The Streets at Glastonbury was an hour of joyous pandemonium - review
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It's amazing. The Streets have ended the Glastonbury festival on Sunday night in the Woodsies tent in their last two performances, giving a wild final celebration to tired partygoers. It's like a final cheers before heading home. So it's exciting to see them now playing on the larger Other Stage on Saturday night, right before headliners Disclosure. They've moved up from the end of the night to the start of the party on the festival lineup - and this is definitely the highlight of the weekend.
Wildly cheerful atmosphere, group singing loudly together, people being passed over the crowd, colorful smoke bombs, and a full audience with a mix of young kids and older hippies as the sun goes down... this concert is an hour of joyful chaos. It's definitely one that will be remembered for a long time. And leading this lively group of people is Mike Skinner, who shows tonight with his natural ability to understand what makes this festival special - the humor, the uniqueness, the significance of Saturday night at the best event on Earth - that he is a true Glastonbury icon.
The Streets is primarily Skinner, a rapper and producer from Birmingham, who combines hip hop with UK garage, ska, and indie rock. He incorporates clever and often funny lyrics about the small details of urban life: the doubts, the nightlife, the relationships, and the people.
As he casually strolls onto the stage wearing black shorts and a black t-shirt, he appears as though he's casually looking for some tea bags. However, after just two songs, he's suddenly crowdsurfing. "I hate to be the one to tell you, but our time here is running out," he remarks, acknowledging that Glastonbury's final day is approaching. "We don't have a lot of time left." Despite this, both the band and the audience give it their all and make the most of the remaining time.
"I can tell you've been setting aside money," he remarks, impressed.
The clever use of words and upbeat reggae rhythm in the first song "Let's Push Things Forward" from their debut album Original Pirate Material in 2002, showcases Skinner's talent as a storyteller for urban Britain in the early 2000s. He was like a modern-day poet, reflecting the city life in his lyrics. The Streets broke up in 2011, but they made a comeback with their sixth album, The Darker The Shadow The Brighter The Light, which reached the Top 10 charts last year.
At 45 years old, Skinner still has the same dynamic as when he first started performing. He jumps off speakers, climbs onto the shoulders of audience members, walks through the crowd to grab a flag representing The Streets, and gives tips on how to avoid the crowded rush after the main event when heading to the party areas. According to him, the real stars at Glastonbury are the crowd, not the performers. This isn't just empty praise - he truly believes it, and it builds a continuous exchange of energy between him and the audience.
"Fit But You Know It" is celebrating its 20th anniversary. In terms of lyrics, the song captures a moment in a chip shop during a lads' holiday, where Skinner vividly tackles sexual dynamics through a slightly intoxicated perspective. However, the song's energetic rhythm is exhilaratingly raw.
Fans make brief appearances on the screens during the show. The most memorable moment is when a young boy on someone's shoulders unexpectedly flashes a rude gesture at the camera. It's a very raw and authentic moment, characteristic of the band. The set concludes with their song "Take Me As I Am" from 2020, a powerful blend of drum and bass with a gritty industrial synth melody that leaves a lasting impact on the audience.
As the music comes to an end, the audience doesn't rush to leave. Instead, they exchange daring looks and smiles with friends. It's 9:30pm on the most important night at Glastonbury, with over 1,000 acres of Somerset waiting to be explored. The possibilities are endless. Let's meet up the hill. We all grin and sing along.
