Glastonbury 2023

[mdd2]

Elton's legs may have gone but wow at 76 what a performance far far far more impressive than Paul McCartney a few years ago who was in decline IMO

[Swizzlestick]

McCartney was good, but he was happy to play a few deep cuts and newer tracks which tended to dilute the set a bit, whereas Elton just played the hits from start to finish.

[Stalbansclaret]

The sheer strength of his great back catalogue guaranteed an enjoyable performance but it’s crazy to imply that , like McCartney, he is not “in decline” compared to his 70s heyday. Just listen to the difference in quality of his singing back then. Like night and day. It’s just inevitable that ,at 76, anyone’s powers would be waning.
Had t realised Debbie Harry was 78 (next week anyway) ! It’s interesting to see so many “old fogies” still going and also being enjoyed by the younger audience too. I’ve always tried to resist the “they don’t write ‘em like that anymore” line of thinking but O do wonder whether the ‘70s, in particular, will ultimately be looked back on as pop/rock music’s golden age.

[ClaretTony]

Elton's legs may have gone but wow at 76 what a performance far far far more impressive than Paul McCartney a few years ago who was in decline IMO

McCartney, who was there enjoying Elton John last night, was last year and I thought was superb as was Elton John. He's struggling walking a bit now but he's recently had knee replacement surgery which accounts for that.

[tally]

Debbie Harry..... am always touched by your presence dear.
Astonishing to see her and the band doing a full set. At 78 years old she just does not need to do it, does not need the money and yet she turns in a great performance. She just loves singing I guess, after all its what she does best and that was Blondies third gig this week. Amazing!

[Juan Tanamera]

Firstly it wasn't a Westlife cover!!!!!

I was Father & Son, which isn't a cover of Boyzone either.

Father & Son was originally Cat Stevens far both Ronan and his tribe of farts butchered it.

I knew it was Cat Stevens who did the original, I still have the original album.

[Boss Hogg]

Amazing what some of these singers/ bands ( Guns n Roses, Blondie etc) can pull off at a ripe old age. Thought Yusuf/ Cat Stevens was excellent too. Didn’t see Elton John as not a fan. Something for everyone at Glastonbury with the mix of genres and eras.

[martin_p]

The sheer strength of his great back catalogue guaranteed an enjoyable performance but it’s crazy to imply that , like McCartney, he is not “in decline” compared to his 70s heyday. Just listen to the difference in quality of his singing back then. Like night and day. It’s just inevitable that ,at 76, anyone’s powers would be waning.
Had t realised Debbie Harry was 78 (next week anyway) ! It’s interesting to see so many “old fogies” still going and also being enjoyed by the younger audience too. I’ve always tried to resist the “they don’t write ‘em like that anymore” line of thinking but O do wonder whether the ‘70s, in particular, will ultimately be looked back on as pop/rock music’s golden age.

I was talking with my wife about how you didn’t get any ‘old fogie’ rock/pop stars when I was a lad and it’s a relatively modern phenomenon. I then depressed myself by realising that the reason was rock/pop was only 15-20 years old when I was a lad and the even the elder statesmen were only in their 40s. I was nine when Elvis died, one of the original rock/pop stars, and he was only 42.

[Steve1956]

Having been a fan of Elton John for about 50 odd years when I first saw him at Crystal Palace bowl in 1971..ironically with Nigel Olsson,I found last nights performance exhilarating and rough around the edges but good for a guy in his 70s....but the performance of this years Glastonbury has to go to a guy also in his 70s...Cat Stevens performance must go down as one if the greatest sets ever at Glastonbury...two men last night showing old blokes everywhere there is life in old dogs yet...absolutely brilliant
Below is a poster of that gig all those years ago.

crystal-pal-elton.jpg (37.08 KiB) Viewed 2459 times

[NottsClaret]

I was talking with my wife about how you didn’t get any ‘old fogie’ rock/pop stars when I was a lad and it’s a relatively modern phenomenon. I then depressed myself by realising that the reason was rock/pop was only 15-20 years old when I was a lad and the even the elder statesmen were only in their 40s. I was nine when Elvis died, one of the original rock/pop stars, and he was only 42.

It is interesting how 'the kids' today seem to have so much knowledge and enthusiasm for music from the past as well as their own. Other than a few of my dad's Stones records, 99% of the stuff I listened to as a teenager was current (at the time). Maybe streaming is a big part of it, we used to go into a record shop and you just bought the latest releases. Now everything ever recorded is available all the time in the same place.

My daughter loved Rick Astley's set of Smith's covers - and knew most of the words.. seemed bizarre.

[Tribesmen]

Love the ticket price of £1.25 hurry going fast

[Lancasterclaret]

It is interesting how 'the kids' today seem to have so much knowledge and enthusiasm for music from the past as well as their own. Other than a few of my dad's Stones records, 99% of the stuff I listened to as a teenager was current (at the time). Maybe streaming is a big part of it, we used to go into a record shop and you just bought the latest releases. Now everything ever recorded is available all the time in the same place.

My daughter loved Rick Astley's set of Smith's covers - and knew most of the words.. seemed bizarre.

It is very satisfying when my kids playlists are on in the car that it includes loads of stuff I subjected them to when they had no choice in the matter

[RMutt]

My daughter has absolutely no interest in my music. But then again, I had none in my mum or dad’s either.

[davideyresleftear]

My daughter has absolutely no interest in my music. But then again, I had none in my mum or dad’s either.

As I’ve got older I’ve actually found myself drawn more towards the music my dad used to have on as a kid. Dire Straits, The Cure etc

[dermotdermot]

Elton's legs may have gone but wow at 76 what a performance far far far more impressive than Paul McCartney a few years ago who was in decline IMO

What a load of rubbish.

Paul McCartney headlined only last year and was superb.

Elton John wasn’t that bad but his voice hit many off key notes and, for me, had an element of karaoke.

[quoonbeatz]

Cracking festival again and cracking tv coverage again. From what I saw:

Leftfield - awesome. And you don't even get how bone-shakingly loud it is on telly.
Elton and his band - absolutely brilliant.
Christine and the Queens - looking forward to seeing him in September. Wasn't really something you can dip in and out of, the show as a whole will be better.
Sparks - wild
Fatboy Slim - totally phoned it in. Much better to see one of his dj sets elsewhere over the weekend than the programmed 'pro' show.
GNR - decent show and seeing Slash's work up close is awesome. Axl's voice is shot though, he's the weak link. Not that it matters.
The Comet is Coming - bought tickets for them on the back of this
Rick Astley and Blossoms - brilliant but a shame for Blossoms as its better than any of their own stuff. Should probably stick to covers from now on.
AMs - boring but their newer stuff was never going to translate to festival headliner territory
Kelis - excellent, such a great voice
Fred again - soulless MOR boreathon
Caught a bit of Tinawiren who were top as usual.
Big shout to Lewis Capaldi, that cannot have been easy.

Still loads to catch up on as well. Vibes.

[Swizzlestick]

Festival highlights were Sparks, Leftfield, Rick Astley & Blossoms, Cat Stevens, Elton and Phoenix.

[Corky]

It was great to see The Gabriel’s getting some recognition.

[sjb]

Having been a fan of Elton John for about 50 odd years when I first saw him at Crystal Palace bowl in 1971..ironically with Nigel Olsson,I found last nights performance exhilarating and rough around the edges but good for a guy in his 70s....but the performance of this years Glastonbury has to go to a guy also in his 70s...Cat Stevens performance must go down as one if the greatest sets ever at Glastonbury...two men last night showing old blokes everywhere there is life in old dogs yet...absolutely brilliant
Below is a poster of that gig all those years ago.
crystal-pal-elton.jpg

I was watching us lose 0-1 at Bolton in a pre-season friendly that day. I think you got the better deal Steve!

[Jambounchained]

The Hives are well worth catching if you can as well.

Howlin' Pelle is some frontman.

[Middle-agedClaret]

Me and the lads at the bowls club thought Elton slapped.

[Hbclaret007]

Having been a fan of Elton John for about 50 odd years when I first saw him at Crystal Palace bowl in 1971..ironically with Nigel Olsson,I found last nights performance exhilarating and rough around the edges but good for a guy in his 70s....but the performance of this years Glastonbury has to go to a guy also in his 70s...Cat Stevens performance must go down as one if the greatest sets ever at Glastonbury...two men last night showing old blokes everywhere there is life in old dogs yet...absolutely brilliant
Below is a poster of that gig all those years ago.
crystal-pal-elton.jpg

I too was a big fan of Elton's music up until the late 80s. Goodbye Yellowbrick Road and Captain Fantastic are absolutely superb albums, which will stand the test of time. I've seen him live and been pretty underwhelmed, but his performance last night for a 76 year old was incredible. His voice was pretty good, overall. I enjoyed 'Someone saved my life tonight' but some of his 'hits' suffer from clipped lyrics and 'pub singer' style melodies, 'Your Song' and 'Rocket Man' for example. Not sure if he is just bored with the original melodies or can't do them justice anymore? - a bit Vic Reeves, as a friend texted..

[Swizzlestick]

I didn't get the 'club singer' thing from him last night, other than a few sporadic notes. His voice has always had that kind of sound and I thought he delivered the songs well mainly. Alex Turner was worse the other night. Not entirely sure what he's playing it.

[Steve1956]

I was watching us lose 0-1 at Bolton in a pre-season friendly that day. I think you got the better deal Steve!

I also saw Yes that day mate,I certainly got the better deal,presuming your about my age thats some recollection of what you was doing on that date all those years ago

[LoveCurryPies]

Who would you like to see headline next year?

Peter Gabriel would be my choice. Still got a great voice and producing new work.

[Steve1956]

I too was a big fan of Elton's music up until the late 80s. Goodbye Yellowbrick Road and Captain Fantastic are absolutely superb albums, which will stand the test of time. I've seen him live and been pretty underwhelmed, but his performance last night for a 76 year old was incredible. His voice was pretty good, overall. I enjoyed 'Someone saved my life tonight' but some of his 'hits' suffer from clipped lyrics and 'pub singer' style melodies, 'Your Song' and 'Rocket Man' for example. Not sure if he is just bored with the original melodies or can't do them justice anymore? - a bit Vic Reeves, as a friend texted..

After the magnificent rendition of " The bitch is back" he was knackered and out of breath,at one point when his trousers where falling down,the wife turned to me and said "you would think he could afford a belt",for as much as I loved last night's gig,Elton was a shadow of his former self physically....I hope that's his UK swansong it will be painful to watch him slowly get worse.....he's been a truly magnificent entertainer for over 50 years.

[sjb]

I also saw Yes that day mate,I certainly got the better deal,presuming your about my age thats some recollection of what you was doing on that date all those years ago

Yeah same generation mate. I have a pretty encyclopaedic memory of Clarets games particularly in the 60s, 70s & 80s but I couldn't tell you what I had for my dinner yesterday

[Lancasterclaret]

Who would you like to see headline next year?

Peter Gabriel would be my choice. Still got a great voice and producing new work.

Taylor Swift

[Tricky Trevor]

Big thank you to whoever first mentioned The War On Drugs. Just watched an hour of them on catch up. They were excellent and I’ve already put their last two albums on my wish list, along with Tom Grennans first two and one from Christine and the Queens.
I love Glasto, my introduction to bands I’ve never heard of.

[Goalposts]

Cracking festival again and cracking tv coverage again. From what I saw:

Leftfield - awesome. And you don't even get how bone-shakingly loud it is on telly.
Elton and his band - absolutely brilliant.
Christine and the Queens - looking forward to seeing him in September. Wasn't really something you can dip in and out of, the show as a whole will be better.
Sparks - wild
Fatboy Slim - totally phoned it in. Much better to see one of his dj sets elsewhere over the weekend than the programmed 'pro' show.
GNR - decent show and seeing Slash's work up close is awesome. Axl's voice is shot though, he's the weak link. Not that it matters.
The Comet is Coming - bought tickets for them on the back of this
Rick Astley and Blossoms - brilliant but a shame for Blossoms as its better than any of their own stuff. Should probably stick to covers from now on.
AMs - boring but their newer stuff was never going to translate to festival headliner territory
Kelis - excellent, such a great voice
Fred again - soulless MOR boreathon
Caught a bit of Tinawiren who were top as usual.
Big shout to Lewis Capaldi, that cannot have been easy.

Still loads to catch up on as well. Vibes.

Saw - the comet is coming @ gorilla in manchester just before covid…excellent really different a sort of gong - meet hawkwind - meets john coltrane

[dougcollins]

Slash and Davy Johnson, both masters of their art, both Brits.

[Vintage Claret]

Who would you like to see headline next year?

If the rumours are true, Oasis!

[helmclaret]

Cracking festival again and cracking tv coverage again. From what I saw:

Leftfield - awesome. And you don't even get how bone-shakingly loud it is on telly.
Elton and his band - absolutely brilliant.
Christine and the Queens - looking forward to seeing him in September. Wasn't really something you can dip in and out of, the show as a whole will be better.
Sparks - wild
Fatboy Slim - totally phoned it in. Much better to see one of his dj sets elsewhere over the weekend than the programmed 'pro' show.
GNR - decent show and seeing Slash's work up close is awesome. Axl's voice is shot though, he's the weak link. Not that it matters.
The Comet is Coming - bought tickets for them on the back of this
Rick Astley and Blossoms - brilliant but a shame for Blossoms as its better than any of their own stuff. Should probably stick to covers from now on.
AMs - boring but their newer stuff was never going to translate to festival headliner territory
Kelis - excellent, such a great voice
Fred again - soulless MOR boreathon
Caught a bit of Tinawiren who were top as usual.
Big shout to Lewis Capaldi, that cannot have been easy.

Still loads to catch up on as well. Vibes.

I had no idea how good Kelis was until this weekend. Great performance and band.

[Vintage Claret]

Only watched Elton live watching a few acts on catch up starting with Sparks.

They were the first band I ever saw live (King George's Hall, Blackburn circa 1974/75)

Still mad as a box of frogs but still brilliant

[ClaretTony]

Spotted Watford & Wolves flags.....any Clarets there.
Texas are rocking it !

I’m playing catch up now on Glastonbury and currently watching Texas. Really enjoying it.

[helmclaret]

The War On Drugs are well worth checking out if you have never heard them before.

Bit of a Dylan/Knopfler vibe to them for me.

[Stalbansclaret]

The War On Drugs are well worth checking out if you have never heard them before.

Bit of a Dylan/Knopfler vibe to them for me.

Yes indeed. Saw them at the Piece Hall in Halifax last Wednesday....great venue on a glorious night. They are superb and their album A Deeper Understanding is an absolute classic imho.

[Clovius Boofus]

Yes indeed. Saw them at the Piece Hall in Halifax last Wednesday....great venue on a glorious night. They are superb and their album A Deeper Understanding is an absolute classic imho.

One of the best outdoor venues in the country. They get some good acts on too, the type of bands you hear on 6Music. Much better than the Dross in the Park we have here from time to time.

[Papabendi]

Big thank you to whoever first mentioned The War On Drugs. Just watched an hour of them on catch up. They were excellent and I’ve already put their last two albums on my wish list, along with Tom Grennans first two and one from Christine and the Queens.
I love Glasto, my introduction to bands I’ve never heard of.

TWOD stole the weekend and smashed everyone else to bits.

[martin_p]

Watched the Rick Ashley/Blossoms set on iPlayer last night, superb stuff.

[Leisure]

Having been a fan of Elton John for about 50 odd years when I first saw him at Crystal Palace bowl in 1971..ironically with Nigel Olsson,I found last nights performance exhilarating and rough around the edges but good for a guy in his 70s....but the performance of this years Glastonbury has to go to a guy also in his 70s...Cat Stevens performance must go down as one if the greatest sets ever at Glastonbury...two men last night showing old blokes everywhere there is life in old dogs yet...absolutely brilliant
Below is a poster of that gig all those years ago.
crystal-pal-elton.jpg

Great lineup!

[burnleybonzo]

Only watched Elton live watching a few acts on catch up starting with Sparks.

They were the first band I ever saw live (King George's Hall, Blackburn circa 1974/75)

Still mad as a box of frogs but still brilliant

I was there that night too. Support was Pilot if I have got the right year? Seen Sparks about a dozen times since including the Royal Albert Hall earlier this month. Amazing that they are touring extensively and releasing still relevant wonderful new music.

[Juan Tanamera]

but the performance of this years Glastonbury has to go to a guy also in his 70s...Cat Stevens performance must go down as one if the greatest sets ever at Glastonbury...two men last night showing old blokes everywhere there is life in old dogs yet...absolutely brilliant

Cat Stevens was the star of the whole weekend for me.
And what a back catalogue he has too, many of which have been covered by other artists including Boyzone.

[ŽižkovClaret]

Two female headliners next year, apparently so you'd assume Taylor Swift? Not sure who the other one would be, Adele feels like she did it too recently....

[claretonthecoast1882]

Two female headliners next year, apparently so you'd assume Taylor Swift? Not sure who the other one would be, Adele feels like she did it too recently....

Spice girls have been on a beg lately about playing there next year

[Claretmisterg]

Going through sets on catch up. Elton John was brilliant and Blondie performed better than at the Isle of Wight but the best septuagenarian performance by far has to be Sparks. Absolutely fantastic.

[ClaretTony]

Cat Stevens was the star of the whole weekend for me.
And what a back catalogue he has too, many of which have been covered by other artists including Boyzone.

Elton John is at the top for me but I loved watching Cat Stevens

[Nonayforever]

Had a look at the Glastonbury website. There must have been hundreds of bands and artists on. The list is endless.

[ClaretPete001]

Not a fan of Elton but I thought his piano playing was excellent and his compositions are top quality as well: band fantastic as well just not a fan of his voice really.

Highlight in an otherwise fairly mediocre Glastonbury was Rick Astley and the Blossoms

Top 5 performances that I saw

Rick Astley as Morrissey
Elton as Elton
Rick Astley as ACDC
Rick Astley as Rick Astley
Deborah Harry as Blondie

Need to catch up on Cat Stevens and one or two others but generally I thought the score was Old Fart music 5 Modern sh*te 0....!

[ClaretPete001]

And the Sparks were super weird and enjoyable too albeit I think I can dance better than Cate Blanchett, which is a big shame for Cate Blanchett because my dancing has been described as being less appealing than a lump of lard slowly melting in a frying pan.