Tuborg Blog - Reading Festival 2008

George Orwell once wrote an essay on whether he spent more time smoking cigarettes or reading books and whilst at Reading this weekend it got me to thinking if I spent more time drinking or watching bands. I reckon it's about equal. Besides, Orwell also wrote a book about animals talking to each other so he's obviously not worth taking inspiration from. I love Reading, I'm not referring to the industrial hell-hole of a town of course, but the ever-expanding monster that is the festival itself. Even as I step off the train the atmosphere is building up, with rows of desperate punters offering up to £400 for the hottest ticket in Berkshire. Every man has his price but mine is more in the 2 grand bracket thank you very much.

Reading's very own Pete and the Pirates kicked off the festival for me perfectly and they were followed by Be Your Own Pet (pissed, but brilliant) and later the majestic MGMT and Vampire Weekend. QOTSA and RATM ended the day on the main stage, the latter drawing the biggest crowd I've seen at reading for many a year. Zack De La Rocha's 'political' messages are lame but his music is powerful enough. I tried throwing him a pack of strepsils for his throat but I missed and it hit a security guard instead.

One hours' sleep but I didn't care cos Saturday was glorious - Mystery Jets (brilliant, but bring back the dad), Santogold (great sunglasses on the backing singers), Seasick Steve, Foals and Justice whet my appetite for a blistering Bloc Party set and a slightly muted Killers performance due to fluctuating (word of the day) sound levels.

Another heavy night followed and an under the weather Adam Green failed to raise the spirits the next morning. The dance tent was a haven of undesirables ("are you holding?") but was good copy for a spot of people watching. Haduoken kept the kids happy for a while and James from Glasvegas even dedicated a song to my good self after we'd met earlier in the day. I could barely even hear pendulum such was the crowd they had drawn. which only left the very impressive and very funny Tenacious D and the metal band to end all metal bands....Nickelback. Just kidding, it was Metallica of course! MEGA LOLZ ETC!

Hetfield and co were in good spirits as they tore through classics old and new and ending on the brilliant Seek and Destroy. To be honest I did miss half an hour of Metallica's set because I couldn't resist seeing The Cribs and their newest band member and surrogate brother Johnny Marr. The Cribs and Johnny Marr is one of those combinations that shouldnt work despite their individual brilliance. A bit like peanut butter and marmite. But work it most certainly does. All that remained was the annual tomfoolery and high-jinks that goes hand in hand with Sunday night at Reading. Special mentions to the guy in pristine white jeans stacking it into a puddle after a few too many wine gums - funniest thing I've seen this summer after Mikey from Big Brother getting hit on the head with a tennis ball. You've been Reading and I've been Metallica. Good Night.