As the Amen break signifies the set’s zenith, everything I now say onwards will become Mixmag cliché but the band now own each audience member willing to commit body and a little soul and all two-thousand are right where they should be. Palmskin is jumping on stage leaping high over his Wakeman-esque keyboard stands, Andy’s drumming so hard he can’t breathe, his black cotton shirt looking like leather, Chris on bass looks hot yet bored (perfectly normal) and Ski Oakenfull is buried deep in his electronics, forcing out bang-on sounds for whatever tempo Andy serves up. The Bays have killed it, again, somehow.
The crowd dissipate, we cool down then pack down and it’s beer for Tom Middleton’s DJ set, check passport, a waiting splitter and off to The Glade Festival in Basingstoke at 6am, having come offstage in Croatia at 1am. It’s a hard life, oh yes. And I’m so glad it’s us doing it.
top: Andy Gangadeen
bottom left: Chris Taylor on bass (normally better attired)
bottom right: Juggling baggage weights. Not very rock
