review

This years free Godiva Fest was welcomed by Coventry with anticipation, wide smiles and shitloads of beer. The relatively low-key festival hosted a suprisingly fab line up this year - thought by most to be the best its ever seen. Appearances from The Datsuns, Goldie Lookin Chain, Kasabian and Young Heart Attack amongst others promised that it was set to become one the best free festivals in the UK.

The evening started for me with "Liam Gallaghers new favourite band", Kasabian. A promising electro rock band, whose songs whilst enjoyable were easily forgotten. Although the band lacked a difinitive sound, their set was tight, their songs well written, and their rocking rocked.

Next up were Young Heart Attack, hailing from Austin, Texas. The Frontman (who looked scarily like the dude from Toploader) had a voice to make the Darkness cower. The band were energetic and passionate - and as a result recieved a great reaction from the audience. It was a shame that the lead singer did not recieve the attention he deserved - his annoying female backing singer (who had enough talent to play tambourine too!) hogged the limelight and failed specatularly at trying to be Courtney Love or Karen O.

They were followed (after a long wait) by Goldie Lookin' Chain, presenting themselves as God dressed as Blazin' Squad, who have been subject to a lot of hype from the likes of Jo Whiley and Huw Stevens of Radio1. Their tounge in cheek hip-hop style clearly divided the audience, with some presuming it was all a bit too chavtastic for them, wheras others looked beyond the 80's tracksuits and tacky ali g jewellry to see lyrical genius on the same level as the Streets, Beastie Boys and N*E*R*D. Expect future world domination. The recent hit, "Half Man, Half Machine" started their set off in style, and much of the audience sang along to their forthcoming single " Guns don't kill people, rappers do". Tracks included " f**k You, Alicia Keys" in which the boyos defiantly disassociate themselves from American Hip Hop. With the crowd clearly converted and having the time of their lives, their short set ended and the Orange amplifiers appeared on stage in anticipation for the welcome return of the Datsuns.

After a long break to record that difficult second album, the Datsuns whistle stop European Tour somehow ended up in Coventry, providing the last chance for Britain to witness proper rock before they head off for an arduous world tour later this year. They appeared on stage bang on time, complete with painfully tight jeans , heeled brown leather shoes and tight shirts, making Dolf look the perfect candidate for a sex- change operation. The set included their new single "Blacken my Thumb" along with hits from their previous album such as"Harmonic Generator", "Mother f**ker From Hell", "In Love" and "Lady". In the cramped, sweaty tent, the datsuns achieved a feat equivalent to drawing blood from a stone: summoning from the crowd what little engery they had left for moshin'. Their pure guitar rock, although not completely original, sent waves through the audience rockin' me to the bone.

All in all, Godiva Fest was one of the best free nights I've had in a long long time, and was a great warm up for this years larger festivals. Bring on 2005!

review by shinyhappyperson

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