MOVE - day 1

The press release brands Move as an urban festival, bringing the festival experience to the city. Which all seems like a good idea. However, for this first day at least, selling it to the people has been a little difficult. The ground being less than half full didn't do much to exude any atmosphere. The press waffle also talked of the diversity of the line up. This was very much in evidence today from the rock of Kinesis, the weird grunge of Mars Volta to the crowd pleasing Flaming Lips and pop rock sound of the Manic Street Preachers.

Inept organisation led to me missing most of Kinesis set. Those on the Kinesis guest list being well and truly miffed that the box office only opened as they came on. The last two numbers were standard affairs which seemed to please the sparse crowd.

I think maybe I just didn't get the Mars Volta. I didn't appear to be the only one in the dark though. Poodle headed guitarists pounding their way through a heavy tinged set.

Then in contrast there were the bland jumper and bad-taste shirt wearing Teenage Fanclub. They played their way through a greatest hits package effectively without ever working up a frenzy.

Chatting to people in the crowd, there appeared to be a post Glastonbury lethargy. You wondered whether it would transfer to the final three bands, all of whom were following well received Glastonbury sets.

Super Furry Animals were the first of these. They were the first crowd pleasers of the day. Their music is suited to outdoor settings. The sublimely free and easy sound of 'Juxtsupposed With You' sitting easily alongside 'Run Christian Run' and 'Rings around The World'. New single 'Golden Retriever' bounded along like an enthusiastic puppy. They ended on an intense version of 'The Man Don't Give A Fuck', leaving the stage as the song still played along. This, unfortunately muting the reception they deserved.



If anyone were designed to warm up a crowd it's the Flaming Lips. Wayne Coyne said in a recent interview that Glastonbury hadn't phased as he just played to the first few thousand people he could see. That appeared to be borne out today as he played the vastly smaller crowd with the same intensity. A man who can blend in furry animals, inflatable suns, confetti, scary nun glove puppets, and exploding inflatable balls alongside pouring fake blood on his head while singing Happy Birthday has to have what it takes. A black mark though to the chicken who performed with her head off and kept posing to the crowd. No-one was interested love, you really weren't the main attraction today, you should have just stuck with the script.



Finally it was the Manics. They performed with professionalism and talent but appeared to be going through the motions. James Dean Bradfield perhaps had the explanation when he said he wanted to give these songs a final play before moving on to something new. The crowd still lapped it up however with Motorcycle Emptiness and you Stole The Sun From My Heart being particularly anthemic. There were poignant moments with the heartfelt dedication to Richie Edwards and the tongue in cheek to dedication to a Daily Star newspaper that had, wrongly, claimed his bones had been found. The Manics filled an allocated 90 minutes with only 70 and did not return for an encore.

The beginning of term report on Move was 'Good Try, Must do Better'.

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