Summer Sundae. Leicester. 8.07.01
HoBos Ross and John in conjunction with Honorary Hobos roger and Gareth bring you a report on a new Leicester festival. Festivals in Leicester are usually limited to the city's Abbey Park festival. One hundred local acts you never heard of and two quid at the door. So the idea of actual name bands playing in the city limits is an appealing one. O.K. so there are no A list bands to speak of but it's a start.
First big difference is the price. £22.50 is the damage and while not that outrageous it does seem to have deterred the usual masses who attend the Abbey park show. We arrive during Leicester's own Baby Genius (That's an Eels song isn't it?) set. I went to school with the drummer Mark Reid and I'll never get over the fact that him and Mark Flood both went to see the Beastie Boys in 1987, my mum wouldn't let me go (probably quite sensibly). They sounded pretty good and they have an album out, so give it a try.
Next act we see is Glen Tillbrook. I'm sure squeeze were a good band in the day and he does have a good voice but it's all a bit middle age and boring to your Hobos. He does try to rock out but he just comes across like someones pissed up dad. oh yeah, and minus points for namechecking himself in a song. Its during his set that HoBo_Ross has his camcorder confiscated by security (but not before he is harassed by a hippy for "Playing Computer Games on it"??!??), Bit unnecessary we thought. So that explains the lack of photos in this review.
Last time the HoBo tried to catch the Webb Brothers we walked in just in time to hear them say thank you and goodnight. Nice pop tunes, nice bit of banter and groovy clobber. The best act so far today but not too exciting, still probably not the best place to see them.
Dreadzone get a lot of people dancing, but not the Hobos. We didn't like 'em, sorry.
Turin Brakes come on late afternoon and the vibes are good. Honorary HoBo Roger is pissed out of his face I'm nicely drunk and the music sounds good. I could have listened to them Turin Brakes all evening. Shame when they finished, must be worth checking out the album.
This Is What Roger Recons The Day Looked Like
Lambchop are the last band that we see. There are about five million members and they make the least noise you've ever heard. But it's a good noise. Frontman Kurt Wagners voice barely registers. It's as though they are attempting to create powerful music through restraint, and it works. A girl next to me poses the question, "is it me or are these crap?", it's you love.
We don't bother hanging around for Morcheeba and anyway HoBo Roger Must be close to alcohol poisoning, so off we head in to the evening sun. A pretty good day, possibly would have drawn more people if the tickets were more like £15.00. Hope they do it again next year.
Thanks to Claire for press passes.
