Bennett shambles Rocking
Reading Review 2006
As the acrid plastic
smoke cloud fades on
Reading, it’s time to
pause and take stock of
a music festival so in
demand as a ‘youth
experience’ that perhaps
the bands are now
becoming secondary to
the mayhem.
Here are some of my
personal highlights, or
at least some of the
bands that I was
coherent enough to
watch.
Friday
Gorgol
Bordello
has to be at least
applauded or something
for bringing folk gypsy
punk to the main stage
and featuring a
violinist in a Slayer
t-shirt. You would think
that Peaches
armed with a full band
and great new album
would destroy today,
unfortunately she
misfires a bit and the
general feeling is that
her drummer is no match
for her drum machine.
However even without
Josh Homme, Eagles of
Death Metal truly
ignite and play their
set as if it’s the end
of the world. The like
of ‘Cherry Cola’ take
rock and roll down to
it’s most simple and
bottom wiggling form and
judging by the
ridiculous amount of
people crammed in and
out of the tent the
popularity of these boys
has been grossly
underestimated. Next up
Twilight Singers
featuring Greg Duli of
the Afghan Whigs provide
a mesmerising set of
quality music that
reaches its climax when
the legend that is Mark
Lanegan joins them
onstage for a few songs
including Leadbelly’s
‘Where did you Sleep
Last Night’ and his very
own ‘Sideways in
Reverse’. Primal
Scream are the
headliners we choose to
watch for obvious
reasons and boy were we
glad as they delivered a
hit machine of dance
rock excellence that was
all killer and zero
filler.
PEACHES - Carling
Festival 2006
Saturday
Recently The Fall
have been astounding
live and on record,
unfortunately due to
this being a temporary
line-up, due to most of
the band being still in
America they fail to
deliver quite what they
are capable of. An
extended ‘What About Us’
hits the spot and Mark E
Smith still posses more
charisma and attitude
than practically every
band on this bill.
Looking forward to that
new album. Muse
are great musicians and
songwriters, something
just stops me from
wholeheartedly loving
them though…
Sunday
Goldie Lookin’ Chain
are still capable of
drawing a massive crowd
despite being dropped
and the new material
surely indicates that a
new deal is just around
the corner. I’ve been
really looking forward
to Slayer and
with Dave Lombardo back
on drums and a number 1
US album (Yes, really!!)
they should be firing on
all cylinders, something
just isn’t quite right,
maybe its not loud
enough, but its merely
an ok gig. Also, don’t
think I didn’t notice
that missed drum fill at
the end of ‘Raining
Blood’ Mr Lombardo!
Fortunately after such a
lengthy absence from the
UK Pearl Jam show
Reading what its all
about and remind those
that ‘stopped after Vs’
what a truly classic
band with genuine
integrity really is.
Eddie Vedder is drawn to
near tears by the
euphoric audience
reaction. They could
have played for six
hours without touching
every classic but from
start to an awesome
‘Yellow Leadbetter’ they
represent true
songwriting
craftsmanship that shows
no sign of abating any
time soon. Rock needs
more bands like this who
can sustain a career and
weather the increasingly
fickle storm of fashion.
Andrew Bennett
