Metronomy, Crawdaddy Stage, Friday
Three blokes enter one by one, all beige chinos and pale shirts like the best Mormon cruise ship band ever; Anna Prior on drums disrupts the look in sequins and then . . . party.
Throughout the set, Metronomy enforce the fact that not only do they write cracking pop songs, but they know how not to take themselves too seriously. No one appreciates this more than the lively, plentiful crowd, dancing away underneath the canvas.
The biggest cheer comes after Joseph Mount’s statement: “This is our first time at Electric Picnic, and I must say it’s much preferable to Oxegen.” Slagging Oxegen at Electric Picnic is basically the muso’s version of starting an Ole Ole Ole chant.
Still, the stylish swagger of the band, who groove along a tightrope of discordant hooks and effortless catchy bait, reels in the crowd with delightful, cerebral frivolity.
Verdict: ****