Posts tagged Acoustic
Newton Faulkner @ Colston Hall, Bristol
Apr 13th
Friday 5th March 2010
There was a distinctly couple friendly air to the gathering throng of people in bristol’s revamped theatre come music venue Colston Hall. On closer inspection I got a deeper sense that many of the women have dragged their other halves with the promise of beer and an it’ll be worth your while smile. Seemed to work a treat!
This did lead to the somewhat expected disinterest in arriving early to catch the support act for the night, a very ‘Fair Trade’ gentlemen by the name of Charlie Winston. His shabby/rustic appearance with charity shop chic gave exactly the right impression on a man who is in-fact a very talented singer-songwriter who is just slightly crazy and a tad too much on the side of Bob Geldof for credibility.
Charlie Winston
Musically he played his acoustic guitar with purpose and a pop friendly charm backed up by his immediately hummable and sing-a-long tunes. His sidekick was a very talented Mouth Organist who had a sound similar to a saxphone, interesting and compelling. Charlie laced his songs with wit and humour which kept the crowd entertained. Songs like My Life As A Duck (complete with crowd vocal line “I’m A Duck”) and Kick The Bucket (a tribute to life & living). He brought his sister Vashti out to sing harmony on Boxes which was a beautiful, if underwhelming ballad. Watch the radio waves because I reckon Charlie Winston isn’t far from breaking into the big leagues.
Newton Faulkner didn’t so much as bound onstage, he seemed to stumble upon it. Seeming startled that so many people were in the room he proceeded to put down his cup of tea and remember what he was doing this evening. With all the “Hey I’m Newton, I play guitar, I don’t have a backing band…” style niceties done and dusted he rang out his characteristic pitch perfect acoustic guitar harmonics on his opening track from the latest album Rebuilt by Humans, Badman. Another stunning show of harmonic’s were displayed on the intro to one his biggest hits I’ve Got Something which sparked a chorus of happy voices from the floor.
Newton Faulkner
Entertainment was plentiful here this evening what with Newton’s laid back nature and rambling story telling between song banter he never failed to raise smiles. He excelled himself on a short melody of covers he’s been experimenting with such as Dead or Alives cheesey classic You spin me Right Round as well as older Rn’B hits like Blackstreet’s No Diggity and Warren G’s Regulate just funny! In fact the cover he finally did play was his Massive (Attack) hit Teardrops. This was stunningly eerie, compelling and beautiful, unaccompanied on his solitary guitar.
Moving off his weary feet he moved to a raised seat on one side of the stage which he liked to call “The Office”. It was less like the office I’m used to as his was crammed with cello effects pedals and a multitude of sonic contraptions. The addition of the cello effects (played with his feet) add a new edge to his act and musically sounded bigger and bolder. He even risked betraying his fans when he picked up a…deep inward breath…an electric guitar to play a lovely blues based tune.
In his office he was very concerned that we would be disconnected with the music he was producing, so a variety of cameras were set up and displayed on screens to show his foot movements. He even went so far as to record video clips of music samples (namely the kazoo like instrument played on Lipstick Jungle) and a revolving tape deck labelled Strings playing (you guessed it), a string section accompanied backing track. It was basic humour but surprisingly effective and funny!
He finally wrapped up in the office after playing the song of two parts “She’s Got The Time”. This is a brilliant track played with genius simplicity on a guitarlayle (a hybrid eucalalye/guitar), for which he produced the lyrics on a screen for upmost crowd participation (all that was missing was the Disney bouncing ball). Now singing this song is hard to sing even if you know the words, made even more tricky by the fact that you’re busy giggling at deranged lines like “Chewing on my food on the floor at the station gets some bk its ok tryna be friendly, i said yo do u wanna haribo she said no!!”.
Leaving the office he returned to his classic material as he thrust into the stunning Dream Catch Me which was met with rapturous appreciation. On Gone In The Morning Newton instructed the crowd to sing along as if “You are Pirates with Rabies and are ready to land and storm a beach full of barbarian mother kissers”. Did I mention that some bits of this gig got a bit surreal? Especially the part during UFO when Newton was busy doing a silly little dance. Out of stage left an Alien appeared and proceeded to dance the funky chicken, Saturday night fever and walk like an Egyptian. Probably falling into the quirky (but inspired) category was his cover of Queens Bohemian rhapsody on a single acoustic guitar! What a brilliant but bonkers idea, one executed sublimely.
Now I agree with Newton’s philosophy on Encores…why bother going off only to “suprisingly” return once more?. He states it would actually be more radical to just stay on stage and play one more song before leaving for the night. Something he proceeded to do signing out with a sombre ballad I’m Not Giving Up Yet.
This was an outstanding show and one which will be remembered for exquisite guitar playing, quality entertainment value, and above all else a superbly joyous performance! This was feel good music at its finest.
Does It Rock? March Round-Up
Mar 29th
Plenty of great albums were released this month and we here at DiR.net have picked the best of the bunch to bring to you in a handy Spotify playlist! The widest variety of music in one playlist your likely to find!
Listen now >>> DoesItRock.net – Mar 10 Mix
1) Airbourne – Raise The Flag … Get your beers and raise them to the sky to salute Australia’s “new” Hard Rockers of distinction. DiR? Review
2) Jimi Hendrix Experience – Sunshine Of Your Love ... New album from the legend and this cover is proof to show why he is ‘the’ original guitar god!
3) Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Mama Taught Me Better …Coming out of their folk doldrums this tune is a kick back to those early years DiR? Review
4) Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – Mourning In America… Indie rock with pop flowing though veins feeding a bold punk heart, DiR? Review
5) Two Door Cinema Club – I Can Talk … Huge dancefloor filler of the electrock variety from promising uk band.
6) Gorillaz – Stylo (Feat. Mos Def and Bobby Womack) … Albarn and co. are back with more hip-hop pop DiR? Review
7) The Automatic – Interstate … Going electro has added a cool edge to their once monotonous guitar pop. (Plus its sounds a bit like Motion CIty Soundtrack)
8) Lifehouse – All In … American radio hit for certain, catchy chorus…check, deep booming vocals…check, pop guitars…you get the picture…
9) Alphabeat – The Beat Is … Thoroughly disappointing second album from the once happiest band ever, this is a rare gem from said record.
10) Blood Red Shoes – Don’t Ask … More pop than punk but still can craft a chunky riff or two.
10) Laura Marling – Devil’s Spoke … Beautiful melodies, bleak landscaping and impassioned vocals from the slightly sombre uk folk starlet.
11) Goldfrapp – Rocket … 80′s electro-pop is the latest trend for Goldfrapp ditching the atmosphrics of their previous album.
12) Tunng – By Dusk They Were In The City … Scandinavian indie pop, melodic and too cool for school.
13) Efterklang – Raincoats … Even more from the Nordic countries, this time its Erfterklang’s turn to sprinkle sparkling pop on the masses.
14) Liars – Scarecrows On A Killer Slant … Potent alt fuzz rock from the ever morphing meld that are Liars
15) Jimi Hendrix Experience – Bleeding Heart … Its not very often I’ll be able to say ,”Taken from the new Jimi Hendrix album” so I’m making the most of it! Psychedelia in its prime!
16) Titus Andronicus – A More Perfect Union … Prog rock meets indie and with this much energy and invention these guys will do well!
17) High On Fire – Snakes For The Divine … Wade through the heavy sludge metal to find an amazingly technical and fiery tune!
18) Scorpions – Raised On Rock … Aging German rockers proves there is still guitar gas in the tank as they churn out a cracking tune.
19) Broken Bells – The High Road … When the Shins got involved with Dangermouse this bright tune was the outcome.
20) Streetlight Manifesto – Just … The Streetlight gang have given the Radiohead classic a super happy ska punk makeover!
Jimi Hendrix Experience – Sunshine Of Your Love
Two Door Cinema Club – I Can Talk
Tunng – By Dusk They Were In The City
Lifehouse – All In
Alphabeat – The Beat Is
Efterklang – Modern Drift
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Mama Taught Me Better
The Automatic – Interstate
Gorillaz – Stylo (Album Version) (Feat. Mos Def and Bobby Womack)
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – Mourning In America
Blood Red Shoes – Don’t Ask
Laura Marling – Devil’s Spoke
Jimi Hendrix Experience – Bleeding Heart
Goldfrapp – Rocket
Efterklang – Raincoats
Liars – Scarecrows On A Killer Slant
Two Door Cinema Club – I Can Talk
Tunng – By Dusk They Were In The City
Lifehouse – All In
Alphabeat – The Beat Is
Efterklang – Modern Drift
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Mama Taught Me Better
The Automatic – Interstate
Gorillaz – Stylo (Album Version) (Feat. Mos Def and Bobby Womack)
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – Mourning In America
Blood Red Shoes – Don’t Ask
Laura Marling – Devil’s Spoke
Jimi Hendrix Experience – Bleeding Heart
Goldfrapp – Rocket
Efterklang – Raincoats
Liars – Scarecrows On A Killer Slant
DoesItRock? January 2010 Round Up
Jan 31st
It’s not typically a good month for new music, but we’ve been scouring the new releases for the best new music of the new decade to bring to you. We have thrown in a few of our favourite tracks for good measure too!
Listen now >>> DoesItRock? – Jan 10 Mix
1) OK GO – White Knuckles … One of the highlights from a pretty leftfield release: DiR? Review
2) Motion City Soundtrack – Stand Too Close … Happy sounding / saddening lyrics wrapped in perfect sugar coated acoustics wth such an immensely catchy melody: DiR Review
3) TAB The Band – Left For Dead In Hilton Hotel … Blast of infectious garagey blues rock from Joe Perrys offspring.
4) Delphic – This Momentary … Big buzz band prove they ar up to the expectation heaped upon them: DiR? Review
5) Eels – Paradise Blues … Poppiest offering on E’s latest downbeat album End Times: DiR? Review
6) Adam Green – Goblin … Short Guitar ditty from anti-folks main man. DiR? Review
7) Citay – Fortunate Sun … Folk centred classic rock with a led-zep swirtling beauty and harmonious intrumental genious.
8) Cold War Kids – Audience of One … Piano stomp taken from their Jan released EP Behave Yourself
9) Spoon – Is Love Forever? … Spiked guitar line mark this lively indie rock tune from latest album Transference
10) Brilliant Colors – Motherland … Uplifting indie guitar rocker with scrambled blurbs of vocal action
11) Laura Viers – July Flame … Beautiful melody and an angelic voice, sit back, relax and drift away…..
12) Lost Prophets – Where We Belong … Thundering pop rock single from the returning welsh rock masters.
13) You Me At Six – Playing The Blame Game … UK pop punk is in safe hands with You Me At Six at the wheel.
14) Hadouken! – Turn The Lights Out … Nu Rave isn’t so much new anymore but can still pull off a catchy pop/electro/rock/rap crossover tune.
15) Manic Street Preachers – Me And Stephen Hawkins … Classic Manics from last years incredible LP Journal For Plague Lovers
16) The Wildhearts – Jackson Whites … Ginger and co. go all mettallica style on this cracking rock number!
17) Japandroids – Rockers East Vancouver … Alternative indie rock from superb sounding canadian duo.
18) Devendra Banhart – 16th & Valencia Roxy Music … The folk stalwart returns with a surprisingly upbeat pop song.
19) The Last Vegas – Whatever Gets You Off … Motley rock and roll from these superb sleazed up hard rockers.
20) All Time Low – Weightless (Acoustic) … Uber catchy tune superbly reworked, Pop Punk Anthem of the Month!
Album Review: Eels – End Times
Jan 24th
Eels second release in quick succesion follows hot on the heels of 2009′s Hombre Loco.
Eels – End Times
RockOSaurus Says:
Mark “E” Everett has that uncanny knack of being able to write deeply personal songs with such graceful melancholy. After Hombre Loco’s upbeat optimistic rock sound Eels have slid back into the beautiful melodies and acoustic strummers which are amazingly easy to listen to.
Just listing the song titles you can tell it won’t be the happiest release this year; Gone Man a bluesy shuffle, A Line In The Dirt a piano accompanied life tale, End Times gravel vocal driven ramblings, Unhinged one of the few upbeat tunes and Paradise Blues one of Eels effortlessly classic little melodies. Despite the subdued nature of the album End Times is an irresistible collection of beautiful understated tracks, which demand to be replayed!
Mr Flowers Says:
Mark Oliver Everett sings some sad songs in a lonely place, and puts together one the Eels’ best efforts in their career. It’s funny how an album full of such melancholy is full of pretty and simple songs… a joy to listen to.
RockOSaurus: 8/10
MrFlowers: 8/10
DoesItRock Overall Score: 8
Listen to Eels – End Times now on Spotify!
Dot to Dot 2008: Day 1
Jun 30th
Dot To Dot Festival, Bristol
26th May 2008
The weekend kicked off in glorious fashion in blazing sunshine, not a cloud in sight but unfortunately a fair share of hay fever induced sneezing from this weekends companions Mr Flowers and Anna. Three ice creams, three wristbands and one coin toss later we found ourselves in a rock pub called The Fleece on the East side of town ready to watch the first band of the weekend.
Hatcham Social to be fair, have a long way to go if they are going to move up the bill from this early afternoon slot. Musically they started raggedly but the rough clatter brought a certain charm after your ears had recovered from the excessive noise levels. Vocals were pretty poor and the few catchy tracks were driven mainly by the guitar lines. More touring necessary I think!
After carefully traversing a neighborhood of plentiful massage parlors and blacked out windows, we thankfully arrived at Trinity Music Centre (TMC). To my shock and surprise this was actually a church converted to a music venue, not an arena usually reserved for booze and rock and roll I imagine! However I’m sure the lord would have approved of the next band we saw, Ida Maria.
Ida Maria, a Scandinavian female fronted indie band with a keen eye for melody and an Ikea sized warehouse of cracking songs. Lead singer has a cute kitsch aura surrounding her and her Kate Nash-esque vocals (thankfully with better pronunciation). She commands the stage as the band more than get this church o’bopping. Instant happiness and breezy melodies tied to contagious chorus’s on tracks such as I Like You So Much Better When Your Naked, Oh my God and Queen of The World make this a super uplifting set. Can’t wait for their Debut album!
After hightailing it to The largest of the weekends eenues, the Bristol Carling Academy, we settled down the front to catch my only “must” see performer of the festival. Not before we strayed upstairs into academy two to witness a gabbled mess of electro and processed beats played erratically and Wee’haaay too loud by The Death Set. Not unexpectedly… we left!
Frank Turner, did not disappoint in the slightest. The rough around the edges hardcore punk rocker turned acoustic anti-folk hero was a commanding presence with his laid back rock and roll ethos. His new material sounded awesome, good time tunes with his characteristic heart on sleeve transparency.
Frank is immediately likable in a “you must have some crazy stories kind of way”, some of which he sung about here this afternoon. Set highlights included The Real Damage which documented one such boozy weekend, Fathers Day with its melodic grace and Back in the Day retraced to his angry youthful punk days (which he clearly still clings onto quite a lot).
However the show stopping track was the heartstring tugging, uplifting anthem for a lost friend that showcased his poetic no-nonsense songwriting at its best.Long Live The Queen is a perfect tribute to someone who clearly meant a hell of a lot to the guy. As the final chord rung out of yet another cracking tune The Ballad of Me And My Friends, we shuffled out knowing we’d witnessed the best the weekend had to offer!
Back over to TMC we trotted to catch the alt country duo Two Gallants. Their unique take on country music with finger plucking noisy fuzz riffs sounded great. The lead singers weathered vocals were not the strongest but what they lack in power they regained in character. This was rather enjoyable and one of the most un-formulaic bands of the weekend, but they did little to totally inspire the crowd, which is a shame really.
A pretty lengthy walk to Fiddlers later we settled down and caught some terrific piano indie pop in the shape of Golden Silvers. They put on a fantastic short set which had the crowd totally enthused and they were not short of style, melodies or catchy vocals either! Unknown to me before now, until now!! Watch out for these guys!
The real reason we were here was for Anna’s choice, the 80′s loving popsters of Palladium. Being honest I didn’t expect much more than a few cheery pop numbers, but this was a whole heap of fun. I just truly hope that their tongues were in cheek as their outfits were truly Duran Duran inspired. I was keeping a firm eye on the sublimely over the top keyboardist (complete with silver glittered visor) prancing around trying to be cool. To put it bluntly, he missed woefully and induced more than a few belly laughs. Anywho with all this lightheartedness it would take a pretty depressive band to lower the vibe….they duly arrived.
Tonight’s headline act Glasvegas (Elvis quiffs et al… ) have now been labeled the best new band in the country by NME. They did their very best to spread misery, angst and depression. They succeeded spectacularly! Their moody noise rock melodies were atmospheric and suitable dark and with lyrics like your dad he’s gone, he’s gone, he’s gone… these guys set to take on Morrissey for title of pop music’s grand miserablists. I will have to disagree with the stamp place upon them by NME, but then… that’s not particularly a big surprise.
A downbeat but no less impressive end to a cracking opening day…. Day 2 coming soon
Ageing Superhero?
Apr 21st
Newton Faulkner @ The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm, London
6th March 2008
So Chalk Farm was the place for the return leg of the gigging xmas presents between me and my friend Nic. A pop gig with serious radio appeal, which also showcases great talent was the show this evening. So after grabbing dinner on the Camden Lock, we rambled down to the Roundhouse, which is exactly that…round!
This being my first visit to the Roundhouse, I feel obliged to sing its praises as a live music venue. This place really has it all, good size for medium to large fan based artists, superb design, clearly had a sparkling refit, yet still retains the rustic charm of the age old cavernous building which once housed a huge turntable to rotate trains. The venue soars high into the night sky and the sound is perfectly resonated throughout the building. The elated atmosphere bounces so perfectly off these walls in abundance!
Newton Faulkner
Newton Faulkner is a rare talent in the current crop pop and radio friendly singer songwriters. For a start he doesn’t take himself to seriously. His rather unique appearance with his ginger dreadlocks plus his amazing talent for crafting superb pop songs with some really inventive stripped down guitar melodies. The full range of acoustic double tapping, body drumming, harmonic pinching, finger picking, with great vocals and amusing comical banter were on show with minimal need for a backing band.
The charm of the oddity on stage was highly evident and with his very funny between track ramblings, you just really like the guy. Faulkner floated through the majority of his debut album with expert ease with the top tracks being Ageing Superhero, I Need Something and Gone In The Morning fresh with an funny extended improvised ba-ba, de-de-lums & do-wop vocal solo.
Where the crowd was lacking here this evening was the knowledge of album tracks as most here were clearly radio one junkies who have heard the singles. Yet Newton engaged all with a stupendous (if not strange) compelling cover version of Bohemian Rhapsody, classic…hmmm! But sadly the time had come to leave so droves of gatherers piled onto the streets with smiles on their faces, a song in their hearts and a spring in their steps, thus is the Faulkner Effect!
Albums of 2007: #6 – 4
Dec 28th
#6
LCD Soundsystem – Sound Of Silver
I am not usually the electronic music fan, but this year there have been some cracking dance albums with this outing being the best of them. The second album from mega-producer James Murphy is a classic electronic album. Sound of Silver is a perfect mix of loop based band driven electro, funky samples and pounding bass. Each track has a cracking melody which really draws you in and takes you on an high octane ride of danceable rhythm’s.
North American Scum is one of the great modern dance tracks, taking scuzzy guitar and driving keys all loaded with superb vocals. More highlights come in the form of the huge looping melody of Us Vs Them the deep dirty bleep riddled Something Great and the piano led frenetic frolic that is All My Friends.
Dance music never sounded so great with LCD Soundsystem’s collection of fantastic adrenaline pumping energy fuelled anthems! Played live these tracks are transformed into rave anthems and should definitely be the electronic score of 2007.
#5
Frank Turner – Sleep Is For The Week
I will admit that I’m not the biggest folk fan in the world, true the odd outstanding lyricist will catch my attention, but on the whole great rock guitars and catchiness is where I lay my musical hat. This maybe why I’ve fallen for this anti-folk album from the ex-hardcore punk front man of Million Dead, Frank Turner. His honest lyrics all seem to hold a sensitive and translucent feel to them with stories of him starting out on the road The Ballad Of Me And My Friends, the aftermath and fallout after a party The Real Damage and being a punk rocker on the fast paced strummer Back In My Day.
More than anything else this is full of cracking upbeat pop songs. The backing musicians push this album to greater heights with the superbly melancholic violin driving the melody on one of the tracks of the year Fathers Day. His vocals are far from an x-factor winner, but that is surely the point! Their strength is in their swaying from driving rousing chorus’s of Once We Were Anarchists to the sweet charm of Romantic Fatigue.
Frank Turner has produced a fine album of simple acoustics’, layered instruments and compelling storytelling lyrics you just want to sit and follow the lyrics sheet to.
#4
Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
We Were Dead… Is the latest chapter In the already pretty long story of Modest Mouse and for me one of their finest. After hitting slight mainstream spotlights with Good News For People Who Love Bad News, the pressure was on to keep the band on top form.
By heck did they succed! Their brand of american indie pop has been spruced up with the addition of Ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr adding his axe slinging skills and a whole lot of publicity. Lead single Dashboard is as good a indie pop song there has been this year with understated tricky guitar melodies and layers of multi-intrumental genious. Florida is another contender for indie pop song of the year with floating guitars and subtle sonic soundscapes making for beautiful listening.
We Were Dead… retains the charm and quirky oddness of previous albums and is showcased on chillout track Fire It Up and strking stomper Education. The mellow on this album is amazing, how they make quiet rock so loud, is amazing. Still when they put their mind to producing great rock tracks again they come up trumps, exibit A We Got Everything.
Reading 2007: Day 1
Sep 5th
So the summers last big rock weekend is over and now its time to reflect on what was an amazing weekend of music.
The Thursday morning journey down was smooth, parking was easy, boat to campsite was a result, empty dry field to camp in was even better! Tents pitched perfectly and the beer cracked out before 11am, Result!! On the whole it was a top notch day, even though i had to have a nap mid afternoon as we got up at 5am! Still onto the music…
24th August 2007 – Day 1
So day one lept off to great start being woken up by the early morning sun shining on the tent. With this in mind and a hopefully hot weekend in prospect we decided to invest in some appropriate headgear…Sombreros to be exact! These turned out to be the buy of the weekend, not only does it keep the sun off your head, win you many friends who want be your “amigo” but they acted as superb beacons for finding each other! Many a thought conversation i had with myself went as follows (it’s ok i regularly talk to myself):
Where on earth??…(8 Sombreros go marching past)…Ahhh…. There they are!!
With a buoyed mentality of not being at work on a Friday, feeling great considering the consumption levels of the day before plus the fact that weekend really starts here we all head into the arena early to catch The Pipettes.
I don’t think there is a better way to start a festival that to see the Pipettes. They are fun, easy to groove on down to, easy listening with cheesy Co-ordinated dance moves … and did i mention easy on the eyes too. Their 60′s retro pop was highly enjoyable and perfect for the sunshine! Top Track: Dirty Mind
“The 3×3 Amigos” (I know what you thinking, cool moniker huh! lol) fractured for the first (and not the last) time of the weekend. Off i trotted to the Radio 1/NME stage and to the sounds of The Sounds. This was also a great performance as this Swedish girl fronted electrock act played to a pretty packed tent. For good reason too, their funky bass lines and electro rhythms were great which just urged manic foot tapping brinking on full scale disco dancing. Top Track: Queen of Apology
Back to the Main stage were The Long Blondes were plying their northern charm. They sounded ok, nothing great though, they didn’t really have any stage presence which is a shame as their songs are good. Top Track: Giddy Stratospheres
Gogol Bordello on the other hand the epitome of character and relentless energy. Front man Eugene Hutz and his band flies about stage like a bunch of primates in heat. Right down to the random female dancers, accordion(ist?) and Violinist they project so much life into their audience! These Gypsy punks have to be seen live to be fully appreciated, their albums as good as they are no comparison to their live showmanship. They had the crowd bouncing relentlessly during the whole entirety of the set running through their hits Not A Crime, Immigrant Punk, American Wedding and Start Wearing Purple. Gogol really got the party in full swing with one of my highlights of the weekend! Top Track: Not a Crime
Jimmy Eat World were next to hit the stage as they ran through a decent set of tracks from pop-punks book of lore. I was only there for the big 4 and they didnt disapoint, Sweetness, The Middle, ASHPHALT, Here You Me all getting an airing. I was suprised by the quality of their other material, full of melody and energy. Glad i stayed to see them. Top Track: The Middle
Joining part way through the ex-million dead lead singer’s solo show in the carling tent, Frank Turner sure has a vast hardcore following. And for good reason too, his vocals were superbly delivered and his folky storytelling style brought a very personal touch to the songs. The fact he backed them up with solid acoustic guitars with some super catchy melodies made this more memorable! Top Track: Fathers Day
From one acoustic tradesman to the next, now to far more popular with the ‘nme’ crowd the geniously named Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly! With his make trade, lets save the world banner hanging behind him, this Southend lad is definitely not going to change the world and eradicate poverty, but what he does instead is play a highly entertaining set full with tent filling singalongs. His band adds another dimension to his acoustic based tracks, bigger, bolder and greatly more eclectic. However did mess up 3 times in succession because he couldn’t tune his guitar properly, fool. Top Track: War Of The World
A good festival band has ‘usually’ at least 3 of the following festival factors: fun, loud, energetic, danceble, enigmatic, singable chorus’s. Which is what makes Interpol a band that really should not work on Reading’s Main stage. Fun (minimal), loud (not really), energetic (hardly), danceble (at times), enigmatic (possibly), singable chorus’s (nope). Their smooth, ice cold almost morbid vocals alongside resonating spooky guitars is hardly one to spark a crowd to life. Yet somehow in the fading light of this late summer eve it sounds perfect. All onlookers watch with either amazement or boredom, I’m glad to sad I was in the former category. Beautiful melodies and moody chants intertwined with funky disco beats and rapid-fire drumming were superb. Not the most cheerful bunch, but that didn’t stop them playing a broody, but super set! Top Track: Evil
Kings Of Leon brightened the mood with some good old fashioned rock straight from the deep south and the weathered vocal chords of lead singer Caleb Followill. The Kings surely lived up to their name as they were amazing! From the pop rock rushes of Molly’s Chamber and Red Morning Light, to the brooding Milk they sound fantastic, suited perfectly to the festival stage. The best guitar work of the day was on show here and especially during Charmer, with its haunting harmonics lighting up the dark Berkshire skies. The set drew plenty of material from their latest album, mixing the rompous My Party with the dark Knocked Up, and the huge shriek-a-long of On Call. This was a superb show from a band who have rose to the very top of their craft! Band of the Weekend? It’s a close call! Top Track: Charmer
I had my reservations about Ash returning to their original 3 members after dumping Charlotte Hatherley to wander into solo-ville. These were quickly diminished as they seem re-invigorated from the freedom of not having a woman around. Tonight they are brash, cocksure, boisterous and seem to be loving what their doing once more! More so than when i saw them here and here. Of course some of the pretty layers have been sanded over but that’s the beauty of them tonight, they don’t feel like the aging pop hit single makers, instead they are a fantastic rock band, doing what they do best!
The crowd were with ash this evening too, Tim wheeler stoked up the crowd with “so you decided not to see Razorlight?”, which was met with roars of “Razor-shite! Razor-shite! Razor-shite!…”. The heaving tent was littered with the hardcore followers howling each word, none more so than during the classics Girl From Mars, Kung Fu and Oh Yeah! Finishing with where it began with their first single Jack Names The Planets, is a fitting tribute to their mentality this evening. Ash are a worthy headline act to round off the day 1 with a literally show stopping performance. Top Track: Girl From Mars
