Leeds Festival 09

So over the weekend I made my third annual visit to the better half of the eponymous Reading and Leeds Weekend.

I won't start a dull, plodding review of every band I saw, instead I'll pick out my high and lowpoints.

High Points

1. Radiohead. The light show was astonishing. The sound was pitch perfect(although don't tell the 'fans' over at http://www.ateaseweb.com/ this, live music is for the people who are there, not for a bunch of grey eyed sofa-masturbaters to pick apart every note of from the comfort of their living room wank-den.). To be honest I had slipped out of love with this band after a dissapointing gig at Victoria Park, London, last year. I am now back in love.
   
2. Jamie T. In a way that cannot be properly described, Jamie T's music encapsulates truly what it is to be young, lost and drunk in the UK in the early 21st century. His live show does this justice. Energy, Intelligence, joy and all from a guy who looks like he once mugged you at the bus stop.
   
3. Rumours and stories. Hearing from a friend's friend who was working on first aid about a girl who got stuck half way in the long drop toilets whilst trying to retrieve her purse.
   
4. Vampire Weekend. The sun was shining and this is sunny music, played particularly well. Also the new songs sounded catchy and fun.
   
5. Them Crooked Vultures. So yeah, I am probably boasting but there are three reasons why, despite me knowing none of their songs, Them Crooked Vultures were one of the highlights. Firstly, there was the excitement of seeing the gap in the programme and speculating whilst running, as to who the secret band could be. Secondly there was the atmosphere, the crowd chanting Dave Grohl's name and thirdly there was the sheer tightness of the band, all three principal members are masters of their instruments. I am excited to hear more.
6. More beer than is even right.
7. Gallows. Frank Carter is a prick, yet in the best possible way. I want to shake his hand for being such an utter prick or knight him for services to prickhood. His anger during his gigs is immense, mainly for its lack of direction. The kind of anger a little yorkshire terrier has. This, plus the skill and musical arrangements behind Carter's lyrics and the pure unbridled violence of the crowd makes Gallows a must-see band.

Low points (no bands, just things that pissed me off)

1. A certain type of person, of a certain age, of a certain gender, doing certain things. When i was eighteen and attending my first Festival, I don't recall taking any joy in circle jerking over a massive forest fire built up of deck chairs, tents, gas canisters and tins of baked beans. N.B. to anyone who is 17/18/, Male and a complete Idiot. Your stunts aren't hilarious, and they especially won't get you laid with anyone other than a girl so fucked that she can't tell the difference a hot dog and your flacid tiny cock.
2. The sound. Some of the bands; Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Passion Pit, and The Maccabees being cases in point, sounded like their music was being engineered by a particularly attention defecited, unintelligent four year old and played through 12 pairs of wet socks that had been stretched over the face of the speakers. Eugh.
3. Throwing up a lot. 'Nuff said really.

Peace and Hotcakes xx