sjseabass

There are two Bobs in one Bob Vylan.

The mighty Bob Vylan just confirmed to me at a signing that they’re doing two sets. Didn’t get the stages, but hopefully 02:30 Truth Stage again please and thank you (though better not be just a 20 minute set this time!).

If they play no UK gigs this year, and put a new album out, then I reckon it’s on. Think they would then be at least as suitable as the Cure were, plus the fest might have an eye on keeping the 40+ guitar music fans on side after this year’s Pyramid headliners. Suuuuurely Jarvis et al want to play that stage one last time before they call it a day?

I was at the gig where he self-confirmed and I don’t think he actually said the Park, that was just my assumption in the other thread. Now that the poster is out without him on it, I suspect it might be Woodsies or maybe even (hopefully not) low Other, as he’s surely bigger than the smallest announced Park names. We shall see.

He may have already done so for all I know but Brian confirmed BC Camplight from the stage in Bath tonight. Prime afternoon Park fodder.

I feel like they’ve just got a little unfortunate with how the years acts wanted to do it have fallen. Arctics / SZA / Elton = nice balance Coldplay / Dua / GnR = nice balance But when you swap SZA and GnR they both look wonky.

One of the hexagons in Shangri-La. Think there was another one playing non-stop Blondie and black-and-white silent films. Edit: Forgot about Brainwash that was there too! Plastered with washing machine adverts and full of bubbles, guy playing chiptune off his laptop. Could be what dingbat2 mentioned above.

Shout out also to the secret bit of Heaven in 2013, you had to answer riddles from a faun to get in and then there was a bar selling straight absinthe. Tbh even the main bit of Heaven was cooler that year than any venues now, had to take your wellies off as it was carpeted, dancing on the sofas in your socks to Thom Yorke and Nigel Godrich DJing. Miss those places even though by all accounts I only caught the last couple of years they were commonplace. Luckily there is still Boomtown to scratch that itch.

I’ll never forget the HR Department in 2014. Set up like an office, staff occasionally passing you a folder and asking you to staple the papers, answering old fashioned phones and being told to hand the receiver to someone on the other side of the venue to receive instructions, etc etc. With a DJ playing cheesy work Xmas party bangers. We went there every night.

Reckon Brandon just fancies a break from the tour, couple of nights at Casa Eavis, watch Chris and the lads side of stage with a cider, sorted.

Radiohead 2017 is my favourite gig of all time, and I don’t think it’ll ever be beaten. Yet I totally agree about the screens, don’t know what they were thinking. Thank god I was right at the front. The Cure, who could perhaps have gone the same way with the casuals - those first 10 songs are not exactly radio-friendly bangers - nailed it with their stage show and by all accounts pulled off their own legendary weirdos headline set with aplomb.

At a work do tonight. The G comes up in conversation with a few people. Often surprised when I say nobody has been announced yet. Set out the rumoured headliners: Dua Lipa and Coldplay get nods in an “Oh yeah, figures” kind of way. Stevie Wonder? “Oh wow” “Has Madonna ever done it?” “No, and she’s touring this year, but it looks like they won’t pay her enough.” “That’s a shame.” Really think with Ms Ciccone (seemingly) out of the running they’ve done the best they possibly could with the general public. As usual.

Got a Saturday ticket for Junction 2 festival in London next weekend, going for £40 if anyone fancies it?

Foo Fighters are welcomed with open arms but Green Day are beyond the pale? 🤨

I’m hopeful that Billie Joe’s stroll around Strummerville a few years ago might have done the trick. Probably need a prime booking to fall through for Emily to give them the call (as with GnR) though tbh.

Yeah, I bloody love Blink but they don’t have prime Pyramid fare like Wake Me Up When September Ends or Boulevard Of Broken Dreams in their arsenal like Green Day do.

I walked through that bit multiple times at what I thought would be their peak hours and they were always closed 😞 Agree that SL and UF could use a revamp. Yes the former technically still changes theme but it’s felt incredibly similar the last few years. I accept that its popularity (sadly) rules out a return to full microvenue action (I got into Heaven for the Thom Yorke and Nigel Godrich DJ set in 2013, wild memories) but the amazing team who run it could surely be let loose a little more. A few places playing more extreme music like at Boomtown wouldn’t go amiss either. Truth Stage remains tied with the Park for best stage on the site mind.

The middle of Saturday was maybe 3 or 4 degrees too hot but I didn’t find it too bad really - the ridiculous Wednesdays of the few fests before and Saturday 2019 are the only times I’d say I’ve struggled. Plus, kept reminding myself that it is worth it for how comfortable it makes the nights out in shorts and a hoodie. However I am battle-hardened from Boomtown last year where it was 32+ in the shade every single day (even that was bearable when suitably prepped and didn’t really miss anything!). I can highly recommend soft serve ice cream and a flake for breakfast in these conditions.

Not ‘overheard’ because they were on stage but absolutely creased at Grove on Greenpeace Thursday introducing their next song: ”Now this one’s for those pillars of society, the people holding everything together: the MILFs!!” *crowd goes wild, launches into a banging song about wanting to be a MILF when they’re older*

I go to the fest with my dad every year and he adores them, he’s 60! And I (31) love the 90s stuff, Dookie in full at Reading 2013 was one of my favourite gigs ever. Would be big for all my mates. I’m banging the Green Day drum here but I’d still actually rather it was AC/DC for a rockier option lol (as never seen them). Just think with Billy Joe having come to the fest in the past, on top of everything else above they actually make a fair bit of sense.

Think almost everyone would have said they couldn’t see Metallica and GnR until the former got booked? Late 20s - early 40s is a huuuuuge demographic at the fest, they (we) grew up hearing American Idiot plastered all over the radio. Remember at that time guitar music was all the rage, made up half the Radio 1 playlist etc. Who are these acts that played lower down at Glasto in the midst of a stadium tour (not a one-off date like WizKid) and headlining major European festivals? Mayyybe Katy Perry or Page & Plant? Struggling for any others off the top of my head. Green Day are bigger than any of 2019’s headliners were when they were booked lol (that set blew The Killers back up again).

They still play stadiums and headline everywhere else though?

Is there any inkling of Green Day doing stuff for 20 years of American Idiot? Honestly think they’d go down a storm, they may be a bit less legendary than the other rock acts like Metallica and GnR but they’re certainly a lot more fun and bouncy than either, more big songs for casuals given that album was all over the radio (plus obvs their 90s stuff as well). And Billie Joe was on site a few years ago? Frankly the whole fest needs much more pop punk. Imagine pogoing to Girl All The Bad Guys Want in Woodsies.

Goodnight!

My 3 are Sparks, Charlotte Adigery & Bolis Pupil, and Viagra Boys. Knew Sparks would be amazing after seeing them last month, and that CA&BP would be as well because their album is one of my recent favourites, but Viagra Boys I only gave a quick listen before the fest to fill a gap in my schedule and man they were absolutely sick. Can’t wait to listen properly and see them again. Big honourable mentions to Grove, Skindred, Working Men’s Club, Jockstrap, Leftfield, Fat Boy, Editors, Queens, Henge and Oh My God! It’s The Church.