lee in the park - saturday

saturday started reasonably last. once the initial shock of waking up in a glorified plastic bag in the middle of a field in deepest darkest scotland it was time for a slow meander over to the arena for the first batch of music. second on the bill of the main stage were the beta band, who i have to admit although i'd always been a little curious about had never really listened to. they're 45 minute-ish set proved to be the unexpected hit of the weekend and was inspiration enough for me to get (ie download) a few of their songs on my return to civilization. next up was the zutons, who have only got one song that i'd heard and by the time they were done, i felt like that was plenty for my liking. i'd like to think it was for a reason other than the fact looked like he should be called barney and working behind a fruit and veg stall on a market somewhere. perhaps i could use the excuse that it's often difficult to get into a band for the first time when seeing them live. but i can't, seeing as they were followed by british sea power whose slot supporting the strokes at ally pally last year had made me go on out and buy their album (and in this case i actually parted with some money for it. in a shop and everything). it's fair to say that bsp can be a bit of an acquired taste. at least this time out they weren't in their military uniforms. after a nice little instrumental intro (which i was convinced would erupt into a song sitting at the back of my brain but never did) they rattled thru their set. Highlights had to be the crazy drummer (i should learn peoples makes and be polite but i can't be bothered) wandering thru the crowd in remember me. while i thought they were pretty fab, on a par with the strokes support gig, it would have been nice if they'd played more than 3 songs from their album which would have allowed for more bounciness and singing along. also a minor disappointment was the lack of the big bear, who apparently has danced his last. RIP. a marked improvement on the zutons tho, and i'm looking forward to the new album. that was saturdays first batch of music, and it was time to head back to the campsite for a food break in association with tesco's value range and a quick bit of kip. although the kipping was a little overlong, because by the time we'd treked back to the arena the king tut tent where a last minute addition ash were about to get into action, it was already full and we were forced to improvise. unfortunately in this case, improvising meant heading over to the nme stage to make sure we'd be in a good place for the libertines and muse who was headlining saturday. unfortunately in this case, improvising also meant we were there well before the libertines were due onstage and instead had to dubious pleasure of being in a prime position to witness the wu tang clan. to be honest, the least said about that the better really. evidently it's really not my thing, but the gaggle of kevs who had beseiged the stage seemed to enjoy themselves (tho our resident gangsta in chief ian claims they weren't much cop). following a mass exodus and influx of newbies, the libertines wandered on, minus one mr peter doherty. i've not heard a lot of the libs stuff but what i've heard i liked and was quite looking forward to seeing them. maybe i was expecting too much cos i wasn't that blown away. they were definitely good, but nothing particularly exceptional i thought. maybe i was still in a state of wu tang related shock? one band who could be relied on in the blowing away department were muse. how the darkness (who were headlining the main stage saturday night - why?) can claim to be the best british rock band around when these guys are still in business is beyond me. the whole set was truely amazing. that matt belamy's a clever bunny and he can do things with a guitar and piano, and not to mention his voice, which people really shouldn't be allowed. i can't really explain what was so good about them but they were by a fairly safe distance the highlight of the weekend for me and up there in my top 5 live performances ever i think (the others being: REM @ brixton academy, björk, radiohead and MHS at the ICA (i think)). time for a hike back to the campsite, a bit more overpriced drink and food....