Intensities In Tent Cities
OK, a little late with my third day report but it was a long flight back. So, who’d I see?
Brighton laddies The Kooks charmed the girls and packed the Mojave Tent, knocking out a confident performance. I’ll have some of what singer Luke Pritchard was on, please; his mojo was definitely workin’. Tracking back across the field we were subjected to the all-out eyeball rattling sonic attack of instrumental post-rockers Explosions In The Sky.. aptly named. They reminded me of the old Lemmy quote: if they moved in next door to you, your lawn would die. Great stuff, ideal for a hazy hot one in the desert.
It was back to the Mojave Tent later on for fizzy Brazilian disco tunesters CSS – I’d missed their sellout shows in NZ last time around so made amends.. great fun, the tent was boppin’.
It was a day of reunions but Crowded House sounded like they’d never been away. The atmos was a bit strange on my part of the field.. the Rage Against The Machine fans staking out their spot for later in the day totally silent. No matter.. Neil Finn finishing up sweetly with ‘Better Be Home Soon’ brought a tear to my eye.
And then it was back to the Hacienda .. er, Sahara Tent, for a session of skunk and funk with a reconstituted Shaun Ryder and Happy Mondays. The man is looking well and the band delivered a pulsating bass-heavy set of old favourites. ‘Step On’ was an absolute blast, and melons were well and truly twisted.
My aching back and I caught a few minutes of Rage.. you know the scene in the Two Towers where the black hordes march on Helm’s Deep? That’s what it looked like, fires and all. I’m not a RATM fan, but what a spectacle.
And the oddest things happened in the last few minutes of the festival experience.. Tommy Lee leaving by the back door (“I’m Tommy Lee. Let me the f*** out!”) but denying exit to a hanger-on Motley Crue fan, who swore never to wear the band’s T-shirt again.
Tired and weary, we headed back to the VIP sofas for a moment of contemplation as the Rage fans left. Who should appear, tired and slightly emotional, but William Reed from the Jesus And Mary Chain? We shook his hand and made our way out into the night.
