SUNDAY ROUND UP

 “Wake up Leeds, everybody dance”, shouted bouncy 18 year old Hayley Williams of Paramore, having been given the arduous task of opening the main stage on the final day of the festival in front of a sleepy crowd looking to enjoy a lazy Sunday.  The stunning fiery redhead commanded the attention of the audience while controlling the stage, constantly pressing for crowd participation as she bounds around to saccharine feel-good rock.  Everyone was raised from their slumber by the massively energetic Misery Business, inducing mass foot tapping and head banging to tracks from their newest album Riot!, including seriously danceable For A Pessimist I’m Pretty Optimistic.  

The Young Knives drew one of the largest crowds of the afternoon to the NME stage, from hardcore fans at the front of the stage to the crowd enjoying the sun under the video screens outside.  They were a band to rest to on the grass with a beer and their  bright upbeat melodies complimented the perfect weather.  Nothing here particularly stood out as special, but their musical talent was obvious and their fanbase appeared to be greatly satisfied.

Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco has the makings of a dodgeball champion.  He remained respectably calm under a hail of bottles, the band powered through what appeared to be a stripped down set in comparison to last year with little to say to the audience, missing extravagances such as cellos, extra pianos, accordions and a backdrop.  Despite often being mocked, their creativity, divergence to any other band performing and lack of arrogance makes them far more deserved of a place on the line up than some of the tedious middle of the road indie rock filling some of the larger slots this weekend.  It is absolutely impossible not to smile at the lavishness of the likes of Lying Is the Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off and I Write Sins Not Tragedies, watching a band not taking music writing and performing overly seriously makes it more enjoyable and easier to appreciate.  

Fans were instantly impressed with new material showcased, which sounded as though it had taken a stride towards bluesy rock and roll, but retained the over the top shimmy that makes the band who they are.  Their only downfall was the apparent lack of energy and look of wanting to be elsewhere, possibly down to the primitive behavior of a tiny minority of the crowd.  

Steve McCaul