Psicle: Wide Awake in the Sun

After last night at the Windmill we four (see pics) arrive at Brockwell Park and stumble upon the Windmill stage catching the last few songs of Mary in the Junkyard who I wanted to see but thought I'd miss as they are on so early. They sounded great with striking vocals and a sound a bit like The Raincoats. Although that's probably not helpful as The Raincoats were pretty diverse musically. By the way, it's incredible how many people rate The Raincoats since Kurt Cobain name checked them but where were they back then. Just saying. Not saying I've never jumped on a bandwagon. Anyways MitJ are great and I must see them perform a full set. Maybe at the Windmill or Blue Dot. Next we call in to see Civic who are a straight up punk rock and roll band with shouty vocals and guitar solos. Entertaining enough way to ease us into the afternoon. JJUUJJUU ease us in in another way as they deliver a psychedelic dose of multi guitar based rock. Around this time I think we see Eva our ex-lodger and her cousin and boyfriend. We see one band with her but sort of lose each other for the day. Ah well that's how festivals roll. At this point I have a photo of the Windmill stage which Clashfinder says should have been Clamm but I can't remember. Anyways, we then watch a slice of original post punk psyche in the sun by way of Wasted Youth who deliver a great set in the blazing sun full of fun and a fair bit of grooving and guitar heroics. Stylish. Blondeshell is / are sort of melodic rock from what I remember dare I say MOR or is that too unfair. Certainly not as quirky and interesting as The Bug Club who are a great trio who sound sort of pre / post punk (take your pick) and if pressed for a lazy comparison I'd say Half Man Half Biscuit. So pretty good then. Around this time the mirth is split between my sun hat (Dutch cycling cap) and laughing about We've Got a Fuse Box and We're Gonna Use It. Next up back into the sun for what must be one of the best surprises of the afternoon. It's a trio called Glass Beams. Now this may surprise my fellow festival goers but this wasn't Nice Biscuit as advertised on Clashfinder. They deliver a brilliantly up beat set of psychedelic rock with a middle eastern vibe and beats just perfect for a small stage in a sunny field smack bang in the middle of south London. They wear matching jump suits and strange face masks so look pretty out there too. Great vocals complimenting the blissed out music and groovy beats getting us dancing. Fantastic. From that we go to one of the bigger stages to see a (apparently) Belarus band Molchat Doma who are a striking trio of bass, synths and vocals. Their odd look is backed up by a strangely danceable dose of gothic electronica verging very close to The Smiths and the vocals are pretty similar if Robert Smith had sung in Russian. All in all an impressive albeit odd performance. Around this time I think myself and Debbie had a lull in our appreciation of the music and lazed around on the grass drinking illicit vodka and eating our usual fare of buddha bowl and chips. No one distracted us enough to stop these activities and generally chilling out so Gilla Band and Lebanon Hanover don't feel upset maybe I'll see you another day when more open to standing up rather than wanting to just lie flat. Even Black Country New Road couldn't grab us and my verdict was gone too folky and never Debbie's cup of tea anyway. However, the Osees or Oh Sees or whatever they're called deliver a fantastically energetic set that you really can't lie down for. A full on rock n roll jumpy punky at times thrashy set and who can resist a two drum band especially when they're both front of stage. Debbie and I nip next door to check out Caroline Polachek just cos so many have said we should but after about half a song are back to join Ramsay and Jo to jump about to the Osees. After that it's an early close to save the residents of south London (you can hear these gigs from my place) more rock and roll noise and we shuffle out with the masses to get a lucky cab on Brixton Hill and up to the Railway at Streatham Common for a birthday party of one of Debbie's work colleagues from the hospice. Already in party mood we have a great time dancing and drinking sambuca until the bar staff pop the balloons (literally) and we go home for a well earned rest. Next morning Debbie announces she's doing a short notice shift at the hospice and Ramsay, Jo and I laze around in the hot sun listening to the funk soul jazz day at Brockwell Park before they leave for Yorkshire. Great weekend guys!

I can't be bothered to enlarge or re-order the photos but at least they're here...