The Who
Live at Wireless Festival 2006 on Sunday, 25th June 2006
We are ferried at high speed towards said venue by Geldard's Coaches, allowing us time to fuel up on Heineken. On arrival, having walked past a pissed bloke being grappled by the scariest lady bouncer I've ever seen, we pop into the guest bit at the back of the main stage to see a wasted Howard Marks and some £3 a bottle booze. Meanwhile, Eels are struggling with what seems to be atrocious sound. E himself looks dapper in flying goggles and fully functioning beard. We stroll down to the other stage, just in time to see Bob Mould getting some points off his chest. He's solo, electric, and the punters keep coming in. Really need Agent W from the LMS forum for help with song titles, but he's not here sadly. As the dark clouds gather overhead, it's time for some scouse psych skiffle on the main stage, yes The Zutons are here and "Pressure Point" is a perfect starting point. By the time we get to "Valerie", I've noticed how posh this festival is - Pimm's bar, picnic hampers and camping chairs everywhere, I feel right at home. After "You Will, You Won't", there's a bit of melodica driven Clinic-esque japery, that's probably not strictly necessary, but gives us an opportunity to nip back to the tent for the end of Robyn Hitchcock, who appears to have persuaded Peter Buck from REM to join in the fun. Good bit of Cameron baiting takes place, and Blair gets a boot to the bollocks over Iraq during "I Want To Destroy You".
At this stage, I must make my only complaint of the day known - why in the name of Dave Sugden did the organisers arrange for The Flaming Lips and Super Furry Animals to clash? It is clearly the work of a moron of the highest calibre. A choice has to be made, sadly, so I start with the Lips. Apparently, the Lips' drummer has also been posting on forums saying that the line-up should be switched round (he's a mate of SFA apparently). Wayne Coyne is a big, transparent bubble and is being passed around the audience, this pleases Malcolm, ½ of the Otley Arrangers Of Rock™ a lot. And hurrah for that. "Race For The Prize" kicks in, loads of bits of paper take to the sky and streamers are blasted into the crowd. One of the Santas onstage appears to be smoking a spliff. On the Lord's day as well, I do not approve, of course. "Yoshimi" gets the mellow vibes going and the nun puppet makes its first appearance at the end of the song. "Yeah Yeah Yeah Song" is proper call and response and makes my tummy feel yummy. "W.A.N.D" has double body strobe action in an area, marvellmouse. As I leave for SFA, "She Don't Use Jelly" is being played. Need I say anymore? This band is superb. Buy their stuff and educate your ears and soul. When I get to the tent, it's already rocking to the back end of a mental "Ice Hockey Hair", quickly followed by a couplet of genius "God! Show Me Magic" and "Do Or Die". It's a festival of course so "The Man Don't Give A Fuck" finishes things off, but sadly only for 7 minutes.
Ok, that just leaves The Who, who were apparently very useful in the Refec at Leeds University a few weeks back. "Who Are You" starts things off, and faces start to smile. "Can't Explain" and "The Seeker" follow and "Anyway, Anyhow" ends the old stuff as we have a 6 song mini-opera of new stuff off "Wire And Glass" the new LP, some of which sounds pretty handy. It still seems a bit weird though - it's only ½ the Who, and it's outside, so the atmosphere isn't as electric as it should or could be. The top news is though is that loads of 50+ years old lads and lasses don't give a shit and are getting as wasted as possible and Daltrey and Townshend are having a good time. Not quite appropriately, "Teenage Wasting" is next, followed by "Drown". This is more fitting as by now the ale is taking over my skinny frame and I spend the remainder of the gig face down in a plastic urinal showing the world my shame. I imagine the last section would have had "Pinball Wizard" and a few more of that LP too. Oh dear.
