Download has pretty much become the official start of summer for me with 2011 being my third trip to the festival. This year our group had dwindled a little to just two, myself and Neil, aka ginger and beard (as dubbed by the leader of Ginger Lovers Anonymous), and “the gammon guys” (as dubbed by some random guy who saw our gammon on the BBQ... mmm gammon). We headed down on the Thursday evening, set up camp, found some random guy almost dead,  cooked pork chops and did some drinking. Bring on Friday...

First band up was CKY. A lot of people I know have raved about CKY in the past but I’ve never really taken the time to listen to them. Turns out they are pretty good. Their song 96 Quite Bitter Beings, to me, was one of tunes that you know even if you don’t know how. Their set was pretty solid and was a sound start to the weekend. 

Next up was Puddle of Mudd who I remember very well from high school but they haven’t done anything since. I was definitely looking forward to these guys. They were just as I remembered. They played all the songs I could really remember except for Blurry but in any case that's a bit of a soft song and they didn’t have much time. The highlight of Puddle of Mudd had to be singing along to She (Fucking) Hates Me! 

Black Stone Cherry were next. Like CKY I knew people who raves about this band and yet I’ve been kinda hidden from them. The only song I really knew preceding their set was Lonely Train, which I had discovered on Download FM in 2010. The first thing I thought was lead singer, Chris Robertson, has a fantastic voice! One of those voices that are spot on every note, every time. The rest of the band and the set as a whole was great. After seeing them live I am definitely a fan. And lucky for me they’ll be in the UK with Alter Bridge this November. A gig I do not want to miss. 

By now it was time for lie down in the field with a beer and some chill music courtesy of Thin Lizzy. They played some classics including Boy are Back in Town, Jailbreak and Whiskey in the Jar, a song I thought was made popular by Metalica but was first done by Thin Lizzy. The set... well I wasn’t particularly paying attention (I was too busy getting burnt) but I enjoyed what I heard. 

My favourite band of the moment and the main reason I really wanted to go to Download this year, Alter Bridge, were on the main stage. I absolutely love Alter Bridge. Since the release of AB III you’ll rarely catch me listening to anything else. Myles Kennedy’s voice and the talent of the guys behind him make for a very special band. They started the set with Slip to the Void, as they did last year. During their performance of Ghost of Day Gone By I actually got goose bumps. They were the highlight of Download for me and knowing they’ll be back in November (with Black Stone Cherry) was icing on cake. 

The Darkness were the penultimate band on the main stage. They haven’t been around for a while but they are hard band to forget really. Now they are back and Justin Hawkin is looking so much like Freddie Mercury. Although I wasn’t particularly bothered about seeing The Darkness they were pretty damn good. I surprisingly recognised everyone of their songs. I was going to see Times of Grace with Neil but decided again it as I was enjoying The Darkness. 

After not going waiting to see the start of Times of Grace I did head down to catch the last 25 minutes or so. Neil had been telling me I’d enjoy them because they are so like Killswitch Engage (they do have KSE’s original singer and guitarist, I believe). He was right. I did enjoy them. After the first song of theirs the crowd was chanting “KILLSWITCH! KILLSWITCH!” for obvious reasons but after a talking to they moved on to Time of Grace. Hearing another bands name during your set must be disapointing for the members that weren’t in said band. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoy their set and was listening to them when I started this post (now I’m on Alter Bridge). 

Friday’s headliner was Def Leppard. They are a very well know band who I couldn’t recall a single song of theirs as I’ve never listened to them really. Actually that’s a lie, I knew Pour Some Sugar on Me but I didn’t know that was what they actually sang, I only knew the tune. We stuck around for Def Leppard but neither of us were particularly into it. In all honesty we should have gone to see Pendulum, however we didn’t as we both had seen them before and thought we’d give Def Leppard a try. The was reinforced when we decided to volt from Def Leppard early and walked past the second stage which was going absolutely mental! Oh well. I hope that doesn’t sound like I dislike Def Leppard, I just didn’t get into them. Maybe next time I have a chance to see them I’ll brush up on their back catalogue. 

The day as a whole was great. The sun had been shinning and it was back to camp for gammon.

After only becoming an fan of Alter Bridge about a year ago, this was still the gig I had really been waiting for. Tickets came on sale about six months before and I had been excited about it all the while. Their new album, AB III, came out only the week before and is amazing. So it was all go for a fantastic gig. 

Supporting Alter Bridge was Slaves to Gravity. These guys look like a bunch of physics students (and with a name like that I’m betting they are) who got together to make some music. Slaves to Gravity didn’t make much of an impression on me but to be totally honest I was only there for Alter Bridge.

Having only one support act meant Alter Bridge were next. They kicked off the opening track of AB III (Slip to the Void). It was a show and a half. Every song they played was played perfectly. Myles Kennedy’s voice sounds even better live than on their albums and talent on stage with him didn’t play a bum note. There were two acoustic songs played (Blackbird and Wonderful Life). The hairs on the back of my neck were standing up during Wonder Life. I managed to record Wonderful Life. It’s well worth a listen.

Their whole set was perfect even though they didn’t play the three songs that originally got me into Alter Bridge in the first play. They are Broken Wings, In Loving Memory or Down To My Last. But the gig was still perfect which just shows how many great songs they have.

Next time they, play I’m there!

YES!!! Alter Bridge are going to be doing several shows in the UK this October. It was only September last year (2009) I really listen to them. I was defending my love of Creed to a friend and as so often happens Alter Bridge was brought up. After listening to Broken Winds, In Loving Memory and Down To My Last I was hooked. These three songs come in that order on One Day Remains and just complimented each other perfectly.

Alter Bridge have got everything a rock bands needs. Strong vocals, talented musicians, heavier songs, softer songs and the hard hitting ballads that you want to sing along with but can't keep that note long enough. They are fantastic and almost instantly made it on to my must see list.

The tour announcement made my day and to top it off Creed's twitter posted "2010 Tour - http://ow.ly/1yoGe  - See you there?". What a tease! Creed are on that must see list of mine, only second to Pearl Jam. There aren't any details of a UK tour but there's got to be one. It'll probably be late 2010 or more likely early 2011. It was a good day for music.

Alter Bridge quickly became one of my favourite bands of all time after only being introduced to them in September 2009. In Loving Memory is one of the most beautiful songs ever. Written by Mark Tremonti (lead guitar) after his mother past away. In the performance below you can see what it means to him. Myles Kennedy's voice fits it perfectly.