Friday at Hyde Park for most appeared to be a build up to Morrissey.
Every which way you turned there was a different Mozza t-shirt worn by any one from 15 to 50. And those waiting impatiently to see their god were treated to a set they fully anticipated - musically tight, acerbically witty, simmering rage at meat eaters and Kylie Minogue’s award from the Queen, and of course his vocal and lyrical prowess. In his middle age, the 'kitchen sink’ musical poet commands the stage with the presence of a modern day rock Sinatra (but with a bit less swing). He delighted Hyde Park with Smiths tracks Ask, Vicar in a Tutu, How Soon Is Now, and What She Said, as well as new songs from forthcoming album Years of Refusal, and the staple diet of First Of The Gang To Die, and Irish Blood, English Heart. The Bard of Manchester would take delight in my delicate stomach. I was a little fidgety from an earlier poor decision to buy a hot dog. Not only did I regret the asking price of £5.50 - we’re talking about a fucking sausage in a roll for pete’s sake, not caviar on toast - but my queasy feeling was aided and abetted by Mozza’s verbal disgust at the smell of rotting flesh wafting across the lawn and the eating of death. Yeah thanks mate - as if I wasn’t feeling bad enough. I admit moral defeat.Earlier in the day, a notable point was the early slot given to a highly charged and energetic Dirty Pretty Things set. Arguably the best moment was You Fuckin Love It, with Tired of England a close second and Bang Bang, You’re Dead coming up on the rails in third. The band were up for it and the crowd 'fuckin’ loved them. They followed an impressive Lightspeed Champion and a crisply tight, happy pop set including Happy Birthday, Tell Me What its Worth, and a show-stopping big fat version of the Star Wars theme tune. Black Kids rocked a packed Sandisk stage who erupted for I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance and the new single Hurricane Jane. Guillemots are always good value with Fyfe Dangerfield’s exceptional vocal and upliftingly grandiose songs.
Over in the Tuborg tent Liam Finn and sidekick Elisa Jane (the daughter of Jimmy Barnes) on backing vocals and percussion played tracks from his impressive debut album, I’ll Be Lightning. While they may have missed the presence of a full band (Finn triggering a backing track, and sporadically jumping behind the drumkit), his father Neil (Crowded House) would’ve been proud. Wish You Were Here With Me and Better To Be were played with zest and faultless vocal harmonies.
The Wombats played a blistering Moving To New York, and Lets Dance To Joy Division, and Beck opened with Devils Haircut while sporting his own Beelzebub barnet. The New York Dolls proved there’s still life in the old dogs with original members David Johanssen and Sylvain Sylvain showing no signs of growing old gracefully. The band that inspired many a punk band spat out versions of Jet Boy, Personality Crisis and a rousing rendition of Dusty Springfield’s Take Another Little Piece of My Heart.
Morrissey fittingly closed the show sending off thousands of happy fans into the mild London night singing his words from a 25 year career, and at least one punter regretting eating a sausage.
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