Kaiser Chiefs @ Leeds Festival 2006
By Dave Sugden
An overnight deluge and a mixed weather forecast haven't dampened the spirits of the 65,000 festival goers, who return happy, but tired, for another joyous day at Bramham Park. And when the music kicks in, the sun breaks out and we're all together, brothers and sisters... 'ave it Leeds!
The Carling Stage action today has a familiar Yorkshire theme to it, with Leeds' The Pigeon Detectives preceding Sheffield representatives Little Man Tate and Bromheads Jacket. To describe these bands together as one is a touch unjust, but the trio have a particular resonance and the sweaty faces smiling back appear unchanged throughout Saturday afternoon.
All three are what you might bundle as "guitar pop", yet each is just as different. The Pigeon Detectives deliver the party atmosphere: rough around the edges, but no one cares, and immense fun. Little Man Tate are more reserved, still pop, still jangly guitar lines but more intent to get that vocal absolutely spot on than jump around and 'lose it'. In between the two you get Bromheads Jacket, whose songs are so catchy they allow the audience to sing a fair proportion for them. The conclusion? A fine summertime trio of bands: upbeat, jump along, party fun and the smiles say it all.
A supersized pack of chips anyone?
After that crammed sweatathon, a more reserved hour is called for and is suitably provided by Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. and Belle & Sebastian.
Kicking proceedings off with "Le Pastie De La Bourgeoisie", Belle & Sebastian are a relaxing, sunny afternoon stroll in the park. Woo. "Lord Anthony" sees the usual get-girl-to-apply-mascara-as-I-sing scene and "The Boy With The Arab Strap" is, hand on heart, amazing. Did I really think I'd catch a breath over here? Foolish Boy. Foolish.
Best Band Name EVER! is Sam Duckworth's Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly., whose wistful acoustic alt. tunes work back-to-back with Belle & Sebastian so nicely. Recent single "I-Spy" (...face in the crowd, if you don't care then why are you singing out?) and its b-side "Call Me Ishmael" are my favourites as I lay back in the sun, close my eyes and dream...
... I dream that Panic! At The Disco might actually be entertaining live, after all I quite like some of their recent singles - although I never got around to buying the album. More a gimmick and no substance was my conclusion, although their cover of "Karma Police" lifted my spirits a little before I ended up making a sharp exit.
Hmmm, after that I think I need something a bit, you know, in your face... aha ...
... from the second that he introduces himself as "Ice Mother Fuckin' T, Bitch!" you know you're in for 30 minutes of brutal riffs and hard-hitting commentary, and via the likes of "KKK Bitch" and "Body count" it's crystal who's running the show... so when Bodycount's Ice T suggests the "Main Stage is full of pussies" and that we should march over there and take them on, Mortal Kombat style, well, you almost believe he means every word ... raargh!
Hmmm... yeah, but, in retrospect, a minor faux pas and the odds aren't quite so sweet right now; the Main Stage is at its busiest: Kaiser Chiefs!
Towering at thirty foot high apiece, "K" and "C" lights are a backdrop to the Leeds five piece's display, urged on by a 50,000 strong partisan crowd. See Ice T, I would have, you know, but, well, the numbers, think of the numbers...
Anyway, words on Kaiser Chiefs are probably wasted these days, I mean, who hasn't heard them yet? Two will suffice: poptastically excellent!
Although, I do find it a touch ironic that they perform an extended version of "Oh My God", repeatedly declaring they still can't believe they've "never been this far away from home".
Welcome home boys!
