Latitude Festival Day Three – 19/07/2009
July 25th, 2009
Sunday morning and we’re up early for Thom Yorke. Billed as the special guest and due on stage at noon, we’re treated to an early preview of just how special his performance might just be. Bacon sandwich in hand, we sit listening to fragments of songs and half sung vocals as Thom’s soundcheck floats over from the currently closed main arena. An hour and a half later and we’re standing near the front of an crowd that’s getting increasingly busy. By the time Thom ambles onstage it feel as though everyone on site has their eyes on him. Dressed in a casual jacket and jeans combo, he looks relaxed and in good spirits. He sits centre stage at a large black grand piano and opens his set with a stunning version of ‘The Eraser’s title track. From there we get an hour of solo songs, Radiohead tracks and a few that have been left on the shelf. Read more
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Latitude Festival Day Two – 18/07/2009
July 24th, 2009
Day two begins the way every Saturday at a festival should. Dry, sunny and with a huge bacon sandwich. Suitably fed and watered, we see the festival site in daylight for the first. Leaving the campsite, we enter into the picturesque woods. Trees decorated with lights and artwork loom above us, shards of daylight slicing through a canopy of green. With 2 small stages amongst the trees and greenery, the woods offers a unique setting for the smaller bands and cabaret acts, doubling up for DJs to keep the music going deep into the night. Read more
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Latitude Festival Day One – 17/07/2009
July 23rd, 2009
After 7 hours driving, the first drink goes straight to your head. The second drink makes the endless rain on the dullest roads a distant memory. And by the time Bat For Lashes finish the exquisite opener ‘Glass’, you’ve almost forgotten that you’ve missed pretty much all of the first day of the Latitude Festival. Even the fact that the Uncut Tent is pitched on widely uneven ground fails to annoy you. Sure your view is nothing but a sea of heads and the lighting rig above the stage but it doesn’t matter. Not when you’re busy being thrilled by a wondrous performance. It helps that the sound is amongst the best of any festival. Read more
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This Is No Mouth Watering Proposition
July 8th, 2009
This credit crunch is playing havoc without my music buying. No longer can I buy new records on the day of release. I’m having to budget myself. Restrain myself. Resist temptation to just stock up on any and every record I fancy. My Monday routine of walking into HMV, rifling through the new releases and then walking to the till with a handful of CDs has been rudely interrupted by a severe lack of cash. Which means my ability to review new releases has been seriously restricted. The list of records I want but can’t afford is now into double figures. Growing bigger with every passing week. And don’t even get me started on the gigs I want to go to but can’t afford. That list just plain depresses me. Read more
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No-one Will Take Me Down
July 5th, 2009
I’m always reticent to describe a band as a singles band. It’s seems like a bit of backhanded compliment. A veiled insult. Sure you can knock out the odd good song, but you’re not very consistent are you? Yet occasionally, it’s the most apt thing to say. Some bands really do have quality control issues and Ash seem to be a perfect example. For me at least. They’ve never released a truly satisfying record. Not since their debut EP, ‘Trailer’. That record was the ultimate teenage release. An urgent, pop punk classic that did what it had to do and didn’t hang around or overstay it’s welcome. Read more
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