O2 Wireless Festival: Friday

United Kingdom | | 07 July 2005

The god like genius of Graham Coxon has the pleasure of playing in the first rain London has seen in days. While he and his band play their unique brand of Britpop note perfect, the crunching guitars sounds and keyboard melodies, which include a long instrumental to 'Bittersweet Bundle of Misery', he lacks presence for such a moment. Many stare blankly and Graham rarely looks up at the crowd. Yes, he sounds excellent, but he's duller than drab to watch, and with Coxon merely mumbling into the microphone, it finally proves that he really was to Blur what fingers were to Jimi Hendrix - the musicmaker, but not the complete performer.

In the dry surrounds of the Xfm tent comes the radio station's London breakthrough band of the year, Hard-Fi. Their energetic set is outstanding, but the crowd doesn't return the love easily and rarely interact with the band. Being from Staines themselves they know how to entertain a London audience and the band plays with the conviction of a guilty man keeping their movement and music far from static until the tent is moving along with their guitar driven ska sound, everyone going nuts for summer anthem 'Hard To Beat', although previous single 'Cash Machine' is spoilt by blending their intro into a cover of White Stripes 'Seven Nation Army'.  But this is the only gripe as Hard Fi emerge as early contenders for band of the day.

Back on the main stage The Bravery blow the assembled mass of thousands away, but with 85% of the crowd decked out in corporate sponsored plastic macs, it makes them look almost as daftly uniform as the Bravery's attire, the New Yorkers looking like they've been to a funeral earlier on in the day. But their music does the talking and with quasi classics like 'Honest Mistake' and 'Unconditional' they can't go wrong. Back inside the Xfm tent, Fischerspooner play a set which hits peaks of electro ecstacy, although less people than expected enjoy their thumping and unique sound. There is plenty of room to dance!

Moby, a proven performer over many years, follows them on the main stage, but his brand of music has hardly evolved since his masive seller 'Play' and his live show, despite new songs, is stale. This is despite all the effort of hundreds of timed flashing lights and polite comments about tonight's headliners. Is Moby talented? Yes. Entertaining? Only to some, and this apathy is obvious in those heading to the bars or to see The Dears in the Xfm tent despite the sun making its first appearance says it all.

New Order have suffered from some bad luck again today. Since reforming they have been unable to perform a big London outdoor gig without it pissing down, meaning the crowd are soggier than Big Brother's Craig - not the best feeling for dancing en masse. Finsbury Park in 2002 was a wash out during the support acts and today has been the same. Still, the set is energetic and the new line up has introduced a new sparkle and energy performing live. With an appeal and audience that bridges generations, New Order have a back catalogue any band would die for and they make it all the better by driving through Joy Division classics, as well as their commendable recent singles with aplomb for men of their age. The Hooky fan club is out in force (as ever) at the front of the stage and any bass player wanting to watch a master must catch this man and his band. Closing on Blue Monday is expected and always a highlight, but 10.15 feels too early to be closing the first day - at least public transport can whisk damp people safely to bed, whilst friends at Glastonbury still survey the damage.