[Written: 15 September 2011 (following my time working for Merthyr Rock.]
After recently seeing Straight Lines support Kids in Glass Houses at
their phenomenal album launch show in Cardiff, I was excited to see what the
Pontypridd lads would bring to Merthyr’s new festival, appropriately named
Merthyr Rock.
Although they weren’t headliners, Straight Lines got the crowd
going like the best of them. As soon as ‘Antics’ blasted out from the ‘Big Deal
Clothing’ stage, a crowd flocked in. Fans pushed their way to the front,
singing along to every word as the boys energetically threw themselves around
on stage. Even the unpredictable Welsh weather couldn’t dampen people’s spirits
- front man Tom had the crowd pumping their umbrellas into the air in spite of
the downfall.
The set included ‘A place to stay’, ‘Say it for your sake’ and ‘All
my friends have joined the army’ - some sure-fire festival hits from
“Persistence in this game”. They also gave the crowd a taster of what to expect
from the upcoming album with new song “Freaks like us“. Straight Lines spent
the whole set lifting spirits but kept their most rousing anthem ‘til last: the
triumphant ‘Set me on fire and feed me to the wolves’. During this song Tom
called for a conga line and the enthusiastic crowd obliged, with young and old
jubilantly snaking their way through the audience with hands raised in the air.
Straight Lines’ set was a definite personal highlight from the whole festival;
make sure you get your hands on the album!
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