Someday we'll be drinking with the seldom seen kid

Day Two At Latitude

The Saturday was the day when I had the least amount of stuff that I already decided I wanted to do, so a lot of time was spent just wandering about, soaking up the atmosphere, trying to use the toilet as few times as possible (they may have been pretty good as far as festival toilets go, but I still had to psyche myself up before I could use them). Pimms was quaffed; fluorescent sheep were admired, all at a leisurely pace.

First of all we visited Word Theatre, which was pretty cool. In short, a bunch of actors reading short pieces about dreams. It's a really nice simple idea, which worked really well. And it was a good way to start the day's proceedings.

First band of the day was House of Love, "an English rock band" that I found reasonably engaging back in the late 1980s. I was curious to see what they were like, having never seen them live before. It was pretty good. They went down really well, and seemed genuinely pleased by their reception. I'm glad I checked them out.

Saturday was also a day for a little bit of literature. Iain Banks was appearing in the literary tent. I've read most of his books (well, apart from the Sci Fi ones) and I've heard him speak before and found him engaging. Here was no exception; he was garrulous and entertaining and happy to take questions from the floor. I can never think of anything intelligent or witty to ask. And he likes Pixies, so that is cool.

Next band up were Elbow, "an alternative rock band based in England". They were brilliant!! From the first trumpet blast, to the echoing "Throw those curtains wide", sheer class. Guy Garvey manages to make 20,000 people standing in a field seem like an intimate gig. And it takes a very cool man to completely fluff the opening note of a song, only to proceed to get the audience to do it for him

Lastly it was time for Sigur Rós, the Icelandic post-rock band with melodic, classical and minimalist elements. I was curious about them, as so many people whose music taste I rate rave about them. And I wanted to like them. But I don't think that I really get it. Granted they put on a spectacle and seemed like they were having the best time. Maybe I just don't get Icelandic music. I don't really like Bjork (a couple of Sugarcubes songs aside). I enjoyed it more as their set progressed, and I've now come to the conclusion that I liked the set more now than I did at the time. If that makes any sense. The word soundscape springs to mind. Maybe I just don't really get post-rock.


Highlight - Elbow
Lowlight - stupid people who insist on standing beside me and have loud inane conversations while bands are playing, who are all the more stupid when they say "Oh, I really love this song" and then proceed to talk all the way through it.
Surprise Discovery of the Day - I know more House of Love songs than I realise
Non-surprise Discovery of the day - Elbow are great live