Reading Festival 2011 - Report from the front line and playlist

So I'm back. I've bought back a terrible cold with me, and cold sores on both lips, but I'm still in one piece. So I'm going to talk about three bands from each day that I saw entire sets from, and how they defined the festival experience for me.
(All photos taken from the Reading + Leeds Festivals section of the BBC website, more of which can be found here.)


Friday
The Antlers
Festival Republic Stage, 17:25
Foster the People played the Festival Republic stage just before the Antlers, the second-smallest stage of the arena, and the influx of people wanting to experience their particular brand of "pumped up kicks" was so great we were forced to turn back. I managed to sneak back here later however, and happily the Antlers' set was one of the most intimate I had at the festival, with an audience of just a few hundred. Opener "Corsicana" unfortunately lost some of its studio sheen, but the closing three songs "I Don't Want Love", "Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out" and "Putting the Dog to Sleep" more than made up the distance. I also saw the start of the new Mercury Music Prize favourite Anna Calvi's set just before I had to leave too. Needless to say, I wish I could have stayed.
SBTRKT (DJ Set)
Dance Stage, 21:10
Hot new UK producer and masked marvel SBTRKT may have only released his debut album a couple of months ago, but festival organisers made the wise decision to give him second-headline slot on the one-day-only Dance Stage. He began with what can only be described as his remix of Radiohead's "Lotus Flower", that I reported a while ago. Now, I haven't been able to find supporting evidence for this anywhere, so you're going to have to take my word that he debuted it here and I will verify it assuming it sees the light of day soon. He also spun favourites from the likes of Jacques Greene and Hudson Mohawke, all in his signature "post-dubstep" style. The set finished with his signature hit "Wildfire", which surprisingly turned into a modest group sing-a-long, ending on a high. James Lavelle's mysterious UNKLE Sounds project was to follow, however despite being intrigued I left to go and see...
The Horrors
Festival Republic Stage, 22:30
A late-night show of Horrors indeed. Faris Badwan's vocals ached over the hour-or-so set that took cues from all three of the Horrors' albums. Though putting these songs side-by-side may not have quite done the set justice in terms of consistency and continuity, it was nice to hear a retrospect of the band's progress up to this point. Although I can see myself in danger of being biased I do think that the tracks from their most recent  album Skying translated the best into the small Festival Republic tent, the loud shoegazey guitarwork of Joshua Hayward resonated aggressively through "Endless Blue", adventurously through "I Can See Through You", and wistfully through "Still Life". A great way to see one of the most celebrated bands in the UK, and to end the first night of music Reading had to offer.

Saturday
The National
Main Stage, 18:45

Working our way towards one of the best vantage points of the Main Stage, we started the magnificent Saturday three-band run with the National. Their particularly broody and angsty performance was the necessary polar opposite to the crowd-pleasers earlier in the day like Seasick Steve and Madness. Their set was nicely balanced between their huger cathartic ballads ("Terrible Love", "Bloodbuzz Ohio") and softer, more horn-led tracks ("England", "Fake Empire"), and represented their previous two albums, Boxer and High Violet, especially well. Although not as well-known as the Strokes, the National have been working together for just as long, and their expertise showed as the sun set over the festival arena, ushering in the night of fine indie-based rock music to come.

Pulp

Main Stage, 20:15

"Are you ready?" read the backdrop screen, and again for what seemed like forever, until finally it read "Do you remember the first time?". Pulp had finally returned, and Jarvis Cocker made it clear to everyone that the gap between their first appearance at the festival in 1994 and 2011 would be bridged. Virtually every song from Different Class was played; but of course "Common People" was left for the grand finale. One of Britain's all-time great live bands were bound to attract the highest of expectations, but Pulp managed to easily meet and exceed what anyone could have expected, just as electrifying and more importantly relevant as the titular "first time". If you've never seen live footage of them before, I implore you to click here.

The Strokes

Main Stage, 22:15

If it wasn't clear before Pulp's set that the Strokes would have the most pressure to deliver their audience into the night, it certainly was afterwards. Julian Casablancas and co. threw as many great songs from their catalogue as quickly as possible to create a turbocharged run that ended with the heartfelt "Someday". Ironically it was down to "the Jarv" to pick the pace back up again, the Pulp frontman joining the stage to perform the Cars' classic "Just What I Needed". It was worth waiting for the encore; Is This It's "Hard to Explain" and "Take it or Leave it" ending just as the band had started, proving worthy headliners and reminding us which side of the Atlantic rock and roll really comes from.

Sunday

Friendly Fires

Main Stage, 17:20

The image of the bird of paradise which features on the cover of Friendly Fires' recent sophmore LP Pala seemed to be the perfect indicator of what was to come during the band's Main Stage stint. They played as passionately as singer Ed Macfarlane danced, and the audience participation was so much that almost everyone got onto their feet. The crowd size also grew significantly as the set went on. "Hawaiian Air" introduced Hawaiian dancers, and "Kiss of Life" crescendoed into a rapturous grand finale, Macfarlane reminding everyone "This is your last chance to dance". Colourful, inspiring and energetic, Friendly Fires certainly delivered, no less weary after their huge UK festival tour they've already journeyed this summer. This is why they're favourites.

Death From Above 1979

NME/Radio 1 Stage, 19:00

I had to be sure that my most anticipated band of the festival, the one I had been waiting all weekend for, would not disappoint, and they certainly didn't. Death From Above 1979 played an hour-long set featuring every song from their sole album and more, and from the extended "Turn it Out" intro Sebastien Grainger and Jesse Keeler didn't let up once, thrashing monstrously in the same spot I'd seen the equally as energetic Odd Future and Fucked Up perform earlier. One of the highlights of the whole festival was when the newly beach-blonde Grainger jumped up from his drum kit during "Romantic Rights" and grabbed the microphone, and sang screechier then I'd ever heard him before, before returning to send the sucker home. You get the feeling these guys have four balls each.

The Streets

NME/Radio 1 Stage, 20:20

In a choice between Elbow and the Streets, Mike Skinner's long-running garage pop project came out on top. For me they turned out to be the best surprise of the festival. Skinner and the fans became one as they hung onto his every word, as though wishing him well in his new endeavours beyond the soon-to-be terminated Streets. Key singles "Blinded by the Lights", "Dry Your Eyes" and "Going Through Hell" were met with the most joyous singing, and it was hard not to get emotional each time Skinner announced "I die here tonight". Little did I know this was to be the Streets final performance, and I was so enthralled that the next day after returning home I went out and got a copy of Original Pirate Material on CD to find out exactly what I had missed out on. Best of luck in the future, Mike.

Other artists I enjoyed full or partial sets of, but are not mentioned here included Mount Kimbie, Kirk Spencer, Simian Mobile Disco, Seasick Steve, OFWGKTA, Fucked Up, Frank Turner and Muse.

If I were to make a playlist of the festival, it would look something like:

Moumt Kimbie - "Before I Move Off"

The Antlers - "I Don't Want Love"

SBTRKT ft. Little Dragon and Drake - "Wildfire RMX"

The Horrors - "Endless Blue"

Seasick Steve ft. John Paul Jones - "Walkin Man"

Mellowhype - "64"

The National - "Terrible Love"

Pulp - "Do You Remember the First Time?"

The Strokes - "Someday"

Fucked Up - "Queen of Hearts"

Frank Turner - "I Still Believe"

Friendly Fires - "Jump in the Pool"

Death From Above 1979 - "Pull Out"

The Streets - "Dry Your Eyes"

Muse - "New Born"

The Strokes ft. Jarvis Cocker - "Just What I Needed"

Watch clips/festival highlights of many of the artists at Reading Festival over at the Reading + Leeds Festivals section of the BBC website, here.

Top 10 bands I’m anticipating seeing at Reading Festival

I’m currently writing this from a café in the village of New Quay, Wales; the only place I can find with free Wi-Fi, and it’s been open since Saturday. The connection’s quite bad, but from what I am getting from back home I’m probably better off here for now, safe from the riots that have been happening across the country. I’m going to be at this year’s Reading Festival in a couple of weeks, as I’ve probably already mentioned, so I’ve decided to compile the top 10 bands I’m most looking forward to experiencing there. I was at first reluctant because I thought a report after I came back would be better, but I need something to do here, so here it is. The order is in how much I’m looking forward to seeing each group based on my experience of their studio output, and will probably change once I’ve actually been to the festival.

Note that line-ups for both Reading and Leeds festivals are nearly identical, the differences being Reading’s Friday will be Leeds’ Saturday, Reading’s Saturday will be Leeds’ Sunday, and Reading’s Sunday will be Leeds’ Friday. Also the Strokes and Pulp will switch times for Leeds, and there may also be minor differences I’m not aware of, so plan ahead if you’re going to Leeds. Of course if you are you’ll probably already be aware of these differences. I’ll only post Reading’s (approximate) times as that’s the festival I’m going to be at.

10. Metronomy

When?: Friday 26^th August

Where?: NME/Radio 1 Stage

Who?: Brighton dance project of Joseph Mount. Reading’s Friday will be the only one with the Dance stage, which will feature such great artists as SBTRKT, Cold Cave and Mount Kimbie, and I’ll likely spend a lot of time there. Metronomy just about pips them to the post in terms of priority. Their album The English Riviera released earlier in the year was pretty entertaining, and I hope they match its quality with their live set, given I see it.

Sounds like: Mostly like other UK non-subculture dance projects, for the most part, like Hot Chip or Friendly Fires (the latter are also incidentally playing on the main stage on the Sunday). Around half of their songs also show a casiotone influence which doesn’t sound too bad. Also reminds me of Passion Pit.

Song I hope they play: "The Bay"

9. Interpol

When?: Sunday 28^th August

Where?: Main Stage

Who?: Modern post-punk band who made almost as big an impact as the Strokes did. In fact much of Reading and Leeds this year seems to revolve around bands celebrating ten years of something. However Interpol’s ultra-modern sound helps them sound essential and timeless. Much like the Strokes they’ve wavered a little as they’ve stepped further away from their debut, Turn on the Bright Lights, but manage to stay on top with quality songwriting, production and delivery. Recently they’ve been working with cult director David Lynch, so the set’s visual effects will hopefully be off-the-wall.

Sounds like: Joy Division is usually seen as the key influence, certainly Paul Banks' baritone vocals bear more than a similarity to Ian Curtis’. The post-punk guitar stabs draw as much from the book of Wire and Gang of Four.

Song I hope they play: "Obstacle 1"

8. 2 Many DJ’s

When?: Sunday 28^th August

Where?: NME/Radio 1 Stage

Who?: The side project of Belgian rock group Soulwax, who have been playing this spiel since the late 1990s. There are a few reasons why I’m choosing these over main stage headliners Muse. For one getting to the main stage at that time would be disastrous and I’d probably get a terrible view. Secondly Muse are playing their unfamiliar 2001 album Origin of Symmetry in full for whatever reason, and not being much of a Muse fan anyway I’d probably be less than impressed. 2 Many DJ’s on the other hand are the foremost exponents of a genre coming out of the early 2000s known as bastard pop, one that throws seemingly unconnected songs together to create something danceable and apparently shameful. Having recently got my hands on As Heard on Radio Soulwax Pt 2, I can tell you it is a lot of fun.

Sounds like: Ever wanted to hear the Stooges’ "I Wanna be Your Dog" over Salt-N-Pepa’s "Push It"? Skee-Lo’s "I Wish" over the Breeders’ "Cannonball"? Destiny’s Child’s "Independent Women Part 1" over 10cc’s "Dreadlock Holiday"? Of course you have! That was from a set ten years ago though, so it’ll be exciting to hear what they have in store now.

Song I hope they play: N/A, sort of

7. The National

When?: Saturday 27^th August

Where?: Main Stage

Who?: Having enjoyed something of a popularity boost recently, due to the release of High Violet last year, Ohio's The National have found themselves in the unlikely spot of the Reading Festival’s main stage, warming the crowd for the Pulp/Strokes double headline sets. A field full of thousands of people doesn’t quite seem the natural place for Matt Berninger's croon or the Dessner brothers’ cavernous instrumentation, but I won’t know until I see them. With these and the two headliners Saturday should be an unforgettable night.

Sounds like: A folkier-sided Walkmen perhaps, or a gutsier Grizzly Bear? Okay I’m stumped on this one.

Song I hope they play: "Bloodbuzz Ohio"

6. The Strokes

When?: Saturday 27^th August

Where?: Main Stage

Who?: New York’s foremost rock & roll revivalists, that’s who. Headlining the main stage on Saturday in support of their latest album Angles no less. Though like most people there I hope they stick to the classics and don’t dig too deep into that album. Across their four albums they have enough quality tunes to make up a killer set, and being one of this festivals’ big four they’re expected by many to deliver the goods. And despite my thoughts on that last album, Julian Casablancas and co. are definitely going to keep me entertained, easily worthy headliners.

Sounds like: A modern twist of the 70s CBGB and Max’s Kansas City bands from their native city that made them so popular. Listening to their influence on any modern guitar band since ought to be evidence of their popularity and respect.

Song I hope they play: "Hard to Explain"

5. Fucked Up

When?: Sunday 28^th August

Where?: NME/Radio 1 Stage

Who?: Canadian punks fronted by man-mountain Pink Eyes, or Father Damien Abraham, who sound pretty much as their name suggests. After their 2008 album The Chemistry of Common Life wowed critics they returned earlier this year with the un-punk 78-minute rock opera David Comes to Life, a sure-fire Album of the Year contender. I missed the opportunity to see them on tour with Iceage a few months ago, a mistake which I hope to redeem myself on at Reading.

Sounds like: Very melodic as far as punk rock goes. I don’t think a Foo Fighters comparison is too out of place. Though your ears (and possibly eyes) will undoubtedly be drawn to Pink Eyes’ presence, his volcanic grumble and roar being the main live attraction. Just forget about your previous experience of "rock opera".

Song I hope they play: "Turn the Season"

4. OFWGKTA

When?: Saturday 27^th August

Where?: NME/Radio 1 Stage

Who?: OFWGKTA, Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, or Odd Future are a group of rappers, skaters, producers and music video directors from California, USA. They rose to the height of white indie popularity back in February when leader Tyler, the Creator released his self-directed video for "Yonkers", and they’ve been inescapable since. Love them or hate them, there’s no denying that their set will be one of the most energetic of the festival, and as I sit more on the side of like than hate there’s no excuse for me not to be there. The noticeable lack of black music and musicians means this might be one of my few chances to enjoy such music during the weekend, albeit not in the traditional mould. Probably not the cultural revolution some thought they were going to be (ask anyone on the street who they are and you certainly won’t hear them say the next Wu-Tang) nevertheless they have one of the most loyal fanbases around, and are sure to draw a crowd.

Sounds like: The Wu-Tang Clan connection comes from the size of the group, with at least a dozen or so members. The rhymes have the dark humour and shock of Eminem circa The Marshall Mathers LP, though Tyler’s dark voice is his own. Their energy has also been compared to hardcore punk groups such as Black Flag and Fugazi.

Song I hope they play: "French!"

3. The Horrors

When?: Friday 26^th August

Where?: Festival Republic Stage

Who?: At first they were perceived as nothing short of a fashion statement when they arrived in 2006, being hyped as NME’s next big thing, a clearly 80s goth image, appearances in TV shows like "The Mighty Boosh", a Chris Cunningham-directed video right off the bat ("Sheena Is a Parasite"), and names like Faris Rotter and Joshua von Grimm meant that even I ignored them until recently, with the release of their third album Skying, which I’m very impressed with. It’s a shame it’s taken me this long, I hear 2009’s Primary Colours was very good. It earned them a Mercury Music Prize nomination and proved they had added substance to match their style. Thankfully I’ll be forgiven for my sins when I’m baptised in the river of their headline performance at the Festival Republic Stage on the Friday.

Sounds like: A continuation of the psychedelically-looking New Romantic bands of the 80s, like the Psychedelic Furs and the Cure, who in turn owe a lot to Syd Barrett. And to all those who think the Horrors sound in any way like Simple Minds, they don’t.

Song I hope they play: "Still Life"

2. Pulp

When?: Saturday 27^th August

Where?: Main Stage

Who?: If I envy the Leeds incarnation for anything, it’s that Pulp follow the Strokes, whereas it’s the opposite order for Reading. Both bands are probably equal in their contribution to rock & roll history, so it’s arguably a fair decision to co-headline the two, but I reckon that Pulp will manage to steal the limelight from under the Strokes’ noses. Last year they announced their comeback with a string of festival dates, the ones already crossed off leaving behind nothing but glowing reports: Isle of Wight, Primavera Sound, and their surprise set at Glastonbury almost upstaged Radiohead’s. Overlooked during their time between the two warring Britpop titans Oasis and Blur, Pulp nevertheless carved their own niche into the musical landscape of 90s Britain with their politically charged smash albums Different Class and This Is Hardcore, despite beginning their career in 1983. Given today’s political climate, they’ve returned at just the right time.

Sounds like: Pretty much what you’d expect from a typical British indie band in terms of sound. They stick out from the competition with their superior songwriting and lyricism, courtesy of Jarvis Cocker, one of rock’s greatest and most theatrical frontmen. Best of luck following them, Casablancas.

Song I hope they play: "Sorted for E’s and Whizz"

1. Death From Above 1979

When?: Sunday 28^th August

Where?: NME/Radio 1 Stage

Who?: Another recently reunited band, DFA1979 almost broke Austin, TX’s SXSW Festival earlier this year when they played their first gig together since 2005, such was the rush to experience the power of their thunderous rawk. Like many garage rock bands, they create a huge sound despite being a two-piece: Sebastien Grainger covers drums and vocals, and Jesse Keeler handles bass and occasionally keyboards. They only released one studio album during their first lifetime, yet if anything has salvaged this holiday’s terrible weather, it’s staying in and playing You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine over and over. Originally simply known as Death From Above, the 1979 came about from James Murphy politely asking them to change their name (to avoid confusion with his DFA label, which also stands for Death From Above). He did them a favour.

Sounds like: I’ve heard them described as dance-metal before; although that’s kind of ridiculous, it gives an idea of the combination of incredible volume and slinky, tight grooves they achieve. Think about where the Black Keys and Lightning Bolt overlap, that’s as close of an analogy I can give.

Song I hope they play: "Blood on Our Hands"

And you can expect the report on how I actually found the festival’s artists to follow when I come back, around Tuesday 30^th-Wednesday 31^st August. I’ll come up with another format for that. That’ll explain both why there haven’t been any updates in the past week or the weekend Friday 26^th to Sunday 28^th August. Hope to post some reviews in the near future.

There are just as many I’m looking forward to seeing that didn’t make the list, and I’ll try to visit as many as possible to give you my best experience of the festival. I’m partially writing from memory as well, what with my currently limited internet access. There probably won’t be any photos when I’m there unfortunately. I’m a really bad photographer anyway.

If anyone has been to either the Reading or Leeds festivals before, are planning on going this year, or have seen any of these bands live before, I would like to hear, this being my first time and everything.