Call Of The Wild Festival 2022 - Day 4

Lincolnshire Showground 22/5/22

Live review by; DeeDee

Photos by; Rockin' Out With...

The last day of this incredible festival and there’s another classic line up. A last minute addition of The Mercury Riots means we have to amend our schedule, not missing those boys by any means! After checking all is ok in the press room and getting some interviews done, it’s a quick dash over the field to see a few of the early bands.

It’s only 11am on this Sunday morning, but DIG LAZARUS are cranking it up already. The three Midlanders are festival favourites and there’s a decent crowd. This so up-lifting rock and roll, Ash (Guitar, Vocals), Jack (Drums) and Atticus (Bass) chuck out a pile from the ‘Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time’ album, which I and Jesse Hughes,(Eagles Of Death metal!), highly recommend. Good news for fans is the Jurassic T shirts will soon be back in stock and can be purchased on the website. Highlights ‘Never Change’, ’Tell Me Why’ and ‘Time Froze’.

I saunter over to the Dead Skull tent to get another coffee and catch a little of the CROOKED SHAPES who are a band I discovered during an online NWOCR stream. Another Three piece, who dropped a stunning self titled album last year. Heavy, groove abundant riffs and intricate workings, they are certainly a band worth listening to.

THE BIG DIRTY are a band I hadn’t seen before today. A Four man squad from Northants, that got together in 2013, they are known for their crazy antics on stage. They are definitely heavy and melodic, as they recite many off the album ‘The Sex’, that title should warn you of the content, it’s crude, its fun and harmless. Stomping around the stage with loud and debauched anthems, ‘Dirty Rider’, ‘Devil Woman’ and ‘Wham Bam (Thank You Ma’am)’ are thrust at us. It’s in your face humour, especially during ‘Whiskey Pistol’ when vocalist James Shaw comes at us with his Whiskey Pistol for the song of the same name. Squirting all those on the barrier in the mouth, with his liquid pleasure juice. The grind is indeed dirty from Christoph Dats on guitar, who conjures up some immense riffs and as they penetrate at the end with ‘Rhythm Of My Drum’ it’s been quite pleasurable.

After another round of interviews it’s a dash to the marquee for the incredible MERCURY RIOTS who as I said earlier, are a late and most welcome addition. Having seen them at HRH Sleaze last year, where I was captivated by the L.A groover’s, I made my way near the front for this. Even with the late notice, the tent is full as they provide us with tracks from the recent ‘Mirror Eclipse’ EP. Jonny Udell’s bass drum keeps moving, as he plays so frantically and as bass player and vocalist Zach Kibbee decides to wander amongst us, it’s just delightful to see so many smiles. Felipe Rodrigo also takes a stroll in the marquee later and his guitar playing is just sublime. Former members of Warner Drive and Bullets & Octane, they have a massive 11k followers on Facebook. Can’t praise them enough, they are back in the UK in the Autumn, supporting Electric Mary and I’ve secured my ticket already.

THE L.A. MAYBE are from the Carolina’s and holler some good time rock and roll. It’s a fun packed set today, in front of many who like me, haven’t seen the Charlotte based, five piece before. Goliath Furr warms up his larynx to ‘Mr Danger’ it’s also the opening track on the bands ‘Dirty Damn Tricks’ album from last year. High and piercing vocals and some AC/DC type swaggering, it’s good to watch on a Sunday afternoon.

Joint axe duties come from Dallas Dwight and Driz Silvera, a couple of mean lookers, but that’s deceiving, as they participate in sharing banter and jokes to the crowd’s amusement. More from the album, the pumping ‘She’s Reckless’ is followed by ‘Peace Of Mind’ which allows the frets to cool as it’s a laid back number with ‘Skynyrd’ influences.

A jam solo and teasing us with a few opening bars of Def Leppard and Maiden covers, before they get stuck into ’Sucker Punch’ and the ballad ‘When I’m Gone’ the latter being quite a superb anthem. Going out on a high with ‘Oh Sugar’ they really wooed us and have to be one of the bands of the weekend.

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Over on the Southall Lawless side DOOMSDAY OUTLAW prepare for their show. These days they are six men strong and the sound is immensely powerful. Phil Poole cuts an alternative take on your average frontman, there’s no need for any gimmicks, it’s all about getting the vocals across and what vocals! Phil has prestigious respect among bands and the like, backed by Indy Chanda on bass and the dual guitars of Alessio Alex D’Elia and Rowan O’Sullivan, this is incredibly robust. As they kick in with ‘In Too Deep’, ‘On My Way’ and the latest single ‘One More Sip’ I am standing in total awe. Nic Rudd is such a cool drummer and with Ryan Taylor on keys adding more texture today, it’s also good visually. ‘Turn Me Loose’ and ‘All That I Have’ are fan favourites, but we all start chanting as they produce a cover of ‘Crazy Horses’. Leaving with ‘Bring You Pain’ off the excellent ’Suffer More’ album, wow yes, was that good or what.

THE NEW ROSES are one of those bands that just play rock and roll. The Germans keep us entertained and that’s down to the high level of their musical ability. A band I had wanted to see for a while and finally catching them last November, at HRH in Great Yarmouth, they didn’t disappoint. Tonight they are bathed in the last of the evening sunshine, that filters through from the back of the Kilmister stage, that and the occasional clouds of dry ice, create a beautiful scene. ‘Nothing But Wild’ is the appropriate opener, this is ‘The Call Of The Wild’ festival after all. It’s also the title of the last album and Timmy Rough on vocals and guitar, holds are full attention. More from across the back catalogue, ‘Gimme Your Love’, Life Ain’t Easy (For A Boy With Long Hair)’ and ‘Every Wild Heart’ being highlights. They peel back to the rawness with ‘Down By The River’ and ’Thirsty’ both getting loads of applause from us, in the mass gathering. Brilliant, simply brilliant.

PHIL CAMPBELL & THE BASTARD SONS are the headliners and we all know how this is going to pan out. If you’re not down the front like me, (I’m actually on the barrier), then you’re missing out. Phil and his boys, Dane on drums, Tyler on bass and Todd, like his dad, on guitar are fronted by recent new man, Joel Peters (ex Bootyard Bandits and Skindred guitar tech!) who has fitted in really well.

The Motörhead legend has something special here and as he appears on stage, offering us a decent solo as an introduction, the lights turn crimson and then the rest of the band join him for ‘We’re The Bastards’. Another PCATBS song ‘Bite My Tongue’ gets us rabble jumping and screaming, then there’s a mix of classic Motörhead as well. ‘Bomber’, ‘Born To Raise Hell’ and even ‘Silver Machine’ make the set list and there’s an air of euphoria around the festival site. I pictured ‘Lemmy’ in my head, memories of seeing him back in the day, gosh, I do get emotional in my old age, but nothing stopped me from head-banging to ‘Ace of Spades’!

The end of a truly brilliant festival and well done to Raz White and Dave O’Hara for organising this awesome event. A big thanks from us at Rock Media UK to the press team who looked after us. The facilities were the best and made the weekend so more enjoyable as we didn’t have to worry about anything.

The food stalls, bar and Dead Skull Coffee outlets were brilliant, no queues and lovely food and drink. Lots of quality stalls selling clothes and rock merchandise as well. Nice to see Keith Lamley of WDFD records at his tent too. Also good to see so many bands walking around the field and mingling with the punters, making us feel like one big happy family. Thanks to everyone involved, all the security and crew, who worked so hard and here’s to next year!

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