Barry
28-06-2010, 00:17
Once again ‘tis the season of backed up loos, mud, rain and contemporary music. Fortunately this year it seems that the fine summer weather blessed the revellers at Glastonbury and hopefully the Port-a-Loos were regularly maintained. Not that it made any difference to me: yours truly had decamped to the TV room, armed only with a bottle of white wine and a TV remote control; the greatest risk might be the wine becoming warm or RSI caused by excessive channel hopping.
Friday
Events started by watching La Roux. Not that I would have known: she was accompanied on stage with an unnecessary and superfluous dance troupe. In fact had it not been for her ‘Mr Whippy – There’s something about Mary’ hairstyle; I wouldn’t have known it was her at all. Things settled down after the first song, but it does seem that she has become more ‘commercial’ since she appeared at Glastonbury as a hopeful newcomer last year. Things continued to improve with successive songs. I was particularly impressed with her version of ‘Temptation’ by Heaven 17, sung with Glen Gregory. The dance troupe reappeared and again, I’m sorry, made little contribution. Nothing wrong with the abilities of the dancers – La Roux just doesn’t need them.
Next up was Florence and The Machine. The ‘Machine’ has now an extended line-up, including backing singers. I was greatly impressed by her act last year at Glastonbury, but was disappointed by her subsequent debut album ‘Lungs’. This time I was again swept away by the sheer exuberance of her performance – especially doing a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’. Not enough to convert me, but I will look out for her next disc with anticipation.
Vampire Weekend, are a largely new group to me, though I might have seen them on ‘Later’. I was quite taken with their performance.
Couldn’t make my mind up about Hot Chip. Their appearance on ‘Later’, interested me – however their performance this year at Glastonbury did not really advance that situation. To be frank, I’m ambivalent about electro-pop.
Dizzee Rascal and Snoop Dogg, are not my thing, so I channel-hopped to watch Corinne Bailey-Rae. I had great hopes for her in the early ‘00s, and indeed enjoy her first CD. Unfortunately I have been disappointed by her career comeback, particularly so with her lacklustre appearances on ‘Later’. I’m pleased to say that her presence this year at Glastonbury reversed that impression, and I look forward to hearing her next CD.
Stayed on to watch Willie Nelson. The old boy can still hack it, but overall I found his performance ‘pedestrian’, however it was clear that the audience were having a good time. I just kept thinking, “I wish Johnny Cash was up there”. Ungrateful, I know.
Tried to watch Gorillaz but rapidly became bored, so turned over to watch Mumford & Sons. Having seen them, again on ‘Later’, they had not made that much impression on me. This time I was impressed and enjoyed their act.
Saturday
Things started in fine style with Shakira, and I have to be honest and say that it was not solely for her vocal abilities that I watched her act. The Cribs made little impression on me, despite watching most of their set. Kate Nash was dreadful – a thoroughly awful performance, that was, in my opinion, a complete waste of electricity! A shame, as I like her CD: ‘Made of Bricks’.
The Editors followed and they were very good, playing a mixture of new tracks as well as material from their CD ‘The Back Room’. Listening to them reminds me of U2, with lyrics that might have been written by Jim Morrison.
Scissor Sisters clashed with Jackson Browne; no contest it had to be Jackson Brown. That man is so instrumental in writing material for so many people such as Joan Baez and The Eagles as well as for himself. He came on and gave a thoroughly enjoyable if ‘laid back’ performance. Caught Scissor Sisters later and have to say they gave a very well polished and professional performance, though little of it was to my taste.
The National were good, again in some ways they reminded me of U2. Loved Marina and the Diamonds – something Kate Bush about her singing style.
Tried to watch xx but quickly became bored and couldn’t see what the fuss was about. Similarly for headline performers Muse, I became so bored I took a break to make a sandwich. Clearly I was in a minority of one, as the audience adored them. The only time I perked up, was when they were joined by Edge and together they did ‘Where the Streets Have No Name’. Virtually identical to U2, but then Edge was there.
Caught some of The Pet Shop Boys. Also headliners, they gave a very well polished performance, complete with ‘Rubic’s (?) cube’ dancers. Not a fan at all but they did remind me of the early ’80s synth-pop groups. Had fully intended to watch Dead Weather, but had decided I had had enough of Glastonbury for the evening. Again possibly a mistake as I have seen them on ‘Later’ and thought them rather good.
Sunday
Started well with Nora Jones. She didn’t set the stage alight but given that it was the opening set, I thought she did very well. Next up Jack Johnson, playing material from his new album as well as his earlier recordings - thoroughly enjoyable.
Not so The Flaming Lips, whom I found hugely disappointing. Not sure what I was expecting, but to my ears they don’t seem to have progressed at all in the last four or five years.
It was great to see Toots and the Maytals, good honest down-to-earth reggae. Tried to ‘get into’ Faithless, but I guess dance music doesn’t do it for me. It did for everyone else at Glastonbury though, which is just as well.
Gabriela y Rodrigo were great – I just love that manic ‘electro-flamenco’ style of theirs. I must seek out their recordings. I wanted to see some other performances but there was limited scope to do this via Freeview; so I missed Dr John and several others who appeared this year.
And so to Stevie Wonder. I’m not a huge fan, but I do like many of his hits, and it seemed appropriate that the should sing ‘Happy Birthday’ for the festival's 40th birthday. He pulled out all the stops and his was a great set with which, for me, to close a very successful Glastonbury.
All the above are of course only my thoughts. I know some AoS members were actually there. I hope they will tell us of their experiences of Glastonbury 2010.
Friday
Events started by watching La Roux. Not that I would have known: she was accompanied on stage with an unnecessary and superfluous dance troupe. In fact had it not been for her ‘Mr Whippy – There’s something about Mary’ hairstyle; I wouldn’t have known it was her at all. Things settled down after the first song, but it does seem that she has become more ‘commercial’ since she appeared at Glastonbury as a hopeful newcomer last year. Things continued to improve with successive songs. I was particularly impressed with her version of ‘Temptation’ by Heaven 17, sung with Glen Gregory. The dance troupe reappeared and again, I’m sorry, made little contribution. Nothing wrong with the abilities of the dancers – La Roux just doesn’t need them.
Next up was Florence and The Machine. The ‘Machine’ has now an extended line-up, including backing singers. I was greatly impressed by her act last year at Glastonbury, but was disappointed by her subsequent debut album ‘Lungs’. This time I was again swept away by the sheer exuberance of her performance – especially doing a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’. Not enough to convert me, but I will look out for her next disc with anticipation.
Vampire Weekend, are a largely new group to me, though I might have seen them on ‘Later’. I was quite taken with their performance.
Couldn’t make my mind up about Hot Chip. Their appearance on ‘Later’, interested me – however their performance this year at Glastonbury did not really advance that situation. To be frank, I’m ambivalent about electro-pop.
Dizzee Rascal and Snoop Dogg, are not my thing, so I channel-hopped to watch Corinne Bailey-Rae. I had great hopes for her in the early ‘00s, and indeed enjoy her first CD. Unfortunately I have been disappointed by her career comeback, particularly so with her lacklustre appearances on ‘Later’. I’m pleased to say that her presence this year at Glastonbury reversed that impression, and I look forward to hearing her next CD.
Stayed on to watch Willie Nelson. The old boy can still hack it, but overall I found his performance ‘pedestrian’, however it was clear that the audience were having a good time. I just kept thinking, “I wish Johnny Cash was up there”. Ungrateful, I know.
Tried to watch Gorillaz but rapidly became bored, so turned over to watch Mumford & Sons. Having seen them, again on ‘Later’, they had not made that much impression on me. This time I was impressed and enjoyed their act.
Saturday
Things started in fine style with Shakira, and I have to be honest and say that it was not solely for her vocal abilities that I watched her act. The Cribs made little impression on me, despite watching most of their set. Kate Nash was dreadful – a thoroughly awful performance, that was, in my opinion, a complete waste of electricity! A shame, as I like her CD: ‘Made of Bricks’.
The Editors followed and they were very good, playing a mixture of new tracks as well as material from their CD ‘The Back Room’. Listening to them reminds me of U2, with lyrics that might have been written by Jim Morrison.
Scissor Sisters clashed with Jackson Browne; no contest it had to be Jackson Brown. That man is so instrumental in writing material for so many people such as Joan Baez and The Eagles as well as for himself. He came on and gave a thoroughly enjoyable if ‘laid back’ performance. Caught Scissor Sisters later and have to say they gave a very well polished and professional performance, though little of it was to my taste.
The National were good, again in some ways they reminded me of U2. Loved Marina and the Diamonds – something Kate Bush about her singing style.
Tried to watch xx but quickly became bored and couldn’t see what the fuss was about. Similarly for headline performers Muse, I became so bored I took a break to make a sandwich. Clearly I was in a minority of one, as the audience adored them. The only time I perked up, was when they were joined by Edge and together they did ‘Where the Streets Have No Name’. Virtually identical to U2, but then Edge was there.
Caught some of The Pet Shop Boys. Also headliners, they gave a very well polished performance, complete with ‘Rubic’s (?) cube’ dancers. Not a fan at all but they did remind me of the early ’80s synth-pop groups. Had fully intended to watch Dead Weather, but had decided I had had enough of Glastonbury for the evening. Again possibly a mistake as I have seen them on ‘Later’ and thought them rather good.
Sunday
Started well with Nora Jones. She didn’t set the stage alight but given that it was the opening set, I thought she did very well. Next up Jack Johnson, playing material from his new album as well as his earlier recordings - thoroughly enjoyable.
Not so The Flaming Lips, whom I found hugely disappointing. Not sure what I was expecting, but to my ears they don’t seem to have progressed at all in the last four or five years.
It was great to see Toots and the Maytals, good honest down-to-earth reggae. Tried to ‘get into’ Faithless, but I guess dance music doesn’t do it for me. It did for everyone else at Glastonbury though, which is just as well.
Gabriela y Rodrigo were great – I just love that manic ‘electro-flamenco’ style of theirs. I must seek out their recordings. I wanted to see some other performances but there was limited scope to do this via Freeview; so I missed Dr John and several others who appeared this year.
And so to Stevie Wonder. I’m not a huge fan, but I do like many of his hits, and it seemed appropriate that the should sing ‘Happy Birthday’ for the festival's 40th birthday. He pulled out all the stops and his was a great set with which, for me, to close a very successful Glastonbury.
All the above are of course only my thoughts. I know some AoS members were actually there. I hope they will tell us of their experiences of Glastonbury 2010.