AND SO IT BEGINS...
Welcome to Reading Festival 2007. Where despite the campsites more closely resembling a First World War battlefield than anything else, the rain has at least stayed away thus far and the whole site is in jubilant mood for the arrival of Brighton based popstrels the Pipettes. In a weekend dominated by indie and rock behemoths, the sugary sweet pop songs and close harmonies that the Pipettes deal in make for a welcome change. “Dirty Mind”, “Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me” and “Pull Shapes” all sound fantastic, and manage to get the crowd, most of whom began the set still half asleep, pulling some shapes of their own.
Next we go from Brighton to Sheffield for the jaunty indie pop of Little Man Tate. In spite of a few technical hitches early on in the set, the band soon iron out the creases and deliver a set that gets the entire crowd moving. “European Lover”, “Sexy Man In Latin” and the closing “House Party At Boothys” all serve as boozy calls to arms, persuading the baying masses to shake off last night’s excesses and brave the bar queues. “Have a reet good time on us” says frontman Jon Windle as he drains his can of cider, don’t worry Jon, you can be sure they will.
Coincidentally, we stay with the steel city now for the Long Blondes, but let’s be honest; musically they’re from a different world to Little Man Tate. The band arrive with a thunderous “Lust In The Movies”, looking like the coolest gang on site and instantly the crowd are spellbound. They fire off “Weekend Without Make Up” early on and proceed to breeze through a flawless set, premiering one new song “Guilt” alongside old favourites like “Giddy Stratospheres” and “Swallow Tattoo.” A timely reminder that it’s positively criminal they aren’t higher up the bill.
Tom Goodwyn
Next we go from Brighton to Sheffield for the jaunty indie pop of Little Man Tate. In spite of a few technical hitches early on in the set, the band soon iron out the creases and deliver a set that gets the entire crowd moving. “European Lover”, “Sexy Man In Latin” and the closing “House Party At Boothys” all serve as boozy calls to arms, persuading the baying masses to shake off last night’s excesses and brave the bar queues. “Have a reet good time on us” says frontman Jon Windle as he drains his can of cider, don’t worry Jon, you can be sure they will.
Coincidentally, we stay with the steel city now for the Long Blondes, but let’s be honest; musically they’re from a different world to Little Man Tate. The band arrive with a thunderous “Lust In The Movies”, looking like the coolest gang on site and instantly the crowd are spellbound. They fire off “Weekend Without Make Up” early on and proceed to breeze through a flawless set, premiering one new song “Guilt” alongside old favourites like “Giddy Stratospheres” and “Swallow Tattoo.” A timely reminder that it’s positively criminal they aren’t higher up the bill.
Tom Goodwyn
