Oxegen Day 3

Afternoon, apologies for the late blog those who have been following. Sunday was a late start for us, and a later finish, when we got back to Dublin there was no electricty in the flat, a situation which was only rectified earlier today.

So, Sunday at Oxegen started with Calvin Harris. MCD had put in a good effort to remedy the situation overnight, with more woodchips scatered around the site, and it did the trick in some of the areas. Midway through Harris set though, actually near the end when the Scottish DJ played Girls, a mud fight broke out in frount of us, with several guys, and a few girls getting dragged into it. This theme continued over the course of the day.

Lady Gaga was next up, an I will be kind and say I have never enjoyed a gig less. Needlessly crass and vulgar, there were three costume changes in the course of a six song set. I am no prude, but this was just pointless.

Via a short spell at Paulo Nutini, we went to see anthoer American lady, Katy Perry. She was engaging, fun, entertaining and more understately sexy than anything that Gaga could offer. Maybe this shows the clear East Coast West Coast divide.A torrential downpour during I Kissed A Girl soaked everyone through, but failed to dampen the enthuasism the crowd, and Perry herslef showed for the song.

After a qick trip to Casio Kids, partly to dry off a little, we saw The Tings Tings play a good set, it was nice to see them this year after being stuck outside a packed tent last year. We popped back to Razorlight for a few songs, catching the end of Jason Mraz on the way, before heading to the Red BUll Music Academy again, this time to listen to Florence and The Machine.

Florence, despite a brief delay, was brilliant, playing to an enthuastic and energetic crowd. She really belted through the set, hitting high points with Dog Days, Kiss With A Fist and Cosmic Love. I really enjoyed this gig, and would recommend anyone who can to catch her as soon as possible, while she is still paying smallish venues. We finished off with a trip to The Killers, and then home from Kildare.

Song of the Day: Doy Days Are Over

Quote of the Day: Lady Fucking Blah Blah more like.

General impression: MCD fought a good fight, but a ten minute deluge just turned the entire site into a quagmire, with standing water in several tents, and inches of mud in places. I know they can’t control the rain, but anyone who saw the river flowing down to the right hand side of the stage from the Green Spheres tent will appreciate that somethign better ha to be done with drainage. Mud. What is it good for, absolutley nothing.

Oxegen Day 1

It’s Saturday morning of Oxegen weekend, and we are about to leave for the second day of the festival in Punchestown. Last night was a ate one, due to some difficulties on our bus, and some rowdy shouting and fighting (masterfully handled by the COOLEST undercover guard in the world) so its late that I post my day one report.

Well, it stated well, little or no traffice ment our journey was a little under 80 mins to site, which is about what we had last year. Straight in and with the help of twitter got into the Dirty Epics. Alan, the drummer, has really tighened this dublin punk/pop outfit up a lot, and there was much more energy in the bigger Green Spheres room that the smaller tent of last eyar. SJ Wai was on form, chatting away between songs, but they might have prefered more vocal in the mix. The Cure, Weirdo and Pony all went down well.

From here we went out into the rain, to The Corona’s. Good set, with the big sons going down best, ome decent new stuff being tested out, and Hero’s or ghosts ending, first verse in Irish.

After Corona’s, Pam wanted to be up near the front for the evening, so we stuck around for James, who was a bit meh. Lily Allen was on next, and was n much better form that last years blue mermaid gig, seemed more relaxed, and got the ladies in the crowd going.

Home-comers The Script played a short set, and were it not for the constant crowd cheering may have struggled to fill a slot which already featured a few covers. The new album will be the test of this Dublin band, but the crowd at Oxegen loved the set they played, with cheering and chanting stopping the gig a number of times. The finale of Hero’s draped in a tricolour was a little much maybe, but you can’t fault enthusiasm.

Pam was more excited about Snow Patrol then ever, probarbly hasn’t been this excitable since the last Snow Patrol gig we went to. Lightbody et al started as they ent to go on, and toured through their catelogue, leaving out Chocolte dissappointed, but its good to see Hands Open a live staple now, and Somewhere a Clock Is Ticking was a great choice. The girls from the crowd for Set The Fire To the Third Bar was a nice idea, but probarbly cost the set a song, and added little after they had screamed their hello’s to Sarah Kate and Claire. Still, they won’t ever forget singing to the Oxegen crowd.

Blur started off alright, and prob will be well reviewed today, but to be honest, I missed out on them first time around, and didn’t feel compelled to see them this time. Girls and Boys was good though.

A combination of tiredness from the week in work, and being oldies now, as well as our theory that the best way to handle the three days is to take your leave when you can led us to the busses around 11.30. With our journey home being as eventful as it was, we got in close to two. Should have just stayed for Blur….

Song of the Day: Lily Allen – Fuck You

Quote of the day: The crowd is amazing – Various

General Impression – Good start to the weekend. Some people missed, Duke Special and FLC. Will do more wandering today, but made the right choices.