Good Charlotte, Reel Big Fish, Creeper and more: Slam Dunk 2018, Birmingham - review

The travelling three-day event made its way to the NEC yesterday with more than 50 bands across eight different stages.

Entertainment journalist Becci Stanley looks back on the acts of the day:

The Audition – Monster Energy Stage

More than six years since they disbanded, pop punk heavyweights The Audition reformed to play a stellar set at this year’s Slam Dunk Festival.

Original members Danny Stevens, Seth James and Tim Klepek were joined by Cartel’s Kevin Sanders and Jack’s Mannequin’s Jon Sullivan to perform on the Monster Energy Stage.

From the very first notes of Approach The Bench, Danny’s powerful vocals and infectious dance moves enticed the crowd to shake their heads and hips to every perfect beat.

Despite not playing as a band for so long, The Audition’s set was incredibly unified and boasted soaring guitar hooks, silky-smooth vocals, a rumbling bass line and booming drum beats that never faltered.

The set the group played highlighted the best tracks of their extensive career. From the raging Dance Halls Turn to Ghost Towns and You’ve Made Us Conscious, to the funk-laden Hell To Sell and sunny Don’t Be So Hard, fans were treated to a varied and polished performance.

After their short set at Slam Dunk Festival I can certainly say that I look forward to what the future holds for The Audition.

The Devil Wears Prada – Impericon Stage

Ohio Christian metallers The Devil Wears Prada treated fans at the Impericon Stage to a blistering live performance.

After releasing their sixth full-length album Transit Blues in 2016, the quartet performed a varied set of both new and old tracks.

From the melodic Born To Lose through to the chugging Assistant, to the Regional Manager and To The Key of Evergreen, the group took the audience on a journey through their 13-year career and the change their musical style has seen.

One thing each song had in common however, was an abundance of fans moshing and jumping around, creating a truly thrilling atmosphere.

Ending on Danger: Wildman, The Devil Wears Prada left the crowd breathless with their sweaty, polished and energetic set.

Say Anything – Monster Energy Stage

From the very first notes of Belt, Los Angeles rockers Say Anything had the crowd smiling from ear-to-ear and moving their feet.

Each song the quartet performed, from Woe, to Six Six Six and Baby Girl I’m A Blur, boasted the perfect combination of relatable and memorable lyrics mixed with fun and up-tempo instrumentals that made Say Anything’s set feel more like a family party than a live show.

The energy of the crowd was also matched by the band, with vocalist Max Bemis leaping across the stage for the entire 40-minute set.

Closing their performance on smash hit single Alive With The Glory Of Love, Say Anything made a welcome return to Slam Dunk Festival during a performance in which every single attendee left with a spring in their step.

Creeper – Jägermeister Stage

Goth rising-stars Creeper graced the gigantic Jägermeister Stage at this year’s Slam Dunk Festival and did not disappoint.

Despite only forming in 2014, Creeper controlled the crowd like seasoned musical professionals as they entered the platform through a heavy veil of smoke before storming into fan-favourite track Black Rain.

Eerie lighting accompanied by visceral guitar sections and haunting vocals encapsulated the Southampton sextet’s horror-inspired image, and made for a truly spooky and special show.

Playing this large stage was a gigantic leap for the fledgling band, but Creeper managed to whip up the same raw energy from the crowd that their more intimate shows are renowned for.

Through tracks such as Suzanne to Hiding With Boys and Misery, Creeper delivered a polished and eerie set that made them stand out on such a packed festival bill.

Luke Rainsford – Key Club Acoustic Stage

Birmingham soloist Luke Rainsford took to the Key Club Acoustic Stage to deliver a thought-provoking and emotive set.

The outdoor stage provided the perfect natural scenery for Luke’s descriptive and heartfelt lyrics that made revellers simply passing by on their way to other stages stop and listen for a while.

These words were carried passionately by the singer’s powerful voice and simple acoustic guitar chords that made his set equally as captivating as those laden with pyrotechnics and props.

Simple, raw and moving - Luke Rainsford’s set at Slam Dunk Festival was a cut above the rest.

Twin Atlantic – Monster Energy Stage

Scottish rockers Twin Atlantic brought their vibrant live show to the Monster Energy Stage at this year’s Slam Dunk Festival.

Dressed in a floral shirt and striking red trousers, vocalist Sam McTrusty leapt onto the stage promising to make everyone ‘move their feet’ - and that he did, from the very first notes of Gold Elephant: Cherry Alligator.

His impressive vocal range stunned the audience throughout the entire set, notably through the likes of Make A Beast Of Myself and atmospheric No Sleep.

The quartet remained energetic through their whole performance, which proved to be catching as the crowd resembled a raging wave as each song played.

Ending on Heart and Soul, Twin Atlantic proved a force to be reckoned with as Sam challenged the audience to move even more than they had been previously, and the atmosphere this created was immense.

Polished and lively from start to finish, I hope Twin Atlantic return to the Midlands soon so I can witness another memorable performance.

Rob Lynch – Key Club Acoustic Stage

Solo acoustic artist Rob Lynch has become a regular face on the stages of Slam Dunk Festival, and after seeing his live set, it is easy to see why.

The London-based singer showcased a unique and powerful voice coupled with relatable lyrics that the audience couldn’t help but tap their feet along to.

On top of this, Rob displayed an endearing stage presence as he told the stories behind each of his songs and profusely thanked the audience for taking the time to watch his set.

Each emotive ode was accompanied by beautiful guitar melodies that brought each track to life, adding to the memorable set that took place under the blazing sun at the outdoor stage.

Rob Lynch is certainly an artist to keep an eye on in the future.

Zebrahead – Fireball Stage

Running onto the stage to the sound of America, F*** Yeah, Zebrahead were ready to party.

And that they certainly did through their 45-minute set which resembled a Project X-style house party more than a polished live show.

There were men dressed as beer bottles running across the stage, inflatable beach toys - and sometimes human beer bottles riding those same inflatable beach toys - as the California punks treated fans to an upbeat and hilarious performance.

“Cheer if you think Slam Dunk should have us as a headliner,” vocalist Ali Tabatabaee bellowed, and the quartet showed that they would have what it took to be a main act; packing the entire Fireball Stage area.

Singles Call Your Friends and Hello Tomorrow had the entire crowd whipped up into a frenzy, before closing song Anthem created such a stir that the crowd could even be heard over the sound of the deafening Impericon stage only a few metres away.

Zebrahead provided some of the most fun and memorable moments of the entire festival, and cemented why they still remain relevant after forming more than 20 years ago.

The Skints – Fireball Stage

Zebrahead was a hard act to follow on the Fireball Stage, but London punk/reggae band The Skints stepped up to the challenge.

Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Marcia Richards boasted a heavenly vocal range that worked perfectly alongside the harsh rap stylings of Joshua Waters Rudge.

Through Rat-A-Tat and This Town, the group utilised a variety of instruments including keyboards, electronic samples and the Reel Big Fish horn section, to create a unique and vibrant live performance that proved to be a real stand-out at the festival.

The Skints’ live show was a captivating, dreamy trip created by Marcia’s ethereal vocals and strange musical interludes - and I can’t wait to see them perform again.

Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes – Jägermeister Stage

Former Gallows and Pure Love vocalist Frank Carter is renowned for his raucous on-stage antics, and his new band, The Rattlesnakes, have garnered the same reputation.

Frank and co. did not disappoint at this year’s Slam Dunk Festival as they delivered an energetic set that got the whole crowd involved.

From the first notes of Juggernaut, the Hertfordshire quintet resembled Tasmanian devils as they whipped across the stage effortlessly.

The audience quickly followed suit, with hit tracks Wild Flowers, Snake Eyes and Devil Inside Me creating absolute pandemonium inside the NEC.

Despite Frank’s chaotic stage demeanour, the vocalist regularly interacted with the crowd and promoted a safe environment in which everyone could have fun.

I Hate You marked the end of their set, and left the entire crowd gasping for air as they recovered from the sheer disorder of the Rattlesnakes show.

Taking Back Sunday – Monster Energy Stage

Emo icons Taking Back Sunday made a return to Slam Dunk Festival this year - to the delight of fans.

As the lights dimmed and screams echoed around the Monster Energy Stage, the first chords of You Know How I Do rang out and the New York quintet took to the stage in a flurry of energy.

Despite this passion, their strong sound began to wane, causing the iconic choruses of hits Liar (It Takes One To Know One), Error: Operator and What’s It Feel Like To Be A Ghost? to have a weak impact.

The sound seemed to improve as the set continued however, with Flicker Fade, Tidal Wave and Cute Without the ‘E’ inciting the whole room to jump up and down and scream along to the anthemic lyrics.

“We don’t want to leave this stage,” vocalist Adam Lazarra told the crowd.

“You belong to us and we belong to you. Those are some wise words from Boyz II Men you know.”

Taking Back Sunday had an instant rapport with their fans, which created an electrically-charged atmosphere despite earlier sound problems.

Ending on Make Damn Sure, Taking Back Sunday closed their Slam Dunk appearance on a high.

Reel Big Fish – Fireball Stage

After a wildly successful set last year, Reel Big Fish returned to Slam Dunk Festival to headline the Fireball Stage.

Fun is the aim of the game at a Reel Big Fish show, and this performance was no different as the California sextet delighted fans with their trademark banter and hilarious songs.

Everyone Else Is An A**hole, Your Guts (I Hate 'Em) and Another FU Song had the audience both laughing and dancing along due to their tongue-in-cheek content mixed with toe-tapping ska beats and head-banging punk influences.

This comedic content did not detract away from the musical talent of Reel Big Fish, however, with songs such as Sell Out, Beer, and a cover of Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl boasting captivating guitar solos, pitch-perfect horn sections and impressive vocals throughout.

The Skints’ Marcia joined the group for a stunning rendition of She Has A Girlfriend Now that proved to be a personal highlight of the show for me.

Reel Big Fish ended the set with their cover of A-Ha’s Take On Me, and closed this year’s Fireball Stage at Slam Dunk Festival surrounded by laughter and cheers from the audience.

Good Charlotte – Jägermeister Stage

This year’s Slam Dunk Festival was the first to have two headline acts - one of them being Maryland pop punk band Good Charlotte.

Cannons exploded with streamers and the crowd was bathed in flashing lights and the glow of pyrotechnics as the quartet stormed into hit song The Anthem, and set the nostalgic precedent for the evening.

The group delved into their extensive back catalogue to take fans on a trip down memory lane with iconic tracks The Story of My Old Man, Keep Your Hands Off My Girl, and Girls and Boys.

These tracks juxtaposed starkly against newer songs such as Life Changes and Actual Pain, yet they all had one thing in common - the precise way in which they were performed.

Each song showcased vocalist Joel Madden’s powerful voice, his brother Benji’s and Billy Martin’s impressive guitar skills, Paul Thomas’ catchy bass lines and Dean Butterworth’s strong drumming.

No matter when the song was released, each track was executed with the same passion that still runs through the heart of Good Charlotte.

“If you’ve ever been called a freak, this is for you,” Joel bellowed to the crowd, immediately uniting the entire room in a mutual love for all-things strange and different.

At times it felt like the crowd and the band were one unit, as they matched each other energy and adoration for each song being played.

This made for a truly special performance, and one I’m glad to have been a part of.

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous marked the end of Good Charlotte’s impressive live performance, and closed Slam Dunk Festival in the most fitting manner - with a crowd united through their love of stellar live music.