LIVE: Rage Against The Machine - Finsbury Park, London - 6th June 2010
Monday, 07 June 2010
Written by Jon Stickler
“It has to start somewhere, It has to start sometime, What better place than here? What better time than now?” Lyrics from the Rage anthem ‘Guerrilla Radio’ echoing through my mind while anticipating the start of the victory party that will end all victory parties.
You will probably remember the Facebook campaign that started everything off last year. Californian rap-metal icons Rage Against The Machine historically hitting the Christmas Number One spot and more importantly beating the usual ever-present X-Factor winner in a chart battle that allowed the people to voice their true feelings towards conveyer-belt pop.
Honoured by the support from the fans through the campaign and delighted by the victory, Rage Against The Machine promised a free concert in the UK as a thank you and stuck to their word yesterday in front of a near 40,000 strong crowd in London’s Finsbury park.
The mood was spinetingling, good feeling throbbing through the crowds with everyone feeling that justice had been done. They played their part in gaining the victory and today was about one thing and one thing only, celebrating that victory. Like the countless numbers of Tshirts said “Rage 1 Cowell 0”.
40,000 fans waited for Rage to appear, it may have well been an army the mood was so militant. With 180,000 people applying for the tickets via an online lottery, the crowd could have been a lot bigger, with the arena’s fences being scaled by hundreds of fans prior to the gig, it was clear that everyone wanted in on this show.
Roots Manuva warmed the crowd up during the afternoon with gypsy-punk anachists Gogol Bordello stoking up the crowds even further into the evening. On a pleasant day in the park, Rage kicked off their show with a cartoon Simon Cowell, complete with tight t-shirt and moobs, appearing on the giant video screens addressing the crowds with “I am the Supernova!” Following the thunder of ‘boooos’ cartoon Cowell went on to claim that, "If Rage had entered X Factor, they wouldn't have got past boot camp."
Is that so Simon? Continuing to talk Cowell announced Rage onto the stage with the words, "the greatest rock band in the world, Rage Against The Machine” and on came the guys. Its showtime!
Belting through some of their most ferocious tracks, Finsbury park was treated to Rage Against The Machine's traditional opener ‘Testify’ followed by some of the classic Rage anthems including ‘Know Your Enemy’, ‘Bullet In The Head’ and ‘Guerrilla Radio’. Reinforcing the fact that Rage Against The Machine are still more than capable of shaking the very ground you stand on, they power through each song with the same anger and intensity as we all remember.
Now at the age of 40 Zack de la Rocha, trim and devoted to the occasion as ever, spoke out about Israel’s Gaza blockade before launching into ‘Township Rebellion’ before introducing to the masses Jon and Tracy Morter, the couple who started the Facebook campaign. "I want to introduce you to two people who had an idea, an idea that spread through the grass roots" exclaimed Zach De La Rocha. The band then handed over a cheque to the charity Shelter, before a thunderous cover of ‘White Riot’ by punk icons The Clash.
Playing a short set, the band left the stage leaving us with X-Factor winner Joe McElderry’s pop song ‘The Climb’ blasting out of the PA speakers. Such speakers would've been torn down if we didnt all know what was left to come…there’s no way they’re leaving this next song off the set-list.
Returning to the stage to massive applause, we’re given a display of the many quotations printed in the newspapers during the lead up to the Christmas chart countdown. How wrong they all were! The inevitable blast of the opening bars to ‘Killing In the Name’ rocks out as 80,000 hands reach for the sky.
Here it is! The track I’ve headbanged to for the last 16 years, LIVE! A truly unforgetable experience hearing it along with 40,000 other mental fans all screaming the militant cry of “Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!" One voice in union! X-Factor better have something special up their sleeve this year. Be afraid. Be very afriad!
Rage Against The Machne played the following tracks:
1. Testify
2. Bombtrack
3. People Of The Sun
4. Know Your Enemy
5. Bulls On Parade
6. Township Rebellion
7. Bullet In The Head
8. White Riot (Clash cover)
9. Guerrilla Radio
10. Sleep Now In The Fire
11. Freedom
Encore
12. Killing In The Name
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