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3 weeks after an amazing festival, i recap my top 5 performances, other highlights and big misses.

my top 5 in no particular order...
1. The Maccabees @ Guardian Lounge

I was so excited about this performance after missing them on the Other Stage earlier in the day (due to a horrific Regina Spektor clash). I have seen the maccabees three times before and they were great all 3 times, but on the Guardian lounge they exceeded my expectations. Wall of Arms is my favourite album of the year, and all the new stuff they played was awesome...but it was 2 oldies that stood out somehow in what was one of the best live performances i've ever seen. Precious Time was just out of this world, so special, and after giving into crowd requests, Latchmere was immense (made probably even better by Orlando forgetting the words, and someone from the crowd going onstage and singing!). With Wall of Arms, The Maccabees have built on Colour it In both musically and lyrically and it is so abundantly clear that they are way ahead of the indie bands who broke through at the same time. The Maccabees are up there with the best.
watch their set on the other stage
(mp3)The Maccabees-Precious Time
2. Blur @ Pyramid Stage

Blur were outstanding. The band looked so happy to be back at the best festival of the year, back together as a band, and it was reflected in their immense performance. Turns out Tender is a huge festival anthem...at least now it is. The whole crowd singing along was pretty spesh. Wouldn't be at all surprised if Blur didn't make any new material/play any more shows after this year...we will see.
Watch Blur perform Tender, taken by someone in the crowd
(mp3) Blur-Tender
3. Badly Drawn Boy @ Avalon Stage

Playing half on his own and half with a band, Badly Drawn Boy played a great set on the Avalon Stage, a place he calls the "real Glastonbury". He was so good in an intimate venue, strange to think he has played the Pyramid before! He played mostly classics from his first 3 albums...the only three i've heard, so for me it was a pretty much ideal setlist, as well as Stone Roses and Jackson 5 covers! The Shining, track 1 from the mercury prize winning Hour of Bewilderbeast, is one of the best songs ever written in my eyes, so hearing it live (albeit with just an acoustic guita, not the full orchestra) was very special. He is one of Britain's great songwriting talents, i'll definately be going to see him on his next tour.
Really good fan recording of A Minor Incident
(mp3) Badly Drawn Boy-The Shining

4. Q-Tip @ Jazz World

Of all the people I saw at glastonbury, Q-Tip had by far and away the best stage presence of the lot. The leader of possibly the greatest hip-hop group of all time, A Tribe Called Quest, is 39 years old, and very very cool. He played almost a perfect mix of tracks from 2008's the Renaiscance, his debut Amplified and Tribe stuff. The crowd went sick for all Tribe Called Quest, especially Scenario and Check the Rhime. Sucka Nigga was immense, that song is so intelligent. Q-Tip is real hip-hop, reminding the world along with a select few that hip-hop is not about Flo Rida, 50 cent, soulja boy and other successfull talentless stars. Hip-hop is about De La Soul, Mos Def, Jay-Z, Nas, Biggie, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots and other intelligent artists. Q-Tip never seems to be mentioned when people talk about the best rapper ever, but in terms of lyrical ability and stage prescence he is right up there with Jay, Nas, Biggie and 2pac.
A Tribe Called Quest-Sucka Nigga
5. Regina Spektor @ Pyramid Stage

It wouldn't be too crazy to say she has the best voice in music ever. Live she is captivating and does not falter once. Playing alot from her new album Far, Regina impressed a crowd that mostly only knew Fidelity, the closer to a glorious set. Far is perhaps a bit lacklustre in comparison to the rest of her catalogue, but live it all sounds amazing. Poor Little Rich Boy was immense, as was Laughing With... but Us was my favourite; it is my favourite Regina song, and with a live string section it couldnt really go wrong...
(mp3) Regina Spektor-Poor Little Rich Boy
Other highlights:
Maximo Park
Peter Bjorn and John-Objects of my affection (mp3)
Mr Hudson-There will be tears (mp3)
Easy Star All Stars
White Lies-Unfinished Business (mp3)
The Streets
N.E.R.D.-Lapdance feat.Lee Harvey and Vita (mp3)
Lily Allen
The specials
Dizzee Rascal
The Gaslight Anthem-the '59 Sound (mp3)
The Temper Trap
Bon Iver-The Wolves (Act I and II)the (mp3)
Amadou and Mariam
Tom Jones!

Big Misses
2manydjs
Mumford and Sons
Laura Marling
Animal Collective
Bloc Party
Jamie T
Black eyed peas hahahaa

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It is incredible that Mr Hudson has gone from headlining libraries spring 2007...to supporting Kanye West...to signing to his label...to featuring on his album...to co-producing on his album!! incredible! Mr Hudson (and the library-there is some confusion as to whether they are going to be credited on his next album or what? they still play live with him) have such a crazy unique indescribable sound (read this guardian article from march 07). Anywho, the Kanye connection has had a clearly huge influence on his new single, there will be tears. Hudson is on the vocoder and the song is another Kanye-production masterpiece. It is a brilliant song, pretty emotional, 808s esque in many ways. one of the GOOD music clan that is going to burst onto the scene in 2009, with kid cudi and tony williams.
link, along with a count and sinden remix and a sway remix!

Mr Hudson-There will be tears
Mr Hudson & The Library-Ask the DJ (Count & Sinden remix)
and check out this sway remix video, back when he was witty :(
rumour (well wikipedia) has it that hudson will be featured on the blueprint 3. fucking hell

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thanks to someone from the KanyeLive forum^^^^

after queuing from 3pm, and getting three people from the barrier, it was 50000% worth it. the show kicked off with a GOOD music showcase type thing; kid cudi (awesome), consequence (joined by tony williams), some random girl and then mr hudson (played full 30 minutes). mr hudson was brilliant, held the crowd so well, even though the band were only taking up bout a 1/3 of the stage! the steel drummer/backing singer/missy elliott lookalike was amazing. Kanye is producing their new album, including the new single "There will be tears", which is a beautiful blend of Hudsons wrting/vocal talents with Kanyes production epicness.
Kanye came on bout 9ish, and was fucking amazing. The whole show/spaceship story was great! The massive screen at the back was ridiculous, as were the drummers/backing singers at the front with protective masks on! The setlist was awesome, put on was surprisingly one of the highlights, as was i wonder. and hey mama. and every other song. Kanye also did 2 megalong freestyles, one before Hey Mama (about being depressed about losing his mum/gf) and the other near the end about the press. the first one was so emotional, kanye is so fucked up/vulnerable. Think the 2nd one might be the live track on the end of 808's but not sure. the night was rounded off by estelle(!) on amaerican boy, which got the bestest crowd reacton. i love estelle haha. one of the best shows ive ever been to. 808's is leaking very fast, but im gonna wait til it comes out/a proper leak comes out. i heard the jeezy collabaration and its awesome, as is the mastered robocop. cant wait for the 24th and for kanye to return to the UK.

listen to Hudson's new song
check out Kid Cudi
look at some videos from the date
watch kanye's freestyle

i so badly wish id gone to the afterparty.
De-La Soul\Nas/Mos Def/Kanye/Will.I.Am/GOOD music family/damon albarn!!!!
check ot some vids here. mos def playing definition!!! and ms fat booty!! loving the shout out to hudson!
watch on semtex tv
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Check out the paint editing on the picture!!
Santogold and Mr Hudson both confirmed as tour support for thr UK glow in the dark tour, maybe another will be added (Estelle?!) , its certainly not Rihanna/Lupe/N*E*R*D, but it's still pretty awesome.
Santogold-Lights Out
Santogold-L.E.S. Artistes
Santogold-Creator
Mr Hudson & The Library-Cover Girl
Mr Hudson & The Library-Everything Happens To Me
Mr Hudson & The Library-Ask The Dj
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