Gym Class Heroes - Main stage

KICKING off the final day at Reading festival, Geneva-based foursome, Gym Class Heroes, bounced onto the stage with all the energy demanded from the opening act on the Main Stage. 

As they catapulted into a set of hip hop – rather than the bouncy Cupid’s Chokehold which they are best known for – everyone was on their feet.
Drawing a younger crowd than many of the other bands, Gym Class Heroes can boast a dedicated following in the large amount of early risers which turned out to rap along with lead singer Travis McCoy. Impressive also was a cover of The Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations, the band working a unique twist on this bouncy pop number to turn it into a curious harder beat. 

While their energy was captivating, Viva La White Girl – which according to McCoy was a testament to ‘a love of music’, was disappointing. The song laboured, especially for the first act of the day, and you would think from a band which had proved they could do so much more this was a poor example of their passion. 

But punchy On My Own Time quickly reignited the set as McCoy advised fans to ‘leave school and start a band’ to a raucous response.

Clothes Off was by far the highlight of the set, which saw a carpet of fans lassoing various articles of clothing around their heads and summed up the meaning of Gym Class Heroes – to simply ‘have a good time’.

Claire Carter