National at Victoria Park

My second visit this hipster festival in Victoria Park - All Points East.

Annoyingly it took longer than expected to get in, and also the first band I wanted to see had their time moved back from 4pm to 3:45pm, so missed part of the set of Public Service Broadcasting. And we were miles back so could only see the big screens. But we had gathered 3 of our expected group of 5, and Andy is always late. So I thought we had done well. They were also advertising a date at the Royal Albert Hall in November. So intend to see them a little closer up on that one!

So David had agreed to meet his German friend Christopher at the back of the main stage, which we successfully did to make it 4 out of 5. And Christopher's recommendation was Cat Power, who to my surprise was very good indeed. Not riveting but a pleasant voice and nice songs. A definite thumbs up.

 After her we were joined by Andy (5 out of 5!) and worked our way closer to the front for Future Islands. They were a band new to young Tom, and he was pretty much blown away by how good a performance this was. As that is want you get from Future Islands, a band from Baltimore (supporting another American band in the National - this was a very American gig.)

The thing you have to give to the nonathletic tubby lead singer Samuel T Herring is he puts everything into his performance. Its a bit like watching one of those American TV evangelists. He almost works himself up into tears. It is odd, but brilliant too.

Note beginning of performance, nice fresh blue shirt.

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 Two songs in and already Sam is shining with sweat..

 

A bit of twerking, as you expect from a tubby middle-aged guy...

 Sweat patch growing now....

 And by the end of his set, sweat patch collar to trousers. he gives it everything and it shows.

Now our little band faced a dilemma on which we split 4 to 1. The dilemma was whether to race back to the North Stage to catch the War on Drugs, or stick it out here with nothing but a video to watch before the National. The advantage of staying put was getting a spot close to the front. Christoper and I were definitely in the latter camp. Tom being a big National fan was in favour of that. Andy felt missing an entire act was too much of a sacrifice so he beetled off to see the very excellent War on Drugs (although hardly a dynamic live act). David thought he could do the best of both and grab a pint as well, which he quickly described as one of his worst ever decisions and managed to rejoin us.

Anyway, the four of us didn't regret it. Were about two people from the front, which is rather an achievement when there was eventually a crowd of 20,000.

Not easy to describe the National. Definitely a rock band, liberal, songs seemingly getting slower as time has gone on - they have been around for nearly 20 years. Lead vocalist Matt Berninger provides a strange stage presence compared to Sam Herring. Much more laid back, as is the vocal style, he seems just to wander around casually leaving the band to do all the hard work, but then briefly ventures into a passionate chorus here and there.

Matt finished up directing the crowd in singing Cry Baby. He didn't sing at all, but left the audience to do it all. Not sure I approve of this. I paid my money for him to sing, not me.

Anyway, this was a storming set which we wouldn't have wanted to miss. We left very happy (only marginally tainted by the 15 minute walk to Mile End tube taking nearly an hour to navigate with the crowd.)

Coventry 3 - Exeter 1 PROMOTION AT LAST!

What a fabulous day.

After a mere half century. Coventry City got a promotion. Ok it was from the basement in League 2 and we had to do it via the play-offs, but it all came good in the end.

My oldest friend Simon, with whom I used to be a season ticket holder in our teens, came down to London for this with his partner, and got me the tickets. We went for the Club Wembley seats, so the middle tier with comfy cushioned seats and nicer bars.

 As you can see, a good view. We got there with an hour to spare. Well it was Wembley and our first chance for promotion since 1967.

Nice trophy at stake but we thought a little large for Michael Doyle to raise aloft.

 Anyway, as you can see, a great following from Coventry. Us fair weather fans (and yes that very much means me these days) turned out in force, about 35,000 of the 50,000 attendance. City half looked quite full; Exeter didn't even use the upper tier at all.

It turned out to be game of two halves. The first, for all the anticipation, was a huge anti-climax. Utterly uneventful. The first half highlights on the big screen consisted of a few wayward shots and a tackle. It was that dull.

The second was the exact opposite. The game came to life when Jordan Willis, our centre back who had been up for a set piece received the ball with his back to goal at the corner of the penalty area, turned and hit a perfect shot into the top corner of the goal. Delirium amongst the Cit y faithful. A few minutes later and Jordan Shipley added a second. Put through by McNulty he went for a shot on target, but the attempted block from an Exeter defender only deflected it over the keeper.

From then on we felt in control and were certainly the better looking side. Grimmer then added a third, maybe the pick of the bunch. You know its your day when your right back scores cutting into the box with a perfect finish on his weaker foot. Exeter also cracked in a decent consolation goal near the end, but City never looked in danger.

Final whistle and cue much celebration. Well we haven't had much to celebrate.But there has to be hope. Even if we had to come up the hard way, we actually look like we can play proper football. If we can hang on to the players we have and add a few, we could be looking at a successful campaign in League 1. But then again if we stick to our usual tactic of letting any decent players go, then it will be a season of struggle. We don't want one of those.

Burton and Fleetwood here we come.

And then I went from Wembley straight to Dalston to have dinner with two of my gig going mates. Both of whom also happy to be quite happy with their lives at the moment, which happens to please me. A very decent curry with excellent company. And on top of that there was a real thunderstorm which we were able to watch come and go in the dry through the restaurant's big glass windows.

Dalston has become cool. And I have cool young friends. Really. Yes amazes me too. Happy day. Happy days.