Live

The White Stripes, Queens of the Stone Age, Satellite Party, The Bees

Anne-Marie Douglas 15/06/2007

There's word about town that Leeds Wireless may not go ahead due to an immense amount of rain pouring over Yorkshire for the last couple of days; there are floods, roads are blocked, and the rain is not stopping any time soon. An announcement on the website sets our minds to rest and confirms for me that they are indeed going for the festival vibe this year, it's mud and wellies all the way, especially for those who have paid the extra £25 to camp here for the weekend.

Set to the backdrop of Harewood House, it's still beautifully placed despite the grey skies and misty rain. The Bees play to a crowded Tuborg tent, and tell us to 'f*ck the rain' to a roaring cheer from their audience. This sets the tone for the rest of the day: festival atmosphere created!

Recently reformed following their birth in 1978, The Only Ones sound fresh and exciting and I wonder what it is I am listening too. On hearing the well advertised, 'Another girl, another planet,' I wonder whether they have reformed on the basis of its revival, and then I don't care because I like what I hear and I vow to return.

Up next on the main stage are Perry Farrell's Satellite Party, who, most notably, play 'Been Caught Stealing' from Perry's Jane's Addiction days, and having missed this gem from their last Leeds Festival appearance, I was thrilled, though most of the audience seemed bemused by the whole outfit.

Queens of the Stone Age, crowned by chandeliers, were almost regal in their arrival on stage, aside from demanding 'lots and lots of alcohol!' Put simply, the crowd go absolutely mental for them, and then it starts to rain, hard, and the crowd still go mental! QOTSA did not disappoint, being deliciously raucous throughout and playing a set that delighted all and included, 'No-one Knows', 'Feel Good Hit of the Summer,' and 'Go with the Flow'. They also let us know they have been hanging out backstage with David Walliams of Little Britain fame, before launching into a blistering 'Little Sister.'

We're soaked to the bone by the time The White Stripes come on stage; Jack looking devilish all in red with his enormous shadow projected up the stage, which just about sums up his presence tonight; it's immense, while Meg is her usual kooky self. The audience sing along with a set that included 'Hotel Yorba', an inspired cover of 'Jolene', 'My Doorbell', and the beautiful 'You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just do What You're Told)'. Their encore included crowd pleasers 'Blue Orchid', 'I Just Don't Know What to do With Myself' and 'Seven Nation Army' before the pair take a showbiz bow in centre stage willing us all to keep warm! Highlights included Meg taking centre stage, singing 'In the Cold, Cold Night', and the obvious chemistry between the pair, with Jack regularly singing to Meg throughout the set. Jack acknowledged all nations in the audience before playing 'Icky Thump', title track of their new album; but no-one shouts, “Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire!� Maybe they're saving that for Leeds bands' Kaiser Chiefs, The Pigeon Detectives and The Cribs' homecoming tomorrow!