Glastonbury reviews thread
Discussion
Maybe worth adding in a few reviews of mine, having been at the festival. Now that I've watched a lot of the sets I saw there on BBC iplayer since I got home I've really noticed how my perception of an act's live performance on the day can be very different to how it comes across on TV. The sound is the main thing, with there being a lot less bass on TV, but also any dodgy singing or bum notes seem to be much more noticeable on TV - although maybe that's partially down to how much I'd had to drink at the time!
Fourth visit to the farm for me and overall probably the best. Big shout to the weather and the complete absence of any mud, it was a godsend particularly after how bad it was on that front last year!
Friday
Nothing But Thieves - 8/10
Went to see them based on a recommendation from a mate and ended up enjoying them so much that I've now decided I'm going to see them when they tour later this year as well as at another festival I'm going to in a few weeks. They're not exactly ground-breaking and only have one album and one new song to perform, but the lead singer has a great voice and got me hooked into them pretty quickly. Was good fun when they announced it was their sound guy's birthday and had a pint passed to him from the stage all the way back to the sound desk without a drop being spilled!
Ata Kak - 10/10
Bit of back story - he's a Ghanaian rapper who released an album in the 90's that no-one ever bought, which recently got discovered and re-released after it took a couple of years to track him down. Dragged my mates along to see him who all listened to him beforehand and mostly decided I was mad. Turned out to be the highlight of the festival for quite a few of us, he was bloody brilliant! Funky lo-fi African beats, really got the crowd going and looked like he was having the time of his life! Also produced one of the quotes of the weekend - "you do the clapping, I'll do the rapping". Definitely one that comes across better live than on TV, as the bass down the front was blowing our heads off but you can't hear it at all when watching it back. Extra points for me having got a close up on BBC whilst dancing in a rubber chicken mask and then meeting him in the signing tent afterwards, he's a top bloke.
Royal Blood - 8/10
Really professional and make some serious noise considering there's only two of them. Really deserved their place on the Pyramid and I wouldn't rule them out as a future headliner after another album or two. Great moment when they had a drink to celebrate their album going to number 1 on the day. Like a lot of acts, you can really see how much it means to them to be able to perform and get a great reception on the biggest stage at one of the biggest festivals in the world.
Future Islands - 8/10
Dodgy sound at the beginning of the set but got sorted after a couple of songs. Front man is a real character and I had a great time, although I'd probably peaked at full drunkenness by then.
Dizzee Rascal - 6/10
Wasn't much I fancied seeing as a headline act on the Friday so I went for this (Radiohead not my cup of tea). Decent, but kind of felt like he was going through the motions a bit (Bonkers was awesome fun though). Having watched Flaming Lips' set on BBC I wish I'd gone to see them instead.
Saturday
British Sea Power - 7/10
Nice and chilled start to the day and a decent hangover cure - much better than I'd expected them to be. Didn't play A Little Electricity which I was really hoping for, but a decent set otherwise.
Badbadnotgood - 6/10
Decent, but very background music-ey. Obviously a very talented bunch of musicians, but the sort of thing you have a little sway about to whilst chatting to your mates rather than being down the front for a dance.
Liam Gallagher - 4/10
Field was uncomfortably rammed (I reckon he should've been on the Pyramid) and there were major sound issues because of how windy it was. Was OK when he did Oasis tunes, but his new material is a dire impression of a 90's britpop comeback. Most of Oasis' best tunes were written by Noel and it really shows in his new stuff which pales in comparison.
DJ Shadow - 9/10
Unexpected highlight of this year for me. Only planned to stay for a couple of songs before heading to get a good spot for Foos, but ended up dancing my arse off for the full hour. Brilliant bass lines and a really well put together set. Up there as one of the best DJ's I've seen now.
Foo Fighters - 10/10
Could've done with a bit less chat between the songs, and dragged out a few of them for too long, but I didn't notice how much of that there was until I watched it at home as I was having the time of my life. Dave was on form and was grateful they only did one song from the abomination that is Sonic Highways. Love them or hate them, they know how to put on a proper rock show! Being up on a mate's shoulders for the whole of 'Pretender' is something I'll never forget.
Sunday
Jamie Cullum - 5/10
Meh - not my thing at all but half decent for a little lie down at the top of the field.
Beans on Toast - 8/10
Caught him doing a surprise set, he was really good as always. If you haven't heard of him he's well worth checking out. He can't really sing and only knows about 3 chords, but somehow it just works. Funny, emotional and uplifting. This is the kind of thing he does https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdpQRdh3xSg
Haim - 6/10
Decent without being particularly exciting, the sort of thing your teenage sister would get into. But my word they are really bloody annoying when they speak between songs! Banging on about bringing the 'California sunshine' with them to Glastonbury like we should be thankful for their presence. f
k off love, you don't own the weather!
Goldfrapp - 7/10
The set I was most looking forward to all weekend but they started late and had their set cut short due to some set up issues, so didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would. New material sounded very good but didn't quite hit the heights I've seen them at before and I think I was a bit grumpy because of the shorter set. Alison was on reasonable form but her chat between songs is pretty woeful.
London Grammar - 10/10
The set of the weekend for me. I've never heard her voice sound so unbelievably good, honestly one of the best voices I've heard perform. So many goosebumps moments and it got quite dusty in the tent a few times!
Justice - 6/10
I was probably too tired to enjoy dance music at this point, but they put on a decent show. Like Daft Punk but with less catchy tunes.
Finally, a mention has to go to Napalm Death - 0/10. I've got a pretty wide and varied taste in music and appreciate that there's plenty of stuff I don't like that other people love. That I don't like it doesn't mean it isn't any good, but I caught 10 minutes of this and couldn't understand how it's classed as music. It's indecipherable angry white noise turned up to 11, seemingly for people who like running into each other and hacking off their own limbs for fun. Complete and utter dross, never seen or heard anything as appallingly bad as them.
Fourth visit to the farm for me and overall probably the best. Big shout to the weather and the complete absence of any mud, it was a godsend particularly after how bad it was on that front last year!
Friday
Nothing But Thieves - 8/10
Went to see them based on a recommendation from a mate and ended up enjoying them so much that I've now decided I'm going to see them when they tour later this year as well as at another festival I'm going to in a few weeks. They're not exactly ground-breaking and only have one album and one new song to perform, but the lead singer has a great voice and got me hooked into them pretty quickly. Was good fun when they announced it was their sound guy's birthday and had a pint passed to him from the stage all the way back to the sound desk without a drop being spilled!
Ata Kak - 10/10
Bit of back story - he's a Ghanaian rapper who released an album in the 90's that no-one ever bought, which recently got discovered and re-released after it took a couple of years to track him down. Dragged my mates along to see him who all listened to him beforehand and mostly decided I was mad. Turned out to be the highlight of the festival for quite a few of us, he was bloody brilliant! Funky lo-fi African beats, really got the crowd going and looked like he was having the time of his life! Also produced one of the quotes of the weekend - "you do the clapping, I'll do the rapping". Definitely one that comes across better live than on TV, as the bass down the front was blowing our heads off but you can't hear it at all when watching it back. Extra points for me having got a close up on BBC whilst dancing in a rubber chicken mask and then meeting him in the signing tent afterwards, he's a top bloke.
Royal Blood - 8/10
Really professional and make some serious noise considering there's only two of them. Really deserved their place on the Pyramid and I wouldn't rule them out as a future headliner after another album or two. Great moment when they had a drink to celebrate their album going to number 1 on the day. Like a lot of acts, you can really see how much it means to them to be able to perform and get a great reception on the biggest stage at one of the biggest festivals in the world.
Future Islands - 8/10
Dodgy sound at the beginning of the set but got sorted after a couple of songs. Front man is a real character and I had a great time, although I'd probably peaked at full drunkenness by then.
Dizzee Rascal - 6/10
Wasn't much I fancied seeing as a headline act on the Friday so I went for this (Radiohead not my cup of tea). Decent, but kind of felt like he was going through the motions a bit (Bonkers was awesome fun though). Having watched Flaming Lips' set on BBC I wish I'd gone to see them instead.
Saturday
British Sea Power - 7/10
Nice and chilled start to the day and a decent hangover cure - much better than I'd expected them to be. Didn't play A Little Electricity which I was really hoping for, but a decent set otherwise.
Badbadnotgood - 6/10
Decent, but very background music-ey. Obviously a very talented bunch of musicians, but the sort of thing you have a little sway about to whilst chatting to your mates rather than being down the front for a dance.
Liam Gallagher - 4/10
Field was uncomfortably rammed (I reckon he should've been on the Pyramid) and there were major sound issues because of how windy it was. Was OK when he did Oasis tunes, but his new material is a dire impression of a 90's britpop comeback. Most of Oasis' best tunes were written by Noel and it really shows in his new stuff which pales in comparison.
DJ Shadow - 9/10
Unexpected highlight of this year for me. Only planned to stay for a couple of songs before heading to get a good spot for Foos, but ended up dancing my arse off for the full hour. Brilliant bass lines and a really well put together set. Up there as one of the best DJ's I've seen now.
Foo Fighters - 10/10
Could've done with a bit less chat between the songs, and dragged out a few of them for too long, but I didn't notice how much of that there was until I watched it at home as I was having the time of my life. Dave was on form and was grateful they only did one song from the abomination that is Sonic Highways. Love them or hate them, they know how to put on a proper rock show! Being up on a mate's shoulders for the whole of 'Pretender' is something I'll never forget.
Sunday
Jamie Cullum - 5/10
Meh - not my thing at all but half decent for a little lie down at the top of the field.
Beans on Toast - 8/10
Caught him doing a surprise set, he was really good as always. If you haven't heard of him he's well worth checking out. He can't really sing and only knows about 3 chords, but somehow it just works. Funny, emotional and uplifting. This is the kind of thing he does https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdpQRdh3xSg
Haim - 6/10
Decent without being particularly exciting, the sort of thing your teenage sister would get into. But my word they are really bloody annoying when they speak between songs! Banging on about bringing the 'California sunshine' with them to Glastonbury like we should be thankful for their presence. f
k off love, you don't own the weather! Goldfrapp - 7/10
The set I was most looking forward to all weekend but they started late and had their set cut short due to some set up issues, so didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would. New material sounded very good but didn't quite hit the heights I've seen them at before and I think I was a bit grumpy because of the shorter set. Alison was on reasonable form but her chat between songs is pretty woeful.
London Grammar - 10/10
The set of the weekend for me. I've never heard her voice sound so unbelievably good, honestly one of the best voices I've heard perform. So many goosebumps moments and it got quite dusty in the tent a few times!
Justice - 6/10
I was probably too tired to enjoy dance music at this point, but they put on a decent show. Like Daft Punk but with less catchy tunes.
Finally, a mention has to go to Napalm Death - 0/10. I've got a pretty wide and varied taste in music and appreciate that there's plenty of stuff I don't like that other people love. That I don't like it doesn't mean it isn't any good, but I caught 10 minutes of this and couldn't understand how it's classed as music. It's indecipherable angry white noise turned up to 11, seemingly for people who like running into each other and hacking off their own limbs for fun. Complete and utter dross, never seen or heard anything as appallingly bad as them.
hyphen said:
When you say less bass on tv, is that tv audio or proper AV?
Also how much could you see? As on the TV it appeared many bands weren't using the side screens effectively, so for audience members that are not at the front, could you see it all clearly or mainly listen?
I mean less bass through a decent set of headphones - iplayer on laptop. If you get down the front for certain acts the bass is awesome (sometimes a bit too much), but on TV it barely registers and generally some acts sound completely different on TV to how they sound when you're there. Also how much could you see? As on the TV it appeared many bands weren't using the side screens effectively, so for audience members that are not at the front, could you see it all clearly or mainly listen?
Re the screens (that are only on a few of the bigger stages), I don't think the acts other than the pyramid headliners have a great deal of control over what gets put on them. The band performs like they normally would, the camera crew film them and a director decides what shots are used. Never felt like I couldn't see or anything like that, even with the all the w
kers with flags blocking the view of most of the Pyramid stage if you're a bit too far back. Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff