The Polyphonic Spree. Live at Lunar Festival Review.

I was confused at first as I was wondering what the group of people all dressed in white robes were doing in the field rather than on the stage. While it has been said many times that the Polyphonic Spree resemble a cult.  Yet it's the fans who are the cult, not the band. Having said that though, from the moment Tim DeLaughter cut the "Brummie Moon" banner he appeared to be a man with a bit of a messiah complex. Not a Kanye West style egotistical complex though, in fact... I think he might actually be Jesus.
He certainly knows how to lead a band and entertain the crowd, he's not the best singer but few frontmen carry such charisma and genuine love for what they do, it takes a true larger than life figure to stand out in front of a 20 piece band but he pulls it off easily.
As you may know The Spree's music is all about positivity, I feel a bit silly now thinking back to myself trying to sing along to the words, the lyrics are pretty silly. A lot of the songs came from the bands début, although I loved a recent song 'Hold Yourself up'. It's a slightly darker, more electronic song, that I feel needs to be come an indie rock anthem.
Hearing the Polyphonic spree live compared with a normal four piece band is kind of like the difference between watching Gone with the Wind on a 1970's television to watching it on a massive cinema screen.
At times this feels overwhelming, some songs could have been played just as well by a 4 piece band, and don't need the bombast. Yet they can use this to become an incredible covers band, almost as  a way of admitting that they never had many hits they played pitch perfect covers of  Wings 'Live and Let Die' and Supertramp's 'Dreamer'. Not long after The Spree were finishing with their own songs, 'Soldier Girl' and 'Light and day'. But not before Tim told us a few anecdotes. Namely that the bands dressing room is right by the men's loo's and that the back up girls all saw our dicks, and a strangely moving story of how a guy at the 'Meat Shack' stand was making his last burger of the day for himself, but decided to give it to Tim instead. He hugged this guy from the front of the stage later.
Another amazing moment was when Tim went into the crowd and told us all to sink down, and carried on singing his song as we all crouched down next to him.
Tim Delaughter made it such a personal show that it really didn't seem a bit deal being able to meet him afterwards. He's the same on and off stage, laid back,  friendly and funny. He hugged my dad when he said it was "just like woodstock" and shook my hand when I said it was my first festival.

Tim was right when he said that you couldn't get this line up anywhere in the world, in fact there's a chance that the Spree may headline again now.  After one gig I've gained a love for the Polyphonic Spree that won't go away any time soon.

Thank you Nick Drake, thank you thank you thank you...