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My first experience of leeds festival wasn’t good, it was fucking brilliant. Definitely worth all the bruises (or at least the ones that have already come up as of 2.30 Sunday morning, hopefully I wont get a black eye). I even think it was worth the huge cut I have up my back from some guys shoes as he was lifted over my head. Yes not only was I at the front, I was also on the bloody front row!! So much for Spatch saying that I didn’t have a hope in hell of getting anywhere near the front.
It all started with a walk through the woods albeit heavily tented. Queuing up we had entertainment for two people with mega phones who were ‘supposed to be’ working, announcing several things including ‘Anyone want a chocolate éclair?’, ‘Anyone want to use my megaphone?’ and lots of other noises.
The plan was to go and see the Pigeon Detectives on the Carling stage but the shear distance between the Carling stage and the main stage put me off so we headed down to the main stage after a short wander.
1st act – Towers of London
In my opinion they tried far too hard to act like ‘rockers’. All with matching mullets and it looked like some even used same hair dye. The lead singer, who was a pompous wanker, took great amusement at spitting at every available opportunity, which wasn’t a problem (much anyway) until he decided to crowd surf right where I was so a hasty retreat was made by me. Overall the sound of the group wasn’t too bad but that could have been because the microphones were turned right down.
2nd act – Fightstar
Nothing has changed since I last saw them live (at party in the park, Leeds), I still don’t like them and the same thing happened to them- flying bottles, which were well deserved. Fightstar don’t sing and they don’t even shout properly, just mumble in a screaming voice. Next time, if they make it, I WILL avoid them at all costs.
3rd act – Dashboard Confessional
The first time I heard them was on the Reading television coverage the previous day and I wasn’t impressed. Much better actually seeing them live, although I still don’t like them. Before they came on everyone had the same opinion – ‘The lead singer is really hot’, one being a guy who claimed to be straight. I feel sorry of the holders of that opinion, they are clearly all deluded. He’s the sort of greasy, creepy guy that would cause me to cross the street even in broad daylight.
4th act – Panic! At The Disco
I only knew a couple of their songs and found myself quite liking the band. They caused the first crush in the crowd, it wasn’t bad but people still had to be lifted over my head, which was… an experience. Not much else to say other than I was too distracted by having to duck every 5 seconds to get a real idea of their style and sound etc.
5th act – The Subways
The crush continued especially when the dude jumped in the crowd. The mikes where turned right down again but the music sounded good even if I couldn’t here the lyrics and the lyrics are a major part in appreciation of a song/artist for me.
6th act – Fall Out Boy
How could I forget the ‘trash’ fight. Luckily with me being at the front I missed the whole thing but it was fun to watch when I turned round or watched the big screens. I enjoyed most of the songs- when I wasn’t ducking.
7th act – Belle and Sebastian
Really enjoyed these guys (and girl) and it was great how they worked a recorder into the performance. I don’t know their names but the guy who’s birthday it was on the Friday came down into the crowd before one of the songs asking if anyone had any mascara and when he found someone that did he sat of the barrier and got the girl to apply it to him whilst he started singing. In one of the later songs when the two singers are singing about fighting over a girl they got a girl up on stage to dance with them which seemed kind of pointless because they ignored her most of the time, although I don’t remember the end of the song as I was crushed down against the barrier as someone was lifted over my head. It is clearly not only me who really like black thickly rimmed glasses because when the other guy asked whether he looked better with or without the glasses it sounded like everyone (except John who just looked petrified throughout the whole day) screamed for the glasses!
8th act – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Grr really hated these, it just sounded like pointless noise with even more pointless movements on the stage. She really looked like she needed help. And the crowd safety people clearly hated the Yeah Yeah Yeahs as much as me, if not more if that is possible. I’m surprised my ankle still works properly after the guy next to me (who I was battling with for ages and gained lots of support over) decided it was cool to deliberately jump up and down on the side of my foot.
9th act – Kaiser Chiefs
What more do I have to say? Collin Murray introduced Chris Moyles, introduced Peter Kay who finally introduced the Kaiser Chiefs. They always put on a good stage show. Ricky missed out his usual Mexican wave but that was probably because the stage wasn’t wet (for once) and he couldn’t slide across it. He was the only one from any of the main bands to stand right in front of me on the stage but my stupid camera had stopped working properly – don’t know if that was from people standing on it or the fact that I couldn’t stop shaking all day. I got a few short videos but the sound wasn’t working properly either . The Chiefs played four of their new songs; Everything Is Average Nowadays, Heat Dies Down, Angry Mob and Highroyds. So far the only one of their five new songs they’ve played live, as there is Learnt My Lesson Well also, that I don’t know the lyrics to is Angry Mob as I have only heard it once.
10th act – Franz Ferdinand
Wow. Loving Alex’s hair now the pathetic excuse for a beard has gone. I believe it was the same set list as they played when I saw them in Hull in November (the 25th, 2005 to be exact), but they had changed the arrangements for all the songs. Alex seems to have rechristened the band ‘Franz Fucking Ferdinand’ since all the attention it received when he had to wear that t-shirt on top of the pops. Throughout the performance Alex kept writhing on the floor and at one point (during I’m your Villain) he went onto his knees right in front of Nick (not that it’s that unusual when they are off stage but I’ve never heard of it happening in front of
Tens-of-thousands of people…). Bob was also really getting into the performing, spending a lot of time on the drum podium and dancing with the others. Alex did the ‘down to the floor’ dance thing (like Christina’s ‘Dirty’ video) whilst dancing with Bob and then Bob copied him and Alex just burst out laughing. And at the end of the final song (The Fire) Bob was playing his bass behind his head, now I’m sure these aren’t usual antics for them. Oh and I almost forgot, during the first song (The Boy) Alex and Nick were sharing a microphone for quite some time. To the trained eye (haha look what s_t has done to me!) it looked like they were ALL preparing to have a orgy as soon as they got off stage, or maybe they were waiting for Kaiser Chiefs to join them in their joint after show party (according to BBC3 – I mean the party, not the inter-band orgy!).
FF set list
This Boy
Come On Home
Auf Achse
Do You Want To
I’m Your Villain
Tell Her Tonight
Matinee (dedicated to the Kaiser Chiefs)
Walk Away (for all you romantics out there) {Hardy smiles and McCarthy Laughs and Thompson claps little Georgie on the back}
Eleanor Put Your Boots On
Take Me Out
The Fallen
Darts Of Pleasure
40’
Michael (got the loudest cheer and the only ‘dancewhore’ during this song was Bob!)
*ENCORE*
Jacqueline
Evil and A Heathen
Outsiders
This Fire
Oh and a final comment – there is no way this mascara is waterproof!
It all started with a walk through the woods albeit heavily tented. Queuing up we had entertainment for two people with mega phones who were ‘supposed to be’ working, announcing several things including ‘Anyone want a chocolate éclair?’, ‘Anyone want to use my megaphone?’ and lots of other noises.
The plan was to go and see the Pigeon Detectives on the Carling stage but the shear distance between the Carling stage and the main stage put me off so we headed down to the main stage after a short wander.
1st act – Towers of London
In my opinion they tried far too hard to act like ‘rockers’. All with matching mullets and it looked like some even used same hair dye. The lead singer, who was a pompous wanker, took great amusement at spitting at every available opportunity, which wasn’t a problem (much anyway) until he decided to crowd surf right where I was so a hasty retreat was made by me. Overall the sound of the group wasn’t too bad but that could have been because the microphones were turned right down.
2nd act – Fightstar
Nothing has changed since I last saw them live (at party in the park, Leeds), I still don’t like them and the same thing happened to them- flying bottles, which were well deserved. Fightstar don’t sing and they don’t even shout properly, just mumble in a screaming voice. Next time, if they make it, I WILL avoid them at all costs.
3rd act – Dashboard Confessional
The first time I heard them was on the Reading television coverage the previous day and I wasn’t impressed. Much better actually seeing them live, although I still don’t like them. Before they came on everyone had the same opinion – ‘The lead singer is really hot’, one being a guy who claimed to be straight. I feel sorry of the holders of that opinion, they are clearly all deluded. He’s the sort of greasy, creepy guy that would cause me to cross the street even in broad daylight.
4th act – Panic! At The Disco
I only knew a couple of their songs and found myself quite liking the band. They caused the first crush in the crowd, it wasn’t bad but people still had to be lifted over my head, which was… an experience. Not much else to say other than I was too distracted by having to duck every 5 seconds to get a real idea of their style and sound etc.
5th act – The Subways
The crush continued especially when the dude jumped in the crowd. The mikes where turned right down again but the music sounded good even if I couldn’t here the lyrics and the lyrics are a major part in appreciation of a song/artist for me.
6th act – Fall Out Boy
How could I forget the ‘trash’ fight. Luckily with me being at the front I missed the whole thing but it was fun to watch when I turned round or watched the big screens. I enjoyed most of the songs- when I wasn’t ducking.
7th act – Belle and Sebastian
Really enjoyed these guys (and girl) and it was great how they worked a recorder into the performance. I don’t know their names but the guy who’s birthday it was on the Friday came down into the crowd before one of the songs asking if anyone had any mascara and when he found someone that did he sat of the barrier and got the girl to apply it to him whilst he started singing. In one of the later songs when the two singers are singing about fighting over a girl they got a girl up on stage to dance with them which seemed kind of pointless because they ignored her most of the time, although I don’t remember the end of the song as I was crushed down against the barrier as someone was lifted over my head. It is clearly not only me who really like black thickly rimmed glasses because when the other guy asked whether he looked better with or without the glasses it sounded like everyone (except John who just looked petrified throughout the whole day) screamed for the glasses!
8th act – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Grr really hated these, it just sounded like pointless noise with even more pointless movements on the stage. She really looked like she needed help. And the crowd safety people clearly hated the Yeah Yeah Yeahs as much as me, if not more if that is possible. I’m surprised my ankle still works properly after the guy next to me (who I was battling with for ages and gained lots of support over) decided it was cool to deliberately jump up and down on the side of my foot.
9th act – Kaiser Chiefs
What more do I have to say? Collin Murray introduced Chris Moyles, introduced Peter Kay who finally introduced the Kaiser Chiefs. They always put on a good stage show. Ricky missed out his usual Mexican wave but that was probably because the stage wasn’t wet (for once) and he couldn’t slide across it. He was the only one from any of the main bands to stand right in front of me on the stage but my stupid camera had stopped working properly – don’t know if that was from people standing on it or the fact that I couldn’t stop shaking all day. I got a few short videos but the sound wasn’t working properly either . The Chiefs played four of their new songs; Everything Is Average Nowadays, Heat Dies Down, Angry Mob and Highroyds. So far the only one of their five new songs they’ve played live, as there is Learnt My Lesson Well also, that I don’t know the lyrics to is Angry Mob as I have only heard it once.
10th act – Franz Ferdinand
Wow. Loving Alex’s hair now the pathetic excuse for a beard has gone. I believe it was the same set list as they played when I saw them in Hull in November (the 25th, 2005 to be exact), but they had changed the arrangements for all the songs. Alex seems to have rechristened the band ‘Franz Fucking Ferdinand’ since all the attention it received when he had to wear that t-shirt on top of the pops. Throughout the performance Alex kept writhing on the floor and at one point (during I’m your Villain) he went onto his knees right in front of Nick (not that it’s that unusual when they are off stage but I’ve never heard of it happening in front of
Tens-of-thousands of people…). Bob was also really getting into the performing, spending a lot of time on the drum podium and dancing with the others. Alex did the ‘down to the floor’ dance thing (like Christina’s ‘Dirty’ video) whilst dancing with Bob and then Bob copied him and Alex just burst out laughing. And at the end of the final song (The Fire) Bob was playing his bass behind his head, now I’m sure these aren’t usual antics for them. Oh and I almost forgot, during the first song (The Boy) Alex and Nick were sharing a microphone for quite some time. To the trained eye (haha look what s_t has done to me!) it looked like they were ALL preparing to have a orgy as soon as they got off stage, or maybe they were waiting for Kaiser Chiefs to join them in their joint after show party (according to BBC3 – I mean the party, not the inter-band orgy!).
FF set list
This Boy
Come On Home
Auf Achse
Do You Want To
I’m Your Villain
Tell Her Tonight
Matinee (dedicated to the Kaiser Chiefs)
Walk Away (for all you romantics out there) {Hardy smiles and McCarthy Laughs and Thompson claps little Georgie on the back}
Eleanor Put Your Boots On
Take Me Out
The Fallen
Darts Of Pleasure
40’
Michael (got the loudest cheer and the only ‘dancewhore’ during this song was Bob!)
*ENCORE*
Jacqueline
Evil and A Heathen
Outsiders
This Fire
Oh and a final comment – there is no way this mascara is waterproof!