Friday 22/06/07 Day One @ Glastonbury Festival, Worthy Farm, Somerset

It’s a big deal, your first time. Nervous and excited, you’ve heard so many things you barely know what to expect, but the anticipation is almost overwhelming. It rushes past you in a mind-blowing haze then, before you know it, everything’s over and your head is spinning. Although you might not be exactly sure what just happened, you know that now you have truly come of age, but more importantly that you want to do it again and again. So finally in 2007, this reviewer lost his Glastonbury virginity in a glorious 3-day binge of music, mud and magnificence.

Awaking on Friday morning, it wasn’t exactly surprising to see the rain already pattering down on the increasing quagmire that was the Glastonbury Festival site. Luckily, camping in the field next to the John Peel Tent paid off and Gigwise had a mere one hundred metres to walk before enjoying the sounds of new music at the relatively dry under-canvas stage. So after an over-priced breakfast (“cheap food available on site” my arse) it was time for the year’s first Glastonbury band: the danceable, if particularly unimaginative post-punk trappings of Look See Proof. With the rain refusing to abate, it made perfect sense to stay put for the very up-and-coming Fear of Music. The title track of their ‘We Are Not the Enemy’ EP is all stormy guitars and disillusioned snarling lyrics, and it was presented here in all its three-chord glory. But the Americanised nasal voice of incredibly young frontman, Jo Rose, makes him gratingly reminiscent of Brian Molko, although admittedly with much more grit and balls.

With the weather apparently clearing – for now – Gigwise made for the Guardian Lounge tent to pick up some free goodies, only to find none and other than Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst performing an intimate acoustic set. It’s these kind of magnificent, unexpected moments that help set Glastonbury in a league of its own; that, and maybe the reputation for bad weather. Having said that, the hype surrounding the rain at Glastonbury greatly exaggerates the actual experience, and while there were a few very heavy downpours, Friday evening especially was nice enough. The gods of weather also seemed to be music enthusiasts, as the showers often appeared to line up with the gaps between bands, at least on the Other Stage. Maybe Thor is a Modest Mouse fan: the rain certainly disappeared as the American indie rock standard bearers came on stage. And, Gigwise was pleased to see, they enjoyed the company of former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, who added both style and substance to an already top-notch performance.

Our lunch came in the form of a instant noodles back at the tent, eaten to the twitchy angular sounds of Good Shoes over on the John Peel stage. While quite happy to dance around the campsite as lunch was slurped down, some more substantial (musical) nourishment was then required. And with Bright Eyes’ official set, the crowd were served with a true banquet. Dressed all in white, the band waved off the receding clouds with an orchestral blast of countrified alt-rock from their recent album Cassadaga. Although Conor Oberst’s hair might have been more fitting at the first Glastonbury back in 1970, his voice was captivating and much improved from earlier days although still retaining that Dylan-esque quality. The only lowlight was when he appeared to end the set by storming off in a tantrum, the result of his being forced to change the closing song because of a technical issue. Perhaps there’s still something of a moody emo kid in him after all.

Music aside, wandering around Glastonbury Festival is an experience in itself, and although there are perhaps far too many stalls selling shoddy new age merchandise and over-priced band t-shirts, who could do anything but smile at tea and cake served in a Yurt, or a disco whose seats were old bumper cars?

Day Two, full review here
Day Three, full review here