First to the stage were Californian band Hed PE the band formed in the 90s are known for their eclectic blend of music fusing punk, rap and reggae. The band were keen to get the evening off to an electric start with vocalist Jared Gomes and bassist Kurt Blankenship swinging their arms in a circular motion indicating they wanted the crowd to mosh. This was further emphasised when the band stopped mid track and Gomes addressed the crowd “Anybody want a pit. I know we are the opening band but don’t treat us like the opening band” to which the audience obliged.
The band were animated on stage and continued to get the crowd involved at every opportunity. A funny moment occurred when Gomes attempted to address those assembled by the town name and slightly mispronounced it which led to a call and response from the crowd shouting Margate back at him.
As a song came to a close Gomes picked up his beer and says cheers, takes a drink and announces “I’m going to need your help with this one”. “Now when I say bitch you say get the fuck out.. We are going to practise.” Those gathered were more than happy to participate.
The set took a more reggae turn when Gomes pulled out his melodica to cover Bob Marley’s Get up, Stand up.
At the end of the track Gomes thanked the crowd for being so kind to Hed PE and thanked the other bands on the line up for having them. As the set came to a close Gomes announced “We have time for 1 more. After I’ll meet you over there and you can buy a T-shirt for £10 and I’ll pull the sleeves off for free.”
The band finished to huge applause and they had very much set the tone for what was to follow.
Next up were newly reformed LA Nu Metalers Spineshank. The band had been on hiatus for a number of years and long serving members Jonny Santos, Roberts Garcia and Tommy Decker were joined by new guitarists Tommy Decker Jr and Chimaira founder Jason Hagar. At one stage during the set Santos commented “As I said it’s been 20 years (the last time they played the UK) and a few things have change to my left Tommy Decker Jr, we made that. He’s handsome we are old, I’m fat.”
As part of the tour the band were playing their Height of Callousness album in its entirety it didn’t take long for the crowd to be rocking when the band played their massive hit Synthetic. From my advantageous position right in front of Santos I was screaming my lungs out having been singing the song since its first release. I was not alone as I could hear the crowd behind me doing the same.
Santos asks, “How many of you seen Spineshank before?” A few cheers are heard. “Who is seeing for first time?” Which is met with a massive cheer. Santos then uttered the sentence that led to security having to call for reinforcements, “Where are the crowd surfers at?” What ensued was the most and most quickly put up crowd surfers I had ever seen at a smaller venue. The crowd members were launching themselves over barrier only prevented from injury by the fast reactions of the experienced security team.
The highlight of the set was the bands rendition of their most popular track New Disease. The song that has over 31 million plays on Spotify was sung with gusto by the crowd after being told by Santos “I want you to sing the words, you know this one”. The crowd surfers were also back putting security back on their toes.
After the band finished the debut album in full they delivered several other of their songs from follow up albums.
The crowd got their torches out for a more atmospheric feel and later a crowd surfer wave came again and Santos reached out to fist bump those coming over the barrier.
Finishing the set with another mosh pit, Spineshank delivered a power set, and I can’t wait to see them again when they return for Download festival in the summer of 2026.
Setlist: 1. Asthmatic, 2. Synthetic, 3. Can’t be Fixed, 4. Cyanide 2600, 5. Playgod, 6. Malnutrition, 7. Seamless, 8. Negative Space, 9. Transparent, 10. New Disease, 11. Height of Callousness, 12. Smothered, 13. Violent Mood Swings, 14. Beginning of The End, 15. Detached, 16. Dead to Me
Third up were headliners Drowning Pool. The Dallas based quartet that comprises founding members guitarist C.J. Pierce, drummer Mike Luce, bassist Stevie Benton as well as Ryan McCombs in his second stint as vocalist for the band.
The band were highly energetic from the start with the crowd head banging from the get-go. After initial two tracks Sinner and Feel Like the band exploded with Step Up. The atmosphere in the room went up a level with Pierce’s distinctive bends and squealing guitar sound. The crowd sang along as they head banged to the fast-paced track.
“It’s been way too long since Drowning Pool has toured the United Kingdom. Thanks for taking time out of your lives”, was the address from the band before “Margate make some noise” to which the audience obliged.
Mid way through the set the band did a fantastic cover of Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell. The cover was well received with the crowd in full voice which included McCombs letting them sing by themselves as they were so loud.
Not long after a mosh pit started up followed by crowd surfers continuing the active participation that all the bands had enjoyed from the audience on the night. The mood took a more emotional turn for Tear Away and people pulled out their phones and swayed their torch lights.
After penultimate song Reminded came arguably the highlight of the evening when not only the support acts but also visiting act Nonpoint joined Drowning Pool on stage for their most famous track Bodies. The song that has been used by films such as Jason X and companies such as WWE has nearly 700 million plays on Spotify and from this performance it’s no surprise why. Whilst the accompanying acts sang on stage McCombs made his way into the crowd for their finale.
What a way to finish 4 top acts all on stage together delivering a track about brotherhood in a mosh pit. A fitting end to a fantastic evening.
Setlist: 1. Sinner, 2. Feel Like, 3. Step Up, 4. Let Sin Begin, 5. Enemy, 6. 37 Stiches, 7. Rebel Yell, 8. Sermon, 9. Pity, 10. Tear Away, 11. Reminded, 12. Bodies
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