Finally after getting the tickets some two months previous, we arrive at the festival with it already underway. We check into our B&B just over a mile away, and go for an early evening meal in the 'Museum Pub' in the village of Farnham where we were staying. It is fair to say that it was the most expensive gastropub I have ever been in, but I can easily attest, I had the best steak I have ever had, wit for the first time, tripple cooked chips. Superb poached fig afterwards which we shared and it was back to the B&B where the other half not surprisingly opted for an early bed whilst I got on my bed, and in the pitch dark...no road lights..I cycled up the road then track heading for the lights and banners, then tents, then tall Indian folly standing in a field, then find the entrance, then given my first arm band of honour.
Our friends were already at the Garden Stage for Modest Mouse, and with reasonably explicit directions went to find them. I was wearing a Hi-Viz orange jacket and although I hand told Mike that was what I was wearing, must have walked straight past them, and not to meet up with them until the next morning.
So what follows are all the bands we got to see in chronological order.
But one interesting note, the hi-viz gives you access, or questions...'do you know when its predicted to rain' was one such question. Walk through a crowd, easy they just part aside. Big 35mm digital camera around your neck and you pass for officialdom.
Modest Mouse
All I knew about Modest Mouse was a colleague at work said they were a bit to heavy for his tastes having seen them at Glastonbury this year. And so it turned out. Driven on by two drummers sitting side by side, a sight I have not seen since the mid 70s with the likes of the Dobbie Brothers and Weather Report, it was not surprising, but throw into that mix, lead guitarist, Issac Brook playing Ukele and banjo as well, then an interesting mix is guaranteed. At times very good but yes, a bit to heavy.
Edwin Collins
Just caught the closing numbers of this set and the first time I had seen him. Considering he has suffered two strokes I was mightily impressed. He bowed out to a great version of his hit, 'A Girl Like You' which featured a first rate guitar solo from an unknown woman. Who was she? (if it was a she)
The New Pornographers
Looking forward to this gig of the closing headliners in the Big Top but was a little disappointed. Went close to the stage to begin with but the vocal mix was poor so headed to behind the mixing desk which did improve the sound somewhat. But the lightness of their vocal interplay on the record was missing for most parts but the sound of four of them whistling in harmony on one particular song was a joy. But again like Modest Mouse, interesting in places.
Citay
Never heard of Citay until a few days beforehand when I got notice from The Band Room in the North York Moors that they were playing there the night before this gig. The boys up in North Yorks know their music so that was good enough for me. We arrived late after a memourable tour around Salisbury Cathedral and they sounded rather good in a Grateful Dead type of way. Must look out for them again.
The Unthanks
First revelation of the weekend, these girls were brilliant, why have I not seen them before, a mystery! Folk music could describe it but it was much more than that.
Caitlin Rose
Second revelation of the festival following immediately after The Unthanks for me as I had heard only two tracks from her first record 'Own Side Now'. Only 23 years old, all her own songs and a killer voice, she mentioned off handely to the audience something like 'I am not a diva' but she is sure on her way to becoming one in the Patsy Cline / Loretta Lynn mode. She is more contemporary than those two giants and the sound although backed with telecaster and pedal steel is certainly not twangy in the Nashville way. Could do with adding a drummer to her live performances to give it a bit more steel. She was very well recieved from the crowd in the Local Tent, and performed a rare encore for the festival which kept strictly to their timings. One to watch out for.
Brakes
Caught a couple of songs from this Brighton based group, post punk with a bit of attitude, worth looking out for again.
Yo La Tenga
Never even heard of this cult New York band before a I have never heard such a schizophrenic group like this before. For a three piece they made a lot of noise, when they got a rhythm going it was like Scissors Sisters but only better, or it got little more experimental they were good. But then they started messing around either with extreme guitar feedback or some very twee songs and they were rubbish. In the end I did not know what to make of it.
The Felice Brothers
The last day and after a late morning and early afternoon spent down on the coast, here are the real reason that bought us here, The Felice Brothers. We got a good position, just left of centre near the front but not to close. And what a joy they are. Songs were sung a long with by the crowd, humour appreciated, and although not as animated as we had previously seen probably because of the limitations of the stage, it was good to see a group really engaged with the crowd. James Felice, the big bear of a man, wielding his accordion around with gay abandon is the real star, overshadowing his brother Ian the lead singer. Greg Farley on violin and washboard is the mad man on stage and although restrained today he still added as usual to the whole performance. It was interesting to note that Dave Turbeville had his drum kit set up right of stage, slightly elevated and facing in onto the stage with Christmas the bass player longside. Such a great idea as he occasionally would stand up to get more force into his bass pedal movement and it all felt more at one with the rest of the group rather than playing facing out at the rear of the rest of the group. A curtailed set because of strict adherence to festival timings and finishing on a reluctant 'Whiskey in my Whiskey' Their sound was harder than a year ago and listening to a bootleg recording noticeably so.. The crowd wanted more and James Felice looked apologetically at us when he came back onto the stage to clear away their gear.
The festival crowd's favourite band IMHO
Mountain Man
We came over to the Tipi Tent for a quick session of Mountain Man, three women to be precise, singing a cappella with the occasional acoustic guitar accompaniment. A sweet sound they did indeed make and worth exploring more. We stood behind the mixing desk which had a warning notice stuck to it which read, Tipi Tent, levels not to exceed 90db, No Exceptions. (90db is not particularly loud), but give him his dues, the engineer did in fact take measurements
The Low Anthem
And now the third revelation of the weekend, The Low Anthem. Their latest cd, Charlie Darwin is OK but that just about it, but the live performance was something else. Playing mostly acoustic instruments, including a bowed saw, they filled the garden stage with a beautiful sound, slightly haunting, but fresh and quite removed from anything else we heard all weekend, and any other time to be truthful. Very enjoyable, and annoyingly they played the Bully on the Cowley Road a year ago.
Wilco
And finally the last act of the weekend, Wilco, big stage presence, a good light show, and a tremendous noise making a fitting ending to a great weekend. Will need to check out Wilco properly.
Next years earlybird tickets sold out within 9 hours of going on sale this week, and that shows what a great festival the End of The Road is. Will we go again?
The Old Rectory, Farnham
Partial view of where we stayed only just over a mile from the festival site albeit downhill of it. A good steady climb up but a free wheel back down in virtual darkness. Well recommended.
Mike's Sunday Morning Breakfast
Sunday late morning, Mike who only had a coffee so far, was hungry and decided that it was time for breakfast (or entree for lunch later) so for that it was a beaker of jellied eels and whelks. Its called a strong stomach.
