Hey Boy... Your Oh So Sensitive

Scott Jones on the second Indietracks festival at Butterley Steam Railway

Indietracks festival, Butterley Steam Railway, Derbyshire, July 26th and 27th, 2008

Oh, I don’t know what it is, this feeling I’m left with, there’s the huge buzz from seeing some of the most amazing bands, the pure-sugar abc sweets that will surely keep me awake for the next 4 weeks as well as the previous week, and then there’s that lonely feeling, no Darren Hayman to look forward to tomorrow, no party with the best of friends going on and on. It’s a sad feeling but a kind of sadness that the end of such a great event deserves.

So we set out late afternoon from the tip of the valleys, circling many a roundabout more than 5 times before eventually turning right by a Co-Op store which I suggested earlier, and finally arriving after dark, smuggling a few things onto the camp site under the pale moonlight… Up go the tents, out comes the pear cider, and on go the motown and Ivor Cutler records. But soon it’s time for bed so we’re ready for action in the early afternoon.

Silence at Sea are getting things underway, and it’s like having the cake before the party, a real treat. Before we know it we’re swept away on that poetic wave of emotion that Silence At Sea conjure up at will. The band create such an atmosphere, I could swear the moon is out in a darkened sky and the river flows with melancholy poems. The lyrics in all their songs of outlandish tales are sung so poetically with Laura’s haunting vocals and Gareth’s strumming of his guitar from 1000 miles per hour down to the most subtle of tunes (whilst wearing a giant cat suit), the haunting radio signal and all the other instruments thrown in including the typewriter, violin, bass and accordion. Was that a twinkling aurora?

Before I know it, as if being woken up from a long sleep in the car not knowing where you are, I’m watching Slow Down Tallahassee on the new outdoor stage. I don’t know much about Slow Down Tallahassee, all that I do know comes from Alistair Fitchett’s unpopular blog, but the set seems to fly along with the thumping disco beats that maybe would have had me dancing if I wasn’t still floating in the bubble that Silence At Sea blew.

After that it's back down to the main stage to see Shrag who again I don’t know much about but have heard good things. The singer has something about her, I don’t know what it is but it had me. They remind me a little of The Long Blondes, just a little. ‘Forty five 45s’ is great but I have to rush off before the end because Jimmy McGee said “ahh you must see the Just Joans, they like fucking Belle and Sebastian with balls.”

By now the church is full so I put my head up to the window at the back and although I cant see as well as I’d like I can hear the music fine. The Just Joans sound fantastic. ‘Hey boy your oh so sensitive’ is one of my new favourite songs with its lyrics about Woody Allen box sets, home-made t-shirts, dolly mixtures and v neck jumpers all whilst trying to get the girl. The lyrics in their songs are great, stories varying from drunken one night stands, to stories of growing up, tinged with the sadness of losing touch with people, full of nostalgia provoking melancholy feelings deep down, and a Sleeper chorus thrown in. The Just Joans create a certain sadness, the sadness of growing up and losing touch with your best friends, the kind of sadness captured in Y Tu Mama Tambien. 

Down at the merchandise stall earlier there was an amazing CD package from Red Pony Clock with great artwork knitted (I think) onto some great wallpaper, so I thought I should check them out. They start off slowly with some nice little songs then all of a sudden burst like the bug sweets you get, when you bite into the middle it explodes with flavour, except here there’s an explosion of jazz rhythms.  Now it’s getting close to Hayman time and the plan is to watch the Kabeedies then go to the church extra early to try and get a seat.

Although I’d only heard one song by the Kabeedies It’s so good they’ve got to be good. ’Lovers ought to’ has appeared on every mix CD I’ve made since I had it and even at the end of other bands albums which I gave to friends, and its never sounded better. They’re a ball of fire on fire, Katie bounces in between both guitarists, looks each of them in the eye in turn, “I love you”  and a snapped bass string is not enough to stop this clued up locomotive from rolling all over me. The intensity they play at is amazing, I need an ice cream to cool me down after that blistering set and I couldn’t complain if no other band topped that all festival, but I should’ve known better, the king is up next.    

So as planned there was a quick jaunt to the burger van for one of their stunning veggie-burgers before hitting the church extra early, but as I’m queuing word is that the king has been moved forward and has started his set, forget the veggie-burger. By the time I get there the church is packed and I’ve missed one of my favourites, ‘Caravan song’. But not to worry there’s another entrance that goes backstage-ish with a perfect little ledge to lean on, so it turns out I had the best seat in the house right at the front. Hayman truly is the king and will be for some time, I didn’t think it was possible but the new stuff may even be better than Hefner, ‘Big fish’ is an instant classic with Hayman‘s master story telling. Hayman is playing with the latest line up of the Secondary Modern and it’s a band worthy of backing the king. Hayman throws in some old classics too,  ‘The Wu-Tang clang from his electronic masterpiece ’Local information’ with The French, with its fantastic chorus, fitting with him wearing his new Wu-Tang Clan t-shirt. Then there’s that familiar guitar line that leads into ‘Painting and kissing’. Oh it’s amazing, the church is erupting, everyone is on their feet, most on the church seats, and everyone dancing like mad. Jonny Helm of the Wave Pictures is in the isle giving it his all and I wish I got trapped in the moment forever. Of course Hayman wasn’t allowed to leave the stage after that so for the first time in history there’s an encore in the church, and although it’s only one song it’s more of the same, ’Good fruit’ just breathtaking.  I was hoping that there would be some kind of tornado outside forcing us all to stay in the church and Hayman would just keep playing all night, but it wasn’t to be, so it’s outside for some fresh air and some deep breaths and maybe that veggie-burger I was after. It just doesn’t get any better, I stroll down to watch The Wedding Present but I can’t stay, I can’t watch anyone after that so it’s a pear cider on the grass outside, in wait for some disco action later.

I’ve cooled down a bit now and am ready for action, Helen Loves bubblegum killers are cooking the mix tonight at the locomotive shed disco and play some great stuff. Jonathan Richman and the modern lovers’ ‘Road runner’, ‘Hello kitten’ by Hefner, ‘The punks are writing love songs’ by Tullycraft and even The Indelicates at which point I find my dancing shoes and decide to throw some unconventional shapes. Camera Obscura, Belle and Sebastian, the Pipettes, Ramones and The School were also pulled out of the magic music sack somewhere along the line. What a great day, but it's not over yet there’s still action to come on the campsite.

We get back there thinking that it cannot possibly get any better, and then Jimmy McGee pulls out his ukulele and does the most amazing set to all of 9 people. Jimmy was free to play his lewder stuff away from Eleanor’s gaze (it just wouldn’t be right playing this stuff in front of her), laying down ’69 Ways To Make A Woman Cum’. Then he pulled out some songs that I haven’t heard before, ’Love song for Kylie’, with the most obscene fantasies about Kyle and her sister, which is contender for my favourite song ever, and then ‘Scottish People’, to the tune of ‘Common People’, maybe even better, at least on par. And just when you think he’s gonna go on all night, like a fleeting troubadour he’s gone, and missed the Ivor Cutler disco at our tent.

Indietracks Day 2

We wake up on the Sunday to find that it's t-shirt weather again so a quick wash then a stroll down towards the festival site. Somehow all the times have changed today so for a while no one quite knows who is playing where, but soon enough posters are up with the new times. Kate Goes (in stone age gear) are the first band of the day for me, their energy is great and they throw up some crazy beats.

Yesterday there was a rumour that Hayman would be playing somewhere in the festival again today, so after following Hayman and The Wave Pictures around for a few hours we find out that he’ll be playing the small Tea Tent by the outdoor stage around 4ish, while The Smittens set up. The Tea Tent is only small and is jam packed, as Hayman and The Wave Pictures play a blistering mini set worthy of headlining any festival. The set included ’Junk’ and another of my favourite tracks ’Sad witch’. It’s just fantastic, then after declaring that you should never attempt a solo after Dave Tattersall, like he just did, it’s over, the Smittens have started their set outside.

I was sort of feeling sorry for whoever has to play after Hayman, even though it was only a mini set, but the Smittens soon put pay to that feeling. They look like they're really having fun, super-catchy pop songs getting the crowd dancing like Napoleon Dynamite, and some amazing old-school dancing from the keyboard player who also happens to have the deepest voice in pop history has the ‘teccys’ hanging their heads, I’ll happily dance to anything that irritates the ‘teccys’, who’s love for Jack Black could be smelt from the camp site.

Straight after The Smittens finish their set, Cardiff’s Little My start playing in the nearby Tea Tent. There’s about 9 thousand of them, all playing different instruments as they arrive from other bands (they weren’t originally on the bill so have to borrow a few instruments). Little My have some great pop songs and get better as more and more instruments arrive, one person in the front row turned down an offer to play the bongos, oh, if the offer had fallen into my sweaty palms, maybe it would’ve been a starting point for the band I always wanted, well either that or I’d be in prison by now. Meanwhile, out of the side of the tent Hayman is on stage tuning his guitar with The Wave Pictures, so straight after Little My finish their set it’s back into the sunshine.

The Wave Pictures new album Instant Coffee Baby is a huge contender for my album of the year although no winner will ever emerge. Comparisons have been made with the likes of Hefner, Herman Dune and Jonathan Richman, and although they do take a little from each of these, they are really quite different from all of them, they have something I can only call ‘Wave Pictureness’ that’s totally original and keeps them from falling into any categories. Dave Tattersall’s voice is so raw and full of emotion, his lyrics filled with imagination and humour, and then the way he makes the guitar sing with as much emotion as his voice with the blinding solos… I’ve really been looking forward to seeing The Wave Pictures again since they brought me to my knees in Cardiff, and I’m instantly reminded how, when they blast out ‘Leave the scene behind’. I didn’t think Hayman could have been equalled but The Wave Pictures are on par with the King at this moment in time. ‘I love you like a madman’ ’Long Island’ and ‘Strange fruit for David’ come over the crowd like a shooting star setting the moon on fire in pure daylight and I think even the teccys are under the spell. The Wave Pictures just take things up another level with these songs, Dave Tattersall just rips the guitar to shreds in the most graceful and meaningful manner, Franik providing the great bass lines for Dave to bounce off, and Jonny rattling the drums and shouting backing vocals like he’s been chewing disco biscuits for three days. There’s just a certain excitement and buzz you get from watching The Wave Pictures, you just want to jump around shouting the lyrics as they play, and in my case it makes me want to plug my guitar in at 4am turn the volume up full and just blast out a solo like Dave, waking the whole village up on the way. “Hayman! You're on in one” shouts Dave Tattersall as The Wave Pictures come near the end of their glorious set, what’s this? Hayman is going to play acoustic guitar for The Wave Pictures! Hayman gets straight into action as they play the final song of the set and he gives it his all on guitar, this is just fantastic, imagine having Hayman playing acoustic guitar in your band, this is the ultimate band. The Wave pictures leave me with a similar feeling as Hayman did yesterday, you're just inspired to pick up a guitar and pretend you can play it like Dave Tattersall. There’s no ’Friday night in Loughborough’ which is a shame, but I guess that would’ve been too good.

Time for another ice-cream with the sun being as hot as it is and with The Wave Pictures shining with as much intensity, while The Deirdres set up. But as I walk near the church there’s a new timetable up and Esiotrot are playing inside. I’ve heard a lot about Esiotrot, from Alistair again and also Darren Hayman said they’re his favourite new band, but I’ve only heard a couple of tracks on their myspace page.  ‘Emily Scott’ is one of them, and it rolls along in a Hefner-esque manner and with the Hefner horns. The church is full again, so it’s back to my usual hang out, through the side door into exactly the same spot where I watched Hayman from. Esiotrot have a great sound with the guitars rolling along, the brass section kicks in at the right point every time, and their lyrics about girlfriends who won’t let you lift their skirts up, all fitting into great pop songs with a real outsiders’ edge. Esiotrot don’t fit into any categories or any scenes, they just make great pop music with knowing nods towards Hefner, Belle and Sebastian and Jens Lekman, I’m looking forward to getting to know the songs, providing I can get my hands on the album.

The Deirdres are coming to the end of their set now so I only catch the last song. To the teccys' horror the gameboy is hooked up and the ironing bored is out, it’s like a house party involving a mic and some instruments. I really enjoyed the one song I caught, The Deirdres are all pop action. Somewhere along the line I’ve missed The Rosie Taylor Project, I’ll admit I’ve only ever heard one song by them but it’s a great song with a great sadness. ’Maps for lost lovers’ came into my possession courtesy of a free ’Loose Club’ CD and we even had it on in the car on the way up. It’s a shame but I’m soon over it as The Bobby McGee’s are up next. 

The church is jammed once more but for the first time I had a seat, this time I made sure I was early, I watched the last of the set by the only bad band I seen all weekend, their name slips my imagination and mind. The Bobby McGee’s handed out party poppers and sent some balloons flying, Neil and Josef captured a couple of these balloons and started their own works of art. Neil went for the more basic face and sent it along with a well-etched samurai beard, but Josef took the more complex route with hair and everything. So after a few minutes of his careful colouring the work of art was almost complete, hair drawn painstakingly right down the back, but with the last stroke of the pen the balloon burst and we nearly jumped through the window after jumping out of our skin, just like in Tom and Jerry when Spike the bulldog is waiting around the corner for Tom. After that Jimmy appears in this amazing jester costume, which Eleanor made for him. The McGee’s with their full band was like the craziest circus you can imagine. With songs ranging from dancing to the Smiths on your own, to gouging out your partners eyeballs, The Bobby McGee’s leave a scar that you just want to keep picking. It’s a shame ’Love song for Kylie’ didn’t make an appearance though.

Kylie did get a mention next though with Ballboy’s ‘Songs for Kylie’. Before the set I’d only ever head one song by Ballboy, ’I lost you but I found country music’ done as a duet with Laura Cantrell on a John Peel tribute show, and today it sways with the kind of beautiful melancholy that runs deep. It’s just like watching Stand By Me as a kid. Ballboy’s songs reveal some great stories, from girls in record shops who said their music wasn’t avant-garde enough in ‘Avant-garde Music’, to the most unconventional love story of a bank robber who’s argument with his girlfriend knocks his timing out a little leading him to be shot and killed in ’I don’t have time to stand here with you arguing about the size of my dick’. The keyboard and cello in their songs are just like the rainbow in your painting, just perfect. Ballboy left me feeling like I’d just walked over that same magic rainbow, holding hands with a long lost soul mate only being forced to go our separate ways as the rainbow dies out.

Los Campesinos! are up next as I disembark my magic rainbow but there’s something not quite right after watching the likes of The Wave Pictures, Hayman and Ballboy. The big songs ‘You, me, dancing’ and ‘Sweat dreams, sweet cheeks’ sound great, booming pop songs and everyone going crazy, but once they’ve been played it’s time to walk the plank.

As we were walking to the car to get more sandwich filler, I thought I was imagining things, there’s a '60s disco in the Tea Tent and its all going down. Some stunning girls throwing some old-time shapes to the beats of the 60s and dreams in the night air. A shooting star in the perfect night sky and I was wishing for 1910 Fruitgum Company’s ’May I take a giant step’, but it wasn’t to be.  A roly-poly on the grass outside and then the realisation that you won’t be waking up to see Hayman tomorrow, the walk back to the camp site is a little harder carrying a heavy heart. Sad to see the end of another amazing IndieTracks festival, but more magical tales from The Outside Of Everything await at home.

© 2008 Scott Jones 

© Miwsig