Is there’s anything better than waking up after a night of drunken debauchery and realising that despite my matted “geek pie” style hair I feel awesome? Nothing much - but a black coffee and the Towers of London on the main stage really kick started my day. Described as the filthiest band in the UK they get on stage and truly don’t give a shit, although, having met them twice, I say they are the sweetest punk band in the world. “Towers of London, great with children!” Danny proclaims as he is posing for photographs back stage with a couple of kids. After a few songs Danny jumps off stage to interact with the crowd only to realise that there’s no way back and he has to be helped onto the stage by the bouncers! Later for those acts not prepared to jump down about 10 feet to meet their audience they erect a set of stairs. Where’s the dedication Belle and Sebastian?
After a few mediocre bands we catch the Guillemots led by Fyfe Dangerfield (is this his real name?) featuring a double bass and various brass instruments. They play creative and genuinely moving songs with a truly orchestral feel. By their second song “Who left the lights off, baby?” I have developed a slight infatuation with the band. Amongst conservative and predictable modern British music, the Guillemots form a welcome revolution.
If anything was capable of topping the Guillemots, then Gogol Bordello was the band for the job. A Gypsy punk band from New York city, they are a photographers wet dream! Their sound is wild and recklessly energetic featuring an accordion, a fiddle and two crazy dancing girls. It is, by far, the best performance I saw all day.
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For years I thought Belle and Sebastian were a two piece boy girl band. Actually there are lots of them, and as a band I’ve been listening to for a long time it was amazing to finally catch them live and they were absolutely radiant. During one song Stuart Murdoch walked down the conveniently erected stairs and got a very nervous audience member to apply mascara on him and during another he brought a girl onto the stage with him. On CD they are wonderful but to fully appreciate how incredible Belle and Sebastian really are they should be enjoyed live, their performance is far from a disappointment.
Next up the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, one of my all time favourite bands. Karen O, wearing what can only be described as the most vile outfit I’ve ever seen still somehow manages to look stunning. Purple leggings and a ridiculous sparkly top, no one should be able to pull this off! But then she is the coolest lady in rock. Throughout her set she is in hysterics as she rips off her multicoloured top revealing a yellow leotard number and gets her hat somehow stuck on her head. She is having such an amazing time it is impossible not to join her for the ride. Playing mostly songs from the new album plus some old favourites such as Date With The Night and Maps the set is fantastic.
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