Saturday 30 June 2018

Isle Of Wight Festival 2018 - Part Four - I Carried Absolutely Nothing


Saturday 23rd June 2018

Part four and we're still only at Saturday morning. I better crack on. There's gonna be a one line review of James Bay later so that'll help. It was 'gold' day at the festival to celebrate the 50th anniversary. My sole contribution was a gold bandana tied round the beacon. A poor effort really. Wasn't even my bandana. I eyed my remaining beer and decided I really couldn't face 90 degree lager plus it would mean taking my bag into the arena again and I clearly couldn't be trusted with it. I regretted my purchases again and smothered myself with suncream borrowed from Gabe. I was suffering. The hat has it's uses as a meeting point but as regards saving the back of my neck from the sun it is woeful. Anyway, I was heading to the Hard Rock Stage to catch up with Apollo Junction and hopefully Jimmy Mac. (There was probably a Jimmy Mac at every stage. He's everywhere). I wandered off telling Chris I'd give him a ring in a bit knowing my phone would probably let me down and I'd be on my own all day. The band had a day of media appointments to fulfil. I took out a loan to buy an ice-cream and a bottle of water on my way to the Hard Rock and bumped straight into Jimmy, of course.

I'd somehow not seen Apollo Junction since IoW 2016. No idea what I've been playing at. In those two years they've matured into an excellent indie pop/rock band. Tight on stage, aware of when one of them wants to go off on a tangent and with a stage presence up there with the best. They start their set to a smallish crowd sat watching and finish it to a full field having a boogie. Always nice to see.


Their penultimate song included the John Barnes rap from 'World In Motion'. That was always gonna be a winner. Their final track found singer Jamie Williamson having a seriously prolonged walk through the crowd. I'm sure he was eyeing up a trip on the big wheel at one point. 

Miraculously my phone worked and I managed to get hold of Chris. Even more miraculously we managed to work out just which fish and chip stall he was stood next to and I went off to find them. I walked straight past them. I'm good at this. Chris treated me to a proper pint (a very cold locally brewed IPA), Lewis hunted down some gin and Gabe bemoaned the lack of alcohol free beer anywhere. Sharron joined us as Jesse J took the stage. I'm not a fan, not my kind of thing. She was absolutely brilliant. A stunning voice, a lot rockier than I'd imagined she would be and with a permanent smile showing just how much she was loving being up there.


Kodaline came on for a bit of background music so Chris et al went back to camp for some grub and I went to try and find the band with plans to meet by the Pinball Wizard bar. We'd found a nice spot there not considering that the arrival of a Gallagher would naturally mean the arrival of several thousand more people to that area. I wandered 20 yards to the backstage are straight into the band and most of the entourage. See when I don't arrange to meet someone I walk straight into them, when I make arrangements I invariably fail. There's a lesson there. 

Blossoms could have done with watching Jesse J to see how to engage a festival crowd and enjoy themselves. I love Blossoms, I'm a fan. Bought the albums, seen 'em live several times and they've always been excellent. I have no idea what was wrong today but it was an uninspiring, lame, lifeless performance. Maybe fatigue after being constantly working for three years? I don't know but it wasn't fun.



James Bay played. Did a cover of Tina Turner's 'The Best'. That's all you need to know.

By now Sam had turned up and I think that was everyone accounted for. Only taken 8 hours. Liam Gallagher was due on next. Everyone headed further into the throng but it looked like mayhem so me and Sam stayed where we were happily in the shade of an oak tree. Some people moan about stadium gigs (I know it's not a stadium but you know what I mean) and having to watch a gig on a big screen. It's not ideal of course, give me a Rock City or a Leadmill any day, but every now and then I don't mind. It's a lot more preferable to a having a bottle of piss thrown at your head. Plus when used effectively the screens can be an integral part of the gig.

And to prove that point Liam's swagger from backstage to stage front was shown on the screens. Cracking way to whip the crowd up. 



He says four words, 'Rock 'n ' Roll Star' and we're off. There is still a discussion going on online as to whether Liam should have headlined over Depeche Mode. For me it was the right way round. I've been listening to Depeche Mode since Liam was 8. Maybe not the best reason but it's the one I'm using. As it is Liam only has an hour but we get 14 songs and a healthy dose of Oasis tunes, (9 of the 14). We get the swagger, the calling out of someone in the crowd for being a 'shithouse', we get Liam. The rarely performed 'Whatever' is an absolute triumph, followed by 'Supersonic' and 'Some Might Say'.


No one wants this set to end, especially Liam but time is pressing. 'Do you want Wonderwall or Live Forever' barks Liam. 'Please not 'Wonderwall' I say to myself as the violins kick in on the 'Live Forever' intro. Perfect. As it closes, 'Fuck it, I'll play 'em both' says the man and we're closing with 'Wonderwall', the bane of every open mic everywhere, but when Liam's got hold of it with 60,000 backing singers it suddenly makes sense again and I remember how much I loved it when I first heard it in 1995. As the song draws to a close, the crowd in fine voice, Liam steps to the mic, 'You're beautiful' he tells us before swaggering off into a glorious sunset.


This is the bit when the vast number of attendees became an issue. We figured it'd be quieter for Depeche Mode so me and Sam headed forward hoping to find the rest of our troupe to be met by a wall of people going the other way. There was no security, no clear way in or out, just a melee of crushed people pushing in opposite directions. Tempers were getting frayed, children were crying. It was genuinely frightening. It had all got a bit Leeds Fest. As soon as we got past the sound desks it thinned out and we could relax but I'd come close to giving up. The main stage area is a bottleneck that's not been an issue in previous years. If the festival continues to attract these numbers it needs addressing.

We found Ross, and co on the first barrier. Stars and Charlotte had gone for an early night, again it had been a busy one for them. I was grilled by the 'young uns' about Depeche Mode songs including some tragic singing on my part. This was the big name band I'd been most looking forward to this year. A band that have gone from electro-pop pioneers to stadium rockers and everything in between over a 40 year career. 


There was some moans later of not playing 'the hits' but with 14 albums to go at there were always gonna be some favourites missing but we did get 'Personal Jesus', 'Everything Counts', 'Enjoy The Silence', 'Walking In My Shoes' and somewhat surprisingly, 'I Just Can't Get Enough'. 'Everything Counts' in particular was magnificent. The crowd singalong at the end just went on and on with Dave Gahan gleefully conducting the crowd. Both Gahan and Martin Gore looked honestly moved by the love pouring their way from the crowd. It was an emotional night. 































A truly awesome 'Enjoy The Silence' closed the set. I didn't want them to go. They didn't want to go. They were still saying their goodbyes as some people got back to their tents. I managed to lose everyone on the way back. Standard. I stopped off at The Big Top briefly to watch Hacienda Classical banging out 'Blue Monday' with Peter Hook looking all Hookyish before wending my way to my tent. It had been a good 'un.


Friday 29 June 2018

Isle Of Wight Festival 2018 - Part Three - I Carried A Marker Pen


Friday 22nd June cont.

As the band headed back triumphantly to their dressing room to hang with Rita Ora(!!) me and Mark headed for a well earned pint. Tried to get Mark backstage but with only a day wristband it was never happening. I did the gentlemanly thing of saying 'I'm sorry but not sorry enough to not go backstage'. I'm such a good mate!!


I headed backstage to find the band were due to do an acoustic recording for Sky Arts in the artists village. Another buggy ride this time driven by the main man himself, Mr. John Giddings - the man behind the festival, the head of Solo Music Agency and a champion of BBR.


In a sweltering tent and barely half hour after their barnstorming Main Stage set Bang Bang Romeo once again delivered. Thankfully they only had to do the one song. Twice. The vagaries of television. 



Back to the dressing room which was now packed with band, family, friends, management, Eleven Seven guys, well-wishers and the wine Rita Ora had given Ross. It was all getting a tad claustrophobic so I nipped out just as some of Kasabian arrived. With Sean Dyche, friend of the band. I was straight over to congratulate him on Burnley's excellent season, to bemoan the fact he didn't get Manager of the Season and to discuss the upcoming European campaign. I didn't realise till looking at photos later that I was doing all this with a fluorescent green beard to go with the beacon orange hat. He must have thought I was a right wanker. 


Sam was getting organised again and had managed to collar Stuart, legendary minibus driver who had become the band's personal taxi the day before. We headed back to site, I stuffed some very warm Carling in my backpack and headed back in. It really was rank but at £5.30 for a small can of cooking lager in the artists village it would have to do. The plan was to hang around there till Kasabian came on. I should point out to get guest wristbands normally a boatload of I.D. is required so in my backpack as well as the warm beer was my passport and driving licence. Also a marker pen and my bank card for safe keeping. This will all become relevant later. I had my annual height off with Peter Crouch, he's still winning, and basically got pissed with James Walsh. I told him how I'd introduced my girlfriend to Starsailor and that she was in love with both the band and James. I sent her this, basically 'cos I'm a twat:

                                                   

 I got this back:



James found it hilarious.

We ended up in VIP to watch Kasabian. I'm not totally sure how and it was a double edged sword. It's VIP, I'm never gonna turn that down but this was the view of the stage:


Still, it wasn't rammed and we had space to dance. The Script were just finishing. I'm not a fan but quite liked the last song they did.

Kasabian know just how to deliver a festival headline slot. They said some years ago that they'd only play festivals if they were headlining and they're right to do so. We'd already had 'Three Lions' (it was everywhere that weekend) then as 'Nessun Dorma' rings across the stage the band saunter onto the stage and straight into 'Ill Ray' from last year's 'For Crying Out Loud'. It's an all eras set with every album represented at least once. They can't really fail and there is just something magnificent about Serge (man crush alert). 


















During the set Rich and Stars were approached by a lady with two young children who had absolutely loved their set, were now massive fans and somewhat besotted with the band. This is why I brought a marker pen. About the only bit of preparation I did all weekend. Lanyard passes were signed and kindly handed over. The looks on the kids faces may well be the highlight of the weekend. (I should point out I asked permission from their mother to use these pictures).





































Kasabian were still knocking it out the park on stage when we got the message they'd be sinking a few after the gig in the Medina Quay pub backstage if we fancied it. Well, yeah!! We flocked back, I had a wondrous pint of cold Guinness and told Danny from The Script that I wasn't a fan but liked the last song they did. 'Er, thanks. I think' was the response I got. Can't fault him really. I'd have told me to piss off. We'd been waiting ages, some of us were flagging so decided to call it a night. Turns out I missed Serge and Tom by 5 minutes. Oh well. No buggies at this time of night (2am) so it was a seriously long trek back to the tent. I emptied my pockets, went to put the marker pen back in my bag to realise I didn't have my bag. I'd left it in the pub, passport, bank card, driving licence 'n' all. No way I was walking back now. I really am a liability. 

After another dreadful night's sleep I woke up relieved that someone had returned my bag although I couldn't see it in my tent. Yeah. so that had been a dream and my bag was still lost. Curse my brain. My phone was dead. Chris and family were in a camper van which meant as I showered and Chris fed us I could charge my phone. After wandering around trying to get a signal it kicked into life and a flurry of messages filled my phone. Gave the bar a ring. They had my bag!!!! They asked what was in it and I reeled off the list. 'And house keys?' said the voice on the phone. 'God yes!!!!' My bloody house keys. I managed to blag a buggy from The Big Top to the bar and pledged my eternal love to the management. I had a celebratory hair of the dog whilst looking out on the Medina River and wondered why the guy hadn't mentioned the two kazoos in my bag. 

So hangover under control, bag in hand I wandered back to my tent ready to face Saturday. 

Thursday 28 June 2018

Isle Of Wight Festival 2018 - Part Two - BANG BANG ROMEO

'As long as the crowd reaches the first barrier...'

Bang Bang Romeo - Isle Of Wight Main Stage
 Friday 22nd June 2018

In 2015 Bang Bang Romeo were invited to play the This Feeling stage at The Isle Of Wight Festival. It flagged them up on John Gidding's radar and he touted them as future Main Stage headliners. Their fourth IOW, having played The Big Top in 2016 and 2017, sees them having the honour of being invited to open the Main Stage for the 50th anniversary of the festival. They are recently back from a trip to the States where they signed for Eleven Seven Records as well as recording their debut album, due to drop this Autumn. It's been some year already. 

If there are nerves (who are we kidding? Of course there are nerves) it didn't show. Ross and Rich take their place looking calm and collected. BBR live are fleshed out by Ray Loverock on bass and Richard Cook on guitar and keyboards. Ray is just one of the coolest people you'll meet, a phenomenal bass player with a musical ear second to none. His natural genius has allowed to Rich to mature into one of the finest rock drummers on the circuit. Cooky has been a multi-instrumentalist stalwart of the Yorkshire music scene for some time. There's very little he can't do. He's a welcome addition and it gives the band the live sound they always threatened.

The Natural Born Astronaut intro fills the air before the band dive into new song Baby Blue Bird and Miss Anastasia Walker takes the stage. Already they look and sound like this is their natural environment. I'm already filling up. I think the band judge their gigs on how many tears they get out of me. This one was off the Saynor-Tears Scale.  They make everything they do seem effortless. Ross' screaming guitar mercilessly taking your soul on journeys you're not sure are safe but you want to travel nevertheless, Rich's machine gun drumming shaking every fibre, pounding you into submission and Stars' voice tearing your heart from your chest and leaving you wondering if she'll grind it into the dust or return it on a silver platter. Her voice is a weapon. Powerful, mesmerising, tender, uplifting and heart breaking in equal measure. There is no one, NO ONE, who can come close to matching her.


This is one of the finest bands on the planet doing what they do best on the biggest of stages. Any fears of crowd size have long since evaporated as the unmistakable BBR sound draws people in from all over the festival site. John Giddings would later state it was the largest crowd for an opening Isle Of Wight act, ever. It should never have been in doubt. They have the songs, they have the stage presence, they have the sound, they have all boxes ticked.

You & I follows, Rich's staccato drumming to the fore, Ross kicking out one of the catchiest licks known to man. Chemical is up next and the first major singalong of the set. Even Stars' voice is almost, almost, drowned out by the crowd revelling in witnessing history in the making.



   



Natural Born Astronaut follows. It's a gem of a song, the closest they get to pop but still with that unique Bang Bang Romeo feel. It's plainly obvious from the crowd reaction they are making a lot of new friends today. I've given up trying to stop crying. The band are visibly overwhelmed by what's happening but never let it overcome them. They have a job to do and they are doing it to the maximum of their ability. Brand new single Shame On You is so new it came out the same day as the show and had been kept well under wraps. It's an impact song and it's a very clever way of giving it maximum impact. Written whilst in The States it's a song about those relationships/friendships that we know are toxic but we keep going back to. 'You're my favourite bad decision' beseeches Stars on top of a thumping Zeppelinesque groove. It's rock/pop. It's staggering. It's the ultimate earworm. Hours later I was walking through the site and heard some young kids singing 'That's what we do'. I don't know if they set out to write a stadium anthem but that's exactly what they've done. Download or stream it. You really won't regret it. 


Creep has been a part of the BBR set for sometime and I know there was some discussion on the merits of including a cover today. They chose to keep it in and it was most definitely the right move. It went down a storm and Stars' 'I've gotta sexy body' moment had everyone in the crowd melting. They really couldn't fail from hereon in. 


Former set closer Invitation now jumps in as the penultimate song. It has evolved into an epic, almost uncontrollable beast of a song. In years to come it will remain a fan favourite. The call and response part is deafening and the break down and pause is a sheer joyful triumph. On a stage like this invading the crowd is no longer an option but Stars still does her best to get right on in there. 


Despite the euphoria there is still a humility about the band. Yes they are up on the Main Stage because of pure talent and hard graft but they are fully aware that without a strong team and more importantly the support of a growing army of fans it just couldn't happen. They never forget that and it's just one more reason to love them. Adore Me closes things. I love a song that grows and Adore Me does just that. An endearing opening that builds and builds to a magnificent crescendo, a nightmare of glorious noise as Stars leaves with 'WE ARE BANG.................BANG.................ROMEOOOOOOO!!!' The band thrash out every last drop of life from the song before Stars returns to join her bandmates for the farewells, the bows, the accolades and to finally let what has just happened sink in. 

Future headliners? Unquestionably.


Set List

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  6. (Radiohead cover)
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Isle Of Wight Festival 2018 - Part One - I Carried A Satellite


Thursday 21st June 2018

So you may not know this but three years ago I had heart surgery. A surprise to some I'm sure 'cos I never talk about it. Much. Well, apart from constantly. Hey, why have major surgery if you can't milk it for everything you can? I digress. I did say back then as long as I reach fifty and see Bang Bang Romeo play a main stage at a major festival that'll do me. Well two months ago my fiftieth birthday happened and by then it was common knowledge that BBR were opening up the Isle Of Wight main stage for the fiftieth anniversary of the festival. The problem was I was struggling to get there. By the time I could afford the coach all the spaces had gone. Cars of mates were full too.

I had a few offers but the logistics behind them were mind-bending, plus none include a lift home on the Monday. Now the island is lovely, there is an excellent monkey sanctuary and the UK's oldest working phone box (the staggering thing there is the working bit) but I simply couldn't afford to live there. (Their rates are based on your height. Allegedly). Getting a lift home was imperative. Four days before the festival I wasn't going, then my girlfriend, Beckie, text me saying if I can get there I can get back on the Monday for twenty-odd quid with National Express, Southampton to Doncaster. Never even occurred to me to check them. On further investigation Donny to Southampton return and getting on the ferry as a foot passenger was the way to go. I was going, all booked and paid for. The band then messaged to say they'd have space for me on the way back. Still, I had my return ticket booked if there were any disasters.

So it was that 10am Thursday morning I boarded the coach for London Victoria. First thing that struck me was how comfy the coaches are now, with plug sockets and WiFi, then it occurred to me that the last time I travelled with National Express the guy who came up with WiFi probably hadn't even been born yet. All this comfort has replaced the jolly hostess selling crisps and tea for a sky-high fee though. I'd brought a book (the latest Lee Child 'Reacher'), hadn't brought my glasses. Useless. Anyway, some four hours later we hit London. I love London but the two times I've tried living there I've never quite got to grips with the place. I don't mind though, it means I can still stare with slack-jawed wonder at the sights. That Shard's big innit? Cracking view of Wembley before we were winding our way down on



,went past the mecca that is Lords Cricket Ground, wheeled round Number 1, London (Duke Of Wellington's modest abode), past some big gates with electric fencing that it took me a while to realise were The Queen's back entrance before pulling in to Victoria. Had an hour wait before heading off to Southampton. Nothing to report on that journey, by far the dullest part of the whole weekend (although Blossoms ran it close), though I did see Twickenham which completed the triumvirate of English sporting HQs, (well it excited me, OK?).  I had two hours from the coach arriving till my ferry but thanks to my ridiculously long legs and the genius that thought of putting wheels on holdalls I managed to hotfoot it in time for an earlier ferry. Cue obligatory leaving Southampton photo:


and for a change here's an entering Cowes photo:


I'm not gonna lie to you, I was very tempted to download a very different James Herriot inspired photo then but let's keep it classy. The plan was to let BBR tour manager, the omnipresent Sam Craggs, know when I was landing and he'd pick me up in the East Cowes Waitrose car park. Anyone who's been to the festival will know how useful that car park is for just waiting around. Sam said he may be some time and advised me to go shopping for sunscreen as it was brutal on site. I went shopping for beer. Whether I forgot or my subconscious was giving it the whole 'Hey, I'm too fucking cool to where sunscreen, man' I have no idea but I know within 24 hours I had several cans of 80 degree undrinkable lager and seriously burned skin. I'm an idiot.

The band had had a bit of a mare earlier sorting out their wristbands. I won't go into detail but it involved an 8 mile trek, sniffer dogs, a pack of Durex and Stars giving up on quitting smoking. To save time Rich had signed for my wristband so I was straight into guest camping. (For future reference Richard Gartland - drummer, shall be know as Rich and Richard Cook - guitar and keys will be known as Cooky). The band and some of the entourage had a 12 seater tipi somewhere else on site (I'm not sure seater is the right word there) and I was in guest camping with last years cohorts TV's Chris Walker and his magnificent other half, Sharron as well as new additions Chris' son Gabe and Sharron's son Lewis. Along with Alanah, Abbie, Amy, Brooky, Cooky, Roxy, Jo and Max we had our own little conclave going on. Our roles were designated - Chris was chef (well he has been on Masterchef) and we'd watch. It all worked out nicely. My tent was up, thanks to Sam and Cooky who seemed to do all the work while I pointed at tent pegs, and I was ready to go.

As always the main stage area wasn't open on the Friday but there was still plenty going on. Different this year was the fact that the festival was a sell out with numbers between 60,000 and 90,000 being banded around. Also everyone seemed to have turned up on the Thursday for a change. The place was rammed. This would become an issue over the weekend. The Wombats were on at the Big Top but there was no chance of getting close, which was OK 'cos my plan had always been Avalanche Party at the This Feeling stage. This Feeling once again had a line up of the best and brightest upcoming guitar bands and none shine greater than Avalanche Party.

Avalanche Party


They are ferocious and with Jordan Bell have one of the most intense, and sometimes genuinely frightening, frontmen you will ever witness. He's the perfect guy to front this feral-punk five piece. I've been to Castleton. It's a beautiful, tranquil gem of a place. It's not the kind of place you'd imagine would spawn the juggernaut that is Avalanche Party. Although it is home of the Devil's Arse, so, ya know. There is a reason that people leave Avalanche Party gigs touting them as the best live band they've seen though. They are simply a 'must see' band.

It had been a long-ass day and Avalanche Party had drained every bit of energy I had left, plus it was a big day tomorrow. BBR were all in bed ridiculously early, they know the score. I headed back to my tent to barely sleep. I do it every year, set my tent up, say I love camping I should do it more often, struggle to get any worthwhile sleep and wake up with not one part of my body willing to participate in any kind of moving. I love the idea of camping would probably be a more accurate statement. Plus this year the nights were bitterly cold. Wore a lot more clothes in my sleeping bag than I did wandering around the festival.

Friday 22nd June 2018

I awoke to this though:


and discovered we were camped next to Starsailor's James Walsh, one of the nicest and certainly most talented men in music. A reviving coffee courtesy of Chris and an even more reviving shower and I was starting to liven up. Went for a walk with Brooky to see if we could find the band. If anyone has Talk Talk on the Isle Of Wight I don't know how they ever cope. My signal was, let's say inconsistent all weekend. I finally got hold of Sam to find out we were waiting at completely the wrong tipi site but we couldn't work out who was closest to the main stage and which way we should walk. Turned round and there was the band carrying stage outfits and heading through the dust bowl, so that worked out nicely.  It's at this point that I always feel the need to justify my being here. Three years on the trot now BBR have got me guest list for the IOW festival and I simply cannot express my gratitude enough. It is why from this moment till the start of the gig I am forever saying 'What do you need me to do Sam?' I grabbed the merch box and we headed down to artist liaison at the back of The Big Top. From there the band, gear, girlfriends and this hanger-on were loaded into buggies and taken down to the artist village at the back of the main stage. We unloaded all the gear before loading the band again as they had an interview with ITN to do for that night's News At Ten.


This buggy literally took them ten yards to where the interview was happening. Whilst all this was happening Sam was doing this:


It has to be said that Sam Craggs makes the BBR machine work. He knows who and what needs to be where, and when. He is organised and where others may stress in what are very intense situations he is always calm and a genuine delight to be with. Whilst setting up he had stage and sound engineers bombarding him with questions and never once flapped. He was always informative and courteous whilst still grafting away. I love him dearly and know that Bang Bang Romeo are eternally grateful for the constant, selfless work that he puts in both on and off stage.

We'd had word from the band's manager, Guy, to get the gear down to the main stage so Sam and I loaded another buggy and headed down. Again I did my 'can lift heavy things bit' (including moving one of the satellite stage props onto the stage). I'm not gonna lie, it felt good to be helping the band set up but also the chance to say I'd stood on the IOW Main Stage was too good to miss.








I was chatting with Guy during the soundcheck and he said as long as the crowd fill the space between the stage and the first barrier he'd be happy. He really needn't have worried but more of that in the Part Two.






All set up and I was dispatched to round up various members of the entourage with their passes and bring them all backstage. That's more my limit to be honest. My duties successfully carried out we got fed. This was just getting better all the time.


And with that the band headed to the dressing room and I went to find my spot front of stage and see if my mate Mark had got in. He'd been ringing to say the queues were a nightmare but there was little we could do to help, plus I had my arms full of a satellite. He was there though. Ready for the main event.

To be continued....