“In case you think we’re a covers band, all of the songs you’ll hear tonight were written by us!”
That’s Nile Rodgers of Chic reminding anyone who hasn’t read the small-print on their Madonna, David Bowie, Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, Duran Duran and, er, Sheila B. Devotion records that he’s one of the most prolific writers of mega-hits the world has ever seen/heard.
From ‘Like A Virgin’ and ‘Let’s Dance’ to ‘Notorious’ and Ms. Devotion’s fab ‘Spacer’ (“a star-chay-ay-ay-ay-sar”) the massive Main Stage crowd – which includes a seriously shape-throwing Edge back from U2 recording duties in Manhattan – are treated to a pop ‘n’ funk masterclass that gloriously climaxes with Chic’s own ‘Le Freak’ and ‘Good Times’.
It speaks volumes about the quality of Rodgers’ back catalogue that nobody shouts for ‘Get Lucky’ – a song Nile told Hot Press, “I’ll only play live if Daft Punk are up there with me.”
The groovesome vibes had started at 2.30pm sharp with David Kitt’s New Jackson offering a more ambient take on what Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter are up to at the moment and I Am The Cosmos doing their spacey funk thing a little too languidly to really get the early afternoon crowd going.
No such charge can be levelled at Mykki Blanco, the sometimes cross-dressing ‘Queen Bitch 5th Element’ who ends his set by jumping over the barrier and pogoing with the crowd. Imagine Marilyn Manson in a cage fight with Tricky, and you’ll have some idea of the rap ‘n’ roll craziness the 27-year-old whips up. Pay us another visit soon, Mykki.
A man who is sporting a dress is Robert Alfons, lead singer with Canadian dark wavers Trust whose ranks also include double-jobbing Austra drummer Maya Posepski. The dirty throbbing beats are great, Alfons’ Brian Molko-esque nasal whine less so.
Lots of nice things have been said recently about Ocho who with four female singers on stage produce some awesome close harmonies. Operating at the poppier end of the Jesus & Mary Chain wall of noise spectrum – the Brothers Reid would very much have approved of the slo-mo cover of ‘Be My Baby” – the Dubliners unfortunately don’t yet have the songwriting chops to match their ambition.
It’s been a while since I’ve caught up with Solar Bears and, my, how they’ve grown! Not in the least bit daunted by the vastness of the Main Stage, their filmic synthpop swoops and soars in all the right places.
A quality mustache, an equally impressive ‘fro and a Keef lookalike guitarist – what’s not to love about Tori Y Moi who sound like MGMT after a Philly soul records binge. If not for that pesky Nile Rodgers, Chaz Bundick would definitely have been my funky devil of the day.