T in the Park 2002

United Kingdom | by Rory Grant | 14 July 2002

Day One: Saturday July 13th, 2002

Ahh, the weather, the glorious weather.  T in the Park 2002 will doubtless be remembered for the unusual but extremely welcome addition of near-constant sunshine, and perhaps even the sheer quality and variety of acts on offer over the two days.  Either that, or it will go down as the one before the tenth anniversary of the legendary T.  And of course, Virtual Festivals was down the front from the word go, hand-picking those worthy of mention, and finding ourselves rather spoilt for choice in the process.
 
The late opening and subsequent hour-long queue at the main box office means we miss Dot Allison's live spectacle and spend the following few days nursing <A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'><A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'>A sunburnt neck, but all is forgiven in time for NY emo-kings Rival Schools' early slot on the NME stage.  February's debut UK live shows supporting 'A' saw <A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'><A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'>A nervous Walter and fellow Schoolers not really sure what to make of such overnight success and all-round adulation, which made for <A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'><A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'>A rather hesitant live show not living up to the expectations promised by the quality of their album.  But today is <A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'><A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'>A different story altogether. 

It's as if Walter has come to terms with being <A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'><A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'>A 'pop-star' after years of reigning supreme in underground acts, and fuck me if he's not enjoying every minute of it.  They're tighter as <A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'><A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'>A group too, which is especially evident on triumphant instrumental "Hooligans for Life"; their penultimate track of today's set, which closes with "Used For Glue" and the dispensing of many dozens of Rival Schools-emblazoned frisbees.  Fun for all the family!

Next up are No Doubt, whose combination of colourful fashion, meaty basslines, pop hits(!!) and having Gwen Stefani as their frontwoman means that winning over <A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'><A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'>A festival crowd is never really going to cause many problems.  So they play an entertaining, if slightly predictable greatest hits set, and everyone's happy.  Except for those over at the NME stage, who are less 'happy' and more rocking like bastards. 

'<A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'>A' are the culprits, who despite neglecting rich and vast pastures of back catalogue manage to pull off <A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'><A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'>A great show.  Between songs their energetic frontman Jason Perry announces, in <A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'><A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'>A curiously proud manner, that he's just accomplished the lauded feat of ripping his boxer shorts.  Which, during the instrumental refrain of "I Love Lake Tahoe", he proceeds to craftily slice with <A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'><A href='/artists/az/106' title='A'>A recently procured pen-knife, allowing said grown man to remove said undergarments from trousers, swing round one's head, stuff tastefully into one's mouth before, naturally, dispensing into crowd. 
Compared to which, Rival Schools' efforts seemed rather lame.  Perry, now boxer-short-less, still finds the energy and mental capacity to finish with their biggest hit, the colossal "Nothing".  And he even does the stupid wee dance moves and foot-stomps like in the video.  Comedy genius.