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David Smyth's rating
Sly's inconvenient return
By
David Smyth
23 Jul 2007
It was a tale of two legends at Hackney's Lovebox festival this weekend. While Blondie raced through their hits with the energy and professionalism of a hardworking band who know exactly how to please a crowd, the long-missing Sly Stone had a more eccentric take on his legacy.
The rest of the weekender, organised for the fifth year by Sunday's headliners, dance duo Groove Armada, was just as mixed a bag.
In Pictures: Lovebox Weekender 2007
An impressive line-up over two days, and the best food I have ever experienced at a festival, were tempered by a heavy police presence-too much space taken up by tacky fairground rides and a pitiful allocation of ladies' toilets.
The small scale meant manageability but also occasional claustrophobia. The size of the crowd flooding through the Clash tent's single entrance/exit, to see the feisty disco of last week's Mercury nominees New Young Pony Club, forced those who wished to leave to crawl under a loose flap at the back of the marquee.
The presence of Sly & the Family Stone, the hugely influential funk band that has not visited Britain for 20 years, was Lovebox's greatest coup.
However, as it proved, there is usually a good reason for such lengthy absences.
Stone's band, including sister Lisa, was fantastic, tight and sharp and lots of fun. The man himself only appeared five songs in, hunched and slurring though still in possession of that rich, familiar voice.
After singing If You Want Me to Stay and Sing a Simple Song, he announced, "I'm going for a piss, I'll be right back," reappeared once more later on and then left his band looking as surprised as the crowd at the abrupt ending. If this is how he wishes to present his numerous classics these days, he's better off staying away for a few more decades.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (3)
Great festival for the most part. Blondie were tight, and gave an amazing performance, though they had to cut nearly a third of their set due to the late running of the main stage - A great shame!
The Horsemeat Disco was great fun too!
- Pete, London, 24/07/2007 21:46
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Groove Armada played probably the best set I've seen and Blondie were the absolute highlight of the Saturday line up. This was a good festival despite the layout being a bit bizarre and tight for space when it needn't have been. And thank god for the beach. What a cool place, deckchairs, beach volleyball great atmosphere. It was like summer after all, big thanks to the Juice Republic guys for putting that on. Next year less armed police and more loos please.
- Sarah, London, 23/07/2007 17:22
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Couldn't disagree more regarding Sly. Though Blondie are undeniably technically still gifted (Debbie's faltering voice aside). They blasted through the classics pretty much by the numbers, great to sing along but nothing you're going to remember in ten years. Sly and the Family on the other hand provided a truly great and individual festival performance. As for Sly not appearing in many of the songs, his age and lifestyle must be taken into account. He did a hell of a lot more than James Brown at Glastonbury a few years ago.
As for the food being good and the toilets being inadequate, neither were really high on my agenda for the day but I understand these things are important to festival goers these days.
- Jamie, Brixton, 23/07/2007 14:52
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