The weather may be a bit of let down this Friday afternoon in Mayfair, but I can’t help but feel how unusually pleasant these surroundings are for once. Normally on the streets down this way you’re surrounded by flag shaggers, Northfacers and the Cliff Richard brigade brandishing their royal crockery at every corner. Right now if you cast your gaze in any direction you’ll see some variation of an Appetite for Destruction t shirt, and that suits me fine. 

I arrive in the Park just in time to witness the Darkness. I feel like I may have to make a witness statement of sorts. They’re a mixture of grateful to be here and their classic 2004 arrogance rolled up into a generally unappealing package. Treading through the hits, making pleasantries with the festival crowd(when not bickering the odd punter), but as always frontman Justin has a jumbo jet sized chip on his shoulder and will never change. Talent moat? Fuck off! Happy Friday everyone.

Branching out to one of the smaller stages at British Summer Time, all present are treated to rock gods in waiting, Bad Nerves. These Replacements tinged power poppers absolutely slay all those lucky enough to be in the locale. Stand out tracks have to be ‘punk radio’ and ‘can’t be mine’. This young band are flawless, effortless and explosive all rolled into one. The shot in arm that was most certainly needed to propel me through the evening. 

Bit of a plodding set from Chrissie and the boys. Accomplished but never quite getting out of third gear. I was hoping today would be the day things finally click with me and the Pretenders but alas I think I will be staying in my groove of being respectful but never quite admiring them. A crowd pleasing set littered with hits such as ‘don’t get me wrong’, ‘I’ll stand by you’ and ‘tattooed love boys’. Special note though has to go to the guitar work of James Walbourne. Check out his own project His Lordship and sonically submerge yourself into the Garage Rock depths. 

Prompt and ready to go as scheduled but much like Rock’n’Roll, the Axl Rose time keeping jokes will never die. He kept me waiting two hours once when I was 17, worth the wait though. Kicking off with ‘it’s so easy’, it’s like witnessing a force of nature. Still managing to hit all those teenage memories that pang with blissful nostalgia. Still prefer the Izzy Stradlin vocal though.

The band keeps this party going with Illusion era deep cut, ‘bad obsession’. Not even a tumble off the floor monitors could halt his stride. Sadly this is where we hit more of a metaphorical bump in the road. Next up we are delivered the package deal of album title track ‘Chinese democracy’ and Velvet Revolver single ‘slither’. It’s nice in a way that Axl, Duff and Slash have come so far that this is standard fare since the reunion began, but it has all the Rock’n’Roll gravitas of letting step parents sit on the top table at a wedding to “make everyone happy”. I digress.

The set rolls on with nice Illusion era additions (‘pretty tied up’, ‘double talkin’ jive’, ‘coma’), some of which might not be everyone’s first choice, but definitely a great reminder to revisit those diamonds in the double album rough. We’re even treated to nobody’s favourite Appetite song, ‘anything goes’ which is definitely a turnup for the books for this reviewer. 

You can’t help but wonder if apart from the songs that are integral to their set, are they picking bits from their back catalog that are more manageable for the vocal range Axl posses these days. Which is definitely not a negative thing, he’s in his sixties, he can’t hit all the high notes all the time. Going forward though, the band need to have a good long think about what they can provide as a touring act and if it’s worth £100 a ticket.

We’re treated good and proper to all the bells and whistles for the remainder of the evening. Gratuitous guitar solos? Check. Power ballads? Check. Riotous punk classics from Duff McKagan? Check. 8 minute plus opuses? Check. Dylan and Bond epic covers? Check. Night train? Motha fuckin’ check. 

It has to be said that British Summer Time use Hyde Park very well and put on a cracking show with excellent facilities. I actually can’t remember a better event I have been to in last twenty years for bars, toilets etc. The only critism would be food queues, the non veggie/vegan stalls took a pounding. Also it was nice to be at a big event in London and not be surrounded by junior PR staff on comp’d tickets, chatting away throughout the performance that don’t give a shit. Yowza. 

All in all after initial trepidation from having a bad time seeing them in 2017 and some of the online trolling Axl has received in the lead up, I’m very much glad I made the journey down. Thankfully the PA at Hyde Park is much better than the inadequate ones that get carted out for stadium tours and I was able to enjoy myself. Take that one to heart!

Author: Dan Kasm