Wickerman 2013: Saturday, 27 July
With temperatures soaring, Book Group keep their cool to deliver an accomplished set in the GoNorth tent. The ringing guitars and witty – but often gently self-mocking lyrics – of Graeme Anderson will invariably lead to comparisons with Frightened Rabbit's Scott Hutchison, but the Edinburgh group are already busy carving out a reputation of their own thanks to their excellent EP Homeward Sound. This performance deserves a bigger crowd, but Book Group can at least claim to be one of the few bands of the day to inspire a crowd member to indulge in an unlikely spot of breakdancing.
Opening song Summer’s Wasted is the perfect soundtrack to a hot Saturday evening when many of those in the crowd are beginning to show the ill-effects of too much sun and booze. The Yawns lo-fi surf rock is the perect antidote, and thus goes down very well in such conditions. Vocalist Sean Armstrong grins widley thoughout. “This is big,” he announces. “We’ve never played a tent this big before.” He doesn’t move much, but you still feel compelled to watch him. There’s no Morrissey-style mic-lead twirling from him, or any Liam Gallagher-like faux menace. He’s the anti-frontman. Which suits The Yawns just fine.
Kevin Rowland is no longer calling himself a Midnight Runner, but his reformed Dexys are still capable of capturing the golden soul sound that made them such a critical and popular success story in the early 1980s. Rowland’s reputation as a songwriter hasn’t diminished since the band split in 1987, despite an infrequent and at times ill-advised career as a solo artist, and when the familiar horn intro to Geno begins, it’s easy to see why. The bumper crowd happily sings along, and on stage Rowland looks sharp and clearly relishing his return to the spotlight. It’s fair to say that Dexys were not booked on the strength of their new material, even if it does include occasional stand-out tracks such as the excellent Incapable of Love. There’s a predictably huge roar when Come On Eileen is finally played. Yes, it’s over familiar, having soundtracked 30-years-worth of parties and weddings, but the affection in which it’s held is undeniable.
Casual Sex have a darker edge to their music and persona that might surprise those who were expecting fun-time hooks and arch lyrics in the mould of Orange Juice. Singer/guitarist Sam Smith, formerly of Chemikal Underground favourites Mother and the Addicts, dedicates The Bastard Beat, from a forthcoming EP of the same name, to the Westminster government. “I hope you didn’t vote for them,” he deadpans. The Casual Sex sound is lean and addictive, more XTC than Franz Ferdinand, and each song never outstays its welcome. This is music you can dance to, but you’re likely be frowning with concentration at the same time. Tonight’s set is an accomplished one from a clearly experienced group of musicians, but what makes them stand out above other new bands is that they have arrived seemingly fully-formed. Their debut album should be one to savour.
As great as the Solus and GoNorth stages are, there are times when you wish the sets could be longer than 30 minutes. Roman Nose have succeeded in whipping the crowd into a frenzy and look capable of scaling even greater heights when the music comes to an abrupt halt. Chants of “one more tune!” quickly begin, but the house lights are up and it’s game over. The combination of wearing Mexican wrestling masks and playing muscular electronica has tonight worked wonders for the Glasgow trio. Visually, they’re not your average electro act, with biceps bulging in custom denim vests, they more resemble a biker gang that’s recently turned over a synthesiser shop. With tunes as essential as Youthclubbed, you can expect to see a lot more of those wrestling masks in the coming months.
Those unfamiliar with The Rezillos might wonder why they are headlining Wickerman’s second stage in 2013 when their career essentially lasted for a little over 24 months during the height of the late ‘70s punk boom. But what always set the Edinburgh band apart from their Year Zero contemporaries was the fact they were always more cartoon glam rockers – with a talent for delivering sharp lyrics – than nasty three-chord thrash merchants. After reforming in 2001, The Rezillos' career has taken off in a way few could have expected - they completed their first ever North American tour just last year. Tonight, they easily pack out the Scooter tent and demonstrate why they are still such a live draw. Vocalists Fay Fife and Eugene Reynolds still look the part and perform with a real visceral energy; the former in particular is still a sight to behold and adds some welcome theatrics to proceedings. Rezillos staples such as Top of the Pops and Can’t Stand My Baby are played with conviction, despite the absence of long-time guitarist Jo Callis, and the decent-sized mosh pit doesn’t even slow down for newer songs like No 1 Boy – a true seal of approval for any punk band, regardless of their age.