Glastonbury Festival – at Worthy Farm – Pilton, England

One of this year's headlining acts was causing a major controversy - Metallica, a brave choice by Michael Eavis. Heavy metal was coming to the Pyramid stage, where so far no metal band had graced the stage.

The previous day lightning had forced the closure of some area, but when Metallica took to the stage there was electricity in the air.

It started with a Julien Temple video about deceased actor Eli Wallach, which then turned into a video about fox hunting. This was this a dig at the UK as there had been a petition to try and get the band removed from playing due to James Hetfield's recent controversy of narrating a documentary about bear hunting. The video ended with four bears wielding rifles shooting the fox hunters, when the bear masks were removed it revealed the four members of Metallica in the costumes. A huge roar went up and the screen said "Are you ready for Glastallica?" James Hetfield strolled on to the stage to say "we are proud to be here and bring the heavier side of music to Glastonbury".
There wasn't as big a crowd as the previous night's headliner Arcade Fire, but there was still a healthy draw to see them. As soon as they started "Creeping Death" metal was finally here, the crowd was really getting into it by the second song "For Whom The Bell Tolls".
In between songs Hetfield said how grateful they were to be there and represent the heavier side of music. They have apparently been wanting to play for years. As a band that has played most places coming up with something that you haven't done must be quite a rarity. "Master of Puppets", "Nothing Else Matters" and "Enter Sandman" all had the crowd singing along. The band went off and came back on to do Thin Lizzy's "Whisky in a Jar". They released loads of Metallica beach balls into the crowd to throw about which was great fun.

Other highlights were:

Manic Street Preachers - it had been a while since the Manics had played Glastonbury. They were straight in with "Motor Cycle Emptiness" which was quickly followed by "Your Love Alone is Not Enough". Nicky Wire was jumping all over the place, 20 years after their Glastonbury debut they were on form as the sun was going down.

Robert Plant- it was absolutely pelting down with rain when Robert Plant started, but it was a must see show with everyone hoping for some Led Zepplin classics. We only got one, "Whole Lotta Love" but his distinct vocals make it worth while.

Anti Flag - legendary US punk quartet brought some fiery anthems and political songs to the festival. I only caught 3 songs but they were sounding good, loads of fast played guitars and jumping about.

Maxi Priest - I legged it up to the Gully stage for 11pm for the Maxi Priest gig, only to be kept waiting for them to do a 40 minute soundcheck. Finally they came on and we were hoping for some relaxed reggae vibes, but what we got was "Wild World" and "Some Guys Have all the Luck". They are classics but Maxi kept putting his guitarists on the speakers to play solos, which to me seemed more rock than reggae. I left early disappointed.

　
Yoko Ono - I could see 81 year old Yoko standing at the side of the stage, dancing about looking excited about being there. She came out and and launched into a rant about fracking and looking after your country that our ancestors saved for us. She was literally screaming down the mic, with vocals added in now and then. There were no sing alongs here, it was experimental, sometimes quite zany, and was one of those must see shows but once would probably be enough.

Dolly Parton - This was easily the most anticipated gig of the whole festival, and Dolly drew in the biggest crowd of the weekend. She did not disappoint, with her dry humor and clear vocals she put on an excellent show. Despite playing a few new songs the crowd were kept happy with her classics.

"Jolene" was fun and "9 to 5" was obviously a hit. She even played a song which was written that morning and inspired by the festival. Entitled "Mud" it went down a treat with everyone singing along! As an extra surprise Richie Sambora from Bon Jovi fame joined Dolly on stage for her rendition of "Lay Your Hands on Me". She finished off with "I Will Always Love You", which she actually wrote.

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 

-Dod Morrison-
Big Wheel Overseas Staff Reporter

 

 

 

 

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We Need To Talk

We need to talk. They say history repeats its self, that things move in cycles, and there's some shit happening right now that I've seen before. I know how it ends, and it needs to stop.

A few weeks ago I was at a show here in Boston. The show was of a much loved, much respected band who's been active since 1976. This is a band who I've personally witnessed turn an ugly seething crowd from anger to joy, covered in streamers and glitter. This is a band I've seen play more than 25 times in multiple countries, and never seen anything but smiles. Until last night.

Last night I watched as a small group of people shut a show down. I watched as a band were booed and insulted for caring about the safety and well-being of all the fans present, not just some meat-head idiots who thought they had a right to do whatever they wanted. I watched as this band explained that the night before, in similar circumstances, a kid broke his neck at their show in NYC, and pleaded with both the crowd and the venue staff to not let that happen again. I watched the crowd respond by pelting them with glass bottles, and the staff do nothing. I watched people in the crowd start to shout racist shit at the band, and go out of their way to hurt people in the crowd who weren't dancing, and didn't want to be involved, knocking them down, and stepping on them rather than picking them up. I saw people rush the stage to shove band members *while they were still playing*, and staff continue to do nothing until a fight erupted and the show was shut down.

I then listened to people call the band "pussies", "faggots" and demand their money back. After a set that lasted more than an hour. After no one did anything to help the situation. Because they thought it was the band who didn't "act Punk Rock".

I'm disgusted. I'm ashamed. And I'm telling you guys we've got a problem.

If you've been listening to internet chatter, you can probably guess who which show i was attending. Maybe you were there, maybe you think you've read enough to know what happened, maybe you saw something else. I don't care. Because this isn't an isolated incident. Festivals and shows around the country are being shut down or scaled back because of people intent on ruining things for everyone else. Punk Rock Bowling saw disgusting behavior this year, including someone shitting in the pool, and no one would be surprised if no one wants to have punk rockers back again next year. If we let things go on this way, we're going to lose every venue, every festival, and every show. We are going to lose every goddamn thing.

News and public media promote the idea that Punk rock is, at it's core, mindless destruction. Self destruction, property destruction, what have you. You and I know that's not true. We love punk rock because it's a music that speaks to all of us. It's a space for the weirdos, the free thinkers, the artists, the off beat, and the passionate to come together. And it's a space where we take care of each other. We have to. No one else will. When someone falls in the pit, you pick them up. You don't fucking swan dive on top of them. And you don't fucking kick them when they're down. Throwing glass, starting fights, trying to hurt people, screaming "faggot" and being racist, none of that shit is punk rock.

I probably go to 150 gigs in a slow year. I've been in this area a long time. A lot of the kids causing trouble last night I've never seen at a show before in my life. I'm not advocating for no new guys, and I'm certainly not advocating for vigilante mob justice, because nothing kills venues faster than fights, but there's a lot of misinformation out there, and we have to do something about it. Talk to people. Meet the new kids. Make it clear that we're ALL here to have a good time. And that means not hurting each other. It means respecting that bands are people, not dancing puppets to be shit on, and the same for other people in the audience. It means promoters being actively involved, and making sure there's appropriate staff at shows, and making sure people trying to start trouble are removed before they get the chance. It means supporting decisions that keep people from being permanently disabled, or even killed, and not lashing out at performers or venues for your own shitty behavior.

The Agitators said it best: "If you're here to have a good time, welcome to the show. If you're gonna be an asshole, we'd rather see you go."

 

-Jo Problems-

Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 

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Jesse Wagner – Happy Wags

Fans of the Aggrolites over the years have come to adore the band and their live performances, mixing their unique Dirty Reggae sound with versions of timeless Jamaican classics.

But one song always stood out at live shows, the E.K. Bunch sing- along “Banana”. With the real meaning of the song Banana still drawing a few chuckles years later, it still remains a wildly popular song to sing to live. Adapted for the bands 2007 appearance on the hit television show ‘Yo Gabba Gabba!’the classic- turned kids song, has no doubt help parents years later in teaching their children the importance and fun in eating healthy fruits.

Taking it one step beyond,talented front man Jesse Wagner has brought his guitar with him and written “Happy Wags”a whimsical journey through key childhood life lessons. As some parents, new and old, have come to find out, the library for children’ s music is painfully mundane,and all too annoying. And heavens help you if your child finds him or herself among The Wiggles faithful. Enter Happy Wags,a wonderfully crafted 9-track album that destroys all previous notions of what children’s album should or could be.

Harnessing his own roots and influences, Happy Wags touches on several different musical styles from your Ska/ Reggae infused tracks like ‘Use Your Words’and ‘Pee- Pee In The Potty’to 80’s R&B and country folk style songs. Parents and children will no doubt enjoy Jesse Wagner and his powerfully soothing vocal style, as he stresses the importance of the little things children must learn and some adults have seem to have forgotten over the years, like Pee-Peeing in the Potty (instead of around it) as made painfully clear by venuebathrooms across the U.S.

‘Happy Wags’ offers a wide array to the developing child mind,from a innocent yet catchy animal sound sing-a-long in “The Lion The Snake & the Monkey”leaving Old McDonald and his wimpy barn, showing kids the fun and wonder of the jungle as they hiss and roar to the Harry Belafonte style tune.Even incorporating a Ramones style punk tune kids will jump and spin to as they learn to play with one another, even provoking the punker turned parents out there to throw on some old leathers and join them.With old friend and fellow Aggrolite, Jeff Rofredo, jumping in on the fun, there is even a bass happy rock-a-Billy style song about chewing, and taking your baths.

Aside from the valuable learning lessons for children that Happy Wags offers, the clear upside to this album is the replay value for the parents! Its precisely crafted and engineered to satiate the parents musical palate as well, your little bundle of energy may not yet be familiar with Traditional Ska, Reggae, Rock-A-Billy or Soul but you are,and that goes along way as you will find yourself singing along with your pride and joy, and only further deepening the pivotal parent child bond.

Jesse Wagner knocks it out of the park with this album and may prove a key-learning tool in your child’s progression and devolvement.And most likely will end up in your music library as well. The album is slated for release on June 10t h through Asian Man and Fun Fun Records. Do yourself and your kids a favor and be sure to snag a copy.

 

-Gio Van Dam-
Big Wheel Contributor
 

 

 

 

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Band Spot Light: Johnny Madcap And The Distractions

June's spotlight is a band that is an amazing representation of the LA local music scene. When the band Madcap stopped playing in 2005 Johnny Madcap the band's main songwriter and singer was left a bit disillusioned by the record industry and fairly fed up with LA's scene of who's who's and who's not's.

So later that year he decided to pack up his things and move to California's high desert. Like an outlaw on the run he disappeared into an environment that was sheltered from the big city where the only bright lights you'd see were the stars in the sky. Always writing songs he spent his nights guitar in hand writing whatever poured out of his, at the time, tortured soul. A few years later one of these nights were not like the rest. While at his house strumming around on a catchy little chord progression he started singing a line over and over "I need some distractions, I wanna go dancin', I wanna turn it way up loud tonight!". That was a song called Distractions and was the first of 10 songs he would write that night. 

From sunshine to rain the songs poured out of him and seemed to click for the first time in a long time. Like any outlaw the outlaw life comes calling again and if that's what you are you accept it. Johnny had no problem with this. He moved back to his hometown of Los Angeles with a suitcase of songs but no band to play them. Out of the scene for a few years the landscape had changed and his particular brand of Elvis Costello styled pop anthems had taken a back seat to an emo/screamo type of aggressive screaming style rock that had taken over and the haircuts were now certainly longer than what he was rocking. But a good outlaw needs a good gang and so Johnny searched on into all the alleyways and dark places he could find for three. The three that would be able to turn these songs into a reality and create the gang he always wanted. The kinda gang that would follow him into the fire. He knew he had that gang when he found Justin chester on bass, Jan Michael Benesch on drums and Patrick James Guerrero on guitar. Together they became Johnny Madcap and The Distractions!

Photo By Jessica Moncrief

The bands first show in Los Angeles at The now defunct Key Club was sold out. Since then the band has toured the country and shared the stage with such acts as Flogging Molly, The Bouncing Souls, The Descendents, The Addicts, The Toasters and many more. A Distractions show is a sweaty mess of dancing, drinking, screaming and singing your heart out. Life is too short to care too much and Johnny Madcap and The Distractions are the perfect soundtrack to accompany that sentiment.

Everyone that comes to a Distractions show is immediately accepted into their dysfunctional family of not the who's who's and the who's not's anymore but the who cares. Johnny Madcap and The Distractions are a party on CD, on vinyl and definitely on stage. The band is bringing back the danger as well as the heart and soul of rock 'n' roll and not to mention the songs are some of the catchiest you will hear. Anthems for anyone whose ever been broken and need to belong to something again. Well we have a gang for you to join. Johnny Madcap and The Distractions are looking for someone to make bad decisions with. Is it you?

The band has just finished recording their new record which will have a release date this summer. You can find all their previous releases on itunes, amazon, spotify, etc.... and if you'd like to order merch click  HERE.

You can catch the band Friday June 20th at The Redwood in Downtown LA for Johnny Madcap's birthday party. This is gonna be wild! come out and experience what the Distractions do best and that's rock. Keep up with Jonny Madcap and The Distractions on Facebook HERE.

 

 

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