By Michael MacLennan
Forget T in the Park’s Fancy Dress Friday, Maximo Park singer Paul Smith is nattily attired each and every day of the week!
On this occasion it’s a fetching lilac suit topped by his trademark bowler hat – well, if that’s what it is, I’m not the best educated in the headwear of yesteryear – and Smith looks quite at home on the Main Stage on Friday evening.
“Maximo Park, we are T in the Park!” he exclaims as his band indulge themselves in short, sharp bursts of spiky superior indie-rock.
On opener Graffiti the suave Smith sings “nothing ever happens in my town” – perhaps that’s why his lot have taken up residence in Balado. Whatever reason it may be, they’re entirely welcome.
Meanwhile, Idlewild lead the T in the Park crowd through the first proper singalong of the weekend when they launch into American English, the Scottish rock troupe sensibly starting off with all the hits including Roseability and You Held The World In Your Arms.
They seem reenergised after a hiatus where they recorded their new album Post Electric Blues, and even Roddy Woomble donning a pair of oversized white sunglasses can’t hide the fact that his band are back and in rollicking good festival form.
