Episode 2 of the 2024 RED CRUST FEST report, in which we look at the first full day, and we ponder the existence of cover bands.
Before we get to the meat of this post, I want to take a brief look at 'cover' bands. Straight to the point, I dislike bands who play ONLY covers. I can see why they are invited onto festival bills, as they do attract an audience, especially in that awkward early-afternoon-on-the-first-day spot. I cannot blame festival organisers for that. I can, however, disapprove of bands who waste their obvious skills and talents by playing a predictable selection of 'popular classics'. I DO understand that many of the musicians in these bands ALSO play in bands who do original material. In which case, that's what they SHOULD do. This is my opinion. You have yours, whatever that might be.
But there other bands, like those below, who play a mix of covers and originals. I get that. They are young and talented, and are finding their own way. But they need to play SOMETHING while they are refining their OWN thing, and there are worse ways of learning your craft than trying to reproduce the work of the 'masters'. Yes, that usually means a lot of Metallica and Queens of the Stone Age, but hopefully that will pass once they have enough of their own material. In the meantime, they DO bring a good crowd of fans/friends/family/class-mates through the door, and that can only be a good thing.
VENUE: THE MASH HOUSE
Line-up:
PERMACRISIS: The first of the weekend's talented young hopefuls. Lots of covers, a few originals. Really good guitarist. Fond of Metallica.
GASLIGHT: I don't know if GASLIGHT are on Facebook, but if they are they need to make themselves easier to find. All I come up with is an American hardcore band, a retro covers band from Worthing, and the fucking Gaslight Anthem.
Anyway. Another talented 'work in progress'. Like PERMACRISIS, lots of covers, a few originals, and fond of 80s/90s thrash metal. Need more experience, more original songs and a better name.
LUXERA: Third of the 'new kids'. No shortage of skill, attitude and pointy guitars. Once again, clearly fans of old school thrash metal. Once again, need more original songs.
ZERO ONE: The first band of the day old enough to produce some convincing facial hair, and the first to step away from the thrash and into metalcore territory. No video for this one, I'm afraid, because my recording sounded horrible.
KAKIHARA: Local beatdown veterans invading the crowd in their customary style. Last band of the afternoon before we all head off down the steps to LA BELLE for the evening session.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/Re0hCBitdNU https://www.facebook.com/kakihara.life
VENUE: LA BELLE ANGELE
GOBLINSMOKER: RED CRUST favourites, and always good value for money. Slow, grinding doomsludge from Newcastle, telling tales of the Toad King.
CÂN BARDD: Atmospheric and folky black metal from Switzerland, sharing a guitarist with headliners SAOR.
SAOR: Blackened folk metal (folkened black metal?) from our very own Scotland, sharing a guitarist with those Swiss blokes.
That's it from the main stage, but there are after-show shows to attend, for those so inclined. There's something I DON'T want to miss, so I head off to...
VENUE: BANSHEE LABYRINTH:
Line-up:
WREN: Post-sludge of the highest order. As is their usual practice, they played in very low light, hence the scarcity of photographs. I've seen them, I think, five times now and this is the closest up I've ever seen them. Magnificent.
RICHARD KNOX/A-SUN AMISSA: Continuing the 'playing in darkness' theme, A-Sun Amissa (basically RICHARD KNOX with an ever evolving collection of supporting musicians) with some ethereal minimal drone. First time I've ever seen a clarinet player in a band, I reckon.
Perhaps not the ideal band for a gig at this time of night. Excellent stuff, but very soothing and almost soporific. Made me - and others, I think- just want to go home to bed. So I did.
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