Live

Super Furry Animals, The Cribs, The Ripps, Maps, The Enemy

Alex Zielski 14/07/2007

Considering the distinct lack of sunshine leading up to the event, it was a small miracle that the 10th annual Coventry Godiva festival went ahead in the first place. Rumours circulated in the weeks before as to whether the uncharacteristic, British Summer downpours, would force the organisers to abandon proceedings.

However the festival was given the green light and nobody would have been more pleased than triumphant home Towner's the Enemy, who capped their sublime performance by being the first Coventry band to have a number one album.

Although not confirmed at the time of their slot, mid week charts suggested it would romp to top spot ahead of Interpol's and Smashing Pumpkins new offerings. And the three piece seemed in the celebratory mood by providing the packed out crowd with an array of songs, the majority of which coming from the chart topping 'We Live And Die In These Towns'.

The two chart entering singles 'Away from Here' and 'Had Enough' provided the biggest reaction. The trio also mixed in b-side 'Fear Killed The Youth Of Our Nation' which bounced off the walls of the stuffy tent.

By the end of their set, the teenagers must have felt as high as some dare devil fans, who scaled the scaffolding and were hanging off the poles at the structures peak (despite lead singer Tom Clarke encouraging them to come down), singing along to the next anthem to be lifted from the LP, 'You're Not Alone'.

The festival had kicked off well before the Enemy's appearance, with pleasing sets from 'Maps' and also a well received performance form other local band 'The Ripps', who's highlight was the poppy Thrillsesque, 'Holiday'. It wasn't until around late afternoon that the crowds really started to flock to the makeshift 'arena', with the imminent arrival of Wakefield's finest 'The Cribs.' They stormed through a set which featured heavily on material from their third and latest album 'Men's needs, Women's needs, Whatever.'

Recent single 'Men's Needs', as well as indie classic 'Hey Scenesters' were the highlights of what was a very strong performance manned by their blistering guitar riffs and witty lyrics, by surely one of the most underrated bands on the British rock scene. The Jarman brothers enjoyed good banter with the Midlands crowd and did themselves no harm at all by comparing their home town to that of Coventry.

However, nobody could steal the thunder of a band who couldn't have wished for a more significant scenario, to perform 'It's not O.K'. The song reflects the mood of a city torn apart after having the heart of its industry ripped out by the closing of the car manufacturing factories. How fitting it was then, that the sponsors of the event PSA Peugeot Citroen, were berated by front-man Clarke who proclaimed: “Go and tell them it's not O.K to do what they have to this city.” As if the atmosphere needed to be anymore heavily charged, bassist Andy Hopkins then upped the temperature to boiling point at the finale, with a rendition of Coventry City's 'Sky Blue Song.'

It was with no envy then, that half an hour later the Super Furry Animals took to the stage in front of a vastly reduced crowd. Although they put on a typically uplifting performance, promising and delivering a song off each of their albums, it came as no surprise that they were simply blown away by one of the countries most exciting new bands.