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Until somebody
invents a device where we can be in two places at the same time it's impossible
for us to cover every band at every festival. Although you have to give
us credit, we are honest. A few weeks ago we covered Carling 24 and with
the exception of The Sun we were the only media who lasted all 24 hours.
Yet certain reviews which were printed afterwards made their readers believe
that the reporter was an insomniac and lasted the whole hog.
Primark is situated a stones throw away from the bus station which had
a Radio 1 shuttle service to and from the park every ten minutes. Primark
also sells cheap, nasty warm clothes which weren't packed from a certain
member of our staff! So at 2pm when new boy Paolo Nutini opened the main
stage, a bright new young 19 year old from Paisley and Fratellis, a new
bunch of Glaswegians opened the main stage and second stage respectably
we were at the till in Primark buying a warm coat. Then, at 2.30pm whilst
Corinne Bailey Rae and Mystery Jets were playing we were stuck on the
bloody bus. Luckily both acts will be performing at a few festivals this
Summer allowing us to cover them both. (To be fair that previous statement
was no way researched - we are guessing they will be and as for us reviewing
'em well, don't count on that either!!) Walking up the steep hill which
seemed like climbing Ben Nevis this exaggerating journalist missed Gnarls
Barkley. So there you go, you've just read a whole paragraph where you
have learnt sweet FA about five decent live acts, or maybe they were crap!
We have no idea, what we can tell you is that Primark have an offer on
at the moment for 3 jumpers for £15.99 and the Security alarm really
does go off at the Dundee branch! (That's a Joke, OK?) Oh, we missed Boy
Kill Boy as well for the second time running!
ORSON
- The bimbos from the States such as Paris Hilton and other brain dead
yanks use their limited vocabulary all the time. One word which seems
to crop up very five minutes is 'Awesome', or should that be, 'Awwessommme'
(as in Paris Hilton reality TV show 'This is my dog, he is awwwessomme'
or 'This is my boyfriend, he is awwwessomme') Awwwessomme however
is a suitable description of Orson. A newish group from Hollywood who
have managed to escape the classification of being a boyband despite appearing
as one. Their current hit, Bright Idea is another step up towards stardom.
RAZORLIGHT
- When a band tests out their new material on tour it's quite a nerve
wrecking moment. Not only for the band, but also the ticket buying fans.
Luckily nobody paid for a ticket this weekend. Although if somebody did
spunk out on a silly priced ebay priced wristband they wouldn't have been
disappointed with Razorlights short preview of their next album. Mixed
with old classics and Johnny's sexy new white imaged look (that's open
to debate!) this band seem to be going into the arena tour market incredibly
soon.
MUSE
- They were one of the main headline acts, they filled Earls Court for
two nights, they are headlining the Carling Festival and they were...rubbish!
It's was the biggest disappointment of the whole weekend. A very short
set and a glimpse into the future with their new album gave very little
excitement. This huge band could well be releasing their 'Shoulder Of
Giants' album next month. There was nothing exciting or fresh from Muse
this weekend and they left the crowd cold. Let's just hope that we are
wrong and their secret gig at Shepherds Bush Empire this Summer is a complete
contrast to today's performance!
BLOC
PARTY - Brilliant once again. Why the hell haven't they filled
Arenas yet? This band are electric on stage and you know more hits than
you think. The opening notes from the should be classics such as 'Helicopter'
sends shivers down your spine. Even if you can't see Kellys eyes (Which
we could from the side of stage) you just know that he's putting his heart
into every word he sings. Party? bloody celebration more like.
SNOW
PATROL - Another great Scottish band apart from The Proclaimers!
are Snow Patrol. We were lucky to catch them at the London Forum a few
weeks ago so we had the added bonus of being fairly familiar with their
new songs. Hands Wide Open is a belter and a recent NME review included
the letter U and number 2 in comparison. With this in mind their first
arena tour at Christmas could well see Gary saving the world and becoming
mates with the Pope in the foreseeable future - even without wearing a
pair of sunglasses!
Also playing
on the Saturday were, Mylo, The Streets  ,
Dirty Pretty Things & Primal Scream.
SUNDAY
At this
very moment the song we personality love is the new Feeling track, 'Fill
My Little World' it's going round in our heads. It was in fact going round
our heads on Sunday afternoon about 2pm, which was quite fortunate as
we weren't near the main stage when they were playing. To be honest we
weren't near the site - we were just finishing a pub lunch in Dundee town
centre itself and thumbing down a taxi. Don't worry as The Feeling are
playing at festivals during the Summer.....
ORDINARY
BOYS Preston is a sound geezer. Backstage he told us that they
actually turned down the support slot for Robbie's forthcoming tour as
they were too busy working on their new album. Despite being a bit cheesed
off playing yet another afternoon schedule, the other was 4pm as part
of Carling 24, they were as popular as a love affair on a reality TV show
and let's face it - that's popular! Great band and very underestimated.
SUGARBABES
Girl bands don't come much popular than these babes. They played an endless
set of hits and looked spectacular. Even though it is just pure pop there's
nothing wrong with it. Good fun, nothing too heavy and even their cover
of 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor' thrown in from Radio 1's live
lounge. The girls are supporting Take That at their Milton Keynes concerts
and even though their lineup seems to change once a year their standard
of hits never seems to disappoint.
FEEDER
Our Taxi driver on Saturday night told us that he had one of these boys/
men in the back of his car on Friday morning. Apparently they stayed half
an hour out of Dundee as accommodation in the actual town was as full
as an Bethlehem Inn on the first ever Christmas Day. Grant told us that
he arrived a day later than the rest of the band when we shared this thrilling
'heat magazine' gossip with him backstage. Months ago the band cut short
a gig in Brighton due to Grants voice, luckily there was no shortage of
time today. Which was bloody lucky as it was just a short, but brilliant
half hour set.
EDITORS
If NME speculated that Snow Patrol could well be the next U2 then please
allow us to stick a flag in the Editors camp and claim that we are the
first to publish that The Editors are the next Snow Patrol. They are pretty
damn similar. Other bands should take a leaf out of their book as pretty
soon the Editors could well be making their own headlines!
PINK
What is it with American female solo singers? They always feel that they
have to become bloody Divas. Gwenth has a blooming huge bodyguard, Madonna
won't meet a frigging soul, Mariah wants her whole front lounge packed
into her golden coated dressing room and little Pinky Winky had a coldy
woldy. So she stayed in her guarded dressing room and had her car waiting
for her backstage, which was closed off to everyone. Add to the fact she
had to add a couple of 'Motherfuckers' into the family orientated crowd
it's quite difficult to praise her set at the Radio1 Weekend. Except for
the fact that she was damn good.
FRANZ
FERDINAND We thought that the Uncut journalist had taken something
when he told us that Franz Ferdinand were backstage. 'Rubbish', we disclaimed
- they weren't on the bill. 'Ah', we gushed in embarrassment, when we
heard there was a surprise act this afternoon. 'Pity' we wept when they
only played a very short set to keep TOTP viewers happy. ('Get on with
it' shouted our editor who thought this paragraph was a load of old cobblers!)
KEANE
Just like that annoying Teacher's Pet you had at school,
Keane are easy to poke fun at, but they are experts at what they do. On
stage this band are faultless and their new material is excellent. Their
songs have that instant sing-a-long vibe which makes you wanna sing your
heart out. They may not be rock, despite the diversion in their new single
but they aren't your simply MOR band either. They were the ideal way to
end such a fantastic weekend. Radio 1 is still the nations favorite, it's
just a pity that this Weekend didn't trailer onto a back of a lorry and
travel all the seaside town between now and September.
Also playing
on the Sunday were Hot Chip, We Are Scientists, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Kooks
& The Zutons.
We also
know the three cities which are being considered for next year, but if
we told you we would have to make you listen to Simon Bates for the rest
of your life and you wouldn't want that would you?
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