“Go on Caleb!” yells a slightly inebriated punter as Kings of Leon unfurl Be Somebody for the T in the Park crowd during a triumphant headline set, as though the newly re-bearded vocalist needs any encouragement.
Still, though the Nashville brothers have all the requisite hits necessary to provide a fitting finale to the Friday Main Stage, a more beguiling proposition lies on the NME Stage as Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds bring their seedy and fantastic show to town.
The black-clad brigade paraded in front of some fetching red drapes, they start with Papa Don’t Leave You, Henry and end their main set with a thrilling Stagger Lee, encompassing much of their 26-year back history and still sounding as relevant as ever.
Much of it of course hinges on the frontman, the brooding Cave a superlative presence on stage as he transforms from maudlin balladeer to a strutting, crooning lothario during the course of their hour-and-a-half-long set. I suspect he could even charm himself into Cliff Richard's pants, were he so inclined...
During the course of the set it’s revealed to be member Martyn Casey’s birthday, and even if he’s reluctant to give a speech it seems the T in the Park crowd are ready to celebrate in style. The audience is in truth small and selective, but it fortunately guards against those festival-goers who have long since past the point of no return, making us all feel a little bit extra-special by comparison.
The show feels like we’ve been let in on the most tremendous of secrets during one of the largest shows in town, a sparkling nugget of knowledge that in truth I shouldn’t be revealing to you. But if you ever have the chance to catch Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in future, I think you’ll forgive my loose tongue.
