During the course of the last week we lost one of the greatest bands of all time, Georgia’s R.E.M. Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills decided to call a day on their brilliant and inspirational band. They insist that they (including former drummer Bill Berry) remain good friends and this seems to be a split where the band genuinely feel they’ve achieved all they ever wanted to.
A recent picture of R.E.M.
It hits hard for a fan like me though who’s never seen them live. R.E.M. were either #1 or round about there in my list of bands I’d most like to see that I’ve never seen before. Mike Mills has also said that the band won’t reunite to play live ever again, which dashed my hopes further. Hopefully they’ll change their mind someday!
But it’s not just the missed chance to see them live that I’m sad about. In my mind, they were still making some of the best music of their career. This year’s album ‘Collapse Into Now’ and 2008’s ‘Accelerate’ are both great albums. And I mean that in a real way, they’re genuinely some of the best stuff the band has done. I would actually go as far as to say ‘Accelerate’ is my favourite R.E.M. album, something a lot of purists might hate to hear.
Accelerate
Even outwith music R.E.M. seem like good causes, saying the right things and supporting the right causes. No one could grudge them their huge success.
There will be three tracks on their new best off which gives us fans something to cheer about, but they’ll be greatly missed by many music fans. So I’d sad to say R.I.P. R.E.M. and to paraphrase their song ‘Blue’ – 21st century collapse into now…
It’s the end of R.E.M. as we know it and I don’t feel fine.
Many of the videos will be from Leeds’ partner festival site, Reading. I’ve missed out my Thursday night as that will be covered in my eventual round-up.
Mark Thomas – Alternative Stage
Unusually my Friday started with a comedian rather a band. Having seen Mark Thomas live twice I knew he was excellent live and knew exactly what I’d be getting. And that’s what I got, a great show to kick off the day.
Fighting Fiction – Lock Up Stage
When the line up was announced I didn’t know any bands on the Friday morning, so I started doing some research and dug up Fighting Fiction. Sounding a bit like Frank Turner drew me in instantly and their songs kept me in. I strolled into the front row of the Lock Up and really enjoyed their set, which I knew about half of. Hopefully they’ll be higher up the bill next time if others enjoyed it like I did.
Highlight: We Will Not Forget
Spy Catcher – Lock Up Stage
Spy Catcher were a similar discovery to Fighting Fiction, and again I very much enjoyed them. Their song ‘Don’t Like People’ is smashing and their singer put everything into their live performance. A good rocky band to watch whislt the rain poured down outside the tent. However, the tent then sprung a leak in the roof which wasn’t so good.
Highlight: Don’t Like People
Frank Turner – Main Stage
With my Frank Turner tshirt and braving the rain outside I was all set to see one of my heroes. Reunited with my friends who’d been away watching other bands we got a good spot in the golden circle. And then Frank was brilliant. Definitely the highlight of the day, a set packed with hits, which I knew every word to. His new songs are every bit as good as his older tracks. Now I can’t wait to see him again in November.
Highlight: I Am Disappeared
The View – Main Stage
After Frank, we hung about to watch Scotland’s best young band The View. As expected it wasn’t nearly the same as seeing them in front of a Scottish crowd but the band were still great. Kyle performed with a big bandage round his leg having “severed it with a kitchen knife” but this didn’t stop them belting out thier hits and some from their excellent new album. Ending with a run of ‘Same Jeans’, ‘Superstar Tradesman’ and ‘Shock Horror’ they really know how to do a great festival set.
Highlight: Shock Horror
Chapel Club – NME Stage
Going to see Chapel Club for the fifth time in just over a year gave me the chance to get out of the rain, but the weather and tiredness had left me feeling a bit dead on my feet. I still enjoyed Chapel Club but not as much as before, I couldn’t help but wonder if they were too high up the bill for their own good. High on the second stage led to a tent with many people not knowing the band, but hopefully they’ll have gained some new fans from it.
Highlight: All The Eastern Girls
Interval
I decided to walk back to the tent and get a poncho. Whilst there I had a couple of beers and a wee rest. Feeling refreshed I headed back to the arena where I glimpsed Frank Turner up close during his signing. Then back to the music!
Panic! At The Disco – NME Stage
I didn’t think Panic! would fit into my plans as I feared they would clash with Interpol so I was delighted when I found I was able to see both bands. It was my first time seeing them and on their evidence I would watch them again, a great set. I had forgotten I knew all the words to their first album! Even though I don’t actually have their second or third…
Highlight: Camisado
Interpol – Main Stage
We crept back out into the rain, this time I was wearing my poncho though, and headed into the Main Stage golden circle, where we would remain for the rest of the evening. It was also my first time seeing Interpol, something I had been waiting for for years. I knew most of their set and loved it. I didn’t realise they were big enough for a third top set but their show justified it easily. A great band who I could easily watch again.
Highlight: Evil
Elbow – Main Stage
I first saw Elbow at T In The Park two years ago when I only knew one of their albums and they blew me away. So this time, knowing all their songs it was even better! A magnificent live act with a great frontman in Guy Garvey. He really knows how to involve the crowd in slow, soft songs and then bring about massive singalongs for their hits.
Highlight: Open Arms
Muse – Main Stage
Even before the band had started playing the crowd was getting going, Muse’s introduction was ideal for warming the crowd up. Flashing lighting combined with the eerie Tom Waits song ‘What’s He Building?’. Then Matt Bellamy started playing the piano for ‘New Born’ and the crowd went wild for the next two hours. Their Origin Of Symmetry set was followed by a greatest hits set, with each song having its own dedicated video on their massive screen. A great show from the headliners.
Highlight: Stockholm Syndrome
I also glimpsed: Taking Back Sunday, but was more interested in getting some food
I sadly missed: Peter Doherty, Viva Brother, Descendents, Flogging Molly, Craig Campbell, Frank Turner – Lock Up Stage. Too many good bands on that night, gutted to miss Frank’s set but I wanted to see Elbow.
Mumblings And Ramblings 