Sunday was probably my favourite day over the whole weekend, the music started late which meant I could have a lie in, it was less busy which meant I could get much nearer the front to see bands and there were a lot more bands I wanted to see, without as many clashes. I went to see so many in fact that I'm only going to include the best few and the ones I was gutted to miss. This was my last day: (links are in blue)
One of the first bands that I saw that day were Francois and the Atlas Mountains in the picturesque I Arena in the woods. The band were very, very French. Arty, daft and at times slightly pretentious but always brilliant. They had something very special, a unique sound and onstage presence that transcended the language barrier as it didn't matter if they sang in French or English, the music was always good. They were obviously loved very much by the crowd as although they had been given a shorter set due to administerial cock-ups, they were given the biggest cheer I'd heard from a small crowd and everyone stayed for another 10/15 minutes shouting at the staff to let them back on, but alas to no avail.
I'd only heard a little of St Vincent before Latitude and I almost didn't go to see her due to my own idleness. Thankfully I got off my arse and went and was really blown away. It was nothing like I expected, all the songs were much rockier than anything I'd heard and Annie Clark was dressed all all in black, dishevelled hair and threw herself around the stage like a rag doll. This contrasted with her hauntingly beautiful and innocent vocals which cut right through the amazing fuzz tones on her guitar. At first listen, some of the songs seemed a bit jaunty as if they didn't fit, but after a few more listens this feeling goes away and is replaced by the simple appreciation of how very, very good her songs actually are. St Vincent - Dilettante
I was very excited to see M83 at Latitude and I had a feeling it was going to be something a bit special, so I regrettably left Bat For Lashes a bit early so I could get a good spot. The set was drenched in atmosphere and drama as through the opening music, the signature alien of M83 came onstage, shooting lasers from its fingers (picture left taken by me). 'How fucking cool', I thought. The sound was even more epically scaled than that on the albums and the crowd loved it, especially when they played 'Midnight City'. A touch of genius, I felt, was when they got a live saxophonist to run on at the end of 'Midnight City' to play the solo. I'm a bit mystified as to why they didn't get Zola Jesus to sing on 'Intro' like she had on the album as she was also at the festival, but that's a small niggle in the scheme of things.
Wild Beasts were the highlight of my festival, they were the band I was probably most exited to see and they were headlining my favourite stage, The Word Arena. There's not much to say apart from how amazing it was, obviously as they're one of my favourite bands I'm bound to be like that but it was clear many people shared my opinion. The crowd was massive and many people had wandered in after being disappointed by Paul Weller on the main stage and instantly got into the electric atmosphere in the tent. They played songs from all 3 of their albums and everyone around me knew the words, showing a surprising number of fans were there, such as one guy who screamed "I love you more than anything in the world" whenever it went quiet. (picture left taken by me - also the only really decent one I took over the whole festival)
I didn't see as much of Bat For Lashes as I wanted to but that which I did see was top class. What I like about Bat For Lashes is the combination of visual art and music. Some people would say it's just 'pretencious-arty-wanker-bullshit' but I think it just gives another dimension to what music is, another art form. Its this kind of over the top showmanship and stage presence that just adds immeasurably to the live experience. They played material off both their albums and I even caught a bit of some new material, which seemed a bit more simplistic and piano-based, which I do like, but I must say I prefer the more guitar and synth laden songs. Bat For Lashes had been out of the public eye for a long time so it was a good return in my eyes.
Although this isn't exactly music, I thought I'd include it anyway because John Cooper Clarke was really one of the highlights of my festival. I've never delved into poetry much but I went to see two poets at Latitude, Tim Key and JCC and both of them were funnier than most of the comedians in the comedy tent. JCC's humour was really my thing, dry, witty and utterly brilliant. He did some brilliant poems such as 'Things Are Gonna Get Worse' and 'Beasly Street' and I even managed to get a recording of the crowd favourite 'Evidently Chickentown'. JCC had been working with Plan B for the rapper's debut film 'Ill Manors' which was screened at Latitude. I took particular delight at, having this pointed out to me by my mate, the fifteen year old middle class kids rapping "You bloody rich kidz never listen", whilst sat with their 'mamma and pappa' sipping Pimms and snacking on artichoke hearts. (Well, maybe I made that last bit up...)
Perfume Genius: People were raving about this band after I missed them, luckily I went to see them a week ago in Leeds to make that right. Perfume Genius - Hood
Battles: I had only vaguely heard of them so I wasn't really tempted to venture in and see them, how foolish... Battles - Tonto
On the whole I think that weekend was the best edition of Latitude I'd been to, to date. Some of the moments watching some of the bands, I will take with me for a long time to come and look back on with much fondness. Apart from the usual overpriced food and shite British weather, there was nothing to complain about. Except for possibly being woken up in the early hours of the morning by the middle-class alarm clock of a man talking to his child "MONTY PUT THAT HAMMER DOWN!"
Saturday had to be very good indeed to surpass the day before, but the day's line up looked brilliant. The only problem was nearly every band I wanted to see was clashing with another, so as a result I only managed to see 6 bands that day, though I did nip into the comedy tent at some point. Here's what I made of the bands that I saw, and a bit about some of the bands I missed.(links to youtube videos are in blue)
Saturday
I only caught the latter part of Tall Ships' set but what I heard was very good. It was the first band I'd seen on the outdoor Lake Stage and so the feel of it was very different. For a comparatively unknown band they had a very good following in the audience and everyone seemed to enjoy the set. The sound that they made was surprisingly big and complex for only a 3 man band, with some members playing multiple instruments in their set and even within songs. Every part of their songs was strong, not mind-blowing but a darn sight better than a lot of other more established bands' sets that I'd seen.
I'd seen Sharon Van Etten once before at Brudenell Social Club in Leeds and it was a really revelation and I bought the album from the merch stall straight after the show. Her newest album, 'Tramp', of which she played a lot of in her set, is in my opinion her best and what has got her a lot of recognition recently, having worked with members of The National on that record. Her and her band's performance was brilliant, really musically complex, very compelling and genuine and a lot rockier than on the album, which I felt was an improvement. I think her performance definitely deserved a much higher billing, after all she's had 3 albums and gave a much better performance that say Ben Howard who's only on his debut. But I guess that is the nature of the running order at festivals, the bands of the moment get much better slots.
My mate had been really looking forward to seeing Josh T. Pearson and beforehand, as I'm not that much of a regular listener of folk and country music, I wasn't exactly blown away. Seeing him live however I was left speechless. His songs were amazing and the combination of his guitar style and his singing helped make a set of effortless, heartfelt class in the Word Arena tent. It was certainly a set of quality over quantity as in his set of about 40 minutes he did only 4 or 5 songs, but each one was better than most singer/songwriters' sets that I'd seen live.
SBTRKT was one of the highlights of my festival. There was a real buzz in the Word Arena when I got there and for good reason. He came on to cheers wearing his customary tribal mask and delivered a great set to a great crowd that was mercifully bereft of any dickheads for a change... The sound was very impressive, particularly the bass which really went right through you and when your ears are used to headphone or stereo level bass, it was a welcome change! I was particularly impressed when I read that he only uses live instruments and live triggers for his songs, which I liked as if it's all programmed there really is no soul or even point to the music live if all you do is stand there and press 'play'. He also worked on a track with another band I like, 'Little Dragon'.
I was only sat near the back of the arena for Laura Marling, but I doubt there would have been a seething crowd of mosh pits if I'd have ventured forward. Try as I might, I've never been able to like her music. I think what my problem is with her is that there are so many other folk artists that do exactly what she does but so much better in my opinion, but hey if she's your thing then by all means ignore me. She does also seem to be quite odd, even among musicians, which may have something to do with the exposure she had at such a young age. Also I find some of her earlier songs a bit in genuine, which is something that my own lyrics have the issue of, which is: What does a 16/17 year old know of things like the darker and more adult sides of life? Admittedly some people have very hard periods of life at that age but I know I haven't and from what she seems to say in interviews neither as she. But maybe I'm being unfair.
Elbow had never been a favourite band of mine, mainly due to the fact that every time I heard them, I'd be reminded of 'One Day Like This' being played over an advert raising awareness for starving Ethiopian children, hence why I never play Elbow when I'm eating out of a sense of white European middle class guilt. But anyway, when I saw them live, I was a man converted! It was sweeping, grand, classy music, showing them to be more than worthy of the headline slot. The child within me particularly loved the firework displays in the set, fireworks which were missing from Bon Iver's set the night before. Guy Garvey held the crowd in the palm of his hand and was everything the frontman of a band should be.
Of Monsters And Men: I heard a couple of songs of theirs a few years ago and was really happy to see them on the line up, sadly there was a clash and I didn't make it...Of Monsters Ans Men - From Finner
Django Django: Saw them on Jools Holland, wasn't that impressed but everyone who I asked loved them at Latitude, seems I missed out...Django Django - Default
Zola Jesus: Heard of her through seeing her name on a track by M83 (playing Sunday)Zola Jesus - Night The Horrors: They had won a lot of critical acclaim recently and I was really up for seeing if it they were all they were cracked up to be, sadly when clashing with Elbow I probably made the right choice.The Horrors - Sea Within A Sea
Tomorrow was the last day of music so I was ready to make the most of it.
