbands sorted we entered the arena. Sounds like the start of a gladiator fight but luckily it wasn’t. well, if it was I came out of it oblivious to the chariots.

Friday was supposed to be my day of taking it easy, but everything seems cheap when you’ve exchanged your money for beer tokens, luckily Rufio distracted me from my ‘what, only €1.66 for a beer’ moments, with a set taking me back to 2004. Cute is What We Aim For however, were much better than I have ever seen them. proper front man in tow, and only playing, it seems, one song of the newest album Rotation, the rest of the first, and the best hits. I understand that it was only 4pm but it still seemed like this was going to be an empty festival, I personally thought that CIWWAF had a large fan base…and then I realised that this was a European METAL festival, not one for pop punk ponces like me.

Anyway, Veara, a band I’d only heard of from looking them up on Spotify (RIP), blew me away. Undoubtedly the best band I’d never heard of across the weekend. Then on to see The Blackout, a band that I have seen frequently over the years, and that never fail to put on a show, no matter who they are playing to. Hell, they could put on a party in a nunnery. Showcasing new album tunes, and Sean Smith (vocals) climbing into the crowd and up a pillar over a circling pit of sweaty boys, meant that this was no exception.

Thursday. A band I should love but just cant get my head round. Anyway, they played their album Full Collapse in full, and it was enjoyable, and fans will be screaming at their computer screens saying how lucky I am that I saw that and it would have been awesome, and I’m sure it was for the busy crowd that was there to see them. it sounded good, they were tight on stage but I still, unfortunately perhaps in the words of Louis Walsh, just don’t get it. Millencolin however I watched with a young man called Alan, now Alan does not have much to add to this tale, I just don’t know where I found him or how our childhood love for this band came about, but I loved every moment of it. For Alan it was about Tony Hawkes, for me it was about CD walkmans on the way to gigs in London, but for both of us it was epic!

Well, I did leave with a few moments to go to go and catch the beginning of Every Time I Die. A noisy band to say the least, but tight, and catchy and drawing in a huge crowd to see them. Rushing from them to catch Further Seems Forever was a great idea. I did, shamefully (and I don’t know why I’m admitting it), spend a good proportion of the set thinking, wow their frontman really looks like Chris Carrabba…it was. He was back in all his FSF glory and it was superb, though not quite as superb as his appearance on Saturday.

August Burns Red were the highlight of the Jagermeister and Monster, and sun filled day, outstandingly spectacular. I can’t find the adjectives to describe how epic this set was, so tight, so electric, so busy and just brilliant! Finally, sacking off Flogging Molly and Morning Again to see Underoath. I am a huge fan it must be said, but I just wasn’t massively keen on the newest two albums, so much to my pleasure their set was mainly from the 3459435048 albums before. Beautiful, serene, sing-along worthy and extraordinarily arrogant set, but totally headliner worthy.

A very late night later, but one without the festivities of British festivals, no late night entertainment, fairground rides or silent discos, we headed in for Streetlight Manifesto. What a way to wake up! So summer spangly the ska band were totally on it and feeling the vibe of the Belgian crowd. Though it was such an international crowd that it feels weird saying that, with a majority of Belgians, and the rest German, French, a load of Brits, all of the international bands addressed the audience in English, making me feel incredibly ignorant really!

Asking Alexandria had the biggest group of girls in the front row I have ever seen. I didn’t even realise there were that many at the festival, and then I saw the boys in the band and wasn’t surprised! Like a Yorkshire Kids In Glass Houses, full of pretty boys in tight jeans with fringes, and calling themselves metalcore, they actually put on a very good show. I don’t know where the crowd had gone for Piebald. Was it lunch time? Were they giving away free things outside? Well for a band of Piebald’s stature I was surprised to see the tent empty. Literally (and yes I do believe they have stature). A good set, cracking out all the hits, but making you feel slightly awkward that they’re looking old and playing to an empty room at the same time. Also did I mention that the bassist looked really like Ron Burgundy?!

To put it briefly, Sugarcult were good, but boring, the crowd seemed bored, they didn’t have much interaction and even ‘Bouncing off the Walls’ wasn’t good enough to get them going. Either the band were losing it, or it was a tough crowd. I’m going with the first, unless it was an entirely new audience for Goldfinger, who totally rocked it. Ska to the core, audience participation, splitting the crowd in half business, seeing who could sing louder, making people dance and to trup it all, some banging tunes perfect for a hot summer sun!

Now, I’m going to admit it, I may have peaked too soon and had a nap in the sun outside the smaller tent listening to Of Mice and Men, but from what I did hear they were good, hardcore and seemingly new to the big crowd scene with awkward chat from the band, but a band I would go and see again when I got home. There were three bands that were the highlight of my weekend though, I don’t care what you judge me as after, but the first of those was Dashboard Confessional. Just Chris Carrabba and an acoustic guitar, it was magical. So beautiful. He worked the emo so very well, through all the hits, old stuff only, but the best bit was halfway through him actually wishing he had a drum kit as the acoustic stuff didn’t keep a beat. Boy Sets Fire changed the tone, hate to use negative words, but totally worst band of the weekend, or biggest let down anyway! Messy, unchoreographed, disorganised, you name it. Not fun. I got so upset by it in fact that I went to emotionally eat some pizza.

The penultimate band for the weekend, was however, the greatest set, from a fantastic band that I have never had the privilege of seeing before. Saves the Day were truly exceptional. It’s not often you get goosebumps from an entire set, but the way they performed as a band, the way Chris Conley sung every note really made it special. Packed out tent, couples smooching, superfans almost crying…and then they played some unreleased songs from their forthcoming album. It was AMAZING. Everyone listened, not a peep in the house, and they songs were excellent too, now it’s not many bands that can pull that off in many places live, especially not at a festival!

To top off this high, The Used came on, stark raving stoned, had a jam, played a medley, literally, of old songs, got confused over who they were and what they were playing but were extremely good fun! ‘Taste of Ink’ went down a treat and everyone seemed to finish on a high. The grand finale for me though was the sound of everyone leaving the tent and the sound of crunching plastic glasses under their feet. That was my only real qualm about the festival – the lack of bins! Now I’m not clean freak but I do fee that I need a bin to throw my cup in to be accessible in the case that I should want to use it.

But Groezrock was exceptional, a real treat, friendly staff, friendly punters and everything just seemed to run effortlessly smoothly, it’s a festival I would do again in the drop of a hat, if only it was longer!