Carling Festival 2007: Leeds (Part 3)

With the little known activity of sleep far lower on our list of priorities, waking up on Sunday proved to be a much more difficult task than previously. Despite that, we were off to the main arena bright and early for a spot of everyone's favourite pop-punkers, Paramore. Despite plugging the new album at a rate of about three times a minute, they were entertaining and managed to keep the crowd interested for their 30 minute set. After this we were struggling and ended up at the hands, or guitars, of Teenagers where my ears were sonically raped, so much that I felt violated enough after 10 minutes and had to leave. Continuing this trend a friend and I managed a whole song and a half of Good Shoes before we surrendered and left in search of a musical saviour.
Luckily, it was time for The Shins and they played a fairly rocky set on the main stage right in the blazing mid day sunshine to which I think 95% of the audience were smiling and swaying along to. Rightly so, as I thought they were excellent and really brought a calm and soothing vibe to Bramham Park. Bravely missing out crowd favourite "Caring Is Creepy" the set seemed to include material mainly from the 2nd and 3rd albums with my favourite being recent single, "Australia".
Deciding to opt for some alone time, my next visit was to the Carling Tent to catch Oxford's technical dance-rockers Foals. Really tight and full of variation in their songs, I was very impressed by this 5-piece and so it seemed was everyone else, with a overflowing tent moving to every beat. They didn't seem to miss a note and it was really cool to see a new band with such technical proficiency, a definite band to keep on your radar! On a friends recommendation I stuck around for Cobra Starship, a band I'd never heard of, and for a start I was pretty unimpressed. It was only when the songs moved from disco, to pop-rock that I became more interested and the members started to show a few more of their skills. Despite this, I think they may have trouble distinguishing themselves as anything more as another Panic or FOB.
Coming towards the end we quickly got over to the Dance Tent for a spot of "Bizzle Bizzle" and general fun times. Lethal Bizzle is a UK garage/hip-hop artist who has made significant inroads into the indie/pop markets, evident in his appearance at this years festival. A full tent was definitely enjoying the show and, even on my last legs, I did spend most of the show dancing like a complete idiot. It's a show I enjoyed, but not necessarily something I really listen to at home. Despite that, LB is someone you should at least check out.
With the whole crew reunited, I found myself in a good spot for Bloc Party on the main stage and they weren't bad at all, at least for a start. Mixing it up between the two albums and seemingly keeping the crowd entertained. It was only when I got home, and found out that they did exactly the same set at Glastonbury right down to the between song banter, that I felt slightly cheated! I mean, sort it out guys and show a little bit of charisma.
Taking the risky decision to shun indie behemoth The Arcade Fire, myself and a friend went to the half empty Carling Tent to see the significantly less hyped, Silversun Pickups. Sound wise, this band actually had the hairs standing on the back of my neck with the beautifully heavy, layered and looped guitar work. Backed up by solid bass, soaring keyboards and crashing drums the Pickups paint a musical picture much richer than most and they have some tunes too, with songs like "Well Thought Out Twinkles" and "Little Lover's So Polite" rocking the Leeds crowd. The band have an awesome stage presence too with two static figures left and right, leaving loads of space for the highly entertaining theatrics of drummer, Christopher Guanlao, and front man, Brian Aubert. While I expect the Arcade Fire were still working their magic upon the Main Stage we literally ran across to the NME, my lone attempt to get around the logistics of this horrible tent, in order to catch the start of Biffy Clyro. Both really excited about the Biff, they did play pretty well but there was something missing. I have to admit, I was really excited about seeing them so perhaps I am being extra harsh when I say they weren't quite as good as I expected. Still, they were better than most and rocked out especially with "Saturday Superhouse" and "Living Is A Problem" from the latest album.
Finally, cold, hungry but still wanting a little bit more, I searched out the huge flag my friends were now equipped with and found my place within the crowd for the legendary Red Hot Chili Peppers. Starting with lots of energy and some cool extended jams, everything was promising and the crowd, including myself, seemed captivated. However as more and more new songs displaced the favourites everyone was waiting for and the jams got longer, and less fluid it was in the air, that patience was wearing thin. On their last leg of an 18 month world tour, it was evident that the Chili's were tiring quickly and never was this more evident than when the encore started with the decidedly flat album track, "C'mon Girl", a complete let down. I know the pedigree of RHCP and in no way will this performance change my opinion of them overall, but it was disappointing that the festival had to end this way! Never mind, the madness of Sunday night quickly put any disappointments to the back of my mind and my Leeds experience was complete, along with the dirtiest burger I have ever received, just in time to eat while the sun rose again, signalling the real end of this amazing weekend.
Huge amounts of love to everyone who shared the weekend with me, x.

Set List
'Can't Stop'
'Dani California'
'Other Side'
'Charlie'
'Throw Away Your Television'
'Snow (Hey Oh)'
'Get On Top'
'Emit Remus'
'Don't Forget Me'
'So Much I Wish'
'She's Only 18'
'Right On Time'
'Californication'
'By The Way'
'C'mon Girl'
'Give It Away'

Carling Festival 2007: Leeds (Part 2)

Saturday morning and with memories of the Pumpkins still as fresh in the mind, as the dew on the grass, we were up and about early for the day's music. First up was the second half of The Pipettes and although it was hard to judge on a few songs, I think these girls coped well with the early slot, getting some early birds dancing to their Motown grooves. Searching for some undiscovered gems, we moved on to the Carling Stage to see fresh faced Nashville punk rockers, the Turbo Fruits. Blasting through a 30 minute set that included 3 chords, 2 ripped string vests and 1 lonesome blow up ball the kids tried their best and at times managed to sound at least a little like The Stooges. By the looks of it, time is on their side so maybe they'll be back again next year.
So, if we had waited 10 minutes longer for the mysterious "Hooks For Hands" we would have been presented with the greatest surprise of the weekend...a secret gig from Leeds very own Kaiser Chiefs, and, although I am by no means a huge fan, I have to say I would have love to have caught them. We moved on quickly, to the sunny main stage, and I had another chance to see The Long Blondes, another local band, who have risen to fame off a critically acclaimed debut album. They were again, pretty fun and almost marked a real start to the day in terms of music.
Next, I decided to venture off alone and I returned to Carling Tent for my first band of a planned double header. Blood Red Shoes were meant to just be my warm up but they turned out better than expected and their tight, edgy two piece rock showed an early ear for hooks and clever melodies. Next up was the one I had waited for, Frank Turner. Almost at the front, I was in prime position to sing, shout and jump my way through his charismatic and warm show. This is a guy who is writing some of the most interesting tracks in the singer/songwriter field and his live performance showed off the personality that is spawning such clever and catchy songs, all with his angry folk/punk edge.
After, with many friends going to see Maximo Park on the main stage I thought I'd come along as there was nothing else that caught my attention. This is a band I've never really been into, but in the live setting they really weren't so bad and all my mates seemed to have a great time dancing and singing to the hits! Interpol were next up on the main and I faced a major clash, them or The Bronx. After much deliberation, I went with my heart and ran off to catch LA's finest for my second occasion. They really didn't disappoint. This is a band which sweats and bleeds passion, a punk band I really believe in and the show was fucking awesome. Spending more time in the crowd than on stage, frontman Matt Caughthran, actually means it when he says he wants to break down the barriers between audience and band. For me, this brings so much respect, and after seeing several bands already profess such things and not really live up to their outlandish claims, it was a refreshing change. Racing through no end of hits like "Shitty Future" and "White Tar" (which I think I got to shout a line on!) the band showed that they meant business. For the former, he lead with the line;

"The bad news is here comes the next song. It's for all the psychopaths. It's feeding time!"

After which he dove into the crowd for what seemed like most the set. All that needs to be said about this band now is, if you want hard rock to believe in and to motivate you, look no further than these guys!
After that exhilarating experience, the fun didn't stop as Kings Of Leon took to the main stage. I've always loved KOL but this performance cemented their place as one of my favourite bands, they are the consummate rock band, a band at the height of their powers. With style, panache and truly brilliant songs they rocked through a set that lasted a little over an hour and took in material from all three records. Slowing it down, on tracks like "Fans" and the beautiful "Knocked Up", and then rockin' out again, with others like "Spiral Staircase" and "Four Kicks", Kings Of Leon are a band that deserved to be entertaining 60,000 smiling fans on that Saturday evening.
Finally, we sat on the grass for a more relaxed view of headlining act, Razorlight. As a big fan of the first album, but not its follow up, I was interested to see these guys, especially after they disappointed me back last year in Nottingham. Plus it was a good chance to just hang out with friends and chill. My overall impression of the set was that they were, not bad. I respect the fact that the songs they have written carry alot of emotion for millions of people and in that area they seemed to entertain their fans, but to me, the new material is a little flat and unexciting and this is highlighted in the live situation. Excluding 'those' two singles, I didn't hear anything that, was up to par with the songs from "Up All Night", the edgy, paranoid and essential debut. Personal highlights for me were when they dipped to the bottom of their relatively shallow bag of songs, to pull out classics such as "Rock & Roll Lies" and "Rip It Up" which did sound as good as when I first heard them. Overall then, they were better than in Nottingham, and maybe with a more creative third effort they'll be able to find another, more interesting, direction but on that Saturday evening they were thoroughly outclassed by everyone's favourite American band of brothers.

Set List
'In The Morning'
'Hold On'
'Golden Touch'
'Back To The Start'
'(Don't Go Back To) Dalston'
'Fall To Pieces'
'Pop Song 2006'
'Can't Stop This Feeling'
'LA Waltz'
'Leave Me Alone'
'Rock 'N' Roll Lies'
'Vice'
'America'
'Rip It Up'
'Who Needs Love'
'In The City'
'Funeral Blues'
'Stumble And Fall'
'Somewhere Else'

Carling Festival 2007: Leeds (Part 1)

My first festival experience, beautiful weather, amazing friends and a brilliant selection of bands. Maybe I was blessed this weekend, but Leeds 2007 was just about perfect and here is my review of the weekend, musically and a little more.

Thursday was the day of arrival, and as we dragged our bags through the camp the size of the whole thing dawned on me. Have to say I was pretty impressed when we managed to get a beaut of a camping spot, right near a security tower in loads of space and in a place, that was dead easy to find. Downside was being in the "Orange funfair camp" which meant close proximity to an array of rides pumping out a mix of the star wars theme tune and chart house until the early morning, aka half past 4 or even later! We learnt to live with this and all was well after the first night. At risk of using too many private jokes and going on, I think I'll try and leave the social/friend commentary here and concentrate on the music...at least until Sunday night!

After a poor nights sleep, we arose early for the music on Friday only to be caught in the one logistical nightmare of the weekend, a massive bottleneck of people around the main entrance which meant being stuck for an hour and a half, and missing any acts before half one. My first show of the weekend then, was Billy Talent. They were much better than I expected and musically very sound although those vocals did grate on me a little bit. Still, a fun show and good way to start. After that The Used came on the main stage, and after a couple of songs I decided to leave with a couple friends and sample some of the other music. Unfortunately I stumbled across a pretty poor attempt at lad rock, named The Sunshine Underground and decided to return to the main for the rest of The Used and a chill in the sun. Bert McCracken made an early claim for most annoying frontman of the weekend with constant whining about parents, school, money etc so we all had a good laugh about that.
Next on were Funeral For A Friend, a band I liked very much a while ago, so I watched with a few friends, reminiscing in the sun, and ended up having a great time. By the end of the set I had restored alot of respect for this band and had my first good sing-a-long to tracks like "Juneau" and "She Drove Me To Daytime Television". Hunger kicked in, so I moved on again to grab some lovely Mexican (my favourite all weekend!) and have a listen to the Cold War Kids. I didn't hear the whole set, but they sounded better than when I saw them a couple months ago, and my friend Rick, who watched the whole set, was really impressed, again saying they had improved since the last time.
To the lock up next for some punk and a chance to catch the highly regarded Against Me! who had a huge VIP crowd watching including members of Billy Talent. I haven't heard much of this folk/punk outfit but they put on a really tight live show, which seemed very geared to those loyal fans. Something that was nice to see, even as a casual punter. Next up were the massively hyped Gallows, from London, bringing their blend of hardcore and classic brit-rock/punk to a full crowd. Energy levels were through the roof and despite annoying me a little, I can give credit to the band for thoroughly pleasing their fans, and winning some new ones. Special credit goes to the two guitarists for performing some epic Hendrix style, through each others legs maneuvers.
After this I had chance to buy some food, a lovely warm jacket (for a fiver!) and prepare for the main event, at least it was for myself. Slightly late, but completely captivating, The Smashing Pumpkins played a set, which took in new and old and seemed to please everyone who hadn't buggered off to see the Klaxons! Summed up best in one word, mesmerizing, the set seemed to span about an 1hr 45mins, actually longer than billed and included loads of hits like the big two "Tonight, Tonight" and an acoustic "1979". Starting with "United States" they bravely set out their stall, with grandeur and faultless musicianship. Some people decided to boo them during this opener, and pronounce Billy as a "bald twat", but they didn't really seem to understand the song at all so never mind. With the rest of the set its really a case of where do you start! Personal highlight for me was "Stand Inside My Love" but even that is at a stretch as the set worked as a single entity, pretty much perfectly. Chamberlain had his moments of glory and received a chant of appreciation during "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" which was clearly special. As for the new members, I thought all three were excellent throughout with Reyes having the spotlight on "Hummer" and Schroeder shredding throughout! Also, it must be said..."you probably would the bassist". On that rather coarse low note, it's time for me to continue catching up on sleep so i'll move onto Saturday tomorrow!

Set List
'United States'
'Tonight, Tonight'
'Tarantula'
'Starz'
'Hummer'
'Bullet With Butterfly Wings'
'Glass And The Ghost Children'
'1979'
'To Sheila'
'Today'
'Stand Inside Your Love'
'Superchrist'
'Doomsday Clock'
'Disarm'
'Heavy Metal Machine'