Having just published our review of Friday it was time to go back out and brave the rain and see some more top quality acts here in Punchestown. We had a list of band’s in mind so we were going to try stick to it as best as possible, rain permitting of course.
After getting in early to provide you lovely people with a rain soaked summary of Friday’s adventures, we headed over to the main stage to catch one of our must see acts of the weekend. Over the last 12 months Bangor lads Two Door Cinema club have gone from opening the Electric Arena at Electric Picnic to playing the Main Stage at Oxegen, and judging by the massive crowd who have braved the rain to see them they will only get bigger. The played an electric set comprised of the the best from their debut album ‘Tourist’ including the brilliant ‘ Undercover Martyn’, ‘I Can Talk’ and ‘Something good can work’.
Next up was the short walk over to the Heineken Green Spheres tent to catch another Irish artist who has had an exciting 12 months. With the release of her third album ‘The Nameless’ this year, Cathy Davey has established herself as one of the best female artist on the Irish circuit. With the rain pouring outside the tent swelled as Dublin native ran through her set, with ‘Little Red’ acting as a pied piper call to the crowd outside. This was followed up with songs like ‘Rubin’ and ‘Sing for your Supper’ that had the crowd in fine voice.
We unfortunately had to cut her set short to meet Rory from MCD to get a tour of the Arena and found out that Florence had switched her set time with Dizzee Rascal, leaving us free to grab some eats. With a gap to fill, we went for sausage, mashed potato and onion gravy from the Proper Sausage stand, and yes it was as good as it sounds. We followed that up with a wander around site, checking out the Red Bull Academy Stage to catch a bit of Jackmaster followed by a Funky Mule at Cocktail Corner with sounds being provided by the Propaganda crew.
We settled down on the viewing platform (one of the privileges of being Media) in the lashing rain (one of the drawbacks of being at Oxegen) to catch yet another of our must acts of the weekend, Dizzee Rascal. Decked out in a Boston Celtic jersey with a full live band, Dizzee thrilled the crowd with cracking tunes like ‘Durtee Disco’ before being joined on stage by former X-Factor contestant Daniel Pearce for hit singles ‘Dance Wiv Me’ and ‘Holiday’. The band and Dizzee left the stage thanking the soaked but adoring crowd with everyone feeling there was something more to come. The screens at the side didn’t go to their between act ads and music and the camera’s zoomed in on the Dizzee Rascal background right into his eye. Dizzee came back to the stage stating “I can’t leave you without this one” and he burst into Bonkers. The crowd went absolutely nuts, everywhere from front of stage all the way back the muck between stages, people jumped and danced like lunatics. It was an awesome spectacle.
Next up on the Main Stage was Kasabian, we were tucked into our rain poncho’s on the viewing platform and before us a muck circle formed where a few more amorous fellows with no shirts and barely any trousers had decided the new fun event was to slide tackle anyone who dared to enter their circle of muck. Covered from head to toe themselves they ensured anyone brave enough to enter left as mucky as them. Girls walking through with full drinks were upended and lost their vertical status and drinks over themselves whilst covering themselves in mud. Bit harsh, but hilarious to watch. One person did get hurt but the minute that happened security rushed in and ensured it was nothing serious. An open fun policy as long as nobody was hurt. Fair enough.
The fighting did seem to take a bit of a shine off of Kasabian who we barely had noticed had come onstage with all the commotion and initially there was a bit of sound difficulties which seemed to get sorted about four to five songs in. Anyone near the muck circle seemed engrossed in the mud fights, but further up the crowd were fixated on a rocking show from the Leicester lads. They ran through a hit filled set opening with Shoot the Runner and touching on highlights from their three albums like “Underdog”,”Club Foot”,”Fire” and “Empire” with Tom leading the crowd in a succession of side to side arm waves creating a visual spectacle.
After Kasabian had served up that delight, we manoeuvred bravely from our viewing platform and over to the 2FM/Hotpress Stage where we caught Bombay Bicycle Club, not being the biggest fan of the album as i feel the CD lacks punch, but their live performance is the furthest thing from lacking. From the first note they oozed energy which the crowd responded to in kind. It was clear the crowd were all big fans, not just blow in’s and this created great atmosphere which the band fed off putting on a show that puts the album in a new light. The set however was FAR too short for such a great live band who deserve to return next year in a bigger billing. Indeed the band themselves promised such. Finishing on an extended version of “Always Like This” the crowd lapped up this absolute hit track singing back word for word. The band left the stage to clearly deserved chants of “one more tune!”.
Following this audio treat we left in great spirits and decided to regain our perfect viewing spot on the Media viewing platform. We had a great view for the Main Stage headliners, now all we needed was the anticipated quality show. Muse as always didn’t disappoint, joining the stage wearing the strangest of costumes with drummer Domenic Howard wearing a superhero style outfit and Matt donning Neon glasses and clear plastic hood, opening with the classic “Plug in baby” and working their way through a setlist jammed with some of their biggest songs to date including new and old songs like “Super Massive Black Hole”, “Citizen Erased”, “Stockholm Syndrome”, “Time is running out” and “Hysteria”. Matt even threw in a short piece of “Voodoo Child” and “House of the rising sun” as enjoyable tidbits. Lasers and light show as an obligatory part of the show, this is Muse after all, made for one hell of a set. We enjoyed it thoroughly, we must note that every time we see them live they sound more and more like Queen, good thing/bad thing? not sure just yet. We were torn at the decision to stay and watch this super show or leave a few songs before the end to catch Ash.
Last band of the night, was Northern Irish Rock heroes Ash in the 2FM / Hotpress stage, which gave us one final chance to dry off before turning in to recharge for Sunday. There was technical difficulties to start with an amp blowing out meaning Ash’s set time was shortened by about ten minutes. As they joined the stage apologising for the delay, with guitarist from Bloc Party Russell Lissack joining them (He’s no Charlotte Hatherley, Phoooarr), they set about playing as many song’s as possible to an adoring crowd which swelled as Muse and Black eyed peas finished up. Running through hits like “Shining Light”, “Girl from Mars”, “Orpheus”, “Kung Fu”, “Oh Yeah” and finishing with “Burn Baby Burn” to lots of moshing which team GP couldn’t help but indulge in. Despite rushing through the set they still managed to fit in a Happy Birthday to Rick as part of “Girl from Mars” and for the second time today there was a band leaving the 2FM/Hotpress Stage to chants of “One More Tune!!“
Overall we reckon today is the strongest of the three days (for our taste anyway) and we had an absolute ball. We have recharged our batteries now and will be setting off to see more today including The Middle East, The Temper Trap, Jamie T and Eminem. Check back tomorrow for more!!!!!!!
