Sunday 22nd August. Western Park.
Right, first thing’s first, I’ve been in the car for two hours from Sheffield whilst drinking lots of water; it’s time to check out the VIP toilets! Oh my god! They have mirrors and running water! Excitement over, it’s time for some music.
I’m led to the NME stage under false security that Thirteen Senses would be on shortly. I wanted to see how much progress, if any they had made and how they would go about a festival performance. Finally, the band amble on stage… but it’s not Thirteen Senses. (I later find out they had to cancel due to their singer’s sore throat).
Instead, it’s 10,000 Things-almost rock n roll with a tint of punk, they just try too hard with their singer trying to look oh so rock n roll in his Sailor type hat; an
10,000 Things are here courtesy of winning some form of trashy Battle of the Bands competition. I dread to think how awful the other bands must have been, but I remember that the rather dull Saint Rose were also in the running so I’m also thinking I might have had a lucky escape here. This band are very now, which is either a good or bad thing depending on your views on the current state of music. Personally, they weren’t my ‘thing’ and I begin to lose interest. Particularly after the barrage of male ego starts to come through. “This one’s about when you have a girlfriend who treats you like shit.” And of course, all of the males in the crowd cheer in a laddish way. Singer Sam Riley continues to explain his songs throughout the set and I’m not really one for wanting to hear an artist ramble on about his shit experiences; it’s a given.
Bring on Hal. I’m very much looking forward to seeing this Irish four piece since they impressed me straight away when they supported Starsailor on tour last year. The highlight of the set for me was hearing the single ‘Worry about the Wind’ in all its sweet harmonic glory. They seemed confident performing this song whereas the rest of the set appeared to be nervously rushed. They weren’t what they appear to be on record, which left me slightly disappointed, but I enjoyed the set nonetheless. Definitely worth checking out if you’re interested in your own folksy, less polished and less commercial version of the Thrills.
The Killers’ sound engineer says to me “Make sure you get a good spot, there’ll be 20,000 people here shortly wanting to see these boys.” He wasn’t far from wrong. The greenery around the NME stage was nowhere to be seen. Everyone was eagerly waiting for the arrival of the hotly tipped Las Vegas band to strut their stuff. Anyone band who are an NME darling I’m weary of these days but I’ve been lucky enough to catch them on previous tours and been pleasantly surprised. I’m such a sucker for the 80s without the cheese sound.
Obvious highlights include the former single ‘Somebody Told Me;’ the guitars and symbols crash and I can’t help but get excited by its kick-ass, funky electro sound. The song is as perfectly timed live as it is on record. They close the set with their last single and the song everyone’s quoting around you at the moment. As the recognisable intro to ‘All these things that I’ve done’ kicks in, there’s a huge cheer from the crowd. I suspect this is the one they’ve all been waiting for. Arms fly about pointing at Brandon Flowers as he starts singing ‘I got soul but I’m not a soldier.’ The perfect end to their energetic set.
It’s time to scoot off for Easyworld. We have to be there at least an hour before they come on stage to get a good spot. (Hint of sarcasm there). On the way, we stop for some rather expensive food (they really do take the piss and it’s because they can) and try to get to the tent via the main stage crowd which wasn’t the best idea we’ve ever had and 20 minutes later, we’re at the big blue tent, only it’s not the right tent! Nightmare. We like to pretend we were sightseeing, but there really isn’t much to see.
… I was ready to hear some songs about shagging from Easyworld.
What’s rumoured to be their last ever gig prompts me to see this band over the beloved Charlatans. It’s a hard choice for my friend too but we decide to head to the Music Choice tent. It has to be Easyworld in fear of regret of not seeing them again. I just hope I can live up to getting into the set for the sake of my emotional mate and Easyworld’s true fan.
It’s been a while since I was treated to that acrobatic voice of Dav Ford’s. Since then, they’re had huge success with the follow up to their debut album ‘This is where I Stand’ with the more mature sound of ‘Kill the Last Romantic.’ Dav Ford enters the stage alone, complete in a suave suit and hat. Maybe some sort of fashion statement? Maybe so because within a couple of minutes of being on stage, he’s removed the jacket and hat before he’s even broken into a sweat. Pointless one would think. But we’re not here to talk about the fashion… He climbs and stands on his piano stall and the crowd is cheering enthusiastically with a few chants of ‘‘we love you Dav!’’
The tent is full of hardcore Easyworld fans and I feel slightly out of place. I’ve always liked their singles and insist on having at least one of their tracks on one of my homemade compilations, but I’ve never fully decided upon my amount of love for them.
The piano lead ‘Til the Day’ and some would say the song that lead them onto the bigger road, is gorgeously played by Dav and I especially enjoy the conviction in his voice as he sings “but I’d gladly put up with this SHIT til the day that I die.” I hope the remainder of the set includes the songs ‘Junkies and Whores,’ ‘You and Me’ and ‘Bleach’ and I hope they’re all sung with the same conviction they deserve.
It seems the band hasn’t changed how they play into ‘Bleach’ since seeing them on tour in January 2003. Nice and quiet at the piano, building up the anticipation and waiting for that sexual screech of “you make me want to drink…. BLEEEEACH” and drummer Glenn shouts something along the lines of “Let’s do this one more time!” The punky guitars and perfectly struck drums kick in. My friend and I squeal at the top of our voice to all of the words-right down to the last “oh-o-wooo-oh-woo.” Out comes a banjo and an explanation that the next song is about people from Essex; to which their bassist doesn’t look to happy about. It has to be the magnificent “Junkies and Whores” and I can’t help but love it. It never fails to please live and I’m still left stunned at the high notes Dav manages to reach. It’s epic, it’s big and it has a vile title all at the same time.
The closing song of the set is the perfectly executed ‘You and Me’ which is simply “about shagging.” Brilliantly timed and extended to the max for atmosphere, the band finishes on a complete high with this track. I once again thoroughly enjoyed Easyworld, even if a majority of their tracks are about knobbing something or other.
I decide it’s not really worth scooting off for the last ten minutes of the Charlatans, so I stay and watch former James star Tim Booth who proves to be the surprise set of the day for me. The former James frontman brings in a spectacular crowd and all James fans are clearly expecting and get something quite short of a marvel. Playing us tracks from his own album ‘Bone’ and also treating us to an oldie and a mass sing along which simply sends shivers down my spine, thanks to the crowd and the simply gorgeous voice of his female keyboard player. She’s unpretentious and sweet looking and works on the crowd with her dancing just as much as Booth does. At the end of the set, Booth and his band look overwhelmed with the reception they’ve received and all take to the front of the stage for a bow. He has definitely gained some album sales with a festival appearance like that. I’ll be off to purchase it and practice some of the most crazy dance moves I’ve just witnessed on stage!
Staying in the music choice tent, I wait for Longview. Who? And why are they so far up the bill? Even above Easyworld who they were supporting last January. Anyway, these guys had brief success with their top 30 hit ‘Further’ and another recent scraping in the top 40 with ‘In a Dream.’ Longview are a band who I’m more than familiar with. I won’t scare you by telling you how many times I’ve seen them over the last two and a half years, but I will tell you that it’s always interesting to see them at festivals-this being the third time I experience one of their festival appearances. I’m hoping that it goes better than previous ones as I’ve never really viewed them as a festival band. The tent fills pretty quickly and I’m quite surprised. It never filled so soon with the other acts on. Maybe it’s raining outside?
I expect them to open with the single that never was ‘Will you wait here’ but I’m rudely mistaken and to my surprise, they open with my favourite new track ‘Coming Down.’ BANG! Straight in there! I can’t help but commend them on their choice for such a brave opener. The final part of the song is what makes it electrifying; just when you think it’s over and everyone begins to clap, this huge hoovering guitar sound swoops in and completely resurrects it and takes it somewhere else. My hair feels like it’s sticking up every time I hear it, tonight’s no exception.s
I’m still upset over the lack of the anthemic ‘Still’ in their set, but the guys giving us a ballsy performance of their rocky number ‘When you sleep’ makes up for it. It starts off with a lot of head nodding in the crowd, which then goes to some full on jumping and bashing. Enigmatic guitarist Doug Morch pulls some of the most fantastic rock poses you’ll see in a while and it’s thoroughly entertaining.
“Did anyone see is when we last played V?” McVey asks the crowd. “We were so nervous.” It’s true. Not known to any then, they were opening the NME stage two years ago and looked like they were about to shit their pants any minute. Now they’ve grown into their potential and gained some
After bumping into a few friends on the rush out of the tent (Embrace are on the NME stage in less than ten minutes!) I start a rant whilst walking really fast. “I just DON’T get it! Where are Longview going wrong? People were dying for that set and were lapping it up yet; they’re not doing commercially successful! It’s SO frustrating!”
But enough of that, here comes the true climax of the night. The part I’m most anxious about and my friends just know it. I’m trying my best to make them sprint to the NME stage for the much-awaited comeback of the comeback kings Embrace. I can hardly contain my excitement and nerves, this band are either about to make or break my heart in the fifty minutes that they’re back in my life again.
They kick off with possibly the best set opener imaginable, ‘New Adam New Eve’ and I demand to be further forward but I come to halt when I realise there isn’t much room else where and I’m clearly not the only person here glad to see this band back. I settle for just enjoying myself with randoms. The anthemic ‘All you good good people’ is next on the set and I see all of the lads grab eachother, not in inappropriate places, but arms around eachother in a laddish way, but it’s always expected when I see this band. I expect it for at least a few other songs in the set and the crowd doesn’t prove me wrong. Right down to the last ‘Hooo-oooh-ohhhs’ of the track, which are mostly sung out of tune and not by Danny McNamara but by myself and surrounding people, it’s simply mind blowing and verifies that this band still have it and are willing to bring it.
New track ‘Someday’ is the one I’m most nervous about. Having cried all day after hearing the recorded version for the first time a few weeks ago, I’m praying it won’t let me down and will still put me on the brink of tears. I hear the opening chord and scream. Of course, nobody else does but some girl in front of me says back “You go girl!” so I do. Dance like nobody’s watching n all that jazz. This song can replace ‘All you good good people’ on the scale of epicness, I know it and by the end of the shortened version of the track (that was the only disappointment, more foot stomping from guitarist Richard McNamara would have made me muchos happy) everybody else knows it. Danny says, “Oh, you like that one do ya?”
‘Come back to what you know,’ the song that made them nearly famous and the set closer ‘Wonder’ are another excuse for having a quick grope with your mates and vigorous hand pointing. I couldn’t even hear Danny singing at one point in the set because the crowd just took over and chanted the lyrics to both tracks. It was an immense feeling of satisfaction for us as well as the band and they looked completely overwhelmed. Yes Danny, Richard, Steve, Mickey and Mike-your music is still relevant and your public have been waiting eagerly to feel THAT way again. Welcome back boys.
We stumble back to VIP for a quick drink and toilet usage before travelling back to Sheffield. I decide that I have no need to see any of the headliners (Muse, Basement Jaxx etc) tonight because I’ve just seen one of the best bands in the world. I don’t want that high feeling to be ruined (especially by some whiney skinny kid from Muse) but I do admire the lights as we leave the arena whilst feeling lucky that we escaped Dido’s set.
So, back to find the car… I’m sure we parked it over there…
Words: Zara Crockett-King.
Photography: Steve Turner.
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