Radiohead and Pulp Play Glasto

Quelle suprise, Radiohead and Pulp have played their 'secret' (nothing is so in today's World chaps) gigs at Glastonbury Festival.

I've not had a chance to look at them yet, but will in due time and will also report on them.

BBC iPlayer had their (Pulp's) 1995 and (Radiohead's) 1997 sets respectively up all last week, this was the first hint. Then came the barrage of whistleblowing online and before long, even a marxist hippie with a severe hatred of computers and news coverage would have had half an idea (not that such a person would be seen dead at Glasto these days for £195 a pop).


The Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury

Still, it's great that there are little extras for those paying the extortionate amount to get into the mega-fest.

Radiohead @ Glastonbury '97 on BBC iPlayer

In two days time Glastonbury Festival 2011 begins. This year's main headline act will be U2, the Tesco of modern rock, if you will; extremely big, everywhere and you've probably contributed to their fortune in some way. 1997 saw the Waitrose of modern rock, Radiohead; quality controlling, connoisseur's choice and just that bit better than the rest, take the Pyramid Stage by storm.

By this point Radiohead were arguably already at their zenith having given us The Bends and OK Computer. The subsequent boundary pushing that would ensue in the band's later career would only enhance this lofty reputation, with 2007's In Rainbows at its peak. In footballing terms Radiohead go about their business in Barcelona-esque fashion; better than everyone else and probably Unicef approved due to their ethical stance.


Thom Yorke

Analogies aside, Radiohead are fantastic and, in 1997, on the back of contendably their best album (the aforementioned OK Computer), were an obvious choice for Michael Eavis (Glasto organiser).

Watching this gig on the sofa yesterday made me wish I was older than 10 in '97 so that I could have been a part of it all. From opening track Lucky right the way through this was an astonishing set. The ease with which Thom Yorke seems to be able to sing note-perfect whilst helping his band create a beautiful sonic experience instrumentally is dumbfounding.


Lucky from the gig

As I sat there slack-jawed yesterday in awe of Oxford's finest institution (hehe, my brother as a Cambridge alumnus will like that) it dawned on me that the quality on display was and is so rare that it can truly be labelled 'once in a lifetime', the like of which we may never see matched in the future.

5 of the Best - Food & Drink

Today's 5 of the best is songs based around food and drink. Bon Apetit...

The Beatles - Savoy Truffle: "Cream Tangerine, Montelimar". A song devoted to telling us about which tasty desserts to go for with the warning: "but you'll have to have them all pulled out after the savoy truffle". Your teeth that is. Love this one!

The Beatles - Savoy Truffle


UB40 - Red Red Wine: Makes sense really doesn't it. Obvious one. Great party tune.

R.E.M. - Imitation of Life: A sugar cane, cinnamon and lemonade all mentioned here. This is a lovely pop tune: melodic, falsetto vocal in the chorus. Great, happy pop.

Radiohead - Bangers & Mash: Very, very good track. In Rainbows is a fantastic album as well.

Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the Jar: Originally an Irish Folk song, this rocked-up version is brilliant. That signature riff is horribly catchy as well.

Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the Jar

Had to do a bit of flicking through the iPod for that one. Feeling rather hungry as well.