The grand finale. Two great bands to see. (Well one great one, and one trading off past greatness). This was going to seal the weekends festivities on a positive note.
We didn’t get there too early. 7pm-ish. First problem – Echo and The Bunnymen were a no-show! Apparently McCulloch didn’t board the flight. I’m assuming that he couldn’t face the embarrassment of trawling through the turgid pop-fest of “The Fountain”. Alternatively, he cold have left “The Fountain” at home and just come out to Dubai with his first 4 albums. We’d have been happy with that. Very happy in fact. But he chose to disappoint his (small) group of fans in Dubai. In retrospect I ended on a high rather than a disappointment and that was good, so thanks.
First up were/was (?) Dan Black. Toby Kebble look-alike (Northern Soul/Dead Mans Shoes era) with extreme-low-slung-gussett action. His MySpace page said Jay-Z and Sigur Ros as influences. ??? Stumped. Not impressed. All I remember was the guy leaping around, like an E-fuelled Quazimodo. Pants. (Literally).
Then came half of The Parlotones. Apparently the other half didn’t clear Dubai Immigration. The singer explained that this wasn’t their normal way of making music and that they didn’t feel too comfortable. But, they put on a good show. They sounded great. Of course, quite minimal (only rhythm guitar and drums), but enjoyable. The vocals were some of the best I’d heard all weekend. They obviously didn’t feel comfortable and exited after only a few tracks. Shame. They probably do fit into my bed-wetters category, and his David Gray-esque head wobbling annoyed me, as did his hat, but, they turned up and sounded great in less than optimal circumstances. Respect is due. Thanks.
Alphabeat. Where did these come from (ok – Denmark)? What I mean is, where were these supposed to fit in tonights billing? This was Euro-pop in its most extreme. Hints of Aqua. Barbie doll vocals. Lots of leaping, prancing and tambourine beating. They should have been on at Chi, not warming up the crowd before the Super Furry Animals. Bad choice of sequencing. Not bad. Just not me. More MacDonalds kids party than SoundCity.
By the time the Super Furry Animals came on stage I was looking for a lifeline. Something to rescue the festival from a poor Day 2 and a confused Day 3. Of course they didn’t disappoint. I can’t remember their whole set. Gruff name-checked the absent headliners with “We’re Echo and The Bunnymen, from Cardiff”! They focussed on “Dark Days/Light Years”; “Crazy Naked Girls”, “Mt.”, “Inaugural Trams” and “The Very Best Of Neil Diamond”. From the back catalogue I remember “Demons”, “Slowlife”, “Rings Around The World” and “Juxtapozed With U”. Considering the size of the crowd (which had started to drift away), we had a rousing rendition of “Earth” accompanied with appropriate signage and silly finger waving. Brilliant.
SFA rescued the weekend. They sent me home on a high. Mrs. P saw them for the first time and, naturally, was bowled over. Doves and SFA. Two bands bookending the festival and to be truthful making it worth the entrance fee.
Until next year.
The End.






































































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