Slam Dunk

Hatfield - Sunday 29^th May 2011 

Bands seen: The Skints, Feed The Rhino, Anti-Flag, Bury Tomorrow, Yashin



Yashin

After reading a few facebook posts about the unmanageable queues at Slam Dunk in Leeds, I am happy to say there was none of that at Slam Dunk in Hatfield.  There was a good atmosphere in the queue and at the festival.  The security guards were friendly and helpful, and we got in with plenty of time to spare before The Skints came on stage.  I have been spoilt by seeing them in more intimate venues such as The Maze in Nottingham, so it was strange seeing them outdoors at a festival and so far behind a barrier.  The very talented Marcia still impresses as she not only has a beautiful singing voice, but also plays a different musical instrument in almost every song.  The Skints were a popular start with the early festival crowd.

 

The Skints

Next on my program was Feed The Rhino.  Having seen FTR three times in as many months, I can confidently say that they are consistently AMAZING on stage.  Well, the singer wasn’t always on the stage, transforming from Rhino to monkey; he jumped on top of the speakers and at one point was swinging off the rafter.  Another lively and energetic show from Feed the Rhino.  I bought their Mr Red Eye CD for the drive home, and all it did was make me want to turn round, drag them back on stage and watch them live all over again! 

 

Feed The Rhino



Feed The Rhino

   


Feed The Rhino

We were sitting taking a break between bands, when my son dashed over and insisted we all saw Bury Tomorrow, as he had walked past the Honour and Glory stage and immediately liked the sound of them.  I have to say, they were pretty impressive.   
   

Bury Tomorrow

Anti-Flag had a few sound problems on the Jagermeister stage, but that didn’t stop them.  Dragging the loudspeaker into the crowd for an impromptu sing along, who needs a sound system when you have a crowd who were happy to be vocalists for one of the greatest political punk bands. Other bands might have packed it in, but Anti-Flag were in the crowd creating a very special moment with their fans.  When the sound problems were fixed, the crowd went wild and a mosh pit evolved without any encouragement.  At one point even the drummer and his drum kit were set up in the pit.  One trillion dollars could buy most anything – this memory – Priceless.   

 

Anti-Flag

Yashin have come a long way since I first saw them over a year ago at The Rock in Copenhagen.  I hadn’t heard of them before then, but my choice was a night alone in a hotel room or a night at Copenhagen’s best rock club.  Some things are just meant to be, as I was totally blown away by the sheer talent of these young guys.  They gave their all even though the venue wasn’t particularly full.  I was so impressed with their onstage performance that I texted my son and told him to you tube this band Yashin.  I saw them again in the basement at Rock City when they supported GOTK (and yes I was the only ‘grown-up’ there...).  It was clear then that the fans weren’t just there to see GOTK and that Yashin were growing in popularity.  Nothing however, prepared me for the crowd of screaming I love you jumping pushing teenage girls at Slam Dunk.  The band are heavy enough to appeal to the teenage boys, and cute enough to appeal to the teenage girls. They have finally been discovered by the teenage masses and are now seriously hot stuff.  Yashin are playing at Download and are then supporting Papa Roach on tour (screaming!!!). 

Yashin





Yashin