First up, you literally can't do anything in life anymore without a mobile operator or handset manufacturer being involved in some way. Music. Art. Football they have become truly ubiquitous. I don't have a problem with this at all - the O2 festival is a 'good thing' I am glad it exists, (as long as the artists are good) so thanks O2.
However, there were moments when the annoying O2 girl on the big screen just got too much to bare and there was an O2 unsigned competition winner who seemed to provoke a fairly harsh reaction from someone behind me. He shouted at the top of his voice, 'I have no idea who you are and have never met you, but I f**king hate you.'
Musically speaking the Queens of the Stone Age were brilliant. They have this dirty bass sound that sounds amazing live. Mark Collier does a good impression of them. After them The White Stripes headlined.
The whole stage was made red, including monitors, backdrops etc etc - nothing particularly new there but even their roadies were dressed in black suits (suits..) with red ties. Then when they played the giant video screens by the side went into red and white monochrome mode. It looked great. It was the full 'brand' experience. (You can see some of it here)
Obviously they are increibly talented, god knows how jack White makes such a full layered sound on one guitar (The Mrs who understands these things much more than I do said he was playing the lead guitar like a bass too - I trust her implicitly on these matters) - but the whole experience was so tight.
If other brands paid as much attention to quality and detail they would have 'fans' rather than just purchasers.
James Cooper
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Member since: 03 Jun 2008
Last login: 17 Nov 2009
Total Posts: 210
