Slash didn’t disappoint, never seen the man in the flesh, but this one was merely novelty factor for me. I don’t like Velvet Revolver and don’t like much Guns N’ Roses… and I have a particular distaste for Sweet Child ‘O Mine.

None the less, the aforementioned was a massive crowd pleaser and I did enjoy Civil War and set closer Paradise City of the G’N R tunes. I did expect some special guests as Slash’s new album is riddled with them, and I had a hope on for Wolfmother’s Andrew Stockdale, but they were a set touring band.

With Alter Bridge’s Myles Kennedy at the helm, it was actually very, very impressive. I’ve never given Alter Bridge a chanced based solely on the fact that the rest of the band members are former Creed, a band that doesn’t sit well with me being a mammoth Pearl Jam fan ‘n all, but the dude’s got that Bruce Dickinson/Ronnie James Dio hellsetto thing going on and can really hold a note… so I’ll consider it.

Over all, it’s a set I’m pleased I watched plus I got me some snaps of the cigarette smoking, Jack Daniels drinking legend himself.

As before, here’s my Flickr Set

Slash’s solo album is available to download now from Nokia/Ovi Music Store and if you’re a Comes With Music member, it’s free!

Muse at Glastonbury this year has long been set as the “one to watch”. I overheard one say to another “Muse tomorrow, I don’t give a f*** if I don’t see anybody else” and another say “watching them will make you a fan”… But tonight there’s more to it than that, as this is Muse’s first Glastonbury appearance since the tragic passing of drummer Dom Howard’s father, shortly after watching the band perform their greatest show to the date.

As much as I prayed and danced around in circles for things to go the way I predicted them to by open unusually with a classic, they kept the commercial approach to a setlist opener and kicked off with Uprising followed-up buy Supermassive Black Hole to clear the new hype and Twilight obligation swiftly, and hit their stride with New Born and the near perfect Map Of The Problematique.

The fat eighties beat of Guiding Light works the open air, and the setlist return of Citizen Erased is a big moment for me, and probably anyone else who’s experienced it’s absence at recent shows.

A stretch on the ol’ piano next and we’re treated to the b-side instrumental Niche before United States Of Eurasia (-Collateral Damage) and über crowd pleaser Feeling Good.

Back in my snap spot for a couple shots I finally manage one of Dom when he moves down stage to play diminished percussion on Undisclosed Desires… but the photos blur and I’m left with nothing.

After Resistance, it’s the Interlude before Hysteria as it appears on Absolution. It’s one of those moments that define the fan tiers and reveals those with whom to share the all-knowing moments with.

Time Is Running Out, Starlight and a very noisy Stockholm Syndrome usher in the encore where we’re treated to the guest appearance of The Edge for U2 classic Where The Streets Have No Name.

Drawing to a close they play Plug In Baby (Just wouldn’t be Muse otherwise) and “Man with Harmonica” ushers in staple closer Knights Of Cydonia.

Unfortunately we didn’t get the UFO performing arial maneuvers above the stage as they did at Rock Am Ring, interrupting Slayer’s set, thankfully, no Neutron Star Collision.. But still no MK Ultra! When Lord, when’s gon’ be my time?

Here’s the Flickr Set, Unfortunately these weren’t my best of the weekend, but they have a moment or two.

Muse is available to download now from Nokia/Ovi Music Store and if you’re a Comes With Music member, it’s free!

The Dead Weather!… What can I say!?

Possibly my favourite performance at Glastonbury’s 40th. I’m ridiculously obsessed with The White Stripes, my Raconteurs collection is immaculate and I own the UK and Australian “A” pressing of Steady As She Goes 7″, What’s not to love about Queens Of The Stone Age, and Alison Mosshart is a fox!

Do I know both Dead Weather albums back to front?… No, about 50/50! But sonically, creatively and visually, they’re a force to be reckoned with, I love Jack White, and Alison Mosshart is a fox!

I guess I just loved their performance the most because I got the maddest lens-love of the entire weekend from them. Clicking any of the images will take you to my Flickr… I hope you like them as much as I do, so be sure to check out the Flickr Set, it’s my favourite!

The Dead Weather are available to download now from Nokia/Ovi Music Store and if you’re a Comes With Music member, they’re all free!

With Glastonbury I had intentions of blogging about the days performances at the end of every night or between sets. But lets face it, the place is massive, the heat this year was unbearable, and there’s a million things to see and do. So by now I’m sure you’ve all read some really negative reviews about the highly anticipated Gorillaz set, but allow me to tell you what I think…

Sure, the performances weren’t perfect. A couple of times Damon Albarn must have thought there was another measure before he had to start singing, On Melancholy Hill was poorly placed as the third song in the set, Snoop Dogg not performing his part on Welcome To The World Of The Plastic Beach when he was actually at the festival, and words like “Breaking the cardinal rule of headlining” with regards to them not playing a hit heavy set.

To those of you who think Gorillaz’ setlist was the wrong way to go, I say it’s all of you who need to open you’re eyes to what Glastonbury is really all about. Water Aid, Greenpeace, Plastic Beach… are you beginning to see a theme yet? If it isn’t blatantly obvious that Plastic Beach’s is one of environmental concern and had a necessary message for festival goers, then think about all the scattered plastic bottles and then think about Albarn’s futile attempt at trying to get the crowd to sing the single repeated stanza from Pirate Jet.

Regardless of the performance shortcomings like Mark E Smith having to read his lines on what didn’t sound anything like Glitter Freeze, at the very least Kano and Bashy on White Flag, and Little Dragon on Empire Ants and the beautifully dueted To Binge were enough to make it one to remember… but most seem to have missed the boat to Plastic Beach.

Sigh!

Flickr Set

Gorillaz are available to download now from Nokia/Ovi Music Store and if you’re a Comes With Music member, they’re all free!

After some crowd commotion I stand to see Michael Eavis take the mic to introduce “two superstars”. Unable to make out who the solitary figure on the stage is, I’m asked by the nearest person if I can see. I promptly take a peek through my 100-400 lens and am utterly gobsmacked to realise it’s none other than Thom Yorke, which immediately prompts the question “Who’s the other superstar?”

After an introductory lap with no sign of the second artist, Yorke takes his place at an upright piano for the title track from his solo debut The Eraser. With a Digital Delay Pedal at foot Yorke then takes the Bass and catches a loop, then takes up the keys for a compositely rich Harrowdown Hill.

After Black Swan the question is answered as Jonny Greenwood joins Yorke for Cymbal Rush, the last of the Thom Yorke solo material before indulging in a stripped down Radiohead set featuring Weird Fishes/Arpeggi and Pyramid Song… But the real magic happens with Karma Police when it gets the loudest singalong of the set.

With Karma Police finished, Yorke and Greenwood experience technical difficultly and begin discussing something among themselves. Silence washes over the crowd for what seems like an eternity and it’s at this point the crowd takes control of the situation and begins to reprise the Karma Police climax. It’s not long before the issue is resolved and Yorke returns to the mic to play the song out again for what is without a doubt the single most magically moment of Glastonbury’s 40th.

They appropriately close the set with Street Spirit (Fade Out) and the tiny speckled goose bumps shine through the sun tortured red skin on my arms like stars in the night.

Flickr Set

Radiohead, Jonny Greenwood and Thom Yorke are available to download now from Nokia/Ovi Music Store and if you’re a Comes With Music member, they’re all free!

Failing to catch the end of Snoop’s set after choosing to watch Kele instead, I reach the Pyramid Stage about half way through Vampire Weekend.

They’re a band I liked the minute I heard the cross stick snare work in the intro to Mansard Roof back in 2007, but they’re also one of those bands I never took the chance to completely explore… But by some twist of fate I’m lucky enough to get there just in time to catch the songs I know, beginning with A-Punk.

Still orbiting the crowd perimeter and heading to the location that would become my staple photographing position for the remainder of the weekend, frontman Ezra Koenig shrieks a piercing “Blakes got a new face” revealing an impressive vocal ability. Apparently dissatisfied with the response, the shriek goes out again and this time the audience is far more receptive, and as I bare ever closer to the stage right barrier I’m moved by the scores of festival goers glee.

Finally in position, I snap a couple shots through the beat heavy Giving Up The Gun and Campus, then take a little deserved time out for a sing along to Oxford Comma, Horchata and Mansard Roof. It’s around this time Ezra takes a bit of time to thank the audience for giving “a couple knuckleheads” that “forget to even bring wellies the last time” for being so supportive, and then close with Walcott.

With careful consideration, I exit the Pyramid Arena to go around the back of the Other stage and head down to the Park Stage for the 20:30 TBA slot…

Flickr Set

Vampire Weekend albums are available to download from Nokia/Ovi Music Store and if you’re a Comes With Music member, they’re all free!

The trouble with Glastonbury is having to make choices. It’s not something I’m hugely fond of in everyday life, never mind when it comes to choosing who’s set to watch… and so it all comes down to logistics.

Having suffered from near heat exhaustion the day before with 5 treks between my tent on the western perimeter and the parking area way beyond the eastern perimeter, my choice becomes obvious as the John Peel tent entices me with it’s offering of sanctuary from the blazing sun, and a chance to see Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke’s solo incarnation.

Now Kele (his solo moniker) has been accused of being a miserable individual in the past, not something that I’ve ever observed, but this has been the general perception of him none the less. Touching down just in time for the start of the set, my eyes adjust from the glare outside to see a spritely Kele take to the stage with his debut solo album opener Walk Tall and it becomes immediately obvious that any of the aforementioned perceptions are either circumstantial, or just plain misperception. Kele’s in a good headspace!

Keeping close to The Boxer’s track order, playing On The Lam, The Other Side and Everything You Wanted sequentially, saving debut solo single Tenderoni until after a Bloc Party medley featuring a dance rendition of Blue Light, The Prayer and the ominously suggestive One More Chance – With consideration to the fact that moments before, Kele makes the bothersome statement “For those of you who don’t know, I used to be in a band”, suggesting that Bloc Party are officially no more!

Following 2 more tracks from The Boxer, we’re treated to the Euro-Techno stomper Flux as the set closer, elevating my mood in combination with my first proper Glasto set of 2010, and a moderately successful test shoot with the obscene lens I hired for the weekend.

Flicker Set

Kele – The Boxer and Bloc Party are both available to download now from Nokia/Ovi Music Store and if you’re a Comes With Music member, they’re all free!

Greetings!

I’m sure you’re all aware that this weekend is Glastonbury, and for once the weather looks as if it’s going to be incredible. The country is divided into two camps, those who are going, and those who wish they were.

We at NokiaMusic are also divided into two camps. Gaz has gone and I’m here, manning the ship and wishing I was there too. Follow us on twitter @We_R_NokiaMusic regardless of attendance. Gaz is going to be giving away some Glasto treats at various locations within the festival grounds, and we’re going to be running a giveaway for our favourite I’dratherbeatglasto tweet too.

Find Gaz!

Gaz will be posting twitpics of his location from within the festival site, if you’re at Glastonbury you can use your powers of deduction to find him (within 15 minutes of his tweet) for some portable speaker giveaways. Think Where’s Wally? but with less stripes.

I’d Rather Be At Glasto

We’re interested in the things you’re doing this weekend while wishing you were there, so tell us what you’re doing, and tag it #Idratherbeatglasto and we’ll be selecting our favourite at the end of the weekend and giving them some swanky Nokia BH905 Noise Cancelling Headphones and a portable unidirectional speaker, so you can create your own festival vibe in your garden.

Let the fun commence!

Should you happen to see Gabriella Cilmi leaping buildings in a single bound, clad in tight blue leggings and sporting a fetching red cape, don’t be alarmed. “This is my superhero record,” the Australian singer-songwriter says of her upcoming album, Ten, with a hint of laughter. “One track is called Invisible Girl and another one’s called Superman, which is quite smooth and sexy… Another track, Defender, is all about going into battle to protect people that you love. I am a bit of a guard dog like that, so if anyone messes with my friends or family then I get a bit mad.” It’s a departure for Cilmi who, following the success of Lessons To Be Learned, could have conveniently been pigeon-holed as yet another white, female Jazz and R’n’B singer. Ten, Cilmi tells us, is “not quite what you’d expect. It’s definitely more electronic than my previous album, which sounded quite retro and fifties.”

The themes of empowerment and musical diversity percolate through the entire album. “I didn’t just want to make Lessons To Be Learned Part 2, that would be a little too easy and probably a bit boring,” reasons Cilmi, who talks with the sort of self-assurance you need when you’ve signed a recording contract aged just 13. Now 18, she’s keen to show that she’s not going to conform to anyone’s expectations but her own. “I had so many different possibilities for this album and have toyed with lots of different ideas. One was to do a New Orleans piano album, but I sat in front of my piano and realised my playing isn’t quite up to the standard of Dr. John or Professor Longhair.” The artists Cilmi references – two of the most celebrated Louisiana Jazz pianists – aren’t part of the average teenager’s CD collection, but they highlight her eclectic tastes and influences. Ultimately it was Donna Summer, the seventies disco diva, who set Cilmi on her way to Ten. “One of my mates gave me I Remember Yesterday and it kind of rocked my world and inspired me, so I started listening to Giorgio Moroder, who did Flashdance and worked with Blondie when they went disco, and other things like Amy Stewart and Gloria Gaynor with I Will Survive. Powerful women on a mission.”

Now Ten is in the bag – it’s released in the UK on 22^nd March – has Cilmi settled on this new sound? “Oh no, probably not,” she responds with enthusiasm. “I have a zillion ideas and don’t know which road to go down. I love all different types of music, so I’m always looking at new things to try out. I would like to make a country record one day but don’t tell my label that,” she adds jokingly. The only constant that Cilmi will admit to, is making music that people can relate to. “I remember this video of Cat Stevens playing Father And Son. The video is him sitting in a corridor playing and I remember watching it and thinking that this is why I want to make music, music that people can feel.” Returning to her musical tastes, Cilmi admits to enjoying everything from the Macarena (“because they say ‘Gabriella’ in it”) and Shaggy (at the mention of whom she bursts into song, giving a quick medley of his hits) to Curtis Mayfield and Led Zeppelin. The latter’s House Of The Holy is a particular favourite. “I am a massive Led Zeppelin fan and there’s something for everyone [on that album], with a bit of everything on it, even some Reggae. I love the variety of it.” Asked if she’s heard Them Crooked Vultures (a collaboration between Led Zep’s bassist and keyboard player John Paul Jones, Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and Queens Of The Stone Age Josh Homme), Cilmi says she’s only heard one track. “My brother’s into it, so I will have to go home and listen to it. I did like Robert Plant’s collaboration with Alison Krauss, it sounded really good.” There’s a pause. “I got to meet Robert Plant backstage at the O2 and made the biggest fool out of myself,” Cilmi says, unable to stop herself. “I was in the queue for food and he was in front of me, so I tapped him on the back and the only thing I could think of asking him was, ‘Are you having the pie or the salmon?’, it was the most embarrassing moment of my life.”

It’s refreshing to hear that Cilmi’s managed to keep her feet on the ground, despite the global success she’s enjoyed so early on in her career, and the number of superstar artists she’s come across in her rise to stardom. “I played in front of Ronnie Wood when I played Jools Holland. When I played Sweet About Me he was tapping his foot along with it.” Cilmi gives the impression that she doesn’t take what’s happened for granted and still gets massive enjoyment from the journey she’s found herself on. “I felt super-special playing the main stage of Glastonbury, it was the best thing in the world,” she explains. “When I got up on stage in front of all of those people, it was amazing.” She readily owns up to still getting nerves prior to performing, despite doing live shows for the last five years. “I used to get really nervous and had to do meditation classes to calm myself down, but now I find that the best way to deal with it is to use my nerves as a fuel tank, to just throw myself into it.”

Cilmi is equally open about the fact that she doesn’t know quite where she’ll be, musically, tomorrow, next month or next year. It’s a trait she finds appealing in others, too. “I would love to collaborate with Danger Mouse,” the innovative producer behind The Beatles/Jay-Z mashup, The Grey Album, Gnarls Barkley and, most recently, Broken Bells, among others. “He is so versatile from all of the different artists that he has worked with. I would love him to produce one of my albums,” wishes Cilmi. “Also I would love to work with Justin Timberlake. It’s really interesting to see how he has evolved out of NSYNC to what he is doing now. He would be a good guy to take home to meet your mum. But probably not the type of guy I would take home,” she adds slyly. “I love his music. For a pop artist he is just the king, has some great melodies and when he’s on stage you just can’t take your eyes off him. Yeah, I would definitely love to work with him.” It’s this mix of youthful honesty, unadulterated talent and willingness to acknowledge and expand her musical roots that make Cilmi so compelling. So much so, that you can’t help hoping that she gets her wish.

You can download Gabriella’s single ’On A Mission’ from Nokia Music Store – if you’ve got  ‘Comes With Music’ , it’s completely free! Her new album, ‘Ten’ is out on 22nd March.