EOTR 2013 @ Larmer Tree Gardens

For some reason we felt this years EOTR had an 'end of term' feel to it, don't know why maybe it was the autumnal weather that put a chill into the evenings. The days were perfect, but come sundown a chill wind could be felt as well as the drizzle that marred Friday night.
So highlights only.
David Byrne and St Vincent were just wonderful, driven on by a seven piece brass section taking on the tradition of American marching bands by constantly being on the move. All well choreographed with DB doing his Stop Making Sense moves and Annie Clark tettering along on high heel shoes like a music box marionette. The final number is Road To Nowhere, and with all the musicians radio miked and not a lead in sight they proceed to play the number conga style around the stage clear of amps etc. They knew what they were doing, magical. Must see again.
Sigmur Ros were just from another planet, orchestral/operatic in ambition, could this be what an Wagner would have sounded like if he had been born in the late 20C. Again a brass section but only four strong and a four piece string/vocals outfit. What Jón Birgisson was singing about nobody had any idea but listen to him as if it was another instrument and it made sense. After an hour we had had enough vowing to see them again but in a full concert hall where we could sit down in comfort and
just let it all wash over us.
Best of the rest: it has to be the girls, Caitlin Rose with a blistering 50 minute set with what looked like so imported additional musicians on lead and drums. it certainly worked. Warpaint the day before, all women's outfit with good control of the dynamics of rock. Heartless Bastards had a feel of a rock orientated Lucinda Williams and again good control of dynamics.
Savages were a little disappointment, having seen them a month earlier in LA where standing right in front of guitarist Gemma Thompson the power of their performance was really bought home, it was lost on us standing near the back of The Big Tent and a badly lit stage.
Surprise of the weekend was King Khan and his Shrines, funk,soul, grunge and psychedelia all rolled into one. But again common element shared with DB/StV/SR was the horn section, that extra texture made the difference between them and all the guitar based groups, long may it last.
Small mention to Ed Harcourt who to had a trumpeter and Serafina Steer with her harp based rocky songs.

So what makes EOTR so special, ignoring Joanna Newsome two years ago, its the Americans, better musicianship, better stage craft, just more nounce all round, set against the raw Brits. It all leads to an interesting juxstaposition, with my heart going to the Yanks.