28 August, 2004- Reading Festival, UK

review by Justin

After lasting a day in the mud that was Saturday at Reading I was looking forward to seeing Mark in the confines of the Carling tent which provided a much more intimate setting than either of the other stages. However, why Mark was on the stage usually reserved for new bands is anyone's guess. Plenty of people arrived early to catch Mondo Generator beforehand, hoping, as I was for some sort of collaboration and they didn't disappoint. Half way through their set an extra mic was added to the stage and on strode Mark launching straight into Four Corners from Mondo's second album. After the song Mark wasn't going anywhere and a completely unexpected acoustic version of QOTSA's Autopilot got the whole crowd singing along. This was to be our lot for now as Mark disappeared backstage and Mondo finished their set.

After what seemed an age of waiting Mark reappeared with his band and started with a fantastic version of Hit the City, the addition of Shelly Brown (I hope this is her name, picked up from other reviews) added a great dimension to all the songs she sang on especially No Easy Action replacing the strings on the original to great effect. The band rattled through a ten song set drawn mostly from Bubblegum with the exception of No Easy Action, Skeletal History and I'll Take Care of You. It culminated with Nick Oliveri returning the earlier favour and taking backing vocal duties on Methamphetamine Blues although two thirds of the way through the lights came up and the band were pretty much forced off stage. I assume this was because they were running fifteen minutes over the curfew due to late running of earlier bands, Brett Nettson didn't take this very well kicking over amps and mic stands on his way off. The crowd were screaming for more which gradually turned to booing as it became clear they were not going to be allowed back on.

I managed to get a set list which had two songs blacked out, When Your Number Isn't Up and Resurrection Song plus an encore of three more songs they clearly didn't get to play. I would have left slightly disappointed but such a great set, really good sound played with so much passion meant they really made the most of the forty or so minutes they had on stage and have made it one of the finest performances I've seen.

28 August, 2004- Reading Festival, UK
review by Owen Bravey
I was at the Reading Festival gig and the [equipment] problem occured in the soundcheck between the generator and Lanegan gigs. Why they couldn't have just used the same equipment when Lanegan came on to sing Autopilot and In The Fade for Generator and Oliveri came on to jointly sing Methamphetamine Blues to close the Lanegan set I don't know.

The delay really seemed to piss off Lanegan who didn't get on stage till 11.15 at the earliest.

The fun ensued later at just after 11.30 when the White Stripes had finished so a security supervisor instructed Lanegan to play one more song then vacate the Carling stage (well obviously I couldn't hear but thats my guess).

I was right at the front to see Mark then shove the security guy across the stage and the band continue on for another 4 songs. How could they have the nerve to have equipment that cut his set, then not let the band stay on pass the 11.30 curfew. However, unlike Kasabian on Friday night who played one more song then left, the Lanegan band continued on which suprises me they were granted a longer set at Leeds because the security guy didn't reemerge till the band had left the stage.

As he left Mark threw his mic stand then stormed off only to come back on the stage again with Oliveri to have a go at the same security supervisor to by now a huge crowd as all the other stages had closed.

Aggravating at first but still as always an entertaining performance from the Mark Lanegan Band.