Alabama 3 prove worth the wait on a rainy Sunday afternoon
Bingley Music Live 2008 review
Thursday 4th September 2008
Sunday is free ticket day where you can just turn up & walk in to the arena but through the usual security checks, the weather forecast is for rain and yet again umbrellas are not allowed into the arena. The line-up today is not as good as day one, consisting of local bands and recently charted acts.
The Sylvias are the first band to get my attention with the beautiful Finnish twins Stef (Vocals & guitar) & Sami Rose (Bass) taking to the stage with their acoustic folk melodies, perfect Sunday afternoon music, 'Two Minute Song' being the highlight. The clouds finally open up to the now familiar summer rain, which has dominated most of this year's festivals.
The music takes a rapid change in direction as mini super group Jubilee take to the stage, comprising of ex members from Nine Inch Nails, Queens of the Stone Age, and Wires on Fire. The sound is loud & rocking the single 'Rebel Hiss' being the best of the bunch. The crowd is now less than before as many choose to go home rather than venture the rain hit event.
The King Blues keep the momentum going as the rain briefly stops, likened to the Clash but I feel more like The Mescaleros, the lead singer takes to the stage with a small ukulele. The band consisting of many members, it is hard to count how many as they don't stand in the same space for long, constantly having to avoid each other as they run around the stage. The guitarist plays acoustic like his life depends on it snapping strings repeatedly such is the hard playing.
The guitar tech brings a never ending stream of guitars onto the stage which is just as well. The guitar sound with its ska beats go downs a storm with the crowd.
Recent chart entry Natty whose hit 'July' finally gets the first sing-along of the day. 'Cold Town' with its reggae bass line sounds great with its hug a hoody theme.
Alabama 3 keep the damp & soggy crowd waiting, but boy are they worth the wait, with their country acid house music, the keyboard player is well inebriated preferring to drink more beer & smoke cigarettes than play the keyboard, occasionally leaning on the keys & falling to the ground!!!
Finally darkness descends on Bingley as Echo & the Bunnymen appear. The stage darkly lit Ian McCulloch sporting long dark hair, black beard, black glasses & a black full length coat goes for the Darth Vader look. The three opening songs I could not decipher what they are and by now the rain is torrential, the crowd is minimal. Soaked to the skin I finally decide to call it a day, as I leave the arena I realize I am not the only one to have had enough.
Hopefully next year's event will have better weather or brollies will be allowed if not. For the price of the ticket this is one event worth going to, with a rich diversity of musical tastes, there will be a band to suit all members of the family.
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