HILL
FARM, STEVENTON DAY TWO: 20/7/03
THE
WHORES OF BABYLON, JUSTIFIED TYRANNY, NERVOUS TEST PILOT,
500,
ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK, JESSE SYKES & THE SWEET HEREAFTER
On
to day two then, and having mustered about two hours sleep during the
night, the 10am start was about as welcome as the smell emanating from
the toilet that had been knocked over during the previous day's festivities.
Still, off to the barn it was, for Truck competition winners THE
WHORES OF BABYLON. Looking very much like a bunch of Manic Street
Preachers obsessives, I was pleasantly surprised by their set of bluesy
indie, even if it was blatantly obvious that they couldn't quite play
their own songs yet (plus the singer needs to learn how to use a microphone,
as it was impossible to make out what he was trying to get across to us.
Still, the quality of the songs just about managed to shine through the
bum notes, and with a bit of practice (and a name change), this could
be a band worth keeping an eye out for.
Sadly, there was a bit of a lean patch from here, with neither JUSTIFIED TYRANNY's old school metal, NERVOUS TEST PILOT's messy electronica, nor CAUGHT ON TAPE's take on So-Cal punk catching my drowsy ear.
Still,
respite would soon be at hand, in the unlikely shape of LESBO
PIG, who's basic, cheeky songs about itchy nips, wannabe homosexuals
and goldfish were just what I needed to ease me into the. No song appeared
to last more than a minute and a half (their album has 15 tracks on it,
which take 21 minutes), and all are delivered with a charmingly shambolic
delivery, as if they're all about to fall about in a fit of giggles.
Another
dodgy half hour passed, with EASY TIGER failing to light
up the main stage, despite the singer's stripy suit and constantly asking
'Is everybody having fun?' (the silent response of the crowd gave him
as good an answer as words ever could), and LUKE SMITH
irritating the hell out of me with his 'quirky' electro pop songs. GUNBUNNY's
grunge/metal racket failed to blow the cobwebs away, and it wasn't really
until BSP/ESP side project THE BRAKES took their places
on the main stage that the day really got going properly after the early
false starts, giving a varied set that took in aspects of their parent
bands, and chucked in a healthy dose of Joy Division, for comfortably
the best set of the day so far (even if the crowd did stay seated the
whole way through).
The
good form continued into the barn, where the appallingly monikered GOATBOY
chucked a few tunes and chunky riffs into the grungy mix, as well as a
drummer with a proper full beard, before I headed to the Trailer Park
tent, for something rather different. Inside, BRILLIG AND THE
SLITHEY TOVES were hosting a barn dance, having recruited a team
of initially reluctant audience members, who they soon had dosey-doing
with the best of them.
But
the strangeness didn't stop there. Out on the main stage, a man made entirely
of blue hands was jigging around to what appeared to be the intro music
to a kid's TV programme, but actually was MISTY'S BIG ADVENTURE.
Challenging the Polyphonic Spree in the membership
stakes, Misty's bright and breezy orchestral indie pop was perfect for
the by now sun drenched fields. Sadly their set clashed with KID
SAMSON in the Trailer Park tent, who I went to watch on the recommendation
of several of the bands I'd interviewed. Sadly, they were having problems
with their equipment, which meant the upbeat feel of their oddball songs
was lost a little. Still, despite the hitches it was a decent enough attempt
at covering the same kind of ground as bands like Urusei Yatsura and Bis.
The
Chill Out Tent was heaving (and rather sweaty) for the arrival of CHRIS
T-T, who clearly should have been on one of the larger stages.
Anyone (myself included) who was expecting a set of semi-comic strum alongs
like 'Drink Beer', was in for a rather sobering experience, as Chris provided
a set composed largely of songs about suicide and left wing politics (including
a song dedicated to the recently departed Dr David Kelly). Songs delivered
with passion and feeling, which will have left a lot of people with something
to think about.
Next
up, by far the highlight of the day (and possibly the festival), FONDA
500's hotch-potch of indie, J pop, and surreal humour brought
one of the most enthusiastic crowds of the weekend (there was dancing
and everything). Chucking in improvised lines and sporting a nice selection
of hats, they were the best show around. Though ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK's
heavy metal wig out ran them pretty close. I still have no idea why I
love them, but I guess their enthusiasm, broken English (spoken entirely
in rock cliche), and the fact that you can't quite tell if they're serious
or not, added to the headbanging tunes just pushes a button that most
metal bands can't reach.
By
now, I was all but out on my feet, and decided to take refuge & collapse
in the Trailer Park tent to have my ears soothed by the sweet country
balladry of JESSE SYKES & THE SWEET HEREAFTER. The
contrast with EES couldn't be starker: there's next to no movement on
stage, just Jesse's sweet vocals (think a slightly huskier Cat Power),
acoustic guitar, and a Calexico-esque reverb fuelled guitar line flittering
in the background. It keeps me in a wonderfully woozy state just on the
right side of consciousness, and the only shame of it is that I have to
go and pack my tent up when it finishes (in a 15 mph gale, which isn't
much fun, I can tell you).
Visit
the official Truck Fest website at
www.truckrecords.com/festival/index
www.truckrecords.com/festival/index