esoteric as that sounds. they know their way around an infectious melody too. Vampire Weekend prove that even brainiacs know how to party.
Where King Tut's Wah Wah Tent. Sun 13 Jul.
Isosocles
What Glasgow's newest purveyors of scratchy. catchy guitar pop
Unique Selling Point lsosceles don't do typical. Not only do Belle and Sebastian think they're pretty (frontman Jack Valentine was a model for one of their legendary album covers) but Franz Ferdinand are big fans of this guartet's music too. And all of this because they initially first formed as a joke for a pretend music festival — a bizarre combination of events with really quite brilliant results. Where T Break Stage. Sat 12 Jul.
Blood Red Shoes
What Much-loved boy/girl duo who pack a sonic punch
Unique Selling Point This Brighton-based twosome sure look cute. but don't be fooled. they make the most relentless art-rock racket around. Box of Secrets was a storming debut. but it's live that Blood Red Shoes boast a real wow factor. with drummer Steven prowding thundering rhythms to Laura-Mary's searing. gritty riffs. not to mention the yelps and screams. Performance at its most passionate.
Where Relentless Energy Drink Stage. Fri 1 1 Jul.
Metronomy
What lnfectiOus electronic brilliance from Brighton
Unique Selling Point You think that your music taste is diverse? Try beating Joseph Mount. aka Metronomy. at a game of playlist making. This highly-hyped quirky electro pop wizard has touched up songs by everyone from Britney Spears to Bright Eyes and Klaxons to Roots Manuva. His own music sounds
like none of them. though. and in fact. like nothing else around. tvlinds will be blown.
Where Relentless Energy Drink Stage. Sun 13 Jul.
Ida Maria
What Glorioust raucous clatter-pop Unique Selling Point If that cheeky glint behind lda Maria's eyes could talk. it would probably unleash a whole wealth of wonderfully tall tales. but for now we'll just have to make do Wllll her beautifully husky vocals to tell us what we need to know. Judging by her lyrics she clearly enjoys boisterous rock music and guite a bit of nakedness. Intrigued? You should be. Where Futures Stage. Sun 113 Jul.
The Xcerts
What Heartfelt bluster from ingenious power rock trio
Unique Selling Point Hailing from such disparate parts of the country as Exeter and Aberdeen. it's surprising
this trio managed to get together in the first place. and that they have Is something we should be thankful for. Listening to their clutch of singles reveals their fondness for the emotive but powerful caroustng of Biffy Clyro and Idlewild. but there's scope beyond this for something that is distinctly their own.
Where Relentless Energy Drink Stage. Sun 13 Jul.
Changing men
Less than two years ago Panic at the Disco were the thinking emo kid's pin-up of choice. Since they shot to fame, they've dropped the punctuation, abandoned their punk fanbase and discovered their inner pop tarts. Rebecca Moore reports
t‘s hard to be cool when you were ‘discovered' on the internet by
Pete Went/ with only three songs in your repertoire and your ‘fans’
were a few thousand e-ft'iends who thought you were totally hot. Still. you‘ve got to give Pattie at the Disco points for trying.
They dropped the superfluous ! frotn their name. kicked out their original bassist and infatnously told the .\"MI:' that emo was ‘bullshit‘ while proclaiming themselves to be the next Radiohead. These days vocalist Brendon l'rie refttses to comment on those patticular events. but he does admit that the band were never concerned about alienating their original fans when they abandoned of their old style. ‘We just felt it didn‘t apply to what we were trying to do anymore] he says.
Things happen quickly for Pattie at the Disco. Four years after forming. the band found themselves recording at Abbey Road Studios. which undoubtedly had an influence on the Beatles-y sound of the second album. Pretty Odd. ‘lt was just an awesome place to be. and an awesome experience to have. especially so early in our career.‘ muses l'rie.
Despite the unashatned new direction in sound. l’rie says that the band aren‘t embarrassed by debut record A l'i’l‘m‘ l’im ('un't Sit-mt Out. 'We are really proud of that record. I mean. we were so young when we slatted writing and when we play live it holds up really well.‘ he said.
The band head to T in the Park to play the NME stage on Sunday. and punters can expect to observe another shift in PATD‘s foetts: the dumping of the usual over-the-top live performances. ‘The show is really more about the songs now and less about the theatrics.’ explains l'rie. ‘We feel the songs really speak for themselves. so we are really intojust playing live.~
They're no stranger to [K festivals. having previously played the (‘arling Weekend in 3006. where L'rie was clocked at sconer by a bottle hunling out of the crowd. Still. he insists that the band don‘t face UK festivals with any feeling of trepidation. ‘You never know what's gonna happen. but we know that T is one of the best festivals out there.’ he says. ‘The audiences here are just really amazing.‘
Panic at the Disco play the Radio 1/NME Stage, Sun 13 Jul.
It 1 7 Jul 2008 THE LIST 23