So the O2 Wireless festival rolled back in to town and the power of brands in music is becoming ever more prevalent as they bag headliners most festivals would never be able to afford.
The previous night Jay-Z continued to woo the British public and Morrissey was concluding tonight’s show. The rockiest of the four-day fete in the park saw new kids on the block The Rascals, The Wombats joining Get Cape Wear Cape Fly and Dirty Pretty Things on the line-up.
Beck – who could pretty much headline most festivals – found himself playing second fiddle to Mozza, and to be honest put in a pretty stoical performance. Going through the motions he opened with ‘Devil’s Haircut’ then barely spoke to the crowd and just gazed ahead as he ploughed through some new songs as well as classics such as ‘The New Pollution’ and, of course, ‘Loser’. Cracking to see, Beck’s always a crowd puller and one of ‘those people you should really see’, but his face was a long as his hair and he didn’t exactly exude his excitement at being on stage Hyde Park.
The Duke Spirit, The National and punk legends New York Dolls all headlined their various tents – the Dolls belying their years and putting in a storming set – before their sets concluded just in time for everyone to make their way to the main stage. Joining the hordes of famously loyal Morrissey fanatics (they get everywhere), Morrissey stepped out to a predictably rapturous response. Kicking off his set with ‘Last Of The International Playboys’ and ‘First Of The Gang To Die’, he made every Smiths fan’s night with ‘Vicar In A Tutu’, Stretch Out And Wait’ and ‘Ask’ before ending the set with ‘How Soon Is Now’ and ‘What She Said’. Strutting around the stage, the legendary singer’s legendary voice moved between his powerful mourn and a guttural, angry growl. He might have been performing at one of the most corporate gigs of the year, but Morrissey continues to show what a true legend sounds and performs like, and if it gives a fair few thousand people what might be their only chance to see him, then who am I to complain?
