Head Space Daily: September 2016

It is a couple of weekends since the Green Man festival but it has taken me a little while to find the time to write these words. Green Man is the only time of year that I wear wellington boots and have a pint of Growler Ale permanently attached to my hand from 2PM, so it has a special place in my heart. We experienced another flooded tent, another euphoric ending and another all round great experience. The reason why we trudge through the mud and indulge the Welsh valley weather with its hide and seek sunshine and showers, is that we are looking for the shared excitement that comes through watching live music with a large group of like minded people. We are searching for moments of euphoria.

From the mesmerizing voice and deep, trembling bass of James Blake, to the uplifting Malian rock of Songhoy Blues, these euphoric experiences take on different emotional forms. The audience is collectively transfixed by James Blake and with Songhoy, we are responding with united movement.

The rain came down in torrents on Friday night and due to a slight technical error when we put our tent up, water seeped through the canvas and settled in a trough around the edge of the inside of the tent. The majority of my clothes were wringing wet and if I hadn’t packed a spare pair of jeans as an after thought, Saturday would have been spent in my pants, which wouldn’t have been pleasant for anyone.

Our group was missing one family this year but it had still risen from six families to seven and we were located in the same patch as 2015, opposite the Hurly Burly café, perfect for an early morning coffee and a bacon butty (see HSD Image.) Once set up for the day, a journey of musical discovery awaits.

Back to Friday and the first big performance for me came in the Far Out tent from jazz/soul innovator Kamasi Washington, whose album The Epic has been a big part of my life this year. His performance was unfortunately held up for half an hour due to sound problems, which were never fully resolved but he rose above it and it was a joy to see such talented musicians close up, with his tremendous band and vocalist Patricia Quinn firing on all cylinders. This is unbelievable soul affirming music.

We left the Far Out tent to be greeted by a double rainbow casting its spell over the glorious valley (see HSD Image.) Kamasi really can work wonders!!

Later that evening was White Denim who were tight musically, a lot of fun and whose singer, with his vocal pitch, took their sound way beyond classic rock and I was impressed.

Coming hot on the heels of White Denim was James Blake himself. I first saw him several years ago at Pancras Old Church when the first album was being released and his immaculately fractured voice blew my mind. It was my wife’s turn to watch Mr Blake this time, whilst I took our youngest son back to base to get some kip, although I did hear the first four tracks and that voice and rumbling bass was working its magic. Had I seen the entire set, James Blake would have scored high on the euphoria meter.

A rainy night and flooded tent was to follow but our spirits were not to be dampened and it was onwards and upwards.

Our first gig on Saturday was Cate Le Bon, in the rain, on The Mountain Stage. Cate is a little different, an acquired taste, yet a taste that I very much like. Her album Crab Day has been a favourite of mine this year. There are times when your listening patterns need to be broken and reset and I find that a spin of Crab Day is like sniffing smelling salts and it snaps me back into a different musical path. Miss Le Bon is most definitely on my agenda to see when she next tours.

Later that evening, as the rain continued to fall, we passed through The Walled Garden where The Magnetic North and Hannah Peel were performing. Their Orkney Islands album from a few years back was very impressive but unfortunately I was too cold and wet to fully appreciate the music. I needed to be inside, warming up.

That moment came when we walked back up to Far Out to see Jagwar Ma. This was just what the doctor ordered. Dance music - arms in the air style, with a guitar thrown in - traditionally known as indie dance. The tracks all sounded familiar, although I had only heard one or two of them before. One of the tunes had an introduction reminiscent of a Beats International song and many others reminded me of something else which I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It was so 1990. There was even a guy behind me in a Reni hat dancing like a total Madchester throw back. Jagwar Ma’s set was great and a high scorer on the euphoria meter. I would like to buy their last album but it is currently out of press. Come on boys, re-issue please!!

On the way back through the Mountain Stage crowd I bumped into some of the guys from our group and we watched Laura Marling together. Laura was pleasant. Unfortunately, she did nothing to really move me. Her slot was wrong in my view. It felt like it needed a White Denim or a band who could really lift it up. That is largely down to the weather though. A balmy summers night could have been perfect for Laura Marling. Does Green Man ever have those?

Sunday promised more rain, which never actually materialised. Meteorologically, the weekend was an exact replica of 2015. After taking down the tent and packing up in the morning, and following a final coffee and butty at the Hurly Burly, the day’s entertainment began.

Our first major show was Songhoy Blues. This was the third time I have seen them and as always, they exuded joyful brilliance, with the crowd becoming very involved. The guitarist is sensational and musically they are well tight with their Afro-bluesy, Malian-rock sound. They know how to work a crowd and are properly uplifting. This was my eldest son's favourite performance of Green Man. When they are next in London maybe he will want to come with me!!

Sunday was going to be a day of clashes and being unable to see certain bands – notably Julia Holter, Whitney and most disappointingly, Warpaint.

The next band we were to see would prove to be our final show of Green Man 2016 and it was my long time favourite band Unknown Mortal Orchestra. What a way to go out and they did not disappoint. These guys know how to put on a show and take their music way beyond a two dimensional record, on which the songs are eternally trapped in their grooves, destined never to physically change. UMO take this notion and tear it up. They really do perform. Tracks are reconfigured. Ffunny Friends becomes some kind of extensive, old time music hall piano work out. Ruban’s vocals are dripped in distortion and he later climbs the scaffold. The drummer has a joyful bash about on his kit. The bass player holds the madness together. It is utterly absorbing, musically brilliant and the whole set is spellbinding. This was my youngest son’s favourite show.

Live music is there to lift you up and raise you beyond what is ‘normal,’ to the point of not being aware of what you are doing, apart from being alive and in that moment. Not being too dramatic, it is almost like an outer body experience. I don’t actually care if I am dad dancing because for that one fleeting moment, I am lost to the music, within the collective group - although the Growlers also help in that respect.

Green Man 2016 was another huge success. Bring on 2017!!

Now for a list:

I have consulted my Euphoria Meter and here are the top 3 readings:

Kamasi Washington:

It would have been higher had it not been for the delay, sound issues and the fact that the guy stood immediately to my right kept screaming ‘Yeeeaaaaahhhhh’ every 30 seconds, like some spaced out jazz beatnik, which he probably was. Leave your ‘Yeahs’ until the end of the track mate!! Kamasi’s set never quite managed to hit the euphoric heights I had been hoping for – although it came very close.

Euphoria Meter Reading – 7/10

Jagwar Ma:

This was a bit of a surprise. I had heard a couple of tracks previously and liked them but have never bought any of their music. As I mention above, their sound is instantly likeable and danceable, taking me straight back to the UK ‘indie dance’ scene of the late 80s/early 90s. Old ravers are high on nostalgia and new ravers don’t know any different. I had a moment of musical euphoria to JM and was roundly mocked by my kids for dodgy dad dancing. Jagawar Ma’s set was my eldest son’s second favourite of Green Man behind Songhoy Blues, which is praise indeed.

Euphoria Meter Reading – 9/10

Unknown Mortal Orchestra:

I can safely say that UMO are one of my all time favourite bands and this was the fourth time I have seen them live. They really push their music well beyond what you hear on record, by elongating songs and playing with effects and musical arrangements. They give a truly engaging performance and the music is sensational. More dodgy dad dancing from me and I really don’t care!!

Euphoria Meter Reading – 10/10

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