emerging talent competition - Thursday Review (March 2007)

Pilton Working Man's Club has had a makeover since our last visit two years ago. Now with a large foyer, a lift and additional rooms including an expansive press area and the locals must delight in this addition to the village that the festival has provided for them. It's incredibly sound proof, we arrive just as the second act take to the stage but unaware of it from outside the stone building.



Inside the venue the sound, lights and atmosphere are sleek and cosy and Michael Eavis, the festival organiser who is also one of the judges over the next three nights, recommends the cider. We have missed the first act, the African drumming of Jazzworld hopefuls Baraka, I'm disappointed but we got stuck behind some slow lorries on the way to the Somerset village.

The Epstein
The four piece from Oxford are fronted by Olly Willis who spent some time in Wyoming and there's no getting over it clearly put country in his soul. With a banjo and a country beat, but no fiddle they play alt country boot tapping music with great maturity. Their two guitarist juxtapose musical influences within this mid west music. The towering mountains and vast plains are in there somewhere amongst a mixed palette of music that sounds like a stampede of buffalo and draws yeehaws from the crowd as 'Black Dog' their fast tapping single charges from the stage. i tell you pardner I’m partial to a bit of alt country and this lot do it terrifically.



Mr Fogg
A synth driven indie band from Berkshire, who I'd all but missed at Reading when they opened the Carling tent and I'd listened to their tunes before tonight's performance and rated them as a potential winner. Their live performance was slightly disappointing however. Final track 'Seciov' is by far the best of the night.

Smallwhitelight
Just returned from Texas and the SXSW festival I was very impressed by the band particularly the bass player's bass, turns out he's been to this competition before with 'Lucky Jim'. They rock with some skill and remind me of Jet with a dash of The Kinks. I felt all their songs were strong, 'Prisoner', 'Wake Up' and 'Blitz' especially and 'Disco Love' is a song that could well become an anthem for a Friday night. Fast paced and with British lyrics you can listen to, which reminded me at times of the Arctic monkeys in that they were witty and gritty.

Haiki Loki
Some bands transport you to Glastonbury and you can imagine them playing. Haiki Loki did just that, Haiki's voice is full of soul and with a jazz band behind her the gentle music transported me to Jazzworld and its fluttering flags. Very gentle and soothing, I could see myself listening to them while relaxing in the sun. Which reminded my wife to best get wellies just to be on the safe side. Haiki has a fantastic voice and was the best act on the night up for the potential Jazz World slot. Although I missed Baraka who were considered very good by those I spoke to.

30lb of Bone
This is Guinness drinkin' music with weight and gravitas and very atmospheric and powerful stuff. The comparisons to Mercury Rev are not unjustified. With plundered folk roots their lead singer sporting a Sun Studios shirt opens his throat as he plays his guitar. Johnny Lamb sings songs of the sea, and with fiddle and an accordion looking sea shanty making instrument. It's Nick Cave meets the Pogues and although I suspect Johnny is just as happy as a solo musician, I thought it a mite dark for Glastonbury but terrific all the same. Hope to see them at a few smaller festivals this summer.

Dr Meaker
Go see them they'll get you dancing, they got everyone here dancing, with an infectious rhythm, some upbeat dance vocals with some MCing and a stage full of musicians all grooving away happily. By far the best dance act all weekend, and they also wouldn't look out of place on the Jazz World stage they'll have crowds gyrating all summer long! Bristol has a new act to be proud of.



The John E Vistic Experience
More dirty, rocking, drinking music, terrific! Alabama 3 this time meet Shane McGowan and throw in a few trumpets and give us all a terrific sing along. It might be a little predictable, yup their second song is called 'Gambler' but it's also very well done. The cider Mr Eavis recommended earlier in the night has my knees up and jigging and I may have uttered a "WaaHay!" at one point, suddenly I'm grinning and sweaty. This is country folk as we always imagine it should be, over the top and not done as well as this since Dogs D'Amour and it's got banjos too! Surely a residency at Lost Vagueness beckons?

Favourites of the night:
Dr Meaker were great for a dance and my favourite band on the night. Haiki Loki chilled vibes would go anywhere. John E Vistic would actually rock Lost Vagueness best. The Epstein, Smallwhitelight and 30lb of Bone were all fantastic too. what a terrific start although mixing formats on the night makes it a little confusing to judge. However it does offer us a wider range of artists

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