Glastonbury on DSTV.

Bob-Dubery

Anybody watch on channel 120 last night? I watched half, recorded the rest.

There was something funny going on with the sound. Sounded like there was a whammy bar effect built into the mixers. On several acts you could hear everything jump down a note and then spring back up. I thought it might be a malfunctioning autotune, but with the Artic Monkies their keyboards went flat simultaneously with the vocals.

Of what I saw the standouts for me were Seasick Steve and Chic.

Chic have about the worst lyrics ever, but they were tight, tight, tight and laid down unstoppable grooves. Bernard Edwards is no longer with the band but Jerry Barnes is no mug with the bass. Barnes, Nile Rodgers and Omar Hakim give that band a very tight rhythmic foundation. Everything was so sharp. Everybody in that band is a good player. The two vocalists did a really good job. One shot showed Seasick Steve standing in the wings watching and grinning from ear to ear. Chic are really a dance band, a very, very good dance band, but when they stretched out you could hear how good they were (fab trumpet player).

Seasick Steve had John Paul Jones on bass. In this stripped down setting Jones demonstrated how good HE is without ever stealing Steve's thunder. With his array of el cheapo guitars, diddly bows, broomsticks and hub caps Steve was unpretentious and effortlessly authentic and his licks stung like a bee.

I'm hoping that there's some footage of the Stones in BBC's package. Reports are that they delivered a very good set on the second night.

What I like about Glastonbury is it's breadth. They don't get hung up on deciding what sort of music they're about and exactly where the boundaries of that music lie. So there's a broad spectrum of music. Kenny Rogers (no relation to Nile) was on the bill this year.

The night time aerial shots were amazing. It's not so much a festival as a temporary city. It just goes on and on.

Chabenda

+1 on your comments regarding Chic! Damn, they were good and what a big sound from what really is quite small live band. I missed most of the show but was glad to get to see Chic.

Bob-Dubery

Chabenda wrote: +1 on your comments regarding Chic! Damn, they were good and what a big sound from what really is quite small live band. I missed most of the show but was glad to get to see Chic.

Yes, and fun to see them doing that late 70s thing of freezing in the middle of a dance. Especially the old timer on the sax. They had everything down so well. The Guardian gave them five stars and described them as "ferociously well drilled".

Ray

Well, I didnt watch all of it. Quite enjoyed Seasick Steve. But I liked Elvis Costello. All in all I thought the sound was not great at all. But I also heard this yeeeooowing going on every so now and often. And I wondered if it had something to do with preventing copying and all.

DonRoos

Ray wrote:And I wondered if it had something to do with preventing copying and all.

I watched about 2/3rds and left it recording to catch up later. I loved Seasick (but then again I am a fan of his). For fun I tried to see what it would cost to get in and if there were any seats left they would go for just over 200 GBP! But they do have thousands of performers and even a green village where you can go and listen to wind chimes! What idiot pays that kind of money for a ticket and then listens to wind chimes in stead?

I also noticed the wow and fluttering and also thought of copyright. With the proliferation of recording devices just about anyone could record the show and then cut a DVD to sell. But with the whammy bar effect the product would be useless (if you discovered it before shelling out you $)

Chocklit_Thunda

@Don
Tickets for this one had a £235 price tag. Set price ? apparently they sold out in 2011 within 2 hours! ?

Bob-Dubery

DonRoos wrote:
Ray wrote:And I wondered if it had something to do with preventing copying and all.
I watched about 2/3rds and left it recording to catch up later. I loved Seasick (but then again I am a fan of his). For fun I tried to see what it would cost to get in and if there were any seats left they would go for just over 200 GBP! But they do have thousands of performers and even a green village where you can go and listen to wind chimes! What idiot pays that kind of money for a ticket and then listens to wind chimes in stead?

AFAIK it's a one price ticket for the three days. I guess it would be difficult to control all the different stages and areas and have a scheme for figuring who may go where.

The wind chimes are not my thing either. There's also a field where you can get in touch with the four elements. They dig a pit so you can get real close to earth. The BBC didn't explain how they provide for people who want to get close to fire...

An interesting point that they made is that with the large number of stages and performers and the variety on offer you can have a very busy weekend and never go close to the main stage. Indeed it is impossible to catch everything as they run several stages simultaneously. On Saturday and Sunday the music only starts at midday, so those recovering from the night before have time to chill out to windchimes or climb into the earth pit (or sleep).

The main stage is only the tip of the iceberg. There's so much going on there. A lot of acts on the smaller stages will play for free for the exposure, and there's a lot of volunteers involved in running the festival. A mate of mine in Bristol runs one of the stages - he has to take leave from work and get to the festival at his own expense. He gets food vouchers and free camping.

I've read some reviews this morning. The variety is quite ... varied. Sir Bruce Forsyth got a 60 minute set!

Kush

I watched it as well, I enjoyed Elvis Costello and I thought the sound was terrible especially when Rodriguez was playing. I couldn't watch till the end though as I had to work today.

DonRoos

Kush wrote: ... I thought the sound was terrible especially when Rodriguez was playing.

I agree, he did not seem to be able to hear himself and was quite hesitent. The rest of the band also seemed not to be hearing him and the result was not tight at all.

Chocklit_Thunda

Gah!!!!!! My DSTV cut the recording during Mumford & Sons 3rd song!!! >☹ >☹ >☹ >☹

Such rage!

Bob-Dubery

Joel, it was on BBC Prime. I've no idea about re-runs. It runs to six hours in all, so that's several hours of the Eastender's omnibus.

OK... so tonight I watched Foals, who I know nothing about, and Primal Scream.

The former were pretty tight and quite retro with vintage keyboards (including a mini moog) and funky old guitars (a Travis Bean!). Not my bag, but they're good at what they do.

Then Primal Scream, on the main stage immediately before the Stones, which is awkward because Primal Scream owe a non-trivial stylistic debt to Taylor-era Stones. They forgo a bit of polish for an energetic, exciting sound. They're tight, but not squeaky clean. Bobby Gillespie wins the prize for the pinkest stage costume.

Chocklit_Thunda

Joe Moore wrote:
? , what channel was this shown on and are there going to be repeats ?

I checked for repeats so I could catch Mumfords full set but alas, nothing. :'(

I also enjoyed Foals and Primal Scream.
The Arctic Monkeys did it for me though! I've always like their music a d they're just as good live (minus that weird whammy effect that kept disrupting the performances)

flatfourfan

I thought it was awesome and would of liked to record it, but alas, the mrs was recording some crap.

did a 7 day search and no sign of a repeat.

Seasick was great also, believe it or not, kenny rogers was really kicking......

Bob-Dubery

Kenny Rogers was a masterclass in stage craft and confidence. Not foot on the monitor swinging the mike style confidence, but the confidence to just be himself even though he was out of his comfort zone. He read the crowd correctly and gave them a hard time - which they loved. No way he could have rehearsed those off the cuff remarks. Very good. It also helps having loads of familiar hits in your repertoire. You might not own a copy of "Coward of the County", but you know it.

His band were interesting. Very good backing vocals, and whilst they were doing pretty cheesy versions of cheesy ballads every now and then something sophisticated and interesting would jump out for a moment or two and then they'd slip back into the cheese again. They're a lot better than they let on. Plus one of the guitar players had a really cool foam green telecaster.

So it's the point that Alan was making recently: It's not my bag, but I sort of got it and saw why people like him so much. There was an interview with him afterwards. He said this was his 50th year as a performer. It showed in the way he got the crowd on his side and sold them what he does. He was utterly charming, very relaxed and yet totally in control.

I got a way into the Mumfords, who close the TV show as they closed the festival. I'm enjoying them more than I expected. I liked the brass they had. It's ENGLISH brass, more Grimethorpe than Memphis (but they don't have the tuba to provide the counterpoints). That was a nice touch.

Bob-Dubery

Rufus Wainwright sang Halle-bloody-lulah. If I ever get to be world dictator I'll pass a law against that song and anybody arrested for the heinous deed of singing it will be in very hot water indeed.

AlanRatcliffe

X-rated Bob wrote: Rufus Wainwright sang Halle-bloody-lulah. If I ever get to be world dictator I'll pass a law against that song and anybody arrested for the heinous deed of singing it will be in very hot water indeed.

General hatred for the song? Or just non-Cohen versions?

Bob-Dubery

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
X-rated Bob wrote: Rufus Wainwright sang Halle-bloody-lulah. If I ever get to be world dictator I'll pass a law against that song and anybody arrested for the heinous deed of singing it will be in very hot water indeed.
General hatred for the song? Or just non-Cohen versions?

The song. I'd allow Cohen to sing it in the shower as long as he has all windows closed.