Lostprophets at Leeds 2010
Coming out to the Main Stage with a gargantuan backdrop that read 'MEGA LOLZ!!!' Lostprophets were met with one of the most expectant crowds of the afternoon. Veterans to the festival circuit, they really knew how to turn it on and produce an amazing show. Having seen them in an auditorium show last year and being bitterly disappointed, it was a very welcome surprise indeed to see them dazzle like they did. And on a completely girlish note, Mr Ian Watkins remains to be an utter dreamboat. So much so that it does deserve noting in a review.
'Can't Catch Tomorrow (Good Shoes Won't Save You This Time)', with possibly the longest song title ever, provided a brilliant opener. A little do-do-do-ing never goes amiss with a crowd that size. People that had been giving their legs a rest to become acquainted with the cold hard ground actually made the effort to stand up, which was certainly progress compared to their participation in some of the earlier sets. Recent single 'For He's A Jolly Good Felon' registered well on a stage that size, the funkier beat to the playful-sounding verses getting people more involved, particularly amongst the strong faithful crowd in the pit.
Naturally, classics 'Burn Burn' and 'Last Summer' went down a storm, hand-clapping aplenty; before some la-la-la-ing was to float into the air, joining the smell of fermenting mud and weed smoke, courtesy of 'A Town Called Hypocrisy'. Ian Watkins proclaimed that he wanted to get everyone dancing as far as the eye could see. Of course any request from that man was thoroughly obliged by myself, and he did have some level of success with the others present too.
Scrumptious anthem 'Where We Belong' came complete with 'Sweet Child O' Mine' intro, much to the crowd's delight; which would be even greater when the lads casually slipped into an unexpected but amazing cover of The Prodigy's 'Omen'. Always good to be kept on your toes, especially if it gives reason for said toes to dance. The thoroughly successful set closed with 'Shinobi Vs. Dragon Ninja', a real blast from their nu-metal past. It would have been good to have got another track from 'The Fake Sound of Progress' given it is what caused so many Lostprophets fans to pledge their loyalty to the guitar-driven lads from the Valleys.
A storming and well-planned set complete with a smattering of surprises from the ever-steadfast Lostprophets.