Psicle: Victorious Park

Monday, May 27, 2019

Victorious Park

Rising groggily follow last night (see previous entry) Ramsay, Jo, Debbie and myself troop off to Mile End clutching our 330ml water bottles (not containing water courtesy of Jo) and after stopping off for a quick pint en route to the park, which nearly gives me sun stroke, we breeze in with hardly any queue and no nosy dogs sniffing me up. I go to the bar and realise why Ramsay was so keen on paying in the pub... £28 for a round of 4 drinks. Eye watering even for London's trendy east region. Then we're into see brilliantly named Pregoblin who are a couple (well, they may be, seem like it on stage, maybe just a duo) who are a bit like last night's vibe seeing nice tuneful songs with an extreme edge. An energetic set with a bit of Spotty Dog Dancing on stage (see last entry) and must be well trendy as FWFB members down at the front of the stage jigging about. And they are very jiggable as underpinning their songs is a great disco funky beat (courtesy of backing tracks) but it gets us in the mood for the rest of this year's All Points East. It's gonna be a hectic day so we skate round to the main stage to catch most of the set of Viagra Boys who serve up hard core punky rock with a very shouty tattooed singer who at one point starts doing press ups. Not sure about that but a great sound. A short interlude when we meet up with Todd who's got a very reasonable ticket then we're off to see Fat White Family Band who have a less aggressive less sleazy album out, in fact sounding like what seems to be the new south London sound, but that doesn't lessen their energy and impact live. Fantastic set and really putting us in the mood for a great day in the sun. Next up another punky set from the great Parquet Courts carries on the mood. Here I meet a youngster with a Camembert Electrique T shirt on who was at the Gong gig last week too. After that Debbie, Todd and I go off to see Jarvis Cocker who's in a very hot crowded big tent which isn't helped by a very mediocre set of lackadaisical tunes and showmanship, which is a surprise, so we go outside to relax and queue for busy bogs. Ah well, next up is Yak who make up for the last disappointment and then some. Great hard rocking songs, with a sax, and very danceable. So danceable that Debbie pushes me into the mosh pit where in a short while I am strangled by Ramsay. So another great set. BC Camplight are on next so we wait around and are rewarded by a dancey indie tuneful set not quite as hectic as Yak but a lovely way to ease us into dusk. Last up, after some food, are the main reason we're here The Strokes. They didn't really hit the mark and seemed to me to playing fairly uninteresting american rock. Maybe it was me as by this time I was flagging a bit and as I was only with Debbie as this time she darted into the crowd and I was on my own. I wander out as they are finishing their set where I sit on the railings trying to spot my mates coming out and being moaned at by security (health and safety risk apparently) who then gets a copper to get me to stand instead. It's like jay walking laws in the USA. What is it with me, Viccy Park and the feds? No matter as we all meet up at the pub next to Mile End tube and then take the tube back home leaving Todd on the Northern line going south. A great day out. Photos courtesy of Ramsay, Jo and Debbie. Great weekend guys - thanks!