Friendly Fires, Tribes + Little Comets, Temple Newsam park, Leeds, 24th June

I never envisaged that I would end the day by rummaging through a wheelie bin packed with Umbrellas. I may have hit a new low and I don’t know whether to be disgusted with myself or a little proud. I wasn’t inebriated as you may expect from such a nauseating act but my favourite Umbrella was unwillingly snatched from my grip on arrival to Temple Newsam. Like so many others I prepared for intense rain and this was evident with the mounds of confiscated Umbrellas clustered in a heap on the gloriously sunny afternoon.

As the Olympic Torch approached Leeds from its earlier destination of Huddersfield, a real celebration was already under way. Little Comets kicked off the music with Widow Twanky’s washing line teetering above their heads, they struck the hanging percussion that dangled skywards with fervour. It was a valiant performance from the quartet, playing to one of the biggest crowds they’ve played to and deservedly so. A band who seem to be riding on the cusp of major recognition and with consistent performances packed with infectious, optimistic pop.

Tribes attracted a greater crowd, but they sound like they grew up listening to The Cure and nothing but The Cure. Their sound so awash with reverb that a few times I thought, ‘What is that noise?’ as it was difficult to untangle the mesh of guitars. At one point, the lead vocalist uttered something along the lines of that things are better up North. Yes, Tribes, yes they are including the bands. The performance was all a bit lacklustre and the lure of the free bottles of chilled Coca Cola took some away from the stage and away from Tribes.

Temple Newsam swelled with bodies as the Torch arrived but the instant the cauldron was ignited, most of the crowd filtered away. The unfortunate timing of the England match meant that Friendly Fires undeservedly  played to the smallest crowd of the day. But this didn’t hinder the spirit. Ed predictably writhed around the stage, sashaying and grinding from one flowing movement to the next. 

Looking down on Temple Newsam, the rays soaking up the last strains of 'Kiss of Life', it was even more clear that Friendly Fires and the sun coalesce so brilliantly -  an even better duo than the Chuckle Brothers. And if you were wondering I never did get my Umbrella back.