SUNDAY EVENING
They say that it’s impossible to please everyone? Enter The Twang: that fundamental rule goes out the window. There are elements of their set that anyone can pick out as being to their liking, be it Phil Etheridge’s cheeky chappie loudmouth vocals – a less whiny Mike Skinner – or the urban lyrical style that their music adopts, or the rockier beats and guitar feedback that any Enter Shikari fan would appreciate, or the genuine excitement and appreciation that the band cannot help but ooze. They received a riotous reception on the NME stage which they returned by blowing everybody away with the energy they put into songs like new single Two Lovers and the beautifully crafted Either Way. Etheridge seemed truly bemused that anyone had chosen to watch his band over any other, and that is what seemed to spur him on to give his absolute best.Watching Arcade Fire can only be described as a heavenly experience. The harmonic multitude of instruments filling the stage create a cross between The Flaming Lips and Pink Floyd when combined, warming thousands on a chilly Sunday evening. Absolutely nothing this weekend can be compared to this bizarre yet enchanting array of soothing synth and strings, hypnotic rhythm and angelic singing which is guaranteed to leave you smiling for hours after.
Not just anyone can close the Leeds festival. Few bands have the legendary status, the back catalogue, the charisma and the balls to undertake the challenge. The Red Hot Chili Peppers tick all the boxes. Their closure on Sunday night will go down as one of the most memorable on record, once they started playing, ironically breaking straight into Can’t Stop, they didn’t stop until the moment they left the stage 2 hours later, between songs were musical interludes, be it a bass solo or a rhythmic pounding by drummer Chad Smith. Anthony Kiedis’ huge vocal range is only really noticeable in a performance spanning this number of songs, the depths of which are visible mainly during their latest release, Hump de Bump. Clearly aiming to please the fans who had hogged the front barrier for the duration of the day specially to see them, the set consisted mostly of lesser known album tracks, although crowd pleasers Californication, By The Way and Give It Away were all present. No one could have closed Leeds 2007 like the Chilis did, they epitomise the spirit of the festival: something for everyone to rock out or chill out to, either way having the time of their life.
Steve McCaul
