Best Band of the Weekend

[Wiggum]

This year was my first year and I was talking to my mate about exactly the same thing. Basically saying "I wonder if they'll make it bigger....I really hope they don't". It's such a beautiful amazing place.

Anyway, my highlights (musically) were:

Sparrow and the Workshop

Esben and the Witch

Spokes

Also,

Explosions in the Sky

Charlie Bronson Outfit

Broken Family Band

[Elfy]

This year was my first year and I was talking to my mate about exactly the same thing. Basically saying "I wonder if they'll make it bigger....I really hope they don't". It's such a beautiful amazing place.

[Wiggum]

Is he Archie's brother?

[bullybass]

no. that would make it shit. utterly shit. I'd cry. don't do it please

[bullybass]

So Many!

but the best..

Brakes - in the Tipi, completely mental!

The Leisure Society

Joe Gideon & The Shark

The Hold Steady - Did anyone catch Franz doing a solo set with banjo in the Tipi - wicked!

Josh T Pearson (who I wouldn't have seen if we'd got into the Garden for Fleet Foxes - so thank Fox for that!): What a star! Intensely brilliant!

Shearwater - great to see them shift to the big stage after last years brilliant Local performance.

The Acorn - exceeded all of my expectations and I had been listening to their album for a few months

Wildbirds & Peacedrums

Loney Dear

Darren Hayman (Garden stage and Tipi)

Get The Blessing

Zun Zun Egui

The Low Anthem

Mumford & Sons (first band of the weekend, so easily forgotten but they were great, watch out for them in the future)

the average...

Neko Case

Steve Earle

Beth Jeans Houghton

Okkervil River

Vettiver

Herman Dune

the worst...

I didn't see anything that I thought was that bad, although I did find the voices grating from Whispertown2000

There were quite a few things I saw half sets and wished I'd seen more, especially Efterklang and Archie Bronson.

Saturday was one of the best days I've ever had, musically, at a festival - I've never caught so much great music in one day!

Here's to next year!

Edited September 14, 2009 by bullybass

[bennyhana22]

This seems to be the best place for me to do a wee review of my festival. Apologies for any self-indulgence perceived...I'll try to be brief (not easy as any Efest camper will attest) and concentrate on some of the best bits for me...

Friday

Pitched up in Geof's selected site and very quickly started to make friends! Great idea to do this and thanks to all. Sue, it was a particular pleasure sharing EOTR with you and putting up your tipi! Also a great honour to have made a few key band recommendations that came off, esp. TTMOE

Mumford & Sons - WOW! What a fantastic, joyful and magnificent performance in the sun in the Garden. Not sure I could have asked for a better start...

Loney,Dear - really enjoyed their set, esp. second half

Spokes - very first band of the weekend to play the Local. They had a huge crowd, got a magnificent reception, played a blinding set and were genuinely astonished and delighted at how well they were received. One of the highlights of EOTR 09 for me.

Explosions in the Sky - despite being a little 'tired and emotional' just before they took the stage, I rallied and was in prime position for one of the sets of my life. In fairness I had waited an awful long time for this, but they outdid even my over-enthusiastic expectations. Note-perfect, bone-shattering intensity and a superb reception from an enthralled Garden Stage crowd. My fest could have ended there and I'd not have felt short-changed! No.1 set

Saturday

The Leisure Society - another of my must sees produced my No.4 set of the weekend and were PERFECT for midday, in the sun, in the Garden. Beautiful pop music

Malcolm Middleton - special mention for a set I hadn't particularly targeted pre-fest but enjoyed a lot. He's a cool guy.

Magic Arm/Blitzen Trapper - OK. So my only vague 'regret' of the festival and the source of my only complaint. I forewent seeing anything other than 2 minutes of Magic Arm to get into the ludicrous Tipi, only to be behind 100 people in front of a stage on ground level. Hmmm. I know that the Tipi problems have been discussed at length so I won't repeat that, only to say that if you're going to have such a neat feature as secret sets at a festival, you can't locate them in a venue that makes them exclusive to such a small number of festival-goers...especially when you have most of them at a time when there's not a LOT else going on and so demand will be highest. There, rant over.

Okkervil River/Fleet Foxes - a real treat of a Saturday night, we quickly realising after OR that no, we were NOT going to 'pop' to 15 minutes of Efterklang as the Garden got very full very quickly. Two fantastic sets. In response to other comments about FFs - I thought they were entirely charming, respectful and grateful to the crowd. From my viewpoint they clearly had a great time, loved the festival and enjoyed witty and sweet banter with the crowd. The tuning up breaks represent their desire to deliver the cleanest and best performance and also demonstrates the complexity of much of their sound with non-conventional guitar tuning etc. They were lovely. FFs = Set No.5 for me

Jarvis and Richard - seemed to try to out-obscure each other in the first 45 mins but settled into something more accessible without being cheesy. Enjoyed what is for me not 'proper' dance music and danced socks off for two hours.

Sunday

The Tallest man on Earth - recommended this to so many and championed him from Friday morning. So mush so that I was anxious that some would be underwhelmed and I'd feel bad for giving a bad tip. ASTONISHING! So breilliant, it's ridiculous! Massibve crowd, fantastic reception, huge cheers, respectful quiet when playing. Brilliant, just brilliat. Had several people 'thank' me for the suggestion. Set No.2 for me and nice to meert Kristian later that afternoon. He was very nice and I texted that I had 'Just shook the Tallest Hand on Earth...'. Got nothing back. Some people, eh? Gutted to hear I'd missed The Leisure Society in the woods, but given the choice again, Tallest Man gets it.

Brakes - Big Top - I'd been cold all day. I went to Brakes. I wasn't cold any more! Great fun

Cinema Tent - perfect for Sunday evening when no bands on I was desperate about before RF. Watched half of 'Let the right one in' and loved it. Luckily my pal watched all of it and could tell me the ending after RF, which leads me to...

Richmond Fontaine - My new, Favourite New Band. Had listened fairly intensely in the last few weeks. Their set was blistering. Full of the emotion and melancholy that you know from the records, but with such power too! Shame the Big Top wasn't a little fuller, but those of us there had the best time. Bought the new record from the side of the stage afterwards. Set No.3 for me.

The Hold Steady - I realise I'll court anger, but WHAT? I'm sorry but these guys just don't do it for me. I would sum then up as a Light Entertainer/Stand-up comedian with a rock and roll backing band. I realise that not all music has to be 'serious' or deep, or have a message etc. I realise that sometimes just making fun music can be great, but these guys suck for quality IMO. Not knocking their musical proficiency, but the song-writing? Meh. And the vocal? Ugh. I agree with a poster on a different thread that compared to Fri and Sat, they are NOT Garden stage headliners - as indicated by a very sparse back half of the Garden. Left after 20mins to go and watch Quack Quack in the local - altogether more entertaining!

General Observations

Site - lovely (Tipi problems aside).

Fellow-festival goers - great, especially those in our camp...lovely to meet you guys.

Food - occasionally a bit pover-priced, but nicely varied and of almost always excellent quality.

Campsite - nicely active without being too noisy etc. Felt like a proper festival camp.

Sound - fantastic. Bit muggy at times in the Local, but Big Top was surprisingly good for a tent and the Garden was invariably fantastic, particularly the mix on some of the multi-instrument bands (e.g. Leisure Society) where every instrument was picked up very well.

So that's it. Sorry for rambling, but it was SO good that it deserved some measured thoughts.

Take care all

Ben

[geofelgie]

Joe Gideon and the Shark

Okkervil River

The Hold Steady

As a top three

But also Mumford and Sons, Loney Dear, The Duke and the King, Leisure Society, Low Anthem, Malcolm Middleton, The Travelling Band, Tallest Man on Earth, Dan Michaelson and the Coastguards.

I really didn't like Whispertown 2000 and it's clear the Tipi didn't work but that's it for negativity....

......I have to give HUGE kudos to the organisers for the improvements to the Big Top and for sorting the loos out this year........they really do listen and they really do act.....so I'm guessing the Tipi will be sorted out.

By the way...they will NOT be increasing to 10,000 next year, they wouldn't be allowed to without switching sites. I believe they could go to 6-7,000 but even to be allowed to do that they'd have to enlarge the big top and make it the main stage. They have stated several times that they have no current plans to expand............and they've well and truly earned my trust.

Edited September 15, 2009 by geofelgie

[airwaves]

We-heeeyyyyeeessss!!! (possibly in order?)

The Low Anthem - I was nearly in tears, twice, during this set it was so beautiful

Effterklang

Explosions In The Sky

Loney, Dear

Leisure Society

Magnolia Electric Company

Bob Log III

Steve Earl

Oh yeah!!! (not particularly in order)

Mumford & Son

David Thomas Broughton

Shearwater

Darren Hayman - he's fun isn't he?

Broken Family Band

The Hold Steady - though was disappointed that the vocals were so low in the mix

[Swindlebiscuit]

The Hold Steady - I realise I'll court anger, but WHAT? I'm sorry but these guys just don't do it for me. I would sum then up as a Light Entertainer/Stand-up comedian with a rock and roll backing band. I realise that not all music has to be 'serious' or deep, or have a message etc. I realise that sometimes just making fun music can be great, but these guys suck for quality IMO. Not knocking their musical proficiency, but the song-writing? Meh. And the vocal? Ugh. I agree with a poster on a different thread that compared to Fri and Sat, they are NOT Garden stage headliners - as indicated by a very sparse back half of the Garden. Left after 20mins to go and watch Quack Quack in the local - altogether more entertaining!

[sadwitch]

'regret' of the festival and the source of my only complaint. I forewent seeing anything other than 2

The Hold Steady - I realise I'll court anger, but WHAT? I'm sorry but these guys just don't do it for me. I would sum then up as a Light Entertainer/Stand-up comedian with a rock and roll backing band. I realise that not all music has to be 'serious' or deep, or have a message etc. I realise that sometimes just making fun music can be great, but these guys suck for quality IMO. Not knocking their musical proficiency, but the song-writing? Meh. And the vocal? Ugh. I agree with a poster on a different thread that compared to Fri and Sat, they are NOT Garden stage headliners - as indicated by a very sparse back half of the Garden. Left after 20mins to go and watch Quack Quack in the local - altogether more entertaining!

[strummerville]

Will be discplimed and keep to my two best performances. For vey different reassons they are;

1 - Vetiver, they were brilliant, tight and the vocal harmonies at time were amazing.

and I'm amazed they have not been mentioned -

2- Quack Quack in the local on the last night were out of this world. I stumbled upon them in the Local as went there to see She Keeps Bees but I got there early (and puddled!) Quack Quack blew me away.

Edited September 15, 2009 by strummerville

[The_Gruge]

Okkervil River were amazing, and should definitely have headlined in preference to Fleet Foxes, who I like on record but have absolutely no charisma or stagecraft.

Bob Log III deserves a shout, as do The Dodos and Dirty Projectors, all great. The Hold Steady were brilliant, exactly the sort of band you want on the last night: loud, energetic, good riffs, good times.

[bennyhana22]

I don't think the half full garden stage is a proper indicator of popularity though as a lot of people pack up and leave on sunday night each year.

Absolutely fair call, Sadwitch and I was thinking about the fact that it was the Sunday night as I wrote. I also would draw attention to the fact that popular does not necessarily mean good, and vice versa. I could clearly see the fantastic time being had down the front at THS and am glad for both fans and band. They're just not my cup of tea, I guess...

Ben

Edited September 15, 2009 by bennyhana22

[Corporal Clegg]

Another truly great EOTR and top 3 bands for me were:-

Joe Gideon and the Shark

Archie Bronson Outfit

Efterklang

and then in no particular order Explosions in the Sky,Shearwater,Leisure Society,Richmond Fontaine,The Acorn and The Tallest Man on Earth.

Lovely.

[Wabsnasm]

My Highlights: -

Low Anthem -Stunning

Tallest Man on Earth - likewise

Charlie Parr - Legend

Bob Log - Genius

Dirty Projectors

Vetiver

Quack Quack

Spokes

Ohbijou

Lowlights (Not many!)

Hold Steady - Bad, and totally out of place with the rest of the festival. Odd booking.

Whispertown 2000 - Singers who can't sing?

Oh and in response to previous comments, please don't make EOTR bigger! It's perfect. :¬)

[bennyhana22]

My Highlights: -

Low Anthem -Stunning

Tallest Man on Earth - likewise

Charlie Parr - Legend

Bob Log - Genius

Dirty Projectors

Vetiver

Quack Quack

Spokes

Ohbijou

Lowlights (Not many!)

Hold Steady - Bad, and totally out of place with the rest of the festival. Odd booking.

Whispertown 2000 - Singers who can't sing?

Oh and in response to previous comments, please don't make EOTR bigger! It's perfect. :¬)

[sadwitch]

THANK YOU! I SOOO agree with you. In fact the lead girl was not too bad, but the other singer was shocking and, if you're going to have a band where two girls sing together most of the time, why would they sing almost exclusively in unison (i.e. the same melody line) and not in harmony. Not good!

Ben

[Sipperana]

Going for the "Acacemy Award for..." approach rather than chronological...

Bands far exceeding expectations - Loney Dear, Blitzen Trapper, Efterklang, Dodos - all very different from what I'd heard on record, all much rockier and all to the good.

Visual highlight - Joe Gideon and the Shark. Seemingly the Marmite Band of EOTR, I knew what to expect musically but the visual element, particularly the Shark's crisp drumming style and effortless multi-tasking were a delight to see. Dan Sartain ran them a close second with his 50s throwback look, and Shearwater's duelling xylophones is always a joy.

Lumps in throats - the last ever performance by The Week That Was, and my last chance to see Broken Family Band

Surprise packages - Tallest Man On Earth and the Travelling Band

Wish I'd not been too wazzed out to enjoy - Herman Dune

Wish I'd seen more of - Bob Log, Archie Bronson

Best on-stage banter - overall, the Leisure Society whose laid-back brotherly chat suited their music perfectly. Best individual qoute was from the Broken Family Band - "this might not be our best song, but at least it's in A"

The music aside, it was a stunningly good festival, full of great people, gorgeous weather, excellent food and of course the fantastic setting. Simon and Sofia looked long and hard to find their perfect venue for their festival, and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't want to hold it anywhere else, so that more or less limits the numbers. Larmer Tree Festival has 6 stages compared to EOTR's four (five if you include the comedy house) so there might be scope for a bit of expansion, but not much.

As has been said elsewhere, the only real grumble is with the Tipi Tent - not a patch on the Bimble Inn, and the humourless Tipi security were conspicuously out-of-sync with the overriding vibe of the festival. Still, only minor grumbles against what was my favourite festival of the year - possibly my favourite individual festival experience ever.

[Sipperana]

If I may add my two pennorth on the Hold Steady. I saw them at Glastonbury 2007 when they were probably the best thing I saw there. The sheer energy, joy and silly dancing sweeps you along and adds to, rather than distracts from, the music. Okay they can be samey, and the Randy-Newman-jamming-with-Thin-Lizzy approach can wear after a while (and I rarely if ever listen to them on CD) but I found 1.5 hours of them far more entertaining than I thought I would.

I did think he looked like Timmy Mallett though

[bennyhana22]

That's antifolk for you.

[MrSimonW]

Band of the weekend for me was Efterklang - I cannot tell you how excited I am now about the forthcoming Barbican gig, they were superb with a string section consisting of 1 (one) violinist, how amazing will they be with the sinfonia!

Honourable mentions to the Low Anthem, Leisure Society, Ohbijou and The Hold Steady all of whom I enjoyed, but it is Efterklang that I keep thinking about!

[fogged]

No Sadwitch, you cheeky monkey, that's anti-not-very-good-singers!

Ben

Edited September 15, 2009 by fogged

[bennyhana22]

Now Ben, surely anti-not-very-good-singers would be the least likely place to involve not-very-good singers. Come on, man, buck your ideas up!

Grumpete

(unless you mean anti-folk is, itself, anti-not-very-good-singers, which would invalidate what I said there.)

[Curly]

Couldn't possibly choose a favorite, so maybe some joint tops:

Leisure Society (especially secret gig in woods!!)

Joe Gideon and The Shark

Mumford and Sons

Okkervil River

Motel Motel

Fleet Foxes

so many other bands that deserve a mention to though.

Awesome weekend!!!

[perfectpassion]

Once again Pete your superiority with the written word puts me to shame! That last post had me going 'round in circles!

You have to let us know when your EOTR review is published and give us a linky-link

Great to meet you and experience your not-entirely-chipper-all-the-time demeanour!

Ben