Leeds Festival 2008: Radio 1/NME Stage

United Kingdom | by Gavin McInally | 26 August 2008

FRIDAY

With his trademark furry bonnet, guitar-in-hand and boyish enthusiasm Lightspeed Champion makes perfect morning fodder as he draws to a close his meteoric ‘Falling Off The Lavender Bridge’ tour, which propelled the former Test Icicle man from relative obscurity to festival lynchpin. Flutes, strings, keyboards and he can even strum a catchy melody on the guitar; Dev Hynes’ alter ego is a refreshing live prospect and a bit of a joker to with a quip about not wanting the burden of replacing shock rockers Slipknot on the Main Stage following their cancellation. New track ‘The Kids’ is thrown in as a taster of what’s to come from his next album… We’ll be waiting.

Unsuspecting fans dashing for shelter under the blue and yellow canvas of the NME tent couldn't have known what was about to hit them as home boys Hadouken! send 10,000 volts into the mud as they kick-off a storming set. Their rave infused rock tunes – not a glow stick'S throw from the likes of Enter Shikari - is electrifying as frontman James Smith moulds the attitude of Mike Skinner and moves of Keith Flint to command the stage. Special moves in Street Fighter were never quite this effective.

Back in the day, Robert Harvey had a full head of flowing locks, The Music headlined tents this size and the English rockers had a swagger which rubbed shoulders with the best of them. Time – not to mention the stalling of stellar tunes – has diluted the appeal somewhat but on today’s evidence, with the crowd swelling continually through the show, the local lads still have enough in the tank to see out many more years on the festival circuit with 2001’s ‘Take The Long Road And Walk It’ still as potent as it was back then. Oh, and bald or not, he still does ‘that’ dance!

A brief 15 minutes later and it seems like the population of Leeds has been given passes to witness Pendulum in full flow. All sorts of chaos ensues in the site’s main tent as the dance group tussle with The Ting Tings for the award of most ill placed act over the weekend. Not interested in the reports from Download or T In The Park (where the dance act levelled fields, trees and buildings) organisers have allowed the modern techno titans to play an early evening slot which makes a mockery of their billing. Thousands party well outside the arena in scenes most bands would beg for, as beamed images on giant screens see the Aussie group pump out classics including their remix of The Prodigy’s ‘Voodoo People’, ‘Propane Nightmares’ and epic closer ‘Slam’.

In contrast, talented American singer-songwriter Conor Oberst pays the price for his high-billing as ten men and a lost passer-by take in his set as the masses depart for a drink, burger or a nosy at Jack Black and Tenacious D. That doesn’t stop the former Bright Eyes man adding a delicate touch of country rock to Leeds with a set list heavily reliant on his most recent ‘Conor Oberst’ album.

In only their third ever show, Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner and Miles Kane of The Rascals appear with the backing of an orchestra. Looking dapper in well pressed suits, they treat the packed crowd to the majority of their debut album ‘The Age Of The Understatement’ and the wall of noise from fans which meets ‘Separate And Ever Dead’ prompting Turner to joke that they’d become “Kaiser Chiefs!”.

With a disregard for the might of Metallica that only a few cheeky scamps from Wakefield could possibly manage, The Cribs make no grand gesture about their headlining slot and enthral fans with a solid, if a tad unremarkable, viewing, taking the best slices from their back catalogue. Fun, full of energy and choruses sharp enough to cut yourself with, but not a headline slot for the history books on tonight’s evidence.

SATURDAY

Brighton two-piece Blood Red Shoes could easily be written off as a slapstick attempt at a home grown White Stripes if it weren’t for the fact drummer Steven Ansell and guitarist Laura-Mary Carter have great garage rock tracks, including ‘You Bring Me Down’ of their own which are catchy enough to stand above weak comparisons. Metal legends Metallica are also name checked in a further lesson that you should never judge a band by their fringes!

Nashville's four piece punk styled rockers Be Your Own Pet are also a welcome addition to the otherwise plod-a-long tempo of today's bill with their high pace action with frantic low budget garage corkers. Unfortunately, The Duke Spirit (despite Liela Moss’ fantastically sparkly dress) and North Yorkshire’s indie-light One Night Only are as interesting as the adverts in NME as they strum the afternoon away with a series of ‘hits’ which blend into one another. The sun breaks through the grey skies and indifference reigns.

Until, that is, London’s singer/songwriter Jack Peñate spices life back up with his infectious tunes and demonstration of being shot by a Taser gun for 40 minutes. Much to the delight of the assembled throng he plays three new tracks which will feature on the follow up to his breakthrough ‘Matinee’ album and doesn’t stop for breath between singing and, erm, dancing?

Who allowed MGMT onto the UK festival circuit? Seriously, the ridiculously addictive hook to ‘Kids’ aside, why has this Tetris soundtrack brainwashed so many defenceless fans? In a display the Pied Piper himself could take notes from, the psychedelic synthpop New York duo conjure the masses to worship offerings from their ‘Oracular Spectacular’ album but it's distinctly average stuff.

The spell had just about worn off by the time Scouse trio The Wombats are plying their more straightforward graft with a mix of new and old rockin’ tunes to keep the party in full swing. And if there’s a way to make sure you’ve got the hearts of the Leeds massive… just tell them they're better than their southern counterparts. "Reading was awesome, but Leeds you're better," singer Matt Murphy informs the crowd before launching into ‘Let’s Dance to Joy Division.’ Job done.

With a trademark fag in mouth and top hat on, Pete Doherty and his Babyshambles team make it two festivals in two without the old bill in sight. Despite the production disaster which is this weekend's Main Stage sound desk, the NME arena is still little more than busy for tonight's proceedings. However, the devotees who do fill the tent are treated to the unique, almost carefree talent of Doherty as he strums through his classics; opening with 'Carry On Up The Morning', 'Baddie's Boogie', 'Unstookietitled' and 'Delivery'. Fans’ favourites 'Killamangiro' and closer 'Fuck Forever' prove highlights as the Babyshambles crew become dangerously close to professional. Sort it out Pete.

SUNDAY

Joe lean and the Jing Jang Jong arouse the Sunday audience with their catchy retro indie tunes before Philadelphia’s Santogold add the bling to proceedings with a cool r'n'b meets dance offering and synchronized dancers to boot… surely too classy for a muddy field in Leeds?

But the afternoon’s action really kicks off when irate fans - so upset with the sudden departure of London prog-indie quintet The Mystery Jets - start booing and bottling the stage hands who help with the changeover following a triumphant set in which they surprisingly reveal they are Rage Against The Machine fans.

Only those who either passed out earlier or booked their place in the tent a week beforehand are allowed the privilege of witnessing chart sensations The Ting Tings live, while their jealous counterparts struggle for a peek of the red hot duo from a distance. ‘Great DJ’ and ‘Fruit Machine’ are obvious favourites from the pop-rock duo while, predictably, ‘That’s Not My Name' closes the action.

'I didn't know old could be sexy...' jokes Seasick Steve in an almost embarrassed response to the wild reception he and his $75 guitar receive after every note. The straight talking blues man exudes character and it’s impossible not to want him as your granddad too. One (un)lucky blushing young girl is plucked from the audience to be serenaded by the endearing Mississippi guitarist during an excellent showing.

Dance infused guitar driven pop outfit Foals are the second act of the day to fall foul of over-running their set time and a hissy fit which sees Yannis Philippakis throw equipment around the stage is a black mark in an otherwise accomplished and dynamic set, which includes an excellent rendition of ‘Cassius’.

With the trademark white glowing cross and stacked amps as a centrepiece to their stage, bass hungry Paris dance giants Justice pound their way through an invigorating performance. 'We Are Your Friends' is the hypnotic highlight of the weekend and cutting shapes never seemed so appropriate since The Chemical Brothers last rolled through town.

With an opening pyrotechnics display Metallica would be proud of, Welsh metallers Bullet For My Valentine literally burst on stage... "For anyone expecting some indie band, we're not that," proclaims the well groomed Matt Tuck. Ironically, in the metal circles they usually keep, most bands would distance themselves from Bullet's generic riffs but tonight there's no denying their heavy metal credentials sandwiched between so many tambourine bashing acts pay off. Recently voted Kerang! magazine's Best British band, they celebrate with 'Tears Don't Fall' and 'Spit You Out'... Bullet might have drawn the smallest crowd of the day but still insist the crowd: "Kicked Reading's arse!" No one really believes it.

The ever-dependable Manic Street Preachers bring a weekend of hit and miss performances on the NME tent to a close with a remarkable two-decade spanning set which even finds time for an excellent cover of Nirvana’s ‘Penny Royal Tea.’ Bassist Nicky Wire tells the masses: "It’s difficult to cram 20 years of music into an hour so sorry if we miss a few out but here's something old", as they start ex-guitarist Richey Edwards' classic 'Little Baby Nothing'. Bullet For My Valentine even land a dedication as the brilliant 'If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next' is aired with the feel-good factor reaching a new high at Bramham Park. ‘Motown Junk’ and ‘A Design For Life’ round off the 60-minute master class in old school Brit rock in style.