02 wireless festival - day 1

Assuming I’ve met my journalistic envoy, I agree and demand directions to this utopian compound. “Uh… Okay,” she says, “all you have to do is fill out this form for a free credit card, and you can go!” We pause, then stare at her as if she’d committed a grave sin. White teeth. Free credit cards. At festivals. Let’s go catch some bands. The XFM tent is packed out for PETE AND THE PIRATES, whose excellent punk shanties go down well with a crowd who largely don’t know who the hell they are. “Who the hell are these guys?” asks an excited American. “They’re fuckin’ cool!” Over to the main stage and THE ONLY ONES are revealing themselves to be fronted by a perverted lizard man, whose rasping voice puts everyone off their beer. Things really kick off with SATELLITE PARTY. This is Perry Farrell’s new band, and he’s decided to premiere them whilst wearing a pink corset. He looks like a classic glam rock legend, and while the band performs his wife (also in her underwear), skips around like a Playboy Bunny. Hell, it beats watching Leeroy from the Prodigy dance - shame about the ‘80s metal though. “I’ve missed you… I’ve missed you so!” croons Josh Homme as QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE strut into the drivers seat. They play with a kind of apocalyptic G-force, and the new tunes (‘Into the Hollow’) stomp about like action movie soundtracks. ‘Lost Art Of keeping A Secret’ is spooky and thrilling, whilst ‘Feelgood Hit of the Summer’ is extended into an epic Doors mantra, albeit with a smart bomb at the end. The ghost of THE WHITE STRIPEShas loomed large at this festival, so it’s fitting that Jack White’s in the mood for a party. He howls like he’s being electrocuted and enjoying it – a true Wildman. Meg, (whom I’ve long suspected is the key to the WS’s appeal) sings ‘Cold Cold Night’ like a sexy lament, while ‘Blue Orchid’, ‘Dead leaves’ and yes, ‘Icky Thump’ all galvanise the drunken masses. On the way out, the Marble Arch itself is projected in red. Guess who? I think we can safely say, the album’s been launched.