Reading Festival, 2012 - Part Two

In the run-up to Reading Festival rumours had been flying around concerning Green Day. We pretty much knew that they would be playing on the Saturday but we didn't know when until, while sat being bored at camp, we heard 'Welcome To Paradise' blare out from the NME tent. POOP! We had to leg it there, missing several songs (although most of them seem to have been new ones I didn't know).


As you can see, we still got pretty close! Although our view was blocked by one of the tent supports so we could only see a sliver of stage. But still. It's GREEN DAY. And lots of people weren't even allowed into the area surrounding the tent, so we were pretty lucky!


Obviously they were really good, as always. I last saw them back in 2005 and I was not disappointed!

The only problem with seeing Green Day so early in the day is that it's far too much to live up to. Back at Main Stage I caught the end of Los Campesinos! and Blood Red Shoes. I had planned on seeing Pure Love over at NME but I've seen them before so I thought I'd be adventurous!

I did however head over to NME alone to see Twin Atlantic as I'd read in Kerrang! that they're like old-school Biffy Clyro and I stupidly thought I'd love them. LOLNOPE. Would have been okay but some bits they were too much of a rip-off only their riffs were weak and the singer's voice was crappy compared to Simon Neil's. Most people's voices are crappy compared to Simon Neil's. I'll have to give them a fairer chance at a later date, but now the comparison is in my mind I don't think they'll ever win me over.

Rejoined my little group of loners at Main Stage for the utter shite that is OFWGKTA, followed by The Shins. Lost my group during Enter Shikari, who aren't really my thing but I purposely avoided them last year so I thought I'd give them a go.

Went for a wander to find water, circling the NME tent during Billy Talent who sounded pretty awesome and then heading back to Main Stage to catch a bit of The Vaccines who were much less awesome. Should have stayed at NME.

But I'd wanted a decent spot for the next act, Florence and the Machine. Though their pretty back-boards were all I could see really as it was pretty packed.


They were really good, but I didn't enjoy it too much as it rained a lot and I was absolutely freezing! Though nowhere near as cold as I was last year, so just about bearable. Main complaint is that they didn't play Drumming Song which is easily their best song Dx

I stayed where I was for Kasabian, who blew me away. I'd seen them do a short set at Live Earth a few years back and while I vaguely liked their singles I'm not really a fan. But the crowd were amazing and it was a really great show. Probably my surprise highlight of the weekend! I even managed to dry out a little from jumping about. Glad I chose to see them instead of chancing At The Drive-In.


Sunday morning loners! Looking a little worse for wear after all the rain on Saturday. And yeah I guess they'd been drinking for 3 days straight by this point! I decided to join in that morning as it was sunny and nice a few cans of cider seemed to be in order.

Had to go to the arena by myself as couldn't convince anyone else to come with me. As such I missed the first few songs of Of Monsters And Men's set on the NME stage, which is a shame as they're a really good band and even better live.


At least I didn't miss the song 'Little Talks' as it's the only one I know well!

Afterwards I bought a pint of cider as I didn't feel too tipsy after the two cans I'd had and I wanted to have a good amount of alcohol in me for Möngöl Hörde's set just in case it was rough! Caught a bit of Flatliners when I got to the Lock-Up. And then...


Möngöl Hörde! I'd been looking forward to seeing them the most.


And they didn't disappoint. Even though I only went in knowing 4 songs. It seemed pretty tame from where I was, but apparently there was a circle pit and stuff that I totally missed as I didn't want to risk my glasses and I'm a short-ass.


It's a shame this was their last show this year. I'll definitely have to go see them when they tour though. And any sensible person would do the shame *shakes fist threateningly* eheheheh.

With that excitement over I trudged to Main Stage and saw the end of Eagles of Death Metal's set, Gaslight Anthem (who are really good), All Time Low (whose music is good but they're a bunch of immature dickbags). And then Bullet For My Valentine who granted me with my favourite photo of the whole weekend.


SO MUCH WELSH.

Then were the Kaiser Chiefs, and Or somehow found me so I had company for a bit! But I went on a water run after their set and got stuck away from the stage for The Black Keys (I still don't get how they subheadlined as I'd never heard of them and still don't really have a clue who they are). But it cleared up after they left so I got a good spot for...


FOO FIGHTERS! Who of course put on a really good show, and I didn't even get fed up until right at the end of the 2.5 hour set.


However I was stuck behind the four biggest douchebags I've ever known who were drunk and irritating and smoking weed and threw a cup of cider over my bag and threw several cups of piss on the people in front and started a circle pit for just them that meant I had to be saved by another member of camp who luckily happened to be there -_-


Aaaand the fireworks signal the end of an awesome weekend!

I had planned on staying up that night, but after a few minutes I was told I needed to get laid so I promptly fucked off back to my tent and decided that I hate people.

Monday went pretty smoothly, although I wasn't really ready to go home as I wanted more music! Was nowhere near as tired or sore as last year. Ended up catching the train with Ross because Finn left before I even got up despite saying he'd travel back with me =/

Got back home at around midday, looking rough but in one piece! And boy was I ready for a cup of tea, shower, and some food.


And here's some instagram shots of my wristbands and programme.




And I guess that's it for another year! Although I'll only be going again if the line-up is good, unless people convince to go to Download instead (though I doubt they'll succeed as I don't really like metal and there are unlikely to be bands I like there and I have a feeling the crowds would be rougher).

Lolita 30 ~ Day 30 ~ End

Day 30 – A photo of yourself taken today and 3 good things that have happened over the last 30 days.

Sorry, my webcam doesn't work D= so this one from yesterday will have to do!


1 - Meeting other lolitas. Really makes me feel like I'm part of something special as opposed to just a frilly weirdo.

2 - Seeing Foo Fighters! (Was that within the last 30 days?) It reignited my love for music.

3 - Seeing Kanon Wakeshima! Meeting her was great, but seeing her perform was just incredible.

Pictures of me with Kanon =D




Apologies for the delay in posting about Hyper Japan! I've written up about the whole weekend but my photos are still stuck on Rob's camera. If I don't get the pictures within the next few days, I'll post them up bare or just using pictures I find elsewhere.

Foo Fighters, 3rd July 2011

You may not have noticed, but I was actually away from over the weekend and only returned yesterday (I scheduled posts...sneaky mwahahaha).

On Sunday I went to the Milton Keynes Bowl to see the Foo Fighters! It was a very long day out, but luckily the weather was warm. We stupidly left the suncream in the car so we were glad that the sun only came out for a little while. I still got pretty burnt though D=

I didn't take my camera as I didn't want to risk it being confiscated (although everyone else got let in with theirs...why do they print these things on the tickets if they don't mean it?). I got a few blurry photos with my iPhone though.



The view I had! The guy stood up in the photo was really cute, and he looked like Matt Bellamy *drool* but I couldn't stalk a better picture unfortunately. Plus he didn't take his sunglasses off the whole time, even when it got dark...but I go mad for reflective sunglasses baha.

I thought the waiting would be boring, but it was fine as I was quite happy to sit in the warm people-watching. I probably should have gone to find Katie who was also there, but I was worried about getting lost. The journey to the portaloos was rather treacherous, I felt like the shortest person in the world. The only bad thing about the day was my hayfever, which made my whole head burn whenever I breathed. And turns out the reason it was bad all day was because of the idiots in front who chain-smoked through the whole day! Eventually it stopped as my nostrils switched (lol) but I had to turn away during the performance when they lit up to avoid it coming back =/ If only I hadn't had that pain, I could have gone into the crowds and danced and had much more fun, but it was too painful. If I was the kind of person to faint or get nose bleeds I surely would have from the heat in my head, but alas. I just suffered in silence haha.

The first band were okay although I don't have a clue who they were xP The DJ dude between the acts was dire. He wasn't even DJing, just changing CDs and he only played one good song the whole time. The second act was Jimmy Eat World, who I actually saw last time I was at that venue (for Green Day). Neither of my parents recognised any of their songs which frustrated me as at least 4 of the songs they played got radio play when they were released, and we had Futures on in the car for at least 2 weeks when we went to the Cotswolds. Okay, that was 5 years ago, but I generally recognise songs after one hearing so after 2 or 3 hearings I'd never forget them D=

Then there was Biffy Clyro, which was the only reason mum agreed to come (even though she moaned all day about it being outdoors and stuff which is annoying as Rob really likes the Foos and would have enjoyed it much more!). They were good too, although I thought they were better when I saw them last. I want a 'mon the biff' tee, they're so cool!



And then Foo Fighters! I'm not a big fan, but I'll definitely borrow some of their CDs now as they were really good. I also knew most of the songs which was great =D Though we left before the encore to beat the rush out of the car park which was sad, but we did have a 2 hour journey back to the hospice so it was a wise decision.

Now I'm really wanting to go to another outdoor venue. I'm now even more desperate to go to Reading festival. Was tempted to just grab a ticket and go, but I'd be too vulnerable if by myself and no one else seems to be going. So frustrating! I want to see Muse and Frank Turner D=