Venue:
Lunar Festival Umberslade Farm
Date: 03/06/2016
Is it summer already? Assuredly so at Lunar where despite fair to middling forecasts we were blessed with not a drop of rain and on steadily warmer weather culminating in a Sunday that was properly scorchioo.
But what about the bands? Friday headliners Mercury Rev were impressively spacey, beaming out grooves that sounded like they came from the heart of the Mojave. Opus 40 and Goddess on a Highway were obvious high points. If there is perhaps a shortage of memorable tunes, and Jonathan Donohue is a marmite-ish frontman (can take the musical saw, can leave the I’m flying arm movements) the space rock groove is mighty fine. Further down the bill Badly Drawn boy’s tea cosy is as unwashed as ever but his downbeat repartee and somewhat sameish songs don’t quite gel.
Saturday night is a tale of two bands. Marquee Moon and Adventure are both much-loved albums in this house and Television were hotly anticipated here. Positives – they sounded great and they could rouse themselves for a pretty terrific take on Marquee Moon itself to finish. Negatives: well how about taking two minutes to tune up between each » Continue Reading.