Hyde Park Calling 2006 - Saturday, Second Stage

United Kingdom | by Tom Fair05 July 2006

It’s too hot to be standing in a marquee today, especially at this time, but it must be easier for the audience than Roco De Luca who are currently mid-way through their set. They’ve opened up proceedings at the second stage and unfortunately the atmosphere is not soaring as a result. Most people are seated rather than grooving, under duress courtesy of the punishing heat.

The band’s music has a bluesy feel with lots of solid riffage, although there are some somewhat dreamlike segments as well, and is reminiscent of Led Zeppelin in many ways, especially when the slide guitar comes out. There’s also some lovely tribal percussion going on, which coupled with some big, juicy bass lines makes a pleasant change to a lot of modern rock. It’s easy to see why these guys are booked for a lot of festivals this year, their sound is well suited to this environment, although they would be better outside than in.

Next up is Blackbud who specialise in a mournful, melancholic sound. Which isn’t to say they don’t rock, far from it. Again the atmosphere is suffering, not just because of the heat but also the fact that the football is about to be broadcast at the other end of the site. Despite this they do their cause well, a pretty tight outfit in every sense - from their vocal harmonies to their all-in-black appearance. The only light to be seen is reflected from the lead singer Joe Taylor's white guitar, although the music does has the elevating quality to it.

An unexpected delight comes in the form of London City Brass who are playing on the Victorian bandstand in between sets at the second stage. A brass quintet playing arrangements from 'Dark Side of the Moon' seems a little out of place here but they are awesome, especially when sitting in the comfort of a deckchair, shaded by trees with an ice cold Pimms close to hand.

Following on from this is Suzanne Vega who has been knocking out stream-of-consciousness, storytelling tunes for quite a while now. Her acoustic led set is a refreshing break from the raw noise of the previous two bands, and seems more suited for this time of day and this kind of crowd. The match is still in full swing so she she doesn’t have the audience she deserves, but those who are here are spoilt at the end of her slot with two classics: “Luka” and “Tom’s Diner.”

Robert Cray picks up the pace again, playing deep, down and dirty blues-rock. He has an amazingly powerful voice that helps to recreate the feeling of being in a smoky bar somewhere in the Deep South before man discovered the synthesizer. The fact is Cray rose to success in the 80s. It is easy to see why the likes of Eric  Clapton and The Stonbes have picked this guy to support them on tours recently, and besides London City Brass this has to be the performance of the day at the second stage.

Wrapping up proceedings this evening are The Lightning Seeds. England have lost and are thus out of the World Cup, and for some, the inclusion of 'Three Lions' into the set rubs salt to the wound. For the majority, however, it is a glorious and uplifting celebration of what could have been, and indeed, what could be after we ditch Sven tomorrow, and it cheers us all up immensely, crowning a jubilant set of hit after hit after hit. Where did they disappear to? Hopefully they'll be sticking around some more.

Mercifully - for Ian Broudie more than anyone else - the organisers have scheduled the stage times so the Seeds finish before the start of the highlight to end all highlights. No, it's not a surprise appearance by Simon Le Bon, it's Roger Waters... about to blow the roof off the main stage outside...