The Killers prove they're 'Human' at T In The Park

Manic Street Preachers, Razorlight and more play day two

Joe O'Brien, Daniel Fahey - 11 July 2009

The Las Vegas quartet were on luscious form as they flicked between LPs as if they’re changing CDs in a car. ‘Smile Like You Mean It’ cements their musical intention, while Europop number ‘Spaceman’ is proves to be glorious.

A thoughtful ‘Sam’s Town’ sits nicely next to an uneventful ‘Read My Mind’ as Brandon Flowers says to the crowd, “did you miss us?” leading his band onstage for an encore.

‘Bones’ starts a moshing sing-along but it is ‘Jenny Is A Friend Of Mine’, which is plucked from their first album that steals the crowd with its slap-bass bassline.

As predicted in VF’s The Big One, only a few folk and a stray dog show up for Nine Inch Nails, proof that it’s easier to sell tickets than promote good taste. Trent Reznor and Co play through a stunning set which includes ‘Wish’, ‘Piggy, March Of The Pigs’ and a stunning closer in 'Hurt'. T In The Park might not be ready for alternative, but it bloody should be.

With a crowd that would have done the BBC introducing Stage an injustice Jane’s Addiction set about their business. Front man Perry Farrell is dressed like an aging Baywatch actor in a purple suit with a nonchalant swagger that does nothing for the indifferent crowd.

The Manic Street Preachers return to T following a ten year absence for swearing – according to the Welsh band’s frontman James Dean Bradford. A “tragedy” he called it, and judging by the size of the crowd for Saturday’s headliners – so do we.

The Manics roll out the back catalogue with a virtual ‘best of’ set – minus a few – which goes down a storm and the thousands who packed themselves in like sardines just goes to show they still have the pulling power despite a decade’s absence at Balado.

‘Everything Must Go’ was always going to be a smash hit but surprisingly numbers such as ‘Ocean Spray’ and ‘If You Tolerate This, Then Your Children Will Be Next’ are corkers. An acoustic go at ‘The Everlasting’ is superb while ‘You Love Us’ tells the story of the night. ‘Design For Life’ is the curtain raiser – so much so the crowd boo at a lack of an encore - a strong set bearing in mind there was no ‘Australia’ or ‘Kevin Carter’.

The build up for Glasvegas couldn’t be any more Scottish if the bard Rabbie Burns himself turned up reading poetry and dishing out helpings of haggis. We start off literally ten minutes before the set with rousing Scots’ tunes from The Proclaimers and Co to get the crowd firmly into the swing of things.

And then the boys in black appear, pounding into the anthemic ‘Geraldine’ before singer James Allan screams: “Scotland, I fucking love you.” Fans have to admit that they’re loving him too as ‘Flowers And Football Tops’ literally causes chaos.

A less than perfect cover of ‘Sunshine On Leith’ gets pass marks next and, just in case the crowd didn’t know who was blowing their socks off (as if), the name Glasvegas is beamed bright across the tent in 12ft high letters behind the band. A Scottish welcome to set up a Welsh ending for day two in the King Tut’s tent.

Fans of Razorlight pack in early as the London band take to the stage to mix up tracks from all their albums. ‘America’ is the first sing-along while ‘Stumble And Fall’ is a welcome jerker early in the set.

Dressed in a blue t-shirt and black scarf, Johnny Borrell is unusually quiet as he allows drummer Andy Burrows’ replacement to charge the show. ‘Vice’ is as welcome as it is unexpected but it is set closer ‘Somewhere Else’ that leaves the crowed wishing they weren’t anywhere else.

Tartan clad Katy Perry brings the glamour to the NME/Radio One Stage with a sexy dress and impressive stage set-up despite the terrible banter: “don’t you guys need to use the restroom?” Restroom? Please, we’ll tell the jokes tonight Katy. Even a Queen cover of ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ can’t save an otherwise pedestrian show.

The Ting Tings don’t want for a crowd but God damn are they a parody of, erm… The Ting Tings… A pretty sub standard set is punctuated by the much appreciated party singles. Yeah, it’s not your name, we get it.

The recently reformed Specials live up to their name on the main stage, re-igniting tracks like ‘Stereotype’ and ‘Monkey Man’. Lead singer Terry Hall, is more animated than usual, as crow-pleaser ‘Rudie Can’t Fail’ takes hold. Ending on ‘Ghost Town’, the band finish more job done, than history made.

Foals frontman Yannis Phillipakis gives us an impromptu weather report by announcing what everyone knows: “It’s not raining, we should rejoice.” ‘Surprisingly ‘Cassius’ is delivered to rapturous applause midway through the set but it’s Foals’ anthem ‘Balloons’ – at times trance-like - which ends their participation at T 2009.

Could Jason Mraz be the happiest man on the planet? Despite probably knowing that most of the crowd have packed in early to see Glasvegas he keeps a smile on his face before introducing his band to Andy Williams’ classic ‘Music To Watch Girls By’.

The happy feeling keeps on going through his part ska-styled set, but it’s sing-a-long hit ‘I’m Yours’ which – not surprisingly – gets the best response.

Despite the pitiful turnout Wallis Bird’s warm personality proves a welcoming invite to the T Break Stage as the Irish singer songwriter does her best in her stripy pyjamas.

T In The Park 2009 continues with Blur, Snow Patrol and many more.

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