Review - Underage Festival, London, Victoria Park, 08.08.08
As soon as I entered Victoria Park I felt so old I had the impression everyone was pointing at me thinking "what is this grown up doing here, at our festival ???" It's a strange atmosphere, that of the Underage Festival. Just like a big teenage houseparty in a park where bands happen to play in between banters and where everyone has to dress up with neon colours, prom dresses or emo. And for most of the bands playing today, it's a good thing because the kiddies they just want to have fun, no matter who is performing on stage. Which is why you can see them jumping around and bouncing at very average bands such as Cheeky Cheeky And The Nosebleeds, Bombay Bicycle Club, and Those Dancing Days, sounding just like musical wallpaper. And the kids, they don't care whether the music is innovative, genuine, original blah blah blah ... Fair enough. And good for them, I must say.
Thing is, for someone who's been into music for quite a while, the selection of bands seemed rather plain and boring, except for acts like Gallows, S.C.U.M and Dizzee Rascal who offer quite an original alternative and something different from your typical indie band of the week gracing the cover of the NME. Having said that, despite the NME coverage and excessive exposure, some bands just didn't attract the kids' attention. Glasvegas, for example, were playing to a half empty NME tent (did I just write NME 3 times in a row ? Huh) despite a heavy and constant support from the said music weekly. Shame on you kiddies, you don't know what you're missing. Glasvegas know how to create a tense, dark and intense atmosphere. They are one of these bands that don't even need to try hard, they're just standing here, playing and blowing your minds with songs such as Geraldine and Daddy's Gone.
Next band I'm supposed to watch are Scottish as well. The Dykeenies, to whom The Maccabees dedicated Toothpaste Kisses earlier that day on the main stage. They are headlining the tiny Redbull stage, lost in the middle of nowhere. The Dykeenies are your typical average teenager's favourite band because their songs are catchy, their lyrics are simple, there's synths in their songs and they attract loads of screaming teenage girls standing front row at their gigs. As for the music, they have killer pop tunes that would make anyone dance and feet tap, underage or not. First two songs are Things You Cannot See and b-side Days Don't Slow Down during which we could barely hear the vocals. Not the ideal conditions to perform, but they still manage to entertain the small crowd, especially when seeing a mass of people running past them mid-gig from the main stage to the NME tent to see Foals after Dizzee Rascal's show. "We were supposed to play over there" ironises Brian (vocals), pointing at the NME tent, "but we preferred to play here ("here" being the Redbull stage)". In spite of mediocre conditions, they deliver an energetic set including new songs for fans who came here to see them today (some of them even hailing from Glasgow). Boys Will Be Boys, being a regular on the setlist, is one of them and is sure to be a hit if they ever release it.
Before leaving Victoria Park, I go past the main stage and catch a couple of minutes of Gallows' show. Seems more like an attraction and curiosity to people rather than a gig. Everyone's gathered to watch the phenomenon that Franck Carter is, and they are well served, seeing the energy and vivacity he is showing on stage. Impressive.
The Underage Festival bill is not adventurous, entertaining at the best. And that should be enough, given the targeted audience. Let's just say that such a festival keeps the indie flame alive for the kiddies. Which is the least we can expect from it.
JT.
