I've been a fan of Animal Collective for just over a year now and this was the first time I've got to see them do a headline show. They clashed last year one of the gigs was on the night where every band seemed to play! I did get to see them at ATP though and that was brilliant.

Support came from the legend that is Charles Hayward. Charles was a member of This Heat who were fantastic. This Heat played what people call 'Post Punk' although they were around before and during the punk era so it just shows how invalid that term is and justifies why I hate it(love the style of music though), well not as much as 'Shoegazing' but I wont go into that right now! It was Just Charles Behind a drum kit as he sang and mixed in samples of music. It was quite stunning to watch. He sometimes appears like a madman as he screams and then sings some beautiful melodic dreamy songs. The applause he got was huge too it was great to see him appreciated by which was mainly a surprisingly young crowd. A decent 40 min set too.

Animal Collective were next who started subtly, but it built up as it went along and the heavier stuff came later. Most of tonight's set was from the latest album Merriweather Post Pavilion which only came out the day of the gig, It's a fantastic album although not quite up to the standards of the previous one Strawberry Jam. Slippi from Here Comes The Indian was brutal tonight really bringing the crowd to life. The whole set was quite mesmerising as a lot of different styles were merged together in a beautiful dreamy dirge whilst the lightshow flickered spectacularly. The occasional guitar and percussion was played during this spectacular performance. The encore however was the hightlight it lasted around 30 mins and consisted of 3 songs Starting with the stunningly dreamy Banshee Beat. Then was the wonderful Chores which was my favourite song of the night and I think only inclusion from Strawberry Jam, to end was one of the hightlight on the latest album My Girls.

setlist taken from last fm

In The Flowers>>>Daily Routine>>>Also Frightened>>>[new song]>>>Slippi>>>[new song]>>>Guys Eyes>>>Summertime Clothes>>>Lion in a Coma>>>Brothersport>>>Banshee Beat>>>Chores>>>My Girls

winter's love was one of those new songs but it was a new arrangement of the song.
Charles Hayward












Animal Collective



































































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