Regina Spektor - Sunday's real headliner16 Jul 2006
Mogwai might have a 90 minute set still to play over in the Obelisk Arena, but from the moment that Brooklyn's Regina Spektor appears grinning broadly on the Uncut stage, it's clear who the night belongs to and who Latitude was most excited about seeing. She's utterly enchanting. Bashing out a drum rhythm with one hand and piano chords with the other, she sings her lilting pieces of nonsense with such verve that you feel like you're at a really excellent birthday party. We've never seen a crowd so happy. Nor a singer for that matter - good joy, great Regina.
Clearly, Jonathan Donohue has been listening to too much Antony and the Johnsons. The extravagant gestures - he sweeps on clutching a bottle of red wine which he props up by an amp - and the seductive quality of the songs mean there are people genuinely swooning. Although that might be sunstroke.
White Rose Movement confuse us when drunk, as we're never sure whether they're named after a garage or a cockney supermarket. When sober however, their brand of electrock is pretty damn hot: while it's got one foot planted firmly in the 80s, it's still more XTC than Franz Ferdinand. Don't let their hair and clothes fool you either: regardless of the fact that they're headlining, they're very well-mannered boys and girls and there's no redundant posturing, just the sound of furious foot tapping. Well, as much sound as you can get when stamping on grass. Sod it. We did an interview with White Rose Movement for Questivals which, due to a horrible combination of events, we no longer have so sorry about that. They really like Polish speed, we remember that much. Hear more of them at www.myspace.com/whiterosemovement.
Ah yes. The light, breaking gently behind him like a joyous sunset. The soft purr of his voice in our ears. The sweet twangle of guitar (three strings only: well observed Mitch Benn). The gentle splash of damp as you don't watch where you're going and walk straight into security's water tub. All these add up to the reasons why Mr Gonsalez is making squillions churning out the most depressing music we've Ever Heard, and we're on the other side watching him.
Yes, we're back in the Poetry Tent: it seems we just can't keep away from long words and harassed middle-class people broadening their accents in an attempt to appear real. Oh hang on, Penny Broadhurst has just been very funny and very rude about exactly that. Ooh, it's rather good - we do like vitriol and there's plenty of it here, along with passion and some clever wordplay that makes you think without having to engage in beard stroking at the same time. Thank God.
His cuddly musical majesty Mitch Benn is sporting leather trousers. Considering the gasping heat outside, this is an idea that smacks of foolishness. Mercifully, his set is heavier on stand-up and his satirical songs than the godawful waffle that's screwed up the current series of his Radio 4 show 'Crimes Against Music' - 'Everything Sounds Like Coldplay Now' goes down a treat, and 'The Boyband Song' is as inspired as ever. The music's spot on, the lyrics are hilarious - God, you have to love him. At least a bit. Check out the lyrics.
Still reeling after Captain's set, we nip across to the Sunrise Arena to catch Paolo Nutini finishing off his set with 'Jenny Don't Be Hasty'. From the whoops of the audience, he's not done badly: people are jumping up and down and singing along looking really happy, always the sign of a good gig, if not the onset of ADHD. We bumped into him at the crepe van later (chocolate - yum) and he has the whitest teeth of any smoker we've ever met. Hmmm...
Regardless of a singing face that occasionally looks like he's achieving orgasm, Rik and the other four Captains sure know how to knock out a tune. In an infinitely more intimate set than Wireless's main stage effort, they lure in a crowd who dance, sing and happily bellow out requests. Their forthcoming album, 'This is Hazelville', is destined to become a benchmark of the summer: Clare's voice goes perfectly with Rik's, all topped off with some of the loveliest melodies you'll hear this year. If this sounds like a plug rather than a review, it is: Captain are bloody wonderful and you need them in your life.
Do you think we'll get in trouble for having a kid picture up here? Even if it is the back of her head. Oh well, she's watching Nathan Evans say "C***" quite a lot, so she's probably unshockable. This is Puppetry of the Pops part 1, a musical inspired by Smiths songs for Casio keyboards and weird puppets. So far there has been an angry ogre, attempted suicide in a tower block and some magic baked beans. Awesome.
