T 2008, Episode VII: BJM Delays The Inevitable

As the biggest roar I've heard all weekend goes up over my shoulder heralding the unexpected arrival of her from the ward, Amy Winehouse, I figure it's as good a time as any to supply some festival feedback. As previously reported, last night inevitably belonged to Rage. But the day began long before that - just ask my aching feet. The Pet Sounds Arena, from what I gathered, belonged very much to the Five Boroughs, with The Hold Steady doing their second home proud and native Brooklynites MGMT firing off the guts of their Oracular Spectacular LP to the delight of the hoards of white spec donning cosmic rockers elect. Lead singer Andrew Van Wyngarden's voice is a temperamental affair - fluctuating bizarrely between the inaudible (Of Moons Birds and Monsters) and an Axl Rose-esque wail (Pieces Of What). "This is the greatest day of my life," splurts the tour guitarist and best mate of the band. Nothing, of course, to do with the half finished bottle of Jack Daniels resting cosily at your foot mate, eh? Local heroes The Twilight Sad, making their T In The Park debut didn't draw the expected crowd in the T Break Stage, especially when compared to the draw of Glasvegas. But their set was as professional and workmanlike as ever, with the added bonus of a tinnitus free Sunday to ensue given the spacious nature of a festival tent. Enjoyable nonetheless, if not the spectacular set anticipated.

Having indulged in a spot of nostalgia on the Main Stage with Shed Seven (isn't that what Sundays are for?), I caught up with The Delays after their early but welcome set at King Tut's. The band had clearly taken advantage of their premature lunchtime placement and were slightly worse for wear as I asked them to recount some of their memorable festival moments. "I remember taking a piss on someone that was lying on the ground during Aphex Twin at Glastonbury a few years back," admits guitarist Aaron. "It's just one of those things." I guess it is, Aaron.

"We're really looking forward to seeing Justice later," Colin, the Southampton band's bassist announces. "That's not for ages though, so we've got plenty of time to get pissed between now and then." The merriment had obviously commenced long before our encounter. The band had by this stage already invited Joel Gion, on-off percussionist with the Brian Jonestown Massacre, to join their ranks earlier in the day. "It was great," explained Aaron, "We got him to sit in on a few of our interviews and he answered all the questions." Such statements do little but induce paranoia in even the most confident scribe, but a quick Google image search confirmed we were actually talking to The Delays and that they were, indeed, slightly hammered.

As for now? Well, Yeasayer have just played a blinder in the Futures Tent. Amy is still squawking to my right and I'm on my way to catch one of the finest band's in the world today, The National. A brief word with two of the Ohio group's alum earlier was hardly enlightening. A night on Dublin's fair tiles post Oxegen last night left them a wee bit fragile. Basically, they like Scotland. And they're very tired. Obviously saving all their good chat for later then! More on their plans to return to the studio to follow. Here's hoping they're feeling a wee bit more lively in 20 minutes time...