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02 Wireless Festival ends on high note
By Amira Hashish, Evening Standard 08.07.08_243x309.jpg)
Once more, with meaning: Adam Duritz gave an emotional performance
Soul man: Ben Harper brings back the funk
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All eyes on them: Goo Goo Dolls know how to pull off an anthem
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Taking a bow, Counting Crows closed the four day 02 Wireless festival. And their applause was well-earned.
A dramatic show from lead singer Adam Duritz was an impressive note on which to end the event; which saw the likes of Jay-Z, Morrissey and Fatboy Slim perform in Hyde Park.
With a performance that wouldn't have been out of place in the West End, the 44-year-old gave it his all (and a little more for good measure) often collapsing to the floor to emphasise his intensity.
But the most emotional moment came when he stood still, shut his eyes and sang Colourblind. In full concentration, the audience witnessed a man sympathising with his lyrics and singing with sincerity. Beautiful.
As expected, hits like Big Yellow Taxi and songs from new album Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings were also well-received.
Sunday's warm-up acts were on top form. The Goo Goo Dolls played anthems like Iris and Slide in addition to new material. Australian band Powderfinger's Waiting For The Sun couldn't have been more apt as the showers sporadically drenched the crowd. Ben Harper was the last to play before the headline act – as soulful as always his guitar solos complimented his funkier numbers well.
Wireless may be over for another year but its acts are only just beginning to do the summer rounds.
COUNTING CROWS INTERVIEW
Adam Duritz and David Immerglück talk Wireless, London and the best record stores in the world...
How was your O2 Wireless Festival experience?
David: We usually don't think ahead to gigs but this one we had been thinking about a lot. We were excited about it for a while so it was a great day.
It's been a while since you played London...
Adam: Yes, we haven't played London in ages. We had some Brixton shows and a Wembley show a while back. It has been at least three to four years though. It's nice to be back.
Have you had a chance to explore the city?
D: Yes, we have spent a lot of time checking stuff out. We have been hanging out in Soho.
A: We went on a pilgrimage to our favourite record stores and spent four and a half hours there. Minus Zero and Stand Out records on Blenheim Crescent in Notting Hill are right next to each other. They are the best record stores in the world. The owners play music for you to learn about it. A lot of my favourite bands in the world I only heard about through them. You stand and talk and listen. I bought so many albums this time.
What are your plans for the rest of the summer?
D: We are playing Liverpool by ourselves.
A: We are doing some shows in Belgrade and did a gig with The Police there recently. That was a blast. They are really nice guys. We watched their whole set as well.
Did you have a chance to watch any of the 02 Wireless acts?
D: Unfortunately not. Joe Purdy is a friend of mine. I wanted to see him. We missed him though. He plays our local café (The Hotel Café). We had no idea so many people here knew him. The Hotel Café is two blocks from my house. I go to a lot of live shows there.
What do you do to relax?
D: It's unmentionable in print. Dirty, wonderful, horrible things.
Your new album is called Saturday Nights/Sunday Mornings. Why did you choose that title?
A: It felt like the right one. There are two records on the album. The first one is about falling apart and the second one is about the hangover and getting back on track. I named it after a country gospel album by Ralph Stanley. It's about celebrating.
Tell us about the highlight of your music careers to date...
D: The whole thing has been great.
A: We played with a 70 piece orchestra once. All of our music had to be re-orchestrated so we had to re-learn them. That was cool. Also, recently we played two festivals in Holland in one day. We played to about 80/90,000 people in total. There was a lot of music that day. Headlining 02 Wireless has been a highlight as well.
ONES TO WATCH
The Sandisk, Tuborg and 02 stages hosted some of the lesser known acts that could be gracing the main stage soon. Here are a few artists that are worth checking out:
Joe Purdy
Donovan Frankereiter
Underworld
Pete and the Pirates
The National
Black Kids
Tinie Tempah
Tinie Tempah on his first 02 Wireless show:
"Performing on stage at the 02 Wireless festival was amazing. I went on and rocked it. It was rammed. There was no space for anybody else to get in. Everyone was singing along and I had a really good time. There was a lot of beer on offer but I try not to drink when I am doing my shows. A bottle of water kept me going.
"Things are pretty busy for the summer. I am going to the holiday islands like Cyprus and Ibiza to perform. As soon as I get back I am getting started on the album. I haven't got a title yet but two of the ideas I have had are Every Legend Has A Beginning or Long Live The King. My first independent release is on August 4. I am doing it all off my own back with no help from the majors. It will incorporate everything from urban, hip hop and electro so make sure you check it out."
WHO WAS WATCHING
Amongst thousands of other fans were...
Mathew Horne (Gavin & Stacey)
Jack Penate
Sarah Harding and Nicola Roberts (Girls Aloud)
Pixie Geldof
Fearne Cotton
Daisy Lowe
Simon Amstell
Rio Ferdinand
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