This was going to be a sort of reply to the guy who posted on Friday criticising MAs appearance at the Fest,as Paul has deleted it thats buggered that up,you won't know what I'm on about.
I will say this though to anyone who may think along those lines ie "What’s going on Prog rock hippy band along with up'n'coming 4DH,Yards etc".A couple of years ago I would have agreed with you,as a punk in the mid 70s Floyd,Yes,ELP and their ilk were the antithesis of the bands of the time,Pistols,Clash,999 etc. And if you're thinking that I have seen the light and now listen to these bands non-stop you couldn't be more wrong,I think they're up your own ass pap....BUT....I can now appreciate WHY people like them and this is the crux of the matter,the older you get the more you understand different types of music,personally I hate Techno/Rave and all that stuff but if Paul(legend) put a Techno/Rave band on at the Fest I'd have my Whistle,Dustmask and Vicks Vaporub and be "Bangin'" with the rest of 'em. So just learn to live with it,think of it as a musical education,get pissed,have a bit of a jig to Heather and Angelas glorious Flute/Whistle combo and if you think some of the songs go on a bit just walk to the top of the hill lay on the grass and just chill and let Joshs guitar wash over you maaaan!
Right,after that bull you may be surprised to hear that I luurve MA,I would not bracket them with aforementioned bands,no dreary dirge here just some of the best and most superbly crafted songs for years that can really get you in your girly sensitive spots then get you punching the air in a major tostesterone rush like a bouncer in Hartlepool (No offence meant Kev).Though why on earth they play a dreary Floyd number and omit the truly magnificent “Pass the Clock” is beyond me.It is their gig I suppose (and 600-700 people loving every minute of it also says it’s OK).
If you've got this far you may be asleep or ready for a sort of Festreview or Jims unwanted Opinionfest.
Steve Daggett Trio were really good at what they did, but suffered a bit from being the first band on when everyone was putting up their deckchairs.I’d love to see them in a more intimate setting and no doubt will if they aren’t on when I’m nightshift!!
Sevenball….Ha!…I’d said to Paul C that they weren’t my cup of tea when I’d seen them at the 2002 festival.I don’t feel embarrassed in the least to admit that I was a mile off .I thought they were brilliant on Thursday.
Prendo…….Again his music doesn’t float my boat but what a musician,and at a festival you can’t beat his chilled out style for drinking Guinness and enjoying life.
Mothers…..They were superb,what a voice the singer had eh? “The Seeker” is one of my favourite Who songs, “Jean Genie” was the first Single I bought and the James Brown cover was the Dogs Bollocks….Get ‘em booked for a Thursday night Paul.
The Yards….These guys are proper Rock’n’Roll,Chris Helme is one of the few REAL frontmen.Their set never seems to last as long as anyone elses ‘cos it just drives along with great stomping tunes and with Chris’ voice soaring over the moors It just makes for a glorious hour.”Only myself to Blame” is an instant drunken singalong classic……Well it was for me anyway…..All this and a guitarist who looks like Russell Crowe,how can they fail !!
Four Day Hombre…..I make no secret of the fact that these are my favourite band at the moment,neither do I make a secret of the fact that I didn’t know how it would go following The Yards,who I knew would play a blinding set….No worries mate.4DH played a set which consisted of me thinking after most songs, “Ah bollocks lads you should play that one last!!” .”Allow Me”,”First Word” the orgasmic “Theres a place we can Stay”.Then they finish with the ball breaking “Single Room” and all's right with the world.
Mostly Autumn…See above and wasn’t Heathers voice soooo strong ? As last year it was a great set for a singsong and as usual MA proved that they never give us Blakey folk anything but a great show and great banter….I loved Joshs’ “Pretentious Hippy Bollocks” speech.MAs love of Blakey is obvious and is reciprocated a hundredfold.Play “Pass the clock” at Christmas though or I’ll put rocks in the snowballs!!
Paul Crossland….Get his picture on a T-Shirt!!!
PS All you Floyd,Yes,ELP fans who are seething that I dared to compare your faves with that Punk crap….I have long Blonde hair a bushy tache and glasses.
I make no apologies for removing that first message received after the festival, I have nothing against criticism and know that MA aren't everyone's cup of tea, but that was just personally insulting to a group of true friends without whom this festival would never exist. Nice to hear he loved all the other bands though, 6 outa 7 in't bad in my book!