READING FESTIVAL 2009 WOOOOOO! part one – FRIDAY

Finally, I get round to writing my review. I need to write this, it’s the best weekend I’ve had this year and as well as the lows, it needs the glorification for the definite highs.

FRIDAY
I started the Friday morning ridiculously anxious for the music to start. Thursday night is so downright boring because nothing is happening, only the drink and company kept me going. But for the first band, I chose to head over to the NME tent and see Dananananakroyd. The Scottish rockers were simply fantastic, I don’t know all of their stuff, but was quite blown away by the really good atmosphere and being really close, actually saw them rather well. They were only let down by their rather futile attempt of a crowd running and hugging game, WAAAYYY too early in the day for it to work.
Dananananakroyd – Hey Everyone

I saw a little of The Ghost of a Thousand next, heard of them through a mate of mine, being kind of labelmates as his band, on the lovely Holy Roar, which are doing a Ghost of A Thousand release later this year. I thought they sounded shit. We were standing outside the lock up tent and quickly decided to not bother and look around the arena site.

We then saw the brilliant Virgins after I picked up a nice checked shirt from the vintage clothes stall. Another good set and brilliant opening with Teen Lovers, which i love, being possibly my favourite song of theirs. Overall it was good, but not knowing all the songs was a downside and I couldn’t sing along to my heart’s content. After this I’m sure we saw New Found Glory, just so my mate Tom could see them play Kiss Me. I’m not a big fan. We then met HUW FUCKING STEPHENS as we were walking to the NME tent. He is a well nice guy to talk to and after shouting his name in his general direction, he approached us and we got to have a chat with him. He thinks New Found Glory are shit, word up Huw!

Got to see Little Boots and despite what you say, she was actually really good. It was just an incredibly bizaare thing to witness and be part of. Literally everyone in the tent was dancing (I heard there was moshing? WTF?) and singing along, especially to CHOOONS like “Remedy” and “New in Town” Yeah, it could be considered shitty electro-pop but Little Boots put on one hell of a show. Sticking to the NME tent, we got to see The Horrors after. I enjoyed it, the others I was with did not. They played all new material and the electrifying, moody, brilliant music just made me pretty happy, the album just sounds even better live. I love their new direction and to see them on such good form was the icing on the cake, tooooooo good. Was even better when I noticed a reasonably hench security guard singing along to them.
The Horrors – Three Decades

Jack Penate was the next act to see, his brilliant dancing and dancable tunes, like Little Boots made the friday a little more fun. And his second album material, which I’m not fond of, sounded alot better in the tent. Be the One in particular raised the roof. I think he opened with “Torn on the Platform” which was a very good choice, it was that or “Second Minute or Hour” but either way, I was dancing away to the music whilst drinking over-priced cider.

Florence and The Machine next, i had a good spot sitting on a metal fence near the side of the stage, and their performance was alright, a suitably mad Florence livened it up a tad and the inclusion of a megaphone, but her lame-ass stage climbing was pathetic. After they finished it was time for Friendly Fires, who were too good! More dancey incredible hip shaking and the electro wouldn’t stop. They were damn near irrepressible on that stage and they got huge cheers for Kiss of Life, Jump in the Pool and my favourite, Skeleton Boy. I really enjoyed their set, but not being ditched by mates who wanted to see Kaiser Chiefs. Idiots.
Friendly Fires – I’m Good I’m Gone (Lykke Li Cover)

I then got to see half an hour of Jamie T (only knowing one song, luckily my favourite with “Operation”, as he opened with all new material) before heading back to the main stage to watch Kings of Leon. To be honest, I was blown away. They topped off the first day for me. Played some mega hits, as well as lesser-known classics, a setlist enjoyable to all, but nonetheless they got a bit of the hump, not sure what arrgavated them so much but whatever it was they were annoyed majorly yet the songs they played was a good pick, a good and broad selection of the discography. Can’t remember if they played Red Morning Light or not any more? But nonetheless, an amazing set to hear and I’m probably wont get another chance to see them apart from a huge stadium which I am not keen on to be fair, yeah a festival isn’t much different, perhaps worse, but they seemed right at home playing.

To conclude, friday was an awesome first day, though how the weekend was staggered meant that it was consecutively topped twice.