This was probably one of the weekends I was looking forward most this year, with the possible exceptions of Glastonbury, Latitude and Leeds festivals. The London Calling festival, held twice a year at (in my opinion) one of the best venues in the world, the stunning Paradiso in Amsterdam (before you question that, name me another music venue with stained glass windows), brings together the best new and upcoming British music. I’ve been twice before, to both of the editions in 2007, and seen some memorable performances. The Pigeon Detectives headlining one of the nights in April 2007 and blowing the audience away, and John McClure of Reverend & The Makers leading about 40 of us out of the fire escape for an acoustic sing-along in the street, are just a few of the memories that spring to mind.
Due to the lack of rather decent British music at the moment, I have to admit I was hardly optimistic that the line up could meet it’s previous heights (over the previous two times I’ve been I’ve seen The Wombats twice, Reverend & The Makes, The Pigeon Detectives, The Rakes, The Maccabees, GoodBooks among others). However, this festival is about more than just the bands on, there’s always a special buzz about the crowd in this venue, it feels a bit different from other gigs and festivals. The crowd are up for anything (I’ve seen circle pits for Foals) and the bands appear to have the same attitude for it. However, the promise of The Courteeners, Late Of The Pier, Bromheads Jacket and Glasvegas, my hopes of another quality festival improved.
The first night, I arrive in time to see Edward Larrikin’s new project The Pan I Am. Being a huge Larrikin Love fan, and also impressed by the demos I had heard, I was looking forward to seeing them. Unfortunately they were less than impressive, in fact I left. Unfortunately, the festival operates over two rooms and if you leave a band in the small hall and walk into the main hall to get a drink, the band are being broadcast on a large screen, so I couldn’t escape the turgid, groaning mess that was The Pan I Am. I was so disappointed about this, and following acts Ladyhawke and FrYars did little to improve my mood. However, up next was, recently announced for next years NME Awards Tour, White Lies, and from the moment they started, I lightened up. Described by my uncle (who put me and my mate up for the weekend) as “four boys who’ve spent a bit too much time watching Control”, they do have that Joy Division-esque darkness about them. Still, they were very impressive and I think their debut album To Lose My Life, released next January, will be one to look out for.
Following White Lies and a few others were the main bands (in my eyes) of the evening. First off, The Courteeners, who I was converted to after being persuaded to watch them at Glastonbury. I now love the album and was looking forward to seeing them, and unlike The Pan I Am, they did not disappoint. Their sound is hardly new, but they are far better than most of the rest of the crap in England at the moment. Frontman Liam Fray has genuine charisma and is lyrically top, and after this performance I’m starting to believe that Manchester can finally start to get over Oasis. For the first time of the weekend, I felt that buzz only the Paradiso on London Calling weekend can give you, and as closer “What Took You So Long?” comes to and end, another memorable performance at this festival is lodged firmly in my mind.
The final band of the evening for me (I did not stay for the after party) was Late Of The Pier. Not a band I was familiar, but my friend who went over with me had filled all his non-Courteeners speak filled moments with talk of this band, so I waited expectantly. Again, they did not disappoint. Their pure indie electro chaos had the Paradiso in rapture, the same kind of reception as Foals got last November. If these boys keep it up, they could be challenging Foals by next summer. They certainly have the music to, as, compared with Foals; they appear to have a lot more variety. So, as a conclusion to the first nights festivities; The Courteeners could easily be the next Oasis and Late Of The Pier, with any luck, will be headlining academies across the countries within the year.
The second night’s big acts were Glasvegas, another band I have recently fallen for, and, band whose new album I recently slated, Bromheads Jacket. However, I had a feeling that tonight would be the night Bromheads would remind me why I loved their debut. However, before all that, their were various other bands to keep me entertained.
Now, we have all spent summer being tortured by Noah & The Whale’s slit-your-wrists catchy “5 Years Time”, but excluding this track, they sounds like a less exciting British Sea Power. However, they are far better than I expected them to be, if a little repetitive and despite the attempted to sound more epic that then can. No one else caught my eye really. Esser was boring, Bombay Bicycle Club initiated the most embarrassing stage invasion ever, where by after being asked to climb up, the indie kids didn’t really know what to do next and just stood around. Magistrates sounded alright, if a bit generic.
Up next, the moment we’d all been waiting for, and there was real electricity in the air as the crowd awaited for Bromheads Jacket. From the moment they kicked into “Woolley Bridge”, the crowd and the band were so together. Huge circle pits as the on lookers, me included, lose their minds to the indie grunge, and as the drummer and bassist thrash closer “What Ifs & Maybes” to it’s end, guitarist time covers his guitar in lighter fluid, sets it alight and smashes it to pieces. As he falls to his knees and bows to the crowd, it’s clear this gig meant something to everyone in the venue. After my disappointment at their second offering, I was so happy at how amazing they were. The bands posts of Facebook since the gig, stating how special it was to them, and their plans to air the recording of it at a Christmas party for those who couldn’t make it sums up that this was a performance that will live long in their, and my, memory.
After that show, Glasvegas had a lot to live up to. In contrast to Bromheads Jacket, they had barely any interaction with the crowd. Most of the crowd, including my uncle, appeared to have left by halfway through the set. Despite others reaction to them I personally thought they were amazing. Brilliantly emotional epic rock combined with a perfect light show that made the atmosphere. My mate and me may well have been the only two people singing along to the album tracks, whereas singles Geraldine and Daddy’s Gone got a slightly bigger reaction. They were the exact opposite of Bromheads in every department appearance wise, but they were far more about the music than the reaction they got, and they blew me away. Next years NME Awards tour, headlined by Glasvegas, is definitely something I’ll be attending.
Overall, a weekend that far surpassed my expectations of it. Possibly the best edition of the festival I’ve been to, though maybe not as consistent as previous occasions, the big bands came through. The Courteeners, Late Of The Pier, Glasvegas and most of all Bromheads Jacket, made the trip easily worth it, I’ll certainly be attending again.
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