The Hit Parade Special Edition One - by Liam R
As I said in the intro, “look who got their website back!” And I have to admit, it is kind of nice to be able to swear lots and have people other than my immediate circle of friends be amused or offended. More offended than amused to tell you the truth, but I do my best. Enough of the flappage and onto the subject of today’s quick and dirty Reading Festival edition of The Hit Parade.
Much like the original version of the Hit Parade, I’ll be running down the artists in reverse order but unlike the regular version I’ll be giving bite-sized reviews of who I saw at Reading . Bear in mind, these are the crème de la crème, the showstoppers, the main event. Let’s go, shall we?
10. Incubus: Main Stage, Sunday – down at the bottom of the list because I missed half the set due to a scheduling fuck up. They are a fucking perfect band though for when the sun is low in the sky. They didn’t play anything from ‘Science’ which is just unforgivable however.
9. Queens Of The Stone Age: Main Stage, Friday – probably a bit low but that was because the sound was fucking abysmal for the start of the set. Still while the Queens may not be my perfect cup of tea to listen to on a regular basis they do fucking rock live
8. Kasabian: Second Stage, Friday – the sound of what The Stone Roses should have ended up like if they hadn’t of done masses of drugs while recording ‘The Second Coming’. If you get a chance, just go.
7. The Killers: Main Stage, Friday – I can honestly see why The Killers have become such media darlings as well as a great live band. It’s because they do write great songs and also because they’re a fucking great band to boot. Well worth the hype.
6. LCD Soundsystem: Second Stage, Sunday – it’s difficult to see how far a genre like disco punk can go in today’s mish mash dance scene but as long as LCD Soundsystem are here then everything will be just fine.
5. Goldie Lookin’ Chain: Main Stage, Friday – yes it’s a very bad, very infantile joke but the backing tracks rock, Mr Love Eggs can rap and the new one about wanting to fuck your girlfriend’s sister and her best mate was just the tonic for a Friday morning hangover.
4.Dropkick Murphys: Main Stage, Friday – I believe Joey Sarajevo said that they didn’t fuck about (they got halfway through their set before saying hello) but it’s breakneck punk rock fused with a Boston Celtic soul. Plus they did a version of The Pogues ‘The Auld Triangle’, and I’m (hopefully) going to see both the Murphys and The Pogues in December and that is going to rock more than the Himalayas .
3. Bloc Party: Second Stage, Sunday – I don’t what they sound like (a sort of brittle disco punk rock thing) but I do know they were absolutely fabulous. The bloke who had clambered up one of the support poles and brought the show to a halt, probably less fabulous.
2. Foo Fighters: Main Stage, Saturday – The Foos have been doing this so long and have so many good tunes that they really can’t fail. Hell if Grohl and co ever half-arsed it (and I doubt they ever would), they’d still kick more arse than most bands on the planet (Hello, Oasis!). And yeah, I did get a wee bit emotional (a tear in the eye and no more) when Dave did a solo version of ‘Everlong’. So sue me.
1.Mylo: Dance Tent, Sunday – The tent was rammed and although I never thought for a second that this would be the highlight but it was. A set comprised of the best bits from the ‘Destroy Rock And Roll’ album topped off by a double length version of ‘Drop The Pressure’ accompanied by 3,000 people going absolutely mental. Music, it just doesn’t get better than this kids.
Joey will be in next week with a proper write up, and the usual suspects will be back in due time. In the meanwhile, I’ll leave you with this: Mack Jigger’s Disastrous Flirtation With Disco are coming – watch this space…