August 23, 2002

The Strokes, Pulp, Janes Addiction, Weezer, White Stripes, Dandy Warhols, Mercury Rev, Soundtrack Of

Sun smiles on the first acts at Reading, but rain falls forJane's Addiction...

Jack White is sitting astride Julian Casablancas ripping from the raw strings of his guitar a fractured solo for 'New York City Cops'. And do you know what? This isn't a music journos wet dream - this is real.

Jack's helping Julian celebrate his birthday in a very special way. Already drummer Fab has presented him with a cake which has distributed - somewhat messily - among the crowd.

But enough of this. The music was sublime - that's what you wanna know. Taking the risk of opening with another new song 'The Way It Is' they conquer the headline slot with utter ease. Highlights are 'The Modern Age' and a teasing twisted 'Take It Or Leave It'.

Jarvis leads a newly energised Pulp through a set which not only underlined the beauty of his bedroom vignettes but raised them to a glorious new level. Naysayers and fashionistas may have written them off already but on tonight's form with a beautifully conceived 'Sunrise' and an elegaic 'Sorted For Es and Wizz' they're still yet to peak at their game.

Back from side project oblivion Perry Farrell's and Dave Navarro's Jane's Addiction is a jewel in a richly dressed bill. The rain may last almost exactly the length of their set but with set that includes a costume change from acid wedding suit to jet-black waistcoat and floppy hat is surely blessed to win over the most rain-scared festival goers. 'Up The Beach'
on its own is worth a dozen rainpours.

There's something odd at the heart of Weezer and its not the fact that they agreed to appear in the most dufus of videos - 'Buddy Holly' or that lead singer Rivers Cuomo gave up the rock lark to study at university. It's more than they never seem to really fit, at turns bewildering, delightful and occasionally irritating their unpredictablity is a cause for celebration. Even if they do finish with 'Buddy Holly'.

The White Stripes will soon take over the world. jack is a live-wire caught in water - pulsing and dangerous shaking over the stage daring to be touched. Meg beats odd time, waiting to see what her leader will do.

He courses through every single song like he has a hotline to the devil. It's rock 'n' roll at its most primal and sexual. Even when technology conspires to fuck it up - the deadly cover of Dylan's 'Lovesick' - they still make every other single act today look over their shoulders in awe. Bow down.

In contrast there's something tired about Dandy Warhols perhaps they've been heaving the cadaver of 'Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia around too long, but they're undeniably flat and even a sound crack at 'Get Off' doesn't manage to lift the occasion.

Mercury Rev are under duress of course, frankly the dark isn't rising - the sun is shining and no amount of dry ice is going to make an iota of difference. But despite this their smooth windswept epics transcend the sunshine. From 'Dark Is Rising' to 'Holes' Jonathan Donahue's fractured tearstained croak transfer us to the middle of a beautiful, dangerous landscape rather than a grey city of municipal car parks.

Soundtrack Of Our Lives continue their quest to play every field in the UK in one summer with such engaging verve, that it's almost as though they're playing their first gig of the year. 'Sister Surround' and 'Nevermore' are familiar are huge toasts to the future and with Noel Gallagher as part of their entourage their future.

TheMoldy Peaches play 'Who's Got The Crack' and wear 'odd' costumes (this time it's a fringed shirt with big eye and bizarre apron). It's hard to believe that 18 months ago they were supporting The Strokes - and now they couldn't be further away.

Anthony Thornton