Mid-afternoon sees a mass migration to the Main Stage as New York chic goes outdoors. Yes, it's The Strokes, folks, moved into the open to avoid a potential overcrowding disaster occurring in the Evening Session tent. To be fair to the organisers, their thinking appears vindicated by the sheer number of people craning to watch the "saviours of rock'n'roll".
Unfortunately, a sunny afternoon in a field doesn't do the band or their sound any justice. This is music designed to be hammered out in smoky basement clubs where the band's dynamic lurch and Julian Casablancas' lyrics can be appreciated and not blown away on the wind. They do hit the target with the likes of 'The Modern Age', 'Last Nite', 'Hard To Explain' and the defiant 'Take It Or Leave It' but it can't rescue a performance which leads to shoulder shrugging indifference rather than rock'n'roll nirvana. Right band, wrong setting.
The kids are clinging like limpets to the outer poles of the Evening Session Stage as headliners Ash fire up with 'Burn Baby Burn' and 'A Life Less Ordinary'. Bassist Mark Hamilton looks like he's dancing on hot coals while guitarist Charlotte Hatherly alternates between precise calm in the eye of the storm and spats of headbanging.
'Free All Angels' is plundered for 'Cherry Bomb' and the soaring 'Shining Light' while songs from 'Nu-Clear Sounds' are conspicuous by their absence. Despite having the kids eating out of their hands, Ash seem to forget one of the golden rules of festivals: save your finest moment for last. 'Oh Yeah', 'Kung Fu' and 'Girl From Mars' are rattled off in quick succession and some of the crowd head for the exits missing an encore of 'Jack Names The Planets'. Ash have been in this game so long but they still seem like school kids playing gigs during the summer holidays. The secret of eternal youth comes from Belfast it seems.
Showmanship was something sadly lacking from today's main stage guests until three seasoned dumb arse rockers, aka Green Day set a firework up the arse of Reading 2001 to save the day. The relief is tangible.
With a greatest hits package imminent, Green Day treat the massive crowd to some of the finest moments from their illustrious career igniting the fuse with 'Welcome To Paradise' before serving up more classic 'Dookie' numbers ('Basket Case', 'Long View'), 'Geek Stink Breath' and, not until an hour in, new songs 'Minority', 'Warning' and the fabulous 'Waiting' (dedicated to Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins).
The tireless Billie Joe is in supreme form pulling out all the goofy stops including drowning the crowd with his giant water pistol, orchestrating numerous bouts of crowd chanting, playing guitar behind his back and getting three young hopefuls on stage to play while the band take a well deserved breather.
There's more crowd participation than music but it doesn't matter because that's what we're here for - namely to be entertained. Other bands on the bill would do well to remember this. As a fitting finale Tre sprays his drumkit with lighter fuel and spectacularly sets it on fire. With the stage furiously burning, Billie Joe calmly performs the ballad 'Macy's Day Parade'.
Following Green Day's pantomime was never going to easy and a sizeable portion of the crowd decides Travis aren't up to it and beats a hasty retreat. Those who stay, witness what appears to be a headlining show too far. You can't blame them for being lacklustre on occasion after their gruelling last couple of years but all too often tonight they fall well below their best.
For every moment of pure genius ('U16 Girls', 'Turn') the dreaded signs of mediocrity creep in ('Writing To Reach You', 'Sing') to overshadow proceedings although the crowd pleasing 'Why Does It Always Rain On Me' and 'Happy' salvage some pride.
Fran Healy dedicates 'All I Wanna Do Is Rock' to Noel Gallagher watching from the wings and on the occasions when they finally let themselves go, the trio of Fran, Dougie and Andy seemed intent on wrestling the life out of their guitars to vent built up frustration. Travis have already accomplished more than enough in such a short time. Unfortunately the most exciting thing about the show was Fran's pink mohican.
Reviews: Chris Heath, James Poletti, and Simon Ward.
