Not Quite Fireman Sam
Wales is known for many things. There are the sheep, Fireman Sam and ever since The Stereophonics – we’ve had Welsh rock. The year was 2002 and nu-metal had just about peaked when Welsh boys Lostprophets gave Wales another reason to remain on the map.
Fresh from a performance at the K! Day of Rock, the 'prophets are back to play Leeds 2004 and it’s almost as if great things are expected. The press have hyped up Lostprophets so much that you can feel a sense of anticipation hanging over the main stage. One problem… expectations don’t always materialise.
Sauntering on stage twenty minutes late it may well be the wind, the mixing or, shock-horror, the band themselves that cause what can only be described as painful noise to spew from the PA. Ian Watkins’ vocals are raspy, cringe-worthy and weak dragging down the entire bands performance. The rest of the band manage to put out killer riffs and work as one – it’s just a shame that Ian lets them down.
Musically, they work – and they are one of Wales’ best exports. The problem comes when they’re expected to perform in this kind of situation. Like Sum 41, they simply can’t cut it and their own high profile is part of their downfall.
Worth watching? Yes – but make sure you catch them in somewhere intimate. If you get a chance to see them indoors you can expect great things. Some bands just aren’t meant to play at festivals and lostprophets are one of those bands.