Friday 08/06/07 Day One @ Download Festival, Donington Park

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It’s hard not to be impressed when an entire race track is converted into what can only be described as the biggest and best heavy music festival in Europe, if not the world. It’s Friday, June 8, and that’s exactly what’s happened to Donington Park; courtesy of Download Festival 2007. As Gigwise eyes up the line-up for the first day of this three-day mosh-fest, it comes to our attention that the organisers this year have struck a particularly unique balance. Taking a look at the main stage acts, featuring heavy metal heroes such as Megadeth and Dragonforce, the decision to place “emo” rockers My Chemical Romance as headliners seems a rather peculiar one. Only time will tell whether or not they’ll be able to hold their own against such distinguished company…

The weather looks promising, the tent only takes five minutes to erect and the VIP bar is teeming with rock stars and groupies alike; the stage is set for a fine opening day to one of the most anticipated festivals of the year.

Gigwise decides to start the day with a look at a band making their Download debut this year, Scotland-based emotronica outfit Drive-By Argument. Sure, they’re on at 1pm, and sure, most people haven’t even got through the arena gates yet, but these guys play their hearts out regardless, wowing a less than huge crowd with their electronica-infused indie rock numbers such as ‘The Sega Method’ and their sells-like-hotcakes single ‘Sex Lines Are An Expensive Comedy’. They may not be the most well known band, but for their first ever festival performance they do a bang-up job.

We stop to take in the sights and sounds of the main arena, having now been filled to the brim with festival-goers. Never before have so many My Chemical Romance t-shirts been seen at any one place at any one time. We can’t fail but be impressed by the blend of 6-inch heel toting goth-metallers followed by the swoopy-hair of the new “emo kids”, all thrown in with a nice helping of the garishly green t-shirts of the (approx) 200 strong workforce of the festival bars. It’s a swarming mass of folks, and luckily for us, the sun has got his hat on and he’s coming out to play (or watch as the case may be).

Gigwise then takes to the main stage to enjoy an electrifying performance by returning rock royalty Buck Cherry; and after their three year hiatus they’ve certainly not lost any of their talent or on stage presence. Much like their new album did for their popularity, their performance invigorates the crowd as they fill Donington Park with their modern rock with a classic edge, giving us superb renditions of songs such as their most recent single ‘Crazy Bitch’.

After a short refuel in the bar, we head off to see metal monsters Megadeth, who never fail to rouse the crowd into a frenzy of pounding fists and headbanging mosh-pits.  After their furious performance, it’s almost a welcome break to see emo-rockers Saosin play their hearts out on the Dimebag Darrel stage (which, it has to be noted, has a fantastic PA system that lends a beefy sound regardless of who is playing). It’s a shame that certain members of the crowd (those in the ‘emo sucks’ corner) can’t seem to keep their criticisms to themselves; regardless, Saosin do a commendable job, despite a shaky start from vocalist Cove Reber.