Leeds fest 2011 a short review

hello people,

I have now recovered from Leeds festival and felt the need to allow you guys into who made it for me.

Another year has gone by, I have now just recovered from Leeds scraped off the 4 inches of mud and put them away for next year (well until winter hits us again). What a festival it was, the only weather we did not experience was snow. We had glorious sun (yes my fair skin got burnt now I have a wonderful tan); we had horrendous rain, which turned the mud into the best workout you could get. Then finally on the Sunday when most of the mud had gone we had wind that would take you off your feet. Both me and my friend were one of the loyal Leeds festival goers that stuck it out for the whole weekend. Yes we may have complained and moaned like it was the end of the world but these aspects only make the experience a better one.

One of the first epic moments of this festival was The Streets. This was epic for a number of reasons, for one it was going to be first and last ever time that I would see them, because they were going to be no more in a few months time. Whilst waiting in the tent you could sense the atmosphere was electric. Mike Skinner was on form that night delivering the goods to each dedicated fan that had crushed into that tent. Storming through his classic hits of blinded by the lights, don’t mug yourself and of course you’re fit but you know it. All this gelled with Leo the lion brought together a fantastic show. Sweat, beer thrown and aching legs from dancing, and to top it off Skinner managed to get the biggest circle pit of the festival going.

As Muse had not made any secret of the fact that they were doing to play, Origins of Symmetry in its entirety, I was looking forward to it the most. I have always said that Muse of the marmite of the music world, but I still love them. Origins of symmetry was out of this world and proved that the album has stood the test over 10 years and is just as amazing on the first listen as it was live. Once the once in a lifetime opportunity had been finished, they then launched into the hits. “Stockholm Syndrome” was a pinnacle moment of the festival for me, as whenever I do hear that son, I get Goosebumps all over. Bellamy and the boys did not give us festival goers a disappointing show, they blew it away. Although I must say that a festival show is never the same as a personal one.

So after trekking through all the mud and earning quads like a body builder the first day was out of this world. Yes we did see other people but I could go on for days, how awesome they all were, or how crap they were, and even how they shouldn’t have made it to a main stage. But that would mean about 100 pages that nobody would actually ever read. One thing that I was disappointed in was the fact that I actually didn’t get to see anyone on the BBC introducing stage. This was through no fault of my own I might add. This was because of all the clashes that were happening on other stages. It is a very hard decision for a music fan to decide who to see over another band.

So Saturday comes legs are hurting and only just adjusting to sleeping in a tent, but all the people to see are in the radio one tent (result). As I have been making people aware Miles Kane’s debut album I was looking forward to this performance. He stormed through his set with the adulation from all the fans that tent. Sometimes with albums, you can love listening to them over and over again, but when it comes to the live version, it can be a let down. Not with this one, if anything it brought the album to life even more, with the dark tones that run through and Miles managing, to get his unique 60’s psychedelic riffs to become more powerful and reachable.

Mona was a band I was bit dubious about, this was mainly because the album is good and I would recommend it, but wasn’t sure how it would come across live. Now they were good but nothing I would shout about like previous bands I have seen. They seemed to lack enthusiasm on the stage and the songs sounded just like the album. Festivals are all about giving your current fans a good show but also making new fans too. Mona are probably amazing in there own space and show but I feel a smaller tent may have done them a little bit more justice.

Now if you are into your music, you will know that The Vaccines are one of 2011’s most talked about bands. They have only been together for a year and have earned so much. So I was really looking forward to this having read all other reviews, only one thing was stopping me, and this was that Justin the singer’s voice was under strain. They had already pulled out of shows and looked like they will be doing so for more shows. But given that his voice was bad he powered through giving the fans a show that would not be dampened by a broken voice. A packed out tent and a band perfectly formed and sounding like they had been doing this for years is something that you don’t often see or hear.

Beady Eye the headliner of Saturday was again something that I was a bit dubious about, but was something that I though I needed to see. Were they going to be just oasis but with 2 new band members? The answer to this was sort of. Noel was always the leader in oasis deciding what they were to sound like, where as Beady Eye was Liam’s baby. Sounding how he wanted, a much darker take on oasis but still a pretty good show. Maybe he is just more than a one trick pony, but will probably still take a bit more to get into them. Liam is and will always be a front man, and with him in a band there will always be a following.

2 bands that were a must see on the Sunday were Madness and Pulp. Along with all the other bands in the other tents these two were pinnacle for the final day. I grew up with Madness with my dad, and have always been told they are amazing live you need to see them. So here was my opportunity to. One step beyond was the opener and was only a start to an amazing show to come. Suggs and gang bringing the sound of ska to young followers, making them dance and bounce along with even a sing song, to accompany it. Perfect for a windy Sunday afternoon with a pint in hand.

Now all through the 90’s you were either Blur or Oasis, but people often forget about Pulp. Pulp is the posh version of both those bands, with lyrics that are as funny as Morrissey’s, even just as cynical. Jarvis has never been the most normal of front men but he gives the crowd a good show. It is windy and cold but he is leading you on a journey of a date as he wants to call it. Blasting out classics such as, Pencil Skirt, Disco 2000 and not to forget Common people. The band as tight as they were back in the day and Jarvis just if not more, eccentric as he used to be. This band were definitely a good choice to end this festival, he left us all on high craving and wanting more.       

These are only some of the bands that saw, I did see many more but would take forever to write about them. Also I was not there to review I was there to be festival goer and enjoy my yearly experience.

The Music's Last Dance

Hello everyone,

on Saturday the 6th August 2011, I happened to experienece on of the best gigs I have ever been to and this will be saved in memory forever. below is a review of the gig.

The Music’s

Last dance.

6^th August 2011 is day that the O2 academy in Leeds will never forget. This is the day that The Music ended their career after just over a decade of being together. So how could a sad day be as epic and as mind blowing as it was?

Well for a start the crowd were certainly up for it, gearing up to give a band that have given them so much in the past back and to five them the farewell that they deserve. Rob Harvey and the gang stormed on stage to a sell out crowd that were ready to dance. Getting straight into it without a second to spare, the band were as intertwined as they have ever been.

Next they went into “take the long road and walk it” perfectly formed and Harvey at his vocally best, the crowd went crazy and singing along like troupers, not letting the fact that this would be the last time they would see them perform this song live put them off. The band rave through all the amazing and delightful songs, they have given to their fans, with crowd pleasers such as “Drugs, Freedom fighters and Bleed from within” the band don’t fail in giving the crowd something to remember.

“The Spike” is dedicated to all the people behind the scenes that have allowed this band to progress and become what they have, and that is one of the best and finest Leeds’s bands to come around in a very long time.

The final and fitting song is one that is personnel to the band itself. With Harvey dedicating it to the fans saying “you are the people and this is for you, Thank you for fucking everything, without you, the people, we would not here.” The crowd goes wild, but there is an air of sadness that this is in fact the last dance. The band, the fans give it their all, giving them the send off they deserve and partying and dancing like they will never do again, because in fact they won’t.

Once the song has ended, an emotional Rob, and co all say thank you to the crowd. While the crowd still cheering away clearly wanting more, they all embrace each other with a hug. You could sense from the filthy warm crowd that they were emotional, and also somewhat grateful for the audience and reception that they have received, not only from this final gig but from there entire fan base throughout the years.

The atmosphere of the venue was scarily electrifying. Everyone was up for this gig and people had certainly traveled to apart of the history that was being created at the academy with hearing accents from Manchester, Liverpool and even Newcastle. You could feel the vibes bouncing off the walls, the ceilings and off of each other whilst dancing and showing our appreciation to this magical and wonderful band. This is a band that makes you feel every beat and every melodic rhythm in your heart as it is being played. A band that makes people dance and move like they have never moved before with just the opening chords of a song. All of these atmospheric attributes all created what was a wonderfully flawless performance from the boys. They were spot on note for note and did not let slip once, with Harvey having one of the best formed voice’s that I have seen in a long while, and working the stage like the demons of Leeds that they are.

This is going to be a night that will never be forgotten. The music world has lost one of the great bands of our generation. A band that may have had its up’s and down but certainly came back from them, to astound the fans even further. Yes something else may come out, but it will never be what The Music was. That night we waved off a band that was silently huge and influential to so many people and other artists in the industry. So thank you The Music for giving us that one last dance and a night that will certainly never be forgotten to your people. I am certainly proud that I was there that fine evening, to witness the end as sad as it may have been, it was extraordinary. Viva The Music.

a Tribute to amy winehouse R.I.P

A fitting tribute to someone

Joining the 27 club.

This past weekend has been one of loss. The Norwegian massacre was a terrible disaster and my thoughts and condolences are with families. How help never got to them poor souls sooner is something that should really be looked into. Then came the news that one of the talented artists of our generation had died. Amy Winehouse died in her flat on 23^rd of July. Now I know this is not as much of a tragedy as the Norway massacre, it is still a tragedy in its own right. A family have lost a daughter, a friend has been lost, and a talent and credit to the music world has been lost.

Amy has had a tough time recently, and pretty much through her entire career. Her problems being showcased nationally by tabloid newspapers, highlighting her drink and drugs problems. Not once stopping and thinking, how this may affect her family. Ok so she did take a hell of a lot of drugs, and because of this did not use her talent wisely. People should be remembering her for what she used to be not what she ended up as.

Amy had such a talent that has not been seen in long while. Her soul voice and lyrical ability was appreciated all around the world, also known for her powerful contralto vocals. After 2 albums people were aware that they were onto something special, something that they were able to relate to while they were singing along. Amy was amazing at pouring her heart out onto paper, such a shame she wasn’t able to do this and help her through her problems. When she was at her best artists wanted to collaborate with her and make even more beautiful music. “Frank” Winehouse’ debut album was a credit to her in the healthy days before the drugs and record companies took hold.

She won 6 Grammy awards. A British female artist has never won that many, but Amy did. She defied all the critics and created music that was appreciated and that had meaning. Her second and final album “back to black” was an instant hit, with hits such as “love is a losing game”, “back to black”, and of course “rehab”. All of these songs are Amy’s cry for help, but with a catchy tune. This woman has inspired so many people to do what they love the most and the world or music is not going to be the same without her. 

As the whole world has established she had drug problems, but like I have established we should not be remembering her for this. Remember this woman as someone who defied the critics. Who made soul music that took you right back to the 50’s. forget the drugs forget the tool of an ex-husband who will no doubt start cashing in on the death of a woman who would of gone onto bigger things if she had of dealt with her demons.

The media have also been highlighting that Amy has joined what is known as the “27 club”. Now if you are not sure what this is then here is the answer. The 27 club is famous people who have died at the age of 27. It is generally used to show the amount of people in the music world that have died at 27. A few of these are Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and now the wonderful Amy Winehouse. All of these people will be remembered fondly in the hearts and ears of music lovers around the world. It is just a shame that these people have had to go in to this to group. RIP Amy hope you can finally find happiness up there.