O2 Wireless Festival Diary: Day 3 [05/07/08]

06 July 2008, 15:42

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Sleeping States, Bella Union Stage

Words: Rich Thane & Peter Bloxham Photographs: Rich Thane

It’s day 3 already! We must be really enjoying ourselves. After battling a rather severe headache from the previous nights festivities what we severely needed today was some gentle, soothing music to ease us into Saturday. What we really could’ve done without was DANCE day. Neither Rich nor Pete are experienced in ‘larging it’ ‘having it large’ or the science of ‘waaaheeeey’ and are in no fit state to try.

The main stages today are hosting the ‘very best in cutting edge dance music.’ And Fatboy Slim. This is literally Rich Thane’s idea of hell, as he explicitly states on a number of occasions. Luckily, the corporate festival anti-christ that is the Bella Union stage will be working against the grain to provide us with another series of unique, broken down sets from some outstanding alternative acts. Hooray!

Fireworks Night, Bella Union Stage

First off were the rather splendid Fireworks Night, who interestingly begin their set with two members either side of the stage smashing the shit out of cardboard boxes with sticks. No really, it was good. Yes, Fireworks Night – who are slowly picking up momentum in and around London put on a rather unique spin on the anti-folk movement. Musically, they reminded us a tad of Beirut, perhaps a little Neutral Milk Hotel with the theatrical leanings of The Decemberists. Certainly an entertaining start to the day and one of the finds of the whole weekend. We had a chat to them later about, among other things, the rap career of Will Smith and his seminal second album ‘Willenium’. The guys obviously have inspired taste. Wander over to their myspace here to have a little listen for yourselves.

The Samanas, Bella Union Stage

A couple of pear ciders later and we’re starting to feel the sugary alcohol get to work and rejuvenate our tired brains. Next up are The Samanas – an intriguing group that have been on our radar for some months. Pat Whelan, the bands vocalist and songwriter contacted TLOBF a while ago and sent us his solo EP – Stand Up Pat Whelan. We get a lot of unsolicited e-mail from random musicians – generally too poor to even mention. But considering Pat very politely thanked us for bringing Fleet Foxes into his life – Rich (being the world’s biggest Fleet Foxes fanboy) felt compelled to listen to it. Needless to say it’s very, very good. So, The Samanas are basically Pat Whelan’s solo songs fleshed out with a backing band of drums, double bass and keyboards. There is a pleasantly laid-back feeling to these songs. Not in a Jack Johnson way, you understand. More… good. Anyway it soothed what remained of Rich’s hangover no end. Pat doesn’t seem too happy with his performance when we talk to him afterwards. The words (insert Yorkshire accent) “it were fucking shit” were uttered several times. It took us several minutes to convince him otherwise. Again, check out The Samanas on their myspace.

An act TLOBF were totally unfamilar with was the odd performance art / live sampling / microphone hitting / acoustic guitar noodling sounds of David Thomas Broughton. His performance was eccentric to say the least, layering up samples of vocals and guitar with impressive deftness, building up echoing harmonies and then leaving them to do their work while he moved about the stage. At one point he decides to leave the music playing and leave the stage, lying down for a few seconds on the grass. At any other gig this might go unpunished, but the wankers are coming out of the woodwork today and it’s mere seconds before some twat has rushed the stage and grabbed a microphone. The split second fate has granted him with to formulate some sort of coherent message is obviously insufficient, and the best he can manage is the stock, fall back expression of inner being that is constantly growling in the throat of any stereotypical moron such as himself. He lets forth a half arsed “Waaaheeey!’. David is there to meet him as he tried to clamber off of the stage and meets him with a sarcastic pat on the back.

Sleeping States, Bella Union Stage

Sleeping States are an act Rich is really looking forward to seeing. Apparently “their excellent debut album There The Open Spaces has some of the most beautiful songs I’ve heard in a long while” Rich genuinely says this in natural conversation. Pete allows the awkward silence to hang in the air to teach him a lesson. The brainchild of Markland Starkie, Sleeping States offer, in the same way as The Samanas a gloriously downbeat slice of folk that is then stretched and pulled around with various foot pedals, fucked up old Yamaha keyboards and a Fisher Price toy radio played through a distorted guitar. Things never get out of hand though – everything is hushed, calm and totally controlled. Rich later confesses wistfully that he is slightly dissapointed not to see them with a full band.

Stomachs start to rumble, so we bow out of Semifinalists in search of sustenance. A burger is £6 – that’s the budget option. Pete had the right idea and opted for the cheaper Vegetarian Burger that apparently tasted like death. You get what you pay for Pete. “This is my idea of hell” says Rich as he chews his extortionate burger and watches the marauding packs of Fatboy fans “wahey” their away across the the grasslands in front of the main stage.

We catch the end of Semifinalists and regret having wasted time being ripped off over pointless food when we could have easily have been having a whale of a time watch these guys dance and party. Never mind.

We missed Semifinalists set..So heres a picture of them talking to some fans.

Adem takes to the stage and really fantastically considering that the sound of Underworld from the Sandisk stage is now utterly deafening. He is bravely supported by two teenage fans, who stand in front of him awkwardly jabbing fists into the air for the duration of his set, and a pair of little girls who exhibit remarkable skills in interpretive dance. There are plenty more sterotypical wankers on nearby tables mimicking Adem’s hearfelt vocal style in an attempt to get a laugh out of their mates. One mounts a table and beings to scream Foo Fighters lyrics at the top of his voice in an attempt to disrupt the set, when he meets Pete’s gaze he enthusiastically urges him to ‘Rock on!!’. Pete’s reply of “Fuck off” was either drowned out or ignored.

Minutes later and another slack jawed oxygen thief comedian is standing at the front, leaning over the barriers and complaining that Adem is playing too loud and that he “Can’t hear UNDERWORLD WOAHAHAHA YEAH!”. Adem politely apologies and attempts to continue with his set. Idiot responds by shouting ‘Fuck off!’ and ‘Rubbish!’ and throwing balled up tissues at the stage. He is escorted away by Bella Union staff and is unfortunately treated with civility. Pete remarks that he ‘has never seen so many complete cunts gathered in one place’.

Shall we stick around for the headliners? Shall we fuck. Thanks Bella Union – you saved our day.

Adem, Bella Union Stage