Post by TQ on Jul 16, 2004 10:30:29 GMT -5
A quick point to begin - my festival history extends only to reading (1999 - 2003, soon to be 2004) so this was a bit of a novel experience.
despite difficulties finding the place - it seems to have the most unfestival-like entrance to the campsites - we got there ahead of the crowd and set up early so we could spend thursday explorin and gettin pissed. which was a bad idea. all the shops were in the arena, which didnt open until 5pm on friday, so unless you wanted a crap burger or a blanket - joe bananas the only shop on the campsite - you were stuffed. add to that the fact that going to newport meant gettin a bus and thursday was pretty dire. the atmosphere was ruined only by the interesting combo of unenclosed portaloos - not seen at reading for at least 3 years - and the scouse security, who seemed to delight in confiscating nething which might be described as fun (or vital)
whats more its the only festival ive been to which exeriments with the novel idea of placing the arena almost a mile from the campsite, meaning that once youre there, theres not much point in goin back. and that means you have to watch all the bands on the only stage - still not sure if thats a good or bad thing.
aside from the fact that each day was opened by an annoying samba band blowing whistles and banging drums towards hungover heads - fronted by some middle class middle aged bloke ('spirit of 1970, yeah') the bands proved, on the whole, to be pretty good. just a brief one this.
FRIDAY
the duke spirit - not exactly good would be putting it kindly. too disorganised to get the crowd going, not helped by the fact that their set had no real order.
22-20s - cant remember them
super furry animals - put on a good show, with the usual interesting outfits etc - a power rangers helmet the main one - played mainly bigger songs. first good set of the festival.
groove armada - not necessarily my kinda thing, but as it was fukin hot and in the early evenin they pulled a big crowd. the set itself was again big numbers - i see you baby etc - which went down well.
stereophonics - despite havin fallen out of love with them we stayed to catch their set, and im glad we did! played some great old stuff - tramps vest, local boy..., thousand trees, traffic - mixed with some of their newer stuff, but mostly first 2 albums material.
SATURDAY
the leah wood group - good, if a little sub-PJ harvey
proud mary - awful.
steve harley and cockney rebel - quite a thin set, and the crowd were only really there for one song anyway, which was unfortunate
british sea power - think i missed em
the electric soft parade - teachers-freindly indie went down well, but they played a lot of new stuff that the crowd didnt seem to know.
the stands - missed them
jet - have been told by others that they were bad, but i thought they put on a good show - not outstanding but one of the better bands of the day certainly.
manic street preachers - tbh the band i was there to see. really amzing set - played the necessary - motorcycle emtiness, a design for life - plus some rareties (yes) as well as little baby nothing and faster. getting back to their old selves, and that cant be a bad thing.
the who - incredible - havent lost it. played for what seemed like hours, to apparently the entire festival crowd, and they didnt disappoint.
SUNDAY
countermine - destined for mediocrity
jerry fish & the mudbug club - annoying jazz
alfie/suzanne vega - im not sure what happened here - i was at the main stage but didnt notice alfie come on or go off. i dont know if they played or not cos neither did neone else. suzanne vega was fantastic - great voice, great presence - justified why shes been around for so long.
after this i had to go, as i had uni end of year exams on monday at 9am and had to leave early to get back. im told bowie was fantastic, playing a lot of fans favourites as opposed to big hits. overall it was a good festival - got a cracking tan - but the lack of atmosphere, and things to do at the campsite, means i doubt if ill return.
despite difficulties finding the place - it seems to have the most unfestival-like entrance to the campsites - we got there ahead of the crowd and set up early so we could spend thursday explorin and gettin pissed. which was a bad idea. all the shops were in the arena, which didnt open until 5pm on friday, so unless you wanted a crap burger or a blanket - joe bananas the only shop on the campsite - you were stuffed. add to that the fact that going to newport meant gettin a bus and thursday was pretty dire. the atmosphere was ruined only by the interesting combo of unenclosed portaloos - not seen at reading for at least 3 years - and the scouse security, who seemed to delight in confiscating nething which might be described as fun (or vital)
whats more its the only festival ive been to which exeriments with the novel idea of placing the arena almost a mile from the campsite, meaning that once youre there, theres not much point in goin back. and that means you have to watch all the bands on the only stage - still not sure if thats a good or bad thing.
aside from the fact that each day was opened by an annoying samba band blowing whistles and banging drums towards hungover heads - fronted by some middle class middle aged bloke ('spirit of 1970, yeah') the bands proved, on the whole, to be pretty good. just a brief one this.
FRIDAY
the duke spirit - not exactly good would be putting it kindly. too disorganised to get the crowd going, not helped by the fact that their set had no real order.
22-20s - cant remember them
super furry animals - put on a good show, with the usual interesting outfits etc - a power rangers helmet the main one - played mainly bigger songs. first good set of the festival.
groove armada - not necessarily my kinda thing, but as it was fukin hot and in the early evenin they pulled a big crowd. the set itself was again big numbers - i see you baby etc - which went down well.
stereophonics - despite havin fallen out of love with them we stayed to catch their set, and im glad we did! played some great old stuff - tramps vest, local boy..., thousand trees, traffic - mixed with some of their newer stuff, but mostly first 2 albums material.
SATURDAY
the leah wood group - good, if a little sub-PJ harvey
proud mary - awful.
steve harley and cockney rebel - quite a thin set, and the crowd were only really there for one song anyway, which was unfortunate
british sea power - think i missed em
the electric soft parade - teachers-freindly indie went down well, but they played a lot of new stuff that the crowd didnt seem to know.
the stands - missed them
jet - have been told by others that they were bad, but i thought they put on a good show - not outstanding but one of the better bands of the day certainly.
manic street preachers - tbh the band i was there to see. really amzing set - played the necessary - motorcycle emtiness, a design for life - plus some rareties (yes) as well as little baby nothing and faster. getting back to their old selves, and that cant be a bad thing.
the who - incredible - havent lost it. played for what seemed like hours, to apparently the entire festival crowd, and they didnt disappoint.
SUNDAY
countermine - destined for mediocrity
jerry fish & the mudbug club - annoying jazz
alfie/suzanne vega - im not sure what happened here - i was at the main stage but didnt notice alfie come on or go off. i dont know if they played or not cos neither did neone else. suzanne vega was fantastic - great voice, great presence - justified why shes been around for so long.
after this i had to go, as i had uni end of year exams on monday at 9am and had to leave early to get back. im told bowie was fantastic, playing a lot of fans favourites as opposed to big hits. overall it was a good festival - got a cracking tan - but the lack of atmosphere, and things to do at the campsite, means i doubt if ill return.