Glastokill 2010 #4

Marcus Kernohan

– 26 Jun 2010Posted in: Festivals, Live reviews

Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood

Hello, and welcome to another installment of Stereokill.net’s coverage of Glastonbury 2010. Let’s kick off with some microreviews from last night’s festivities. From Matthew Healy:

20:30 [Park Stage] – A massive crowd is gathered at the Park for Friday’s special guests. The rumours keep on flying until the moment Michael Eavis himself takes the stage to announce we’ll be watching the one and only Radiohead. Or rather, 40% of the one and only Radiohead. Thom Yorke entertains the crowd with material from his solo album before Jonny Greenwood joins him onstage to lead the crowd through a mini-greatest hits set, including a massive singalong to ‘Karma Police’.

Meursault

22:00 [Introducing Stage] – With a voice naturally suited to bigger stages than this, Meursault‘s Neil Pennycook has no trouble drowning out the sounds of the rave next door. Banjo-related technical problems force them to stray from the planned setlist, but they take it in their stride and blow the crowd away.

23:00 [Pyramid Stage] – In what will surely be remembered as the definitive Gorillaz live set, serial collaborator Damon Albarn is joined by Kano, Little Dragon, The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Snoop Dogg and even the legendary Lou Reed to play choice cuts from their back catalogue.

Now, on to more current events. There seems to be some dissatisfaction about the Saturday lineup at the festival. This from Nick Eardley:

17:44 [Other Stage] – The National‘s set meets with a cool breeze to reflect their chilled style. Spoken to quite a few people not impressed with today’s [musical] line-up and trying the whole performing-arts side of the Glasto experience instead. Wherever you go there are hordes of people and a surreal atmosphere. It’s not until you take a day to wander around that you start to understand just how diverse this place is.

The National

And this from Matthew at the same set:

17:53 [Other Stage] – Even with a horn section to flesh out their sound, The National don’t manage to fill the stage. Can’t help but feel they’d be a better fit on the more intimate John Peel Stage.

19:07 [Pyramid Stage] – Although I can’t see Shakira due to my tactical position (on a bench, massaging my poor swollen feet), she sounds absolutely brilliant.

As always, stay tuned. We’ll be updating this page with more as it comes in. Biffy Clyro are on at the Park Stage right now, as tonight’s special guest, so expect a report from over there when we have it.

Update (22:36) – Let’s get our reviewers’ views on some of the later acts now. From Matthew:

19:55 [John Peel Stage] – A far cry from the shy Foals of old who wouldn’t even face their audience, the band take to the stage with confidence and an unexpected energy to wow the thousands of festivalgoers who chose them over Shakira.

And from Nick:

20:57 [Other Stage] – My personal highlight on Saturday, Editors onstage now. Anyone who has seen them knows the passion they put into sets; no different today. Such passion in the vocals on the slower tracks.

22:34 [Rumour] – Apparently Plan B and Mumford & Sons have been doing cheeky special guest appearances on the BBC Introducing Stage. One more scheduled for tomorrow.