Reading's Main Stage Acts: Saturday

The following are the acts playing Reading's Main Stage on the Saturday and my opinions on them. 

Mallory Knox

One of the most buzzed about bands of the past year, Cambridge bred Mallory Knox. After touring extensively since their formation in 2009, they released their debut album Signals to a lot of buzz and support from the media, notably BBC Radio 1, Zane Lowe & Daniel P Carter. Talking up Mallory Knox is one of the easiest things to do as a DJ, with radio ready tunes like Lighthouse, Beggars & Death Rattle, Mallory Knox are about to play the biggest show of their careers so far. Mixing melody with great riffs and heartfelt lyrics, led by frontman Mikey Chapman's great vocals, Mallory Knox are gonna be around for a while. Get used to it.

Lower Than Atlantis

I'm going to try to be 'nice' to this band, as they are really really not my cup of tea. Playing poppy hardcore music, this band have grown a lot in the last few years. I saw them in 2009 and felt they were very average, and I still do. Though if I find them on Kerrang TV, I turn them off, as they grate on me that much. Look for an update for the blog if someone wants to give me a paragraph to tell you why they're worth your time but from me, don't bother wasting your time on them... MOVING ON

The Blackout

A band who I have seen many times and who will be bringing the party to Reading's main stage. The 6 piece welsh titans known as The Blackout are Reading stalwarts these days. Playing alternative rock with soaring choruses, these guys know how to play a live show, with Kerrang once calling them 'The best live band in the UK'. Fronted by Ringmasters, Sean Smith & Gavin Butler, the band's blend of pop, rock, screamo and hardcore will be the perfect soundtrack to your Saturday afternoon.

Earlwolf

2 members of the rap collective known as Odd Future crashland on the Main Stage this year. The controversial Tyler, The Creator & Ear Sweatshirt are two of the most talked about MCs on the planet. Tyler has made enemies of everyone and anyone, while Earl has been gaining publicity through his songs and an excellent live show. Replacing Brand New on the bill, expect a set which will be spoken about no matter the outcome, good or bad, these two will create BUZZ.

Twin Atlantic

Scotland's Twin Atlantic are another returning band to the bill this year. Having played very early on the NME Stage last year, they get to take their place on the main stage, and boy do they deserve it. Having toured for many years, they finally released their debut album, Free, in 2011. Gaining radio airplay on numerous stations, Twin Atlantic have become a beloved British bands, trying to follow in the footsteps of fellow scots Biffy Clyro. With great choruses, occasion breakdowns, and a lot of soul and passion, Twin Atlantic are another band who deserve to be bigger than they are, and could be about to take the next step in their career.

White Lies

The return of London's Indie Rock sons, White Lies are set to make their main stage bow this year. Having all but disappeared after their last tour in 2011, supporting second album Ritual, they're back, releasing their third album BIG TV, led by the single, There Goes Our Love Again. White Lies bring their dark, brooding but expansive sound to the main stage in a set people are excited about. White Lies went to Number 1 in the album charts, with absolutely no hype behind them. The public like these guys, and their set will be one to watch this year.

Foals

Foals are a band who've had a load of hype around them and now seem ready to capitalise on it. Playing a brand of indie tinged math rock, that harkens back to early Biffy Clyro, Foals released their most complete album this year, in Holy Fire, playing many smaller venues like the Sugarmill in Stoke, before headlining the Royal Albert Hall in London, Foals are becoming the buzz band who are rising above the buzz. Cassius, a song from their second album, Antidotes, is an indie club classic but with new tunes like My Number & Inhaler, Foals have written songs with the public in mind, and have become a staple of daytime radio. Incendiary as a live band, they could well be headlining this festival one day...

Chase & Status

Ah now we come to one of the weekend's strangest bookings for some people, but for me, absolutely the right choice to play this slot. Chase & Status, in short, are awesome. Rock enough to play this festival, pop enough to be able to be on the radio. Playing drum and bass mixed with dubstep, these guys rock. I saw them at Isle of Wight festival in 2011, and they played one of the best sets I've ever seen. The energy, the guests, the tunes. Chase & Status played this slot last year, at Download, before The Prodigy... Chase & Status, at DOWNLOAD. Think about that... Now think about the fact that Chase & Status got voted as the BEST act at Download that year... Against The Prodigy, Metallica & Black Sabbath... Chase & Status will headline a festival soon enough, but they will be a talking point regardless of what happens. Contender for best act of the weekend right here...

Eminem

The main event, the reason many people are going to the festivals this year. In my previous post, Eminem was stated as being vital, as being part of pop culture for the past 15 odd years. One of the biggest stars in the world, one of the best rappers in history, Eminem is writing history as he goes. A white rapper, who made it big? It doesn't happen very often, but Eminem's flow and lyrics made his skin colour redundant. He has SO many tunes, so so so many hits and an incomparable live show.

Eminem is at his best on stage. He comes on, plays his set & leaves. There is no dicking about, there is no show, Eminem does what people want... He comes on stage, plays the songs you want to hear, and then leaves. Eminem is at his best when he's angry & pissed off. That's when he's got the fire in his eyes, and the venom in his spitting. Having used to making a show out of his sets, Eminem has aged, and he's now wise to what people want at festivals. They wanna hear him spitting his classic lyrics, they wanna sing about being 'The Real Slim Shady', and most of all, they wanna party. Eminem brings the tunes and he brings the party. Returning after 12 years away from Reading, he's the main draw this year. No surprise he's sold out his day at Reading and is close to doing so at Leeds. This is easily the set to see over the weekend. The most must-see act at Reading, for me, goes to Eminem.