Glastonbury 2009 - Friday live blogging (Neil Young, Bloc Party, Doves)

BBC2 finally gets back with Mark Radcliffe and the fragrant Lauren Laverne and quickly into The Needle And The Damage Done by Neil Young. Superb. One man. One guitar. One stage. Thousands of people watching. Into Words, all grinding guitars and melancholy, a small part of the south of England is suddenly Woodstock in 1968. The song is one massive guitar solo - with bits of singing... Incredible stuff.






On BBC Three Doves has taken to the stage. Kingdom Of Rust is under way, the title track from the new album. The band is sounding great with wonderful support. Then Black And White Town from that last album.




A brief interlude and we return to Neil Young on the Pyramid Stage performing Get Behind The Wheel from Fork In The Road then the massive Rockin' In The Free World like he's a teenager again. The crowd is singing along, amazed at what they are seeing. I now officially wish that I was there - standing at the front of the stage to see this genius in action. More great guitar work and the man himself is in great voice.

A few false endings later and the song comes to a huge inevitable climax with frantic arm waving from the crowd. Awesome stuff...and yet another chorus. Will this song every end?




Meanwhile Doves are back for an encore. You can't do this at the festival! Thanks BBC! Harmonica brings in the start of Here It Comes, with a subtle change of personnel for vocal duty and drums...

On Pyramid Neil Young has started Day In The Life by The Beatles. Interesting choice. It comes complete with chaotic central kitchen sink-falling-down-the-stairs moment. Even with all the chaos the song gets a huge amount of respect and ends in a torrent of drums and guitars.

Young's guitar ends up with about two strings, propped up against the amp and he finishes the set with a few bars on the xylophone, before throwing in the sticks in a kind of 'middle England' Jimmi Hendrix moment.







Bloc Party provide a great version of Mercury complete with the same loop pedal as used by The Ting Tings. A hugely rocking set from Bloc Party including the early single So Here We Are - electronics free and full of looping guitars and rolling drums.

A quick return to Mark and Lauren and then it's more Blockl Party, this time with the fantastic Two More Years. Kele looks out across the crowd like he can't believe he is there. Then it's time for one of my Block Party favourites: Flux. Again, brilliantly performed and a good end to a busy night.

So that was Friday at Glastonbury - a lot more to come tomorrow and Sunday night and as and when I get the chance to catch up.