Festival season is well upon us, meaning it was a busy weekend live music wise.
Over on the West Coast, LA radio station KROQ hosted their annual Weenie Roast festival, and from what we hear a star studded audience showed up to enjoy killer sets from The Strokes, Cypress Hill, Velvet Revolver, Beastie Boys, The Hives and, erm, The Killers. The headlining Strokes reportedly put on a fine set, returning to the festival two years after performing a Weenie Roast opening set that got cut short because of time constraints. No such constraints this year, and even time for frontman Julian Casablancas to roll off the stage and into the crowd (he was later heard complaining a crowd member had taken his necklace!).
Closer to home, and the Isle of Wight Festival truly rocked, as you'd expect given that The Who, Manic Street Preachers, Jet and the Super Furry Animals were on the bill. Last word we got from the Isle was during the Stereophonics headline set on Saturday night. It's hard to find media types with much good to say about the Phonics these days, but from what we hear the band's dedicated fan base were not disappointed with a greatest hits set featuring, among others, 'Madame Helga', 'Maybe Tomorrow', 'Mr. Writer', 'Local Boy In The Photograph', and 'Just Looking'.
Finally for now, the Morrissey curated Meltdown Festival kicked off in London this weekend with Mozza himself playing his first London gig from two years at the Royal Festival Hall. He too pleased fans with a mixture of solo hits and Smith classics in his set. No controversial anti-Bush remarks this time, although he did lay into Keane whose debut album kept his new long player off the top of the album charts. With scheduled support the Libertines out of action for the time being, Damien Dempsey and Elefant opened the show.