Day 96 - The Last of The Glastonbury Posts
It has been 8 days since leaving Worthy Farm in a fearful state of disarray and it beginning to fade in amongst the other memories like putting the bin out or washing your hair so if I don't review it now I never will, which wouldn't really be much of a shame to be honest, but I need material. Four days to 100!
First point - Icon is the best stage. Shaped like a contorted faceless head, it is the forefront of the south-east corner, on entry to and overseeing the nightlife area. It doesn't actually oversee the whole area, but it is the first nightlife stage you encounter and with it being a head the imagery worked better like that. Plus it doesn't have a face anyway so it sees nothing. Batu on Thursday night was a perfect introduction to the festival and LTJ Bukem on Saturday was a contender for one of my favourite acts, reviving my both mental and physical fatigue with a powerfully invigorating set and light show.
Lana Del Ray's beautifully cool choreographed performance would certainly have been my favourite if her set wasn't shut down early due to her arriving half an hour late. After being criticised by annoying morons who are impressed mainly by fast movement, Lana has found a perfect workaround to build a spectacle despite correctly being resistant to having to dance for the idiots. The show moved around her with sequences far more theatrical than her own actions and yet, Lana's old-Americana allure still hypnotises the audience into drawing full focus. We still got over an hour so it's as long as most Glastonbury sets. I'd have happily taken the same length set but just with Video Games switched in for that big Glastonbury moment. I've since seen that she did perform an acapella version of Video Games with the crowd which sounded loud on video footage but it must have been right at the front as none of us noticed it. Predictably, in fitting with her personality, the same one which turned up half an hour late due to her hair, her set isn't on iPlayer, but I have it...
First point - Icon is the best stage. Shaped like a contorted faceless head, it is the forefront of the south-east corner, on entry to and overseeing the nightlife area. It doesn't actually oversee the whole area, but it is the first nightlife stage you encounter and with it being a head the imagery worked better like that. Plus it doesn't have a face anyway so it sees nothing. Batu on Thursday night was a perfect introduction to the festival and LTJ Bukem on Saturday was a contender for one of my favourite acts, reviving my both mental and physical fatigue with a powerfully invigorating set and light show.
Lana Del Ray's beautifully cool choreographed performance would certainly have been my favourite if her set wasn't shut down early due to her arriving half an hour late. After being criticised by annoying morons who are impressed mainly by fast movement, Lana has found a perfect workaround to build a spectacle despite correctly being resistant to having to dance for the idiots. The show moved around her with sequences far more theatrical than her own actions and yet, Lana's old-Americana allure still hypnotises the audience into drawing full focus. We still got over an hour so it's as long as most Glastonbury sets. I'd have happily taken the same length set but just with Video Games switched in for that big Glastonbury moment. I've since seen that she did perform an acapella version of Video Games with the crowd which sounded loud on video footage but it must have been right at the front as none of us noticed it. Predictably, in fitting with her personality, the same one which turned up half an hour late due to her hair, her set isn't on iPlayer, but I have it...
Everybody loves to criticise the Arctic Monkeys these days but it was the most fun I had belting out the words song after song at any show. Yes, Alex Turner's post AM persona is ridiculous, but I think it's become an entertaining part of the act. I'm in favour. Just so many tunes and to have seen Mardy Bum is a rare privilege. The only change I'd have made would be The View for the Afternoon instead of Why Do You Only Call Me When You're High.
Blondie was the coolest 77 year old I've ever seen (she's 78 now!). Not only did she still look great, she sounded far better than most legend acts too. Maria and Atomic were particular highlights. My only slight disappointment is there was no Union City Blue. I'd have liked X-Offender too but I was less expectant of that happening. I thought I might have missed my chance to see Blondie when I didn't notice their last tour so this was a real moment to savour.
Earl Sweatshirt, who although mainly playing a set consisting of his newer and contrary to general critical assessment, in my opinion, worse songs, managed to entertain regardless by sacrificing 50% of his set to some sort of comedy routine in which he mocked the audience and audiences in general. My friend said that he had never had the piss taken out of him as a spectator so much before in his life. "One! Two! Three!" Earl shouted, rousing the crowd, before continuing to count endlessly, concluding with "One, Two, One, Two, Three, Four. Y'all love that shit!" and refraining from entering into song. Contrary to every other rapper I've ever seen, he demanded that the crowd stop moving because it is stupid to dance around when it is this hot. "I'll rap at you for 45 minutes, y'all don't have to do shit".
Earl Sweatshirt, who although mainly playing a set consisting of his newer and contrary to general critical assessment, in my opinion, worse songs, managed to entertain regardless by sacrificing 50% of his set to some sort of comedy routine in which he mocked the audience and audiences in general. My friend said that he had never had the piss taken out of him as a spectator so much before in his life. "One! Two! Three!" Earl shouted, rousing the crowd, before continuing to count endlessly, concluding with "One, Two, One, Two, Three, Four. Y'all love that shit!" and refraining from entering into song. Contrary to every other rapper I've ever seen, he demanded that the crowd stop moving because it is stupid to dance around when it is this hot. "I'll rap at you for 45 minutes, y'all don't have to do shit".
Sudan Archives was a very unique show, a sexually aggressive R&B, hip-hop, violinist who's set opened with the microphone not working and the crowd shouting "we can't hear you!". She dealt with it really impressively and went on to smash it. Flo, a heavily Destiny's Child influenced girl band were also great and it was a big surprise to find out they were English when they started talking. Just in case anybody hadn't worked out they were English yet, they covered Superstar by Jamelia towards the end of the set. Unfortunately I only caught the first 10 minutes of Sparks but at least that was enough to see Cate Blanchett and get on the TV coverage. Jockstrap were great but inversely to Sparks I only caught the last 10 minutes.
And I believe that just about covers it. I am now free to return to my normal thoughts and complaining that I can't think of anything to say.
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