O2 WIRELESS FESTIVAL (London Hyde Park, 04/07/08)

Corporate-branded festivals aren’t generally noted for the innovative, cutting edge bookings and with Hyde Park bursting from the seams with mediocre guitar bollockry it was pretty self-evident that Wireless wasn’t going to be bucking the trend. But amongst the dross there were some bonafide gems, especially fantastic US indie-rockers the National who delivered a triumphant, borderline sublime set to a rapt audience of thousands. Matt Berninger’s intense baritone is perfectly complemented by his masterful band, and their setlist managed to strike a perfect balance between the old and new, as well as the lively and more introspective. (Anyone lucky enough to get there early were also treated to a additional four-song mini-set on the tiny O2 stage, a fine little treat for a fanboy like myself.) Eccentric British four-piece Guillemots also impressed- having wisely ditched the free jazz freakouts that made their 2007 shows such a chore, they’ve reclaimed the vitality and infectious charisma of their pre-Windowpane days. True, they’ve still not quite found their way with the new material but the likes of Trains To Brazil and the monumental Sao Paulo are still as utterly joyous as ever. It’s a shame I can’t say the same about headliner Morrissey- despite a solid setlist (Vicar In A Tutu!) and an unusually chipper turn from Moz, his plodding backing band sacrificed any sense of subtlety or variation in tone for overwrought jam solos. But at least he was better than Dirty Pretty Things and the Wombats, who between them could perhaps constitute a competent band- the former can evidently play and have the odd catchy tune but lack anything approaching stage presence; the latter seem amicable enough but couldn’t pen a half-decent song to save their lives. Unfortunately, utterly shrugworthy acts like these (The Courteeners, Lightspeed Champion) were par for the course, with anything mildly interesting the exception rather than rule. It’s a shame, because the organisation and weather was top-drawer; a more varied and ambitious line-up could have made it unmissable. Despite scattered moments of brilliance, an overall disappointment.

(Photo: John Gleeson)