What a daunting sight the Reading stage must be for the first band of the day; the one to break the silence. Counterfeit are more than up to the challenge. Appearing with a new-found love of what they do flowing through them, and a bit more scruffy, to say they blow the cobwebs away is an understatement. Jamie Campbell Bower and co. are every part the studious rock band; whipping about the stage, pummelling forward and even taking in the quieter moments. They blend emotional energy that sits comfortably amongst the hard-rocking ones we all want to lose our shit to.
Against The Current aren’t the first band on Reading’s main stage today, but after what went down the night before, it’s safe to say anyone appearing before mid-afternoon is going to be greeting at least a few bleary-eyed punters still clearing the remains of their blown minds out of their ears. It’s, thankfully, a job they’re pretty much perfectly designed to fulfil. Blossoming into their pop-rock stride, increasingly ATC feel like a band comfortable in their own skin, not trying to be anything they’re not. Bright, shiny and infectious, there’s a lot to like.
Having just flown in from the States – “first day in the UK after two and a half fucking months” – there are no signs that Dinosaur Pile-Up are slowing down as the trio brutally whip the jam-packed tent into a frenzy. It’s nothing short of chaos in The Pit. Thrashing their way through with the unhinged urgency of a band with nothing to lose, Dinosaur Pile-Up never let it get in the way of a good time – holding every moment close to their chest and then launching them for everyone to be a part.
Where do you start to talk about Poppy? If excitement can come from the places where different, dangerous things happen, her appearance at Reading 2019 might well be one for the ages. One thing’s for sure, she’s making a statement. Surrounded by a PVC-clad, fully made up band and greeted by chants of her name, her journey into the louder arts still has the hint of the ridiculous about it. Regardless, nobody could describe it as anything less than absolutely fascinating.
With an almost alarming disconnect, there’s a choice to be made; in or out? A packed crowd makes their decision – departing crusties can be heard proclaiming it “really fucking weird” – but for those that sign up fully, Poppy is nothing short of glorious. Previous poptastic moments are dragged through the dirt, transformed into something far meaner, while cuts from her most recent EP are quite frequently generally bonkers. ‘Scary Mask’ – her recent collab with Fever 333’s Jason Aalon Butler – in particular, feels like a genuine threat. There’s no denying that in an arena full of serious people making earnestly sincere music, Poppy’s arrival is a more than welcome addition.
The behemoth action of Of Mice & Men is unstoppable. Gearing up to release their sixth album, the metalcore five-piece are at Reading to remind everyone just why they’re so bloody good.
It certainly takes something special to compete with a headline set from Twenty One Pilots and make it look like no bother at all. With determined looks upon their faces, Of Mice & Men take to the stage, stoking the brutality inside every onlooker. The moment ‘Warzone’ takes aim, its an onslaught of pyro, a flying shoe (and hobbling owner chasing said shoe), cups and inhibitions.
The circle pit of human atoms colliding is a testament to Of Mice & Men’s visceral energy. With every goading “open this shit up!” from prowling frontman Aaron Pauley, it’s dutifully met with even more cheering chaos.
They even drop in a handful of new cuts from forthcoming ‘Earth&Sky’, including ‘Mushroom Cloud’ (getting a roaring reception after being introduced as a song “about losing your fucking mind”) and the titular track. They’re all resoundingly received; where a usual lull would meet this move, it’s all more power to the beast. One thing’s for sure, Of Mice & Men know how to make the most of a moment.
