So Radiohead Vs Kasabian, who won the battle of the Saturday night headliner?
Maybe a bit unfair to put the two bands together as their musical style and fanbase are very different. It's a bit like getting Manchester United to play the Leeds Rhinos, although given that United have the ultimate footballing fairy Christiano Ronaldo in their side, the rugby league lot would have him, and his friends crying to their mummies before they'd even touched the ball, but now I'm digressing. The point being you have in one corner, British alternative legends who usually don't put pleasing the masses ahead of doing something a bit odd. With fans who hang on their every move, worshiping the ground they walk on even if they were to come on stage and play SClub7 covers on the banjo and spoons. Meanwhile a short walk away in the other corner, are one of the band's who've been at the for-front of everything that is great and popular with UK guitar music over the past couple of years. At Reading last year their fans took on the form of a football crowd, chanting for fifteen minutes after the Leicester boys had left the stage.
If you love one, you're not going to be drawn to see the other by way of sacrifice. It was left to me and my work experience spies to stage hop, taking advantage of the earlier headliner start time on the V Stage, and a Radiohead setlist that is spreading across the Internet like nits in a primary school to bring you reviews for both Radiohead and Kasabian.
I'd love to be able to tell you about the Fatboy Slim greatest hits set in the JJB Tent, or Sandi Thom's debut headline slot on the Virgin Mobile Stage, but being in four places at once is pushing it! I can however spoil the surprise, if it is still one of course, and tell you that Radiohead broke the habit of a life time and finished their set with 'Creep', as part of a hits dominated set which will go down as one of the best in their career. The reaction was obviously massive for the 'Pavlo Honey' hit, for those going to see Radiohead over the years, hoping for 'Creep', it must be like watching Sunderland and wishing for a win.
Day two's scheduling at the top of the bill was a little bit odd. Personally I'd have put Faithless as headliner on the Channel 4 Stage, for they drew the biggest crowd of the day for the Main Stage. They left a crowd in the mood for a party and those who stuck around heard a number of great Smiths classics which is fine but somewhat downbeat in comparison, as well as Morrissey's usual and tired rant about radio stations ignoring his new singles: just live with it you grumpy old man!
Razorlight would have been a better support act for him and the Charlatans would have been perfect for Faithless, Tim Burgess dedicated – to Paris Hilton during their hit heavy set on the Channel 4 Stage. The only problem would have been that Groove Armada would have suffered as they packed out a sweaty JJB Tent and rounded off the weekend perfectly with all the classics. They had the advantage of great sound quality, something most on that stage didn't. Lily Allen rode this the best and drew a massive crowd for her set early on Sunday afternoon.
Other day two highlights included Paul Weller, who rocked the place when he played 'Town Called Malice' as well as 'Wild Wood', 'Changing Man' and recent hit 'From The Floorboards Up'. Prior to him were the band who invited him to perform with them in London last May, Hard-Fi are finally to take a break from playing live as they belatedly put their excellent debut album to bed and work on new material.
Earlier on the second day, The Feeling proved anyone wrong who thinks they're bland and boring, in fact they may still be but they put on a great show in front of a packed Channel 4 Stage crowd so who am I to argue?
With the likes of Hard-Fi and Editors in need of some new material and fast, several of 2005's favourites are back and ready to do it all again in 06. Magic Numbers, Dead 60s and Bloc Party played to massive crowds on the Main Stage on day one, meantime Cooper Temple Claus headlined the Virgin Mobile Stage on day two, all showcasing new material from forth-coming records. Ordinary Boys also played new tracks with Preston and co performing one of the best sets from day one, a matter of hours before their bass player was rushed to hospital with a potentially serious throat problem that caused them to pull their Stafford gig the following day.
V often has an indie legend on the Main Stage, this year you could see Kula Shaker on the Channel 4 Stage, and Echo and the Bunnymen in the JJB Arena. The latter was confusingly lower down than rapper Kano and Girls Aloud, still not sure what that TV talent contest winner lot were doing at a festival in the first place.
V was one of the events to sell out in record time in 2006, and even with the return of Glastonbury in 2007, is sure to be as popular twelve months on. On a personal note there weren't as many bands that blew me away as in previous years, but it remains and will always be a very interesting and enjoyable festival to go to.
To check some individual set reviews
Click here.