Sunday 07/08/05 Ben and Jerry's Sundae On the Common, London

With every Summer weekend now boasting some festival or other, the inaugural Ben and Jerry’s Sundae On The Common (how’s that for a mouthful?) was going to have to do more than dish out ‘free’ ice cream to satisfy our appetites. Judging on this year’s twee line up, the ante needs to be upped considerably for it to electrify next year’s calendar.

 

Hot on the wackily-platformed heels of this year’s ‘summer sensation’ (therefore, ultimately doomed) The Magic Numbers, come Yeti. Inevitably, with a name that conjures up enticing thoughts of Super Furry Animals inventive soundalikes, the real thing is predictably disappointing. Yeti nurture the jaunty beat-combo, wholesome sound (The Coral, Hal) currently proping up the radio playlists and as such, their try-hard cheery harmonisation sluices along the over-exposed saccharin river to Yawnsville. It’s difficult to imagine Yeti being emotionally attached to any of their anaemic songs, being that they lack substance or intensity of any kind. General sparkiness and the presence of a former member of the Libertines (John Hassall) should not be enough to propel this lot into the limelight, but their nod-along single ‘Never Lose Your Sense of Wonder’ may just help. In short, not a monster set.

 

British Sea Power, however, instil “a little electricity” into the day with the simple, infectious hook of ‘Childhood Memories’. Considering much of the festival proceeds were going towards Trees for Cities charity, BSP’s lack of characteristic stage foliage may be intentional, in order to highlight the problem. Either way, its omission is mourned. ‘Remember Me’ draws a few more of the Cla’ham pashmina crowd closer, and a twittering birdsong introduces recent single ‘It Ended On An Oily Stage’ all husky vocals and trademark clangy rock, with Yan and Hamilton upfront exchanging brotherly glances. Hamilton then gets centre stage with his cod-country number, typically rigid, polished and quietly humourous. ‘Please Stand Up’ and ‘Carrion’ today fail to really ignite despite their more poppier leanings, but the blame lies more with the subdued crowd than the band. It’s always a treat when they pull out the epic ‘Lately’, which broods and rumbles towards its thrashing finish, and marks the appearance of their ‘Bez’ - someone in a bearsuit. The bear suffers a rough and tumble slapstick guitar beating, and the comedy capers continue as dishy drummer Woody carries on regardless, while Eamon thwacks his drum round the crowd and back again.

 

Alabama 3, introduced by the dreadfully dull compere as “the band that did ‘The Sopranos’ theme tune” are a dream live band, kingpins of the uniquely beguiling brand of acid-house country, complete with swaggering, sweating and shouting. They’ve even got an uberfan in the shape of the red-faced Keef from Eastenders, who is spotted in regulation cowboy hat. Some kiddies are invited onstage (which already is overrun with band members) and at one point 11 people (even the drummer), are line-dancing in sync as they end with a typically bonkers, crowdpleasing ‘U Don’t Dans 2 Tekno’.

 

A comedown in so many respects is headline act The Thrills. There’s no denying their brand of catchy, feelgood pop has its allure, but they might like to do something in the charisma stakes. Newly de-haired Conor follows ‘Big Sur’ with the announcement “A lot’s happened in the last three years. Some of us have grown beards…and shaved them off”. Woah, the excitement is too much to take. However, at least he did address the crowd, which was mostly lacking from the other bands today. ‘Old Friends and Lovers’ trickles out like a streak of piss Bluetones B-side, but the harmonica and weepy keyboard aren’t altogether unpleasant. ‘Whatever Happened To Corey Haim?’ is a welcome detour, but the whole day is dogged by a bad sound system, which just adds to their lacklustre show. But then the band pulls out their trump card with…wait for it…BALLOONS! Yes, The Thrills idea of wacky is to let off into the audience (boom, boom)…a smattering of large, white inflatable balls. Rock on.

 

So, today’s Radio 2-friendly proceedings were hardly going to produce the most intoxicating atmosphere, and judging by the crummy size of its one bar, revellers not content to gorge themselves on ice cream and family fun are hard-pressed to make up for the mediocrity of the bands by getting trolleyed.