Field Day 2013

It's a bad sign at a festival when, of your core group of people, you're the best informed despite having heard of at most only 30% of the lineup.

It's also a bad sign when your core group gets any bigger than four, as you're likely to spend more time dithering than seeing anything, and compromise is definitely going to be a feature.

My hitlist for Field Day was:
Arrival - 14.15: Whatever takes my fancy
14.15: Metz
15:00 Chvrches
16:10 Savages
16:50 Daphni
17.45 onwards: Whatever takes my fancy

My number one priority was Savages, as they've been garnering comments like an American with fat ankles over at The Quietus.

The day got off to a good start: I managed to get my girlfriend to pick a jacket and get out the door, and we arrived at Victoria Park around 13:20.

After a bit of a mooch about, we ended up listening to a band who, according to the girl in front of me and contrary to the schedule were "Definitely not Palma Violets". I didn't think much to them, so we went off to get a good spot for Metz.

I didn't think much of Metz either when I saw them back in February, as recounted in this shitdribble of a post. But that was mostly because I spent twice as long getting to the venue as they spent playing, so I was feeling pretty grumpy and ungenerous. Metz at Field Day was a completely different story.

The band again didn't play for very long, but this time that was because they were limited by the schedule to just 20 minutes. They stated their intention to give the crowd - which was a decent swell - the best value they could, and boy did they deliver.

After the soporific "Definitely not Palma Violets", Metz were like a bucket of ice water to the genitals. They came out kicking, and in no time at all they had a sizeable mosh pit going on just in front of us, with bottles and even shoes flying every which way.

 They played at a relentless pace, despite having "drunk too much in Amsterdam" the day before, and by the end of their 20-minute slot lead singer Alex Edkins looked completely spent. The crowd was very much appreciative, and the band got the most intense cheer I heard all day. They were nothing short of heroic.

At this point serious communication difficulties kicked in. We were supposed to be meeting a mate, but the sheer density of people trying to do the same made the task impossible. It was like trying to fit 50 000 people through a cat flap. My phone all but crumpled itself into a ball and chucked itself in the bin. To reflect that, the rest of this post will be written in snapshot...

Went to Chvrches, but hung around back in case a text got through. Chvrches very cool, sweet singer, will buy album. Abandoned after 20 minutes to try to find friend.

Finally found friend wandering lost and alone. Hugging took place.

Found friend's other friends, again by pure chance. Missed Savages. Group adopted stray Australian who wanted to see something at the Desperados bar. Missed Daphni.

Went to heaving Desperados bar, shook head, stayed outside for a while and got free Desperados. Decided Desperados are shit.

Gave in to group desire to see Solange, gifting self curry by way of recompense.

Ditched Solange after 10 minutes, went to see Vondelpark. Ditched Vondelpark after 5 minutes, went to see Kurt Vile. Enjoyed Kurt Vile, who ended after 3 minutes.

Enjoyed some Everything Everything. Went to see Disclosure on recommendation of random Australian. Lack of pills = lack of enjoyment, went back to main stage to see Bat for Lashes for everyone's third time.

Bat for Lashes typically good: sexy, assured, not sufficiently appreciated by idiot main-stage crowd.

More food. Five minutes of Four Tet, then tried to see Django Django. Don't know what happened to Django Django. No Django Django.

Saw most of Fucked Up. Typically top-notch; Pink Eyes on great form as usual.

Watched some Animal Collective, didn't understand what they were trying to achieve. Bailed to avoid exit crowds.

Got home. Drank tea. Went to bed.

Thank you Metz.