T In The Park 2007 - Saturday Radio 1/NME Stage

United Kingdom | 07 July 2007

Brighton's Blood Red Shoes are given the task of opening Saturday's Radio1 /NME stage, making a decent enough job of it as well. Recent hit 'It's Getting Boring By The Sea' is, as you would expect, well received and 'I'll Be Your Eyes', the band's first full international release, helps set up the eager crowd for the day ahead.
 
A superb set by Dogs follows, who sound uncannily like The Jam. 'Tarred And Feathered', dedicated by lead singer Johnny Cooke to Glasgow Airport terror hero John Smeaton, is the highlight of a top performance. Cooke brands Britain's best known baggage handler a  "legend" and from there on in, Dogs can do no wrong in front of the now sunkissed Scottish crowd.
 
Branded the poor man's Arctic Monkeys, Little Man Tate prove they know how to work a crowd as well and put in a strong performance on the Radio 1/NME stage. 'Sexy in Latin' and 'House Party at Boothys' are well received as is new track 'About What You Know'.
 
With a new album on the way and recent single 'The Irish Keep Gatecrashing', a lot of expectation is heaped on The Thrills. However, despite their name, they fail to live up to the hype, although 'Big Sur', 'Santa Cruz' and 'One Horse Town' always prompt a good singalong.
 
Anyone expecting anything other than manic from CSS will be sorely disappointed. Singer Lovefoxxx srtips off after just moments onstage, revealing the most hideous catsuit you’ve ever seen, but you’d expect nothing else from the eccentric Brazilian. Trying to get the crowd to join her in a mass dance routine, she simultaneously runs and rolls across the length of the stage while never missing a beat. Appealing to the masses she dedicates the song 'Alcohol' to the Scots and then gets up close and personal with the front row before being lifted back onstage by pissed-off security guards. Calls are made for everyone to cry during 'The Sad Song', but who could even think of shedding a tear during one of the best sets of the weekend? Lovefoxxx’s wacky routine then descends into skipping with the mic lead and playing tunes with her lips baby-style. “If the show wasn’t good for you, blame it on the wind”, she announces, before bowing out.

So Pete Doherty manages to stay out of court long enough for Babyshambles’ appearance at T. Well, he has to be skilled at something. His adoring fans are forced to help the controversial singer out during 'technical problems' before he throws his drink into the crowd and knocks over a few mic stands during closer 'Fuck Forever'. Rock and roll.
 
Without doubt the most hyped band in the world at the moment - whether you love them or hate them - My Chemical Romance bring their Black Parade to Balado and provide one of the best sets of a top day. With Gerard Way prowling the stage as if he owns the entire festival, 'I'm Not Okay' and 'The Black Parade' are awesome, as is 'I Don't Love You", but their standout track is current single 'Teenagers'. Despite Klaxons and Razorlight performing at the same time elsewhere, the US emo kings pull a strong crowd - and a very loud one.

The Kooks hold their own in the battle of the headliners. With an abundance of anthems from just one album, they can’t put a foot wrong. Hits like 'You Don’t Love Me' and 'Naïve' cause mass eruptions from the crowd, while screaming girls at the front vie for the attention of singer Luke Pritchard, clad in his indie get-up of skinny jeans and white cardigan. A tambourine basher succeeds and Pritchard gets them to join him in on the intro of 'Jackie Big Tits'. The Kooks throw in some new songs, like the rockier-than-usual but just as catchy 'Do Ya Wanna', which sends the crowd wild and shows signs of a promising future for the Brighton boys.