You wanted the definitive review of the festival? in the words of a rather naff hamburger chain. YOU GOT IT!
What better way to brighten up the beginning of already mud-ridden festival than with the romantic indie pop croonings of Frankie & The Heartstrings? Obviously excited to be there, they cram eight songs into their slot and as singer Frankie Francis said, they certainly “kick out the jams” by including songs ‘Want You Back’ and, apt for a morning set after a previous late night, ‘Fragile’. Next, things go more Pavement as the excellent Surfer Blood wow the NME / Radio 1 tent with songs from their album ‘Astrocoast’, sparking the biggest singalongs of the day so far for ‘Twin Peaks’ and ‘Swim (To Reach The End)’.
Later on, an incredible following for Two Door Cinema Club emerge from their tents and continue to batter each other for the duration of the set which included ‘Do You Want It All’ and new single ‘Come Back Home’, ending with singer Alex Trimble thanking the crowd for ‘the best experience of our lives’.
Big Pink fans are treated to a new song and a superb cover of Otis Redding’s heart-shattering ‘These Arms Of Mine’ as well as the obligatory jump around to ‘Dominos’ as much of the tent recognise that ‘choon’ from off the radio. Phoenix play a politely rapid set, which is probably as fast as it gets for them, kicking off with ‘Lisztomania’ and ending with ‘1901’, providing the perfect platform for LCD Soundsystem to create memory snapshots with ‘Daft Punk Is Playing At My House’ and ‘All My Friends’ – so closing the first day of Reading festival on an out of breath high.
Oh wait – you’d probably like to hear about Guns N Roses etc. Right: they came on an hour late, sort-of-played ‘Welcome To The Jungle’ and ‘Paradise City’ and, if you listened really carefully over Axl Rose’s struggling vocals, you might just have caught the barely perceptible sound of a headliner losing fans. This prompted outrageous handwritten signs made by indignant punters appearing on the big screens the next day such as ‘Axl Rose touches kids’. Ahem.
A gem of day two is the lovely set from The Crookes, a band with giant comparisons to their name already such as The Smiths, and high praise from the likes of Steve Lamacq. Second gem is The Invasion Of, otherwise referred to as Gary Powell of The Libertines’ side group, a set which saw in-the-know Libs fans gather for a glimpse of the drummer himself before the big slot that evening.
The Maccabees are on top form and can barely keep the smile off their faces to play through their set which comprised many songs from their most recent album ‘Wall of Arms’ and the best from their debut ‘Colour It In’. Singer Orlando Weeks shouts “We made it to the mainstage!”, which anyone present at their set in the NME / Radio 1 tent last year would remember as being their goal for Reading 2010.
After recent release of one-off single ‘Housewife’ and talk of this being the last live set of this year, perhaps even for some time, The Cribs set has acquired some last-minute intrigue. Johnny Marr is unfortunately something of a spare part as the band triumph the most during songs written before his time as a Crib such as ‘Hey Scenesters’ and ‘Mirror Kisses’. Later, doubters and fans alike flock to catch The Libertines play some songs together. Glances between Pete n Carl show their intense friendship could well be on the way back in and their instruments are unfamiliarly tight. A crowd surge during ‘Time For Heroes’ forces the confused band offstage but Gary Powell remains and beats out a rhythm, amplified only by the drum kit itself as the power had been pulled, and the likely lads return and pick up where they left off (a metaphor for their reunion?). They jostle at the mic and end with traditional closers ‘What A Waster’ and ‘I Get Along’ and although other reviews may state there is a lack of their signature shambolic flair, Supajam thinks that what the crowd witnessed is more important: a show of solidarity by four men who have grown up and taken on their staggering legacy.
Arcade Fire are by no means an anti-climax as their chosen set proves atmospheric and the likes of ‘Neighbourhood #3’ and ‘Rebellion’ are highly memorable as the band are constantly shifting around the stage and showcasing their extreme talent for their instruments. In truth, something of a breather after The Libertines more riotous set but nevertheless justified headliners.
The mainstage of the final day is overpoweringly angsty for Supajam, so we retire to the safe haven of the NME / Radio 1 tent, the first notable set from which is Local Natives. Their dense sound brings their set to a head and Keith Murray and Chris Cain of We Are Scientists bounce on during their last number to whoops from the crowd. The ever-hyped Drums take to the stage one by one, with singer Jonathan Pierce emerging last snapping his fingers as he launches into his eccentric dance style which is slightly reminiscent of Ian Curtis at half speed. Much is always made of this but guitarist Jacob Graham’s manner is remarkable too when he has only a tambourine and springs around the stage, unhinged as if unaware he is being watched by a packed tent. The crowd wait for ‘Let’s Go Surfing’, the surf-pop tune the band have come to be identified with, but it does not come – presumably an attempt to shake off the association with it.
Kele pleases everyone of course, not only with his set which caters for old fans (note Bloc Party mash-up including ‘The Prayer’ and ‘One More Chance’) and new fans (note ‘Walk Tall’ and ‘Tenderoni’). Weezer prove a somewhat unlikely highlight for many as they play their hits (‘Beverly Hills’, ‘Pork And Beans’ and ending with ‘Buddy Holly’) but also those belonging to others. Famously confused with Wheatus of ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ fame they play up to this by covering the song along with MGMT’s ‘Kids’ leading into ‘Pokerface’, for which singer Rivers Cuomo dons a blonde Lady Gaga wig.
Blink-182 play ‘The Rock Show’ and ‘What’s My Age Again’ extremely early in their set, much to the dismay of Supajam, who miss this due to pogoing around the dance tent to dubstep DJ Rusko. We were however witness to ‘I Miss You’, ‘All The Small Things’, ‘Always’ and Travis Barker’s impressive revolving drum kit. In an interesting reversal with the weather, the Reading festival line-up generally started off sunny and dancey and descended into angst and moshing but this didn’t leave fans feeling jaded in the slightest. In fact, punters have been present to headlining bands, not purely mainstage ones, that have shaped the music we hear today, up to and including the bands with the smallest slots.
Review by Julie Tanner
