IN THE PARK
Many of your songs never sound the same GOING FOR A SONG twice when played live. What’s up with that? ‘We used to write during the week and play shows Beer and uninhibited frolics with fellow revellers are obviously high priority at festivals. but
don't forget those all-important musical decisions that can make or break the weekend. One wrong turn could have you stuck down the front with some Britpop has-been or carted off on a stretcher after an unwelcome dance set gets you a glowstick in the eye. To keep you right. Camilla Pia has drawn up the perfect weekend soundtrack. Just download the tunes. burn the discs and you’ll never come a cropper at T in the Park again.
at the weekend. but it doesn‘t really work that way anymore. We try to jam out new ideas at soundcheck and sometimes if they‘re good we'll throw them into the set that night. We‘re constantly
creating stuff, but you need to Sit down and structure them and we don‘t often have the time. When we play we always try to make it so that there's a little randomness to it. If you just play A to B then you get what you expect. but we like to throw in X as well and see what happens.’
There was a great quote that said yours is ‘the kind of music that inspires trouble . . .’ ‘That's great! We‘re good trouble. not bad trouble. When we turn up somewhere we always try to encourage people to go stupid and have a good time. A couple of different people have come back and said things like: “I was with this girl and I put on the demo and things just started getting really hot and it was awesome!"‘
What about doing that yourself?
‘That would be weird. As much as I love our music I don‘t think I could focus on what I needed to. I remember reading about Dave Gilmour saying he wishes he could just listen to Dark Side of the Moon like anyone else does. i guess all he can think is what he remembers from doing it rather than enjoying it. Which almost seemed sad because it‘s such an awesome album. It does mean you‘ve got to listen to other people's music in that way. to escape.‘
What has been your best festival experience? ‘We played Coachella in Palm Springs and I got to see Daft Punk which was fucking amazing. They had a huge light show and crazy costume changes. They did a huge mash up of all their songs}
How do US and Australian festivals differ? ‘Festivals in the US are a little bit neater. Coachella was cool because everything was well organised and comfortable, but then it was very LA. We walked out to the signing tent and the grass was all beautifully manicured. People were waving water bottles in the air. We‘re used to mud pits and crazy drunk people going “aaaaaaargh!” I‘m a little bit scared of the whole British festival thing. The guys from Cut Copy sent me pictures of them from Glastonbury in Wellington boots. I‘m not very good with mud.’
What's one thing any band should never be without on tour?
‘Our lives at the moment are made up of car parks, hotel rooms and concert halls. l was sitting in this car park on the phone to you with my feet in the gutter and | feel like a fucking teenager again. What I need to do is get a skateboard. It‘s the best way to get around. Perfect for all your large expanses of flat, concreted spaces.‘
I Radio I ‘NME Stage. Saturday.
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I We Are Scientists. or Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. slightly bonkers Americans hell bent on shaking life into the dark recesses of the late 1970s
and early 19808.
Guillemots
‘Trains To Brazil’
The most sensible start to Saturday's proceedings has to be this dose of dreamy guitar pop.
Cut Copy
‘Saturdays’
Itchy twitchy electro track set to get the pulse racing that little bit faster.
Maximo Park
‘Apply Some Pressure’ The first big singalong of the day should warm up those vocal chords nicely.
Ordinary Boys
‘Boys Will Be Boys’
They may be fronted by a reality TV star but there's no escaping this infectious indie knees—up.
Kaiser Chiefs
‘Oh My God’
Another catchy modern classic which will have you belting out every word.
Franz Ferdinand
‘Take Me Out’
No festival is complete without a howl and a stomp along to the one Franz track it's impossible to tire of.
Red Hot Chili Peppers ‘Give It Away’
Easily the guitar funk masterpiece in these legendary rockers' huge musical canon.
Sigur Ros ‘Hoppipolla’
The only way to calm the nerves after a frantic first day.
Lily Allen
‘Smile’
This bittersweet ska-tinged sound is the ideal cure for the inevitable Sunday morning hangover.
Optimo
‘Dance Me In (Remix)’ The alcohol should slip down once this version of the Sons & Daughters stomper kicks in.
The Automatic ‘Monster’
Shouty current hit with lyrics to fit any post-hangover hallucinations which may now be occurring.
Jose Gonzalez ‘Heartbeat‘
This cover boasts soothing qualities which should prowde a respite before the evening's shenanigans.
We Are Scientists ‘Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt’
This addictive effort will make anything other than moshing seem ludicrous.
The Proclaimers
‘500 Miles’
There's no pomt in fighting this T in the Park necessity. We all submit in the end.
Primal Scream ‘Movin’ On Up’
One of the first of the musical climaxes to inspire all those hands in the air, hug a stranger moments.
Hard-Fl
‘Living for the Weekend’ Jubilant anti-work mantra which is more than appropriate as Monday morning looms.
2 Many DJs
‘Mash Up, featuring Dolly Parton and Destiny’s Child’ This Belgian act's mash-ups will propel you to new levels of hedonism.
Arctic Monkeys ‘When the Sun Goes Down’
Perfect evening-time anthem from this year's biggest band.
The Strokes
‘Last Night’
These ever debonaire New Yorkers will prove a sight for sore eyes by this stage of the night.
The Who
‘My Generation’
Irony free, frenzied celebration of youth which should make a fitting finale
4 to this year‘s revelries.
' THE LIST 17