Latest News

9th January
Cambridge Folk Festival takes ticket company to High Court
leader of Cambridge City Council talks exclusively to eFestivals
8th January
Floors and Walls, and Dead Pixels, announced for Redfest
plus many more for free festival including Susie Clarke, and Sam Quill
7th January
Metal 2 The Masses competition for unsigned talent now on
Bloodstock seeks venues and unsigned acts
7th January
first act self confirmed for Download
could Heaven and Hell be heading for Donington?
6th January
deadline approaching for Emerging Talent competition entries
to win a chance to play at Glastonbury Festival
  rss | more news arrow
home » festivals » V Festivals » V Festival (Staffordshire) 2005

The Stands

V Festival (Staffordshire) 2005 review

Thursday 25th August 2005


The Stands opened the V stage on the Sunday afternoon at Staffs. My first impressions of this band had been fairly abysmal, and I remember being disappointed watching them at Move in 2004, and then even more disappointed with last years ‘All years leaving’ album.

Today they seem to have a refreshingly new sound, altogether different from the internalized warbling of their debut. The Stands have gone up a gear and have transformed their summery blues from something that was dwindling on repetitive tedium to something far more upbeat, somewhere along the lines of a cross between The Coral and The 22-20s.

The band was joined on stage by Abi Harding from the Zutons for ‘Just enough Love’, which caused a frenzy of excitement from all the photographers, clambering to get a shot of the saxophonist.

Throughout The Stands half an hour set the crowd looked bored and uninterested, which was a shame because The Stands really have improved. ‘When the night falls’ was an excellent song and the set was filled with faster rhythmic songs that help move them away from the comparisons of The Coral. The Zutons suffered from a similar problem until they were able to establish a uniqueness of their own. I think this is what The Stands are trying to do; it’s just taking them a little more time.

The Stands dedicate ‘Back to you’ for anybody who had friends who got arrested while attempting to get into the festival. “After all” says singer/guitarist Howie Payne “It’s a festival, all you want is a smoke”. The Stands couldn’t stay away from their introverted psychedelic indie for too long and as the set drew to a close there was less of the short snappy songs and more of the experimental instrumentals that I remember from earlier sets.

The Stands are clearly on their way up, and if their new material is anything to go by they should be making an impact on the UK airwaves very shortly.

review by Scott Johnson



Festival search Ticket search

search future festivals only   advanced search

V Festivals,
related articles:

2005 Line-ups & rumours

Forum

more on V Festival (Staffordshire) 05

V Festivals home
Reviews:
Kravitz inspires and Winehouse looks rough on tame first day at V
V Festival (Staffordshire) 08

Infadels outshine a pedestrian Muse on last day at V
V Festival (Staffordshire) 08

Muse pull off a supermassive performance on opening day of V Chelmsford
V Festival (Chelmsford) 08

The Chemical Brothers bring V Festival Chelmsford to a laser lit close
V Festival (Chelmsford) 08

Sunday overview
V Festival (Chelmsford) 07

Photos:
around the site
V Festival (Chelmsford) 08

Alanis Morissette
V Festival (Chelmsford) 08

Amy Winehouse
V Festival (Chelmsford) 08

Duffy
V Festival (Chelmsford) 08

Kaiser Chiefs
V Festival (Chelmsford) 08

News:
19th August 08
V Festival 2009 tickets now on sale
V Festival (Chelmsford) 09

18th August 08
V Festival 2009 tickets on sale tomorrow at 10am
V Festival (Chelmsford) 08

7th August 08
fans want Winehouse and Kravitz to duet at this year's V Festival
V Festival (Chelmsford) 08

30th July 08
V Festival reveals the Bowtime Bar line-ups
V Festival (Chelmsford) 08

24th July 08
some V Festival tickets are still available
V Festival (Chelmsford) 08

Listed Events:
V Festival (Chelmsford) 09

V Festival (Staffordshire) 09

V Festival (Chelmsford) 08

V Festival (Staffordshire) 08

V Festival (Chelmsford) 07


Chameleon Creations
t-shirts, bags, & other clothing
Unique tie-dye t-shirts, bags, and other clothing to make you feel part of the festival crowd. All designs are UNIQUE. We can offer custom dyeing on some items and many colourways are available.
carbon neutral logoeFestivals is
carbon neutral
more »
water aid logo
eFestivals supports Water Aid, more »
sign up for the
festivals newsletter
more »
© Copyright 1998 - 2009 eFestivals.co.uk | disclaimer | site map