T In The Park - Day Two : Balado, Kinross
The second day of T In The Park belongs to Coldplay, followed closely by Ash, JJ72, Starsailor and Beck...
After yesterday's downpour, there's a black cloud hanging over T In The Park today and a carpet of slurry covering the site. No one's spirits have been completely torpedoed, but we need an escape. We get it in the form of Starsailor, who ease our pain with easy charm and lush melodramas like
'Alcoholic'. But the apocalyptic mud bath is only briefly forgotten, because here's Shed Seven's retarded brand of indie rock - gamely, a BBC Scotland cameraman allows Rick Witter to wrestle him - to remind us that we are
actually wading through shit.
15.00
T's crowd may not be loving nu-metal, hiphop or UK garage, but they love good tunes as much as the ale. This affords Mull Historical Society a roar of a reception for excellent, awkward pop moments like 'Animal Cannabus', while newcomers Jimmy Eat World unveil their sensitive punk-pop and transport us metaphysically to a sunny car lot in New Jersey. Back to reality, then, with Feeder - the American alt rock band from the Welsh borders. Newly energised thanks to chart recognition, Grant and Co play an enjoyably daffy set.
16.55
Alfie's Ian Brown-fixated singer Lee Gorton may exist in Manchester circa 1989, but Toploader are from another universe, one that has a masochistic reverence for acid jazz. The guitarist goes out with a TV presenter. Thankfully bigger thanToploader, Coldplay are about to get even bigger in the States. Playing to their largest ever UK audience, they reveal what
they've learnt from touring America - the art of appealing to MTV (hence guitar-heavy newies like 'Idiot') without throwing out their own subtle charms. Chris Martin also has a newly pumped-up physical presence which involves him stage-diving during 'Yellow'. Today's wired performance makes Coldplay the band of the weekend, no question.
20.00
MTV-friendly Beck now seems almost resigned to his position as a redundant spokesman for the slacker generation. He cuts a lonely figure on stage, wearing a black vest and sliding around while his band jam for 'Sexx Laws'. Quit the Prince impersonations. Amazingly, now it seems that Ash could teach Beck a few things about being back in fashion. Thanks to their massively popular take on guitar rock - most notably tonight on songs like 'Cherry Bomb' and 'Sometimes' - Tim Wheeler's the biggest gay icon here today.
21.15
Pothead icon Tricky's got his back to us for much of his time on stage. It's darkly lit, often confusing and undoubtedly the result of personal demons and marijuana. But it's now that the black cloud that hung over T today finally
speaks. It's called Sharleen Spiteri and it wants everyone to have a great time. Her band Texas play 'Black Eyed Boy' and suddenly litter duty outside the Bacardi B Bar seems an attractive idea.
21.45
JJ72 might not get out alive from T In The Park - they look like the sort of nicely dressed whiners who'd be tossed around by hyperactive punters needing to wind down. Today, they sound exactly like the second stage
headline band they are. Nice light show though.
22.15
Early '90s dance scarecrows Stereo MC's are back once again doing their 'thang', but Texas are still going on the main stage. This is, of course, completely wrong - Coldplay should have been allowed to close T In The Park this year. Unfortunately, you can't have nice English boys ending the weekend when Texas are still out there looking for work. Next year's headline choices should be interesting.
Andre Paine
'Alcoholic'. But the apocalyptic mud bath is only briefly forgotten, because here's Shed Seven's retarded brand of indie rock - gamely, a BBC Scotland cameraman allows Rick Witter to wrestle him - to remind us that we are
actually wading through shit.
15.00
T's crowd may not be loving nu-metal, hiphop or UK garage, but they love good tunes as much as the ale. This affords Mull Historical Society a roar of a reception for excellent, awkward pop moments like 'Animal Cannabus', while newcomers Jimmy Eat World unveil their sensitive punk-pop and transport us metaphysically to a sunny car lot in New Jersey. Back to reality, then, with Feeder - the American alt rock band from the Welsh borders. Newly energised thanks to chart recognition, Grant and Co play an enjoyably daffy set.
16.55
Alfie's Ian Brown-fixated singer Lee Gorton may exist in Manchester circa 1989, but Toploader are from another universe, one that has a masochistic reverence for acid jazz. The guitarist goes out with a TV presenter. Thankfully bigger thanToploader, Coldplay are about to get even bigger in the States. Playing to their largest ever UK audience, they reveal what
they've learnt from touring America - the art of appealing to MTV (hence guitar-heavy newies like 'Idiot') without throwing out their own subtle charms. Chris Martin also has a newly pumped-up physical presence which involves him stage-diving during 'Yellow'. Today's wired performance makes Coldplay the band of the weekend, no question.
20.00
MTV-friendly Beck now seems almost resigned to his position as a redundant spokesman for the slacker generation. He cuts a lonely figure on stage, wearing a black vest and sliding around while his band jam for 'Sexx Laws'. Quit the Prince impersonations. Amazingly, now it seems that Ash could teach Beck a few things about being back in fashion. Thanks to their massively popular take on guitar rock - most notably tonight on songs like 'Cherry Bomb' and 'Sometimes' - Tim Wheeler's the biggest gay icon here today.
21.15
Pothead icon Tricky's got his back to us for much of his time on stage. It's darkly lit, often confusing and undoubtedly the result of personal demons and marijuana. But it's now that the black cloud that hung over T today finally
speaks. It's called Sharleen Spiteri and it wants everyone to have a great time. Her band Texas play 'Black Eyed Boy' and suddenly litter duty outside the Bacardi B Bar seems an attractive idea.
21.45
JJ72 might not get out alive from T In The Park - they look like the sort of nicely dressed whiners who'd be tossed around by hyperactive punters needing to wind down. Today, they sound exactly like the second stage
headline band they are. Nice light show though.
22.15
Early '90s dance scarecrows Stereo MC's are back once again doing their 'thang', but Texas are still going on the main stage. This is, of course, completely wrong - Coldplay should have been allowed to close T In The Park this year. Unfortunately, you can't have nice English boys ending the weekend when Texas are still out there looking for work. Next year's headline choices should be interesting.
Andre Paine
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