Oxegen 2007: Sunday at Punchestown Racecourse, Kildare
Assailed by raindrops, Sunday’s line-up nonetheless managed to work their magic without resorting to naked mud-wrestling.
Paul Nolan, 12 Jul 2007
Oxegen day two commences with the inevitable downpour, although at this stage it scarcely matters, as Puncho is already muddier than a glam covers band playing ‘Tiger Feet’. A quick run – alright, a slo-mo trudge – into the Green Room to escape the rain brings us upon Calvin Harris, who does an excellent job of getting the crowd going courtesy of electro-pop nuggets such as ‘Acceptable In The ’80s’ and ‘The Girls’.
Indeed, the Green Room has a rather excellent line-up in the early afternoon, with Harris being followed by the equally impressive Long Blondes. Singer Kate Jackson cuts quite a dash in a striking red dress, whilst behind her the four-piece band rustle up a succession of Blondie-esque new wave pop gems. Outside on the main stage, Bloc Party are about to begin their set, having delivered a mighty performance at Live Earth the previous day (although they were outshone, as was pretty much everyone else, by the resurgent Spinal Tap).
A Weekend In The City is unquestionably one of the albums of the year, a rich and insightful exploration of urban life that, thematically at least, puts one in mind of mid-’90s Blur. A key lyrical influence on Damon Albarn during that period was Martin Amis, and you can definitely discern echoes of novels like Success, Money and London Fields in Kele Okereke’s words, as well as the dystopian vision of Bret Easton Ellis (whose Less Than Zero, of course, inspired ‘Song For Clay’).
More importantly in a festival setting, Kele and the boys know how to strike up some cracking grooves, with tracks like ‘Positive Tension’ and ‘Banquet’ from Silent Alarm going down a storm. Over at Stage 2, a figure in a skin-tight, day-glo lycra bodysuit is working the crowd with considerable energy and style, which can mean only one thing: Lovefoxx and Cansei de Ser Sexy are in town.
Amy Winehouse’s cancellation has meant that CSS now have an earlier slot, but really, you could put them on at any time of the day and they’d still be brilliant. Memorable moments include Lovefoxx getting the crowd to wave their hands in unison during ‘This Month, Day 10’, and stripping off to reveal another bodysuit in the middle of ‘Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex’ (the quintessential CSS song title). Elsewhere, there is little else to say of ‘Let’s Make Love And Listen To Death From Above’ except that it’s a heartbreaking work of staggering genius, and the guitarist performs it with a pair of pink, frilly knickers on his head.
Page 1/3 <Previous 1 2 3 Next>
©Hot Press 2011. Why be a member? | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy