Glasvegas: here we fucking go!

 

Tagged the 'best new band in Britain' (or was it the world? hyperbole tends to make me forget) by the NME before even releasing an album, you can imagine what a huge disappointment and anticlimax the release of said album could be. A label like 'greatest' or 'best' could also rather easily destroy a band before it's even properly begun.

It isn't. And it hasn't.

They've simply ignored all the hype, gone to New York and recorded an amazing album. Yes it sounds a bit like the Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine (especially live, where they play LOUD), but they also throw in 60s girl groups (hell, the album even includes a cover of the Ronettes' Be my Baby), and the sounds Phil Spector once heard in his dreams. 

Of course it was bound to happen at some point ("say it enough times and at some point it'll be true" seems to be its motto), but NME actually seem to have got it right for once.

Glasvegas - Go square go

Review: Standon Calling 2008

Standon Calling, it's held in the (beautiful) countryside about an hour outside London, it evolved from a birthday party, it's organised by the son of a Lord, it's limited to 2,500 visitors. How can it not be great?

Musical highlights:

Florence & the Machine, Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Johnny Foreigner, Glasvegas, Los Campesinos!, Super Furry Animals, Benin City, The Mae-Shi, Music Sounds Better With You in the Love Hotel...

Other highlights: 

The location and scenery, the camp-site, the toilets (after experiencing toilets at other festivals, these were a revelation!), coconut and lemon cake (with coffee: a 'breakfast of champions') in the morning, the karaoke booth, the lanterns on the final night, the smell of the countryside, the fact that you could walk from your tent to any of the stages in about 2 minutes, the Master of Ceremonies (aka the dude with the cool beard) in the Lordship tent handing out shots of what was apparently a very fine whiskey, the Japanese theme and dress up on Saturday, the Love Hotel, the sun (when it came out), going weedleweedleweedle with our fingers behind our head during the SFA (you really had to be there to understand), picking apples from the trees near the manor, the bus stopping on the way to the site for people to use the cash machine, the carnival shop in Ware, chilli!, Los Campesinos! playing the opening of Pavement's 'Home', the taxi dude, the ride to Luton on Monday morning...

Lows: 

the weather on Sunday, the airport like bag search upon entry, Mystery Jets cancelling

All in all a HUGE thanks to the organisers for putting on an incredible weekend. See you next year!

 

Johnny Foreigner

  

  Glasvegas

  

The Love Hotel

  

Entering 'the Lordship'

You're looking for some mp3s aren't you..?!

Eh voila!:

Johnny Foreigner - The end and everything after

Los Campesinos! - We throw parties, you throw knives

Stardust - Music sounds better with you 

Glasvegas - Flowers and Football Tops

More pics here