Planet Rockstock 2021 – Friday review with Vandenberg, Massive Wagons and When Rivers Meet

With many Gold Ticket Holders shaking off the cobwebs from last night’s revelries, proceedings get off to a nice gentle start on The Graham Harding Stage with early afternoon acoustic performances from Aren Drfit, When Rivers Meet, Voodoo Vegas and the genial chaps in Gun who also treat us to Q&A session.

Bestowed with the honour of kicking off the Main Stage action at Planet Rockstock 2021 are 12-legged classic rock purists Collateral. Judging by the smiles on their faces, Collateral are clearly enjoying themselves on stage and they deliver a solid set of unashamed retrogressive rock that nods to many-a-band from yesteryear.

As always, swaggering frontman Angelo Tristan is a captivating presence and things get off to a flyer with a huge sounding ‘Lullaby.’ Fusing big hair, with big riffs and big tunes throughout their performance, ‘In It For Love’ proves to be a set zenith with its swathes of warm synths and virtuoso guitar solos while ‘Mr Big Shot’ bombards us with satisfying crunching riffs.

“It’s so good to be here,” enthuses When Rivers Meet’s Grace Bond shortly after stepping onto stage. “Let’s raise our glasses to live music everyone!” Truly one of blues rock’s big success stories of the past two years, Best New Band winners at The Rocks 2021, When Rivers Meet, are rightfully met with a rapturous reception by the Planet Rockstock faithful.

Following their sublime stripped back acoustic performance earlier, Grace and husband Aaron Bond are joined by three musicians on stage to flesh out their beguiling sounds and they’re a slick unit. Highlights are aplenty from a thumping ‘Battleground’, to a transcendental ‘Testify’, to a haunting ‘Tomorrow’ with its plaintive piano that compliments Grace’s soulful yet powerful blues voice perfectly. However, the standout moment is ‘Innocence of Youth’ (a song about “not taking any s--- from anybody”, says Grace) which sees Aaron deliver some serious licks on his oil can guitar and the crowd clap along in unison.

Judging by the reaction from the crowd, it’s little wonder that Grace tells us afterwards it was When Rivers Meet’s “greatest ever gig.”

Having triumphed at Planet Rockstock three years ago with The Dead Daisies, rock journeyman Marco Mendoza steps out as a solo artist on the Main Stage and immediately wins over the audience with a rip-roaring rendition of his solo track ‘Sweetest Emotions.’ Marco takes centre stage on vocals and bass, and he’s joined by Gun axeman Tommy Gentry and Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal drummer Kyle Hughes.

Despite Marco telling us he’s a little rusty post-lockdown, the close-knit trio still manage to tear through a cavalcade of rock stompers including Marco’s Ted Nugent collaboration ‘Hey Baby’, a bluesy ‘Hole in My Pocket’ and a muscular rock re-working of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Higher Ground.’ Closing with ‘Viva La Rock!’, Marco exits the stage drenched in sweat and with a victorious grin etched on his face. Top stuff!

Marco sets things up nicely for quintessential festival band Gun who are masters at delivering high-energy live performances packed with their biggest hits. Tonight is absolutely no exception. Despite battling a cold, Dante Gizzi is the consummate frontman showering the audience with superlatives, prowling every inch of the stage and belting out Gun’s tunes in his impressive rock drawl, while the rest of the band are note perfect and a potent live force.

Gun’s ubiquitous cover of Cameo’s ‘Word Up!’ is incredible as always, while a euphoric ‘Inside Out’ sees axeman Tommy Gentry perform some seriously impressive riffs during his second set of the night. In a tender moment, following ‘Steal Your Fire’, a palpably touched Dante fights back the tears as he tells the audience: “I got emotional there. To be able to look around and see your faces, it’s the best feeling in the world.”

Showing no signs of waning, Gun treat us to a rousing rendition of their debut single ‘Better Days’ and close with a riotous cover of Beastie Boys’ '(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party).’

Keeping things on an upwards trajectory, Lancaster’s prodigal sons Massive Wagons are nothing short of a revelation. A performance that has you thumbing the thesaurus for suitable superlatives, Massive Wagons are in barnstorming form from the offset. Frontman Baz Mills is a blur of hair and sweat in his Dennis the Menace-esque top as he jumps around the stage with boundless and infectious energy, while the band are a finely honed rock and roll juggernaut as they blitz through anthems like ‘In It Together’ and ‘China Plates’.

In an overt nod to their musical hero Rick Parfitt, a stack of Marshall speakers take centre-stage, bassist Adam 'Bowz' Bouskill and drummer Alex 'Roy' Thistlethwaite stand on opposite sides on platforms, while the three-pronged attack of Baz, Adam Thistlethwaite and Stevie Holl stand stage front. After their high adrenaline openers, the Wagons launch into ‘Bangin In Your Stereo’ which morphs into a medley of The Clash’s ‘I Fought The Law’, Dr Feelgood’s ‘She Does It Right’ and Cheap Trick’s ‘Surrender’ before returning to the original tune. Inspired stuff.

After a suitably glorious ‘Glorious’, a deliciously abrasive ‘Nails’ and a voluminous ‘House of Noise’, Massive Wagons conclude their pulsating set with Rick Parfitt tribute track ‘Back to the Stack’ and the 1,500-capacity room is truly bouncing.

A truly historic performance, Vandenberg’s headline set at Planet Rockstock 2021 is their first concert in 35 years and their first show since eponymous lynchpin Adrian Vandenberg recruited Swedish powerhouse vocalist Mats Leven, bassist Randy van der Elsen and drummer Koen Herfst to the band’s ranks. Clearly there’s a close bond already as Adrian, with his trademark flowing blonde locks and sporting snakeskin boots, gives Mats a hug after he flaunts his seriously impressive rock pipes on ‘Freight Train.’

Throughout the set, Adrian’s guitar playing is truly flawless, while Mats’ gravelly howl is astonishing and almost Robert Plant-like on a thunderous ‘Hell and High Water.’ Not afraid to mix things up, Vandenberg’s Moonkings’ ‘Sailing Ships’ is given an acoustic reworking with Adrian and Mats sitting at the back of the stage, and last year’s Vandenberg track ‘Ride Like The Wind’ sees Koen flaunt his prowess behind the kit with a pummelling two-minute drum solo. Unsurprisingly, however, it’s the Whitesnake classics that go down best. ‘Judgement Day’ is suitably anthemic, and ‘Here I Go Again’ is chanted back with adulation from the crowd.

Following a towering ‘Burning Heart’, Vandenberg’s set emphatically ends with them dispatching a raw and raucous cover of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Rock N’ Roll.’ A highly promising return to live music for Vandenberg, when they have more shows under their collective belts, they're certain to be a formidable live force.

Planet Rockstock 2021 - Thursday review

Planet Rockstock 2021 - Saturday review

Planet Rockstock 2021 - Sunday review

Friday at Planet Rockstock 2021 in photos:

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