Leeds Festival

Shaking overly-long hair to James Murphy et al.

Oh, the aftermath. It is nearly over, but it has been painful. I would like back all the sleep that I was deprived of. I slept even less than I anticipated I would. 2 hours on the first night. Excellent.

That said, it was, overall, definitely worth it. I have my gripes about the organisation, and there were a few things that are pretty shameful for such a long-running, established and seasoned festival. But when you get to see performances like that of Everything Everything, Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem and Funeral Party it is made all the better!

Obviously camping was awful. It had a few amusing moments. Some boys nearby quoting Toy Story. Another boy shouting 'Ben' in a strange voice for nearly an hour. On one day someone shouting "FUCK OFF!" then a pause "I FUCKING HATE CAMPING!".. I feel your pain. Waves of cheers were an auditory delight. The bass from Picadilly Party until nearly 5am shredded my famously fragile nerves.

There were moments of sheer joy. Tears at the wonder of Arcade Fire. Elation on seeing Kieran Hebden (Four Tet) in the flesh. Literal slack-jaw gawping at the energy of Funeral Party.

I'm probably going to pick out stand out performances and blog separately about those bands. But needless to say I was very lucky and fortunate and saw some fantastic acts.

But the organisers of Leeds Festival have left a sour taste in my mouth. Over the years they has put on this event they must have learnt an awful lot of lessons. Many things were vastly improved. But in my opinion they sold the soul of the festival to reignite some lack-lustre, nostalgia-provokers. There was little effort elsewhere on the bill. They should not have named the Dance Stage as such. The sound quality on the main stage was disastrous for many of the acts. Don't even get me started on the shambles that left my best friend devastated that was the performance by Mumford and Sons. Horrible advert folk. But nevertheless, if people next to you spoke you couldn't hear the band. WTF Leeds?! £180! I fucking brought my own accommodation, you twats!

Ahem.

I am clean now. I still have all my personal belongings and most of my dignity. Pictures are available on my Facebook.

Arcade Fire

The first actual proper, actually proper day of Leeds Festival. I'll most probably be a little bit hungover and nervous of the prospect of two more nights camping. It is rank.

But the highlight will definitely be the main stage headliner. And, in fact, the only real time I'll be at the main stage throughout the weekend will be this day.

Arcade Fire - No Cars Go / (videos: timelapses) from Mikel Àngel Rotger on Vimeo.

I must add when looking for a video, I found several videos of people's babies dancing and enjoying Arcade Fire. I nearly posted all of them instead. But they were just too cute. It may have induced vomiting.

Arcade Fire gig..

You may think me cynical to be wholly prepared for a disappointing experience when seeing Arcade Fire at Newcastle Metro Radio Arena last night (29/10/07). Now before you jump out of your skin in outrage let me assure you that in no way, shape or form did I think that Arcade Fire themselves would be disappointing. No, of course not. I've been lucky enough to experience their shining brilliance before.

But the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena? I was skeptical about the venue. Having seen Arcade Fire in the renowned Brixton Academy in March this year and having gone to a fair few gigs at Newcastle Arena (back when it was called something else because the money was coming from elsewhere) I just couldn't help but worry.

And certainly, right now, I'd love this to be the point where I proclaim that I need not have worried. But I was right. And in fact, more than right.

The sound was appalling. Like, I'm not going to bother holding back here, someone wants to be ashamed of themselves. Anyone accountable for that should be severely reprimanded.

I saw Arcade Fire in March and was blown away by the quality of the sound. Every bow of the violins, every breath into the mic, every tinkle of the glockenspiel was picked up and the sound that entered your ears was divine. Last night was like a tinny car stereo turned up too loud. If you weren't familiar with every lyric of Arcade Fire before? Yea, don't expect to be anymore enlightened after that.

It was like viewing an amazing band in a bubble, a parallel universe. The worst thing was that people paid good money for that, it may possibly be their only opportunity to see a band like them and thats what they get. Coupled with the fact that Arcade Fire are actually life-changingly good live...

I'd definately think twice before ever going to another gig at the Metro Radio Arena. There are just too many facts that point to a severe let-down by someone else.

But all in all. What more can I say? Obviously Arcade Fire were amazing. There is almost no point in reviewing the band themselves because it goes without saying, hence the lack of words. Spectacular. Glorious. A beacon of hope in my troubled little world. Arcade Fire. Always are and for the forseeable future always will be.

Arcade Fire

Hopefully, if the world does not conspire against me, I will be euphorically going to see Arcade Fire next week.

I do have a presentation to give the next day on Karl Marx's concept of alienation. It'll be fine, I'm sure. If not I'll break out into song, possibly Rebellion (Lies), during the presentation and not stop until I end up in a padded room. But, to be honest, with the gift of the gab (unversially accepted fact) I could probably blag it anyway, I'd just be very nervous inside.

So warm the ears - and believe me, this little cover will - and share this with me, won't you?

Arcade Fire - Maps (Yeah Yeah Yeah's cover version) [via YouSendIt for 7 days]

Wonderful climax.

CHRIST ALMIGHTY!

Apparently there are people in the world who have never heard of such acts as Arcade Fire and Bloc Party!

I am trying to ween myself off a message forum that I've posted on for years, but in actual fact, no one likes me, I get attacked for everything I say and its full of people with opinions on music who then let their masks slip and it is revealed that they actually know fuck all if its not some horrendous trance remix.

I did think there were possible redeemable human beings. I had some hope left for the human race but then the other week someone didn't know who Bloc Party were. I quickly stuck my fingers in my ears and pretended it wasn't true. Like them, love them, hate them, whatever. But not to know who they are at all! Fuck me! That is absolutely outrageous. They should be cast off the face of the earth.

And now I hear that there is another person with claims to musical knowledge tantamount to that of an oracle that doesn't know who Arcade Fire are? What must people do with their lives? Seriously. Fucking hell. Do they live in holes? It is shameful.

And I am the one who is going to take the lashing for having announced my shock. You know, the whole 'elitist, pretensious bitch' malark, yet again. God forbid a female have a claim to know anything about music.

"It's 2007 just she not know we've not come round to the idea of equality!"

"I didn't even know females were legally allowed to listen to music. It's a disgrace, I tell you!"

Fuck off. Bring it on. I've got a wicked right hook.

Arcade Fire

Since having seen Arcade Fire I cannot get through a day without listening to Neon Bible. When Arcade Fire plunged into the ears of many it was truly magical. A crafted, delicate, unique sound was created. And rumours flew round about their amazing live performances.

So to get to go and see them was more of an exciting opportunity than I could comprehend. And with good reason. They were absolutely astounding. Easily one of the best bands you could wish to see.. probably on the face of the earth right now. The reproduction of the songs, sounds, noises, ambiance and atmosphere was spot on. Its the best way to describe. And I did. Last night. Drunkenly. Shouting in people's ears. But to reaffirm they were great. Even down to the violins being so perfectly mastered as not to be drowned out by all the other far more powerful electric instruments. I'm still in awe now.

Neon Bible is going to be an album of the year and probably more, a year is an odd way to measure it. A friend of mine, Mr Douglass, quite aptly suggested that Neon Bible is the best album that has been released since Funeral. Very insightful.

Yet my best friend Paul and I have been candidly discussing Neon Bible and when we don't blissfully agree we painfully (for him) fall out. Jiggling around to Keep The Car Running is incredible. No Cars Go since having seen it performed live makes me cry, its beautiful, fraught, tense and anthemic. But Paul and I massively disagree about Black Wave/Bad Vibrations he thinks that the point at which Win thunders in completely ruins and interrupts a perfectly good song. Yet I vehemently object. I feel that it adds to a song by interrupting in such a dramatic, booming and noisy way. Screaming for retribution. Paul is wrong. I say so.

Hopefully when Paul gets his act together he'll send me some pictures and I may share with you the best.

Illness...

I feel like I am dying.

But I am vehemently fighting off whatever it may be because I go away to London on Friday. Arcade Fire probably wouldn't appreciate me being ill.

Anyway. Get this round your ears.

Scissor Sisters - She's My Man (Goose remix)

About time someone realised the potential of Scissor Sisters to its full extent. But then again I have recently become quite partial, more than quite, a lot partial to Goose. Descendants of the wonderous Soulwax and hopping straight out of Belguim, Goose are causing more sexual excitement in me than I thought was possible. A penchant for a distorted guitar riff is my weakness, and, well, these guys do it flawlessly as one can expect from hot distortion.

However, I do feel rather twee today. Probably because I'm ill and I need to take the pace a little more slowly and less bass driven. I think some Tom McRae would be best suited.

I encourage you to purchase Scissor Sisters new single that has that awesome Goose remix on it. Get it here.