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Gil Scott Heron Review
This page is provided only for information, it does not apply to the 2002 festival.
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Having been begged, bribbed and forcibly brought to the stage (for reasons that can't be divulged here!) Gil Scott Heron took to the stage in the earlier slot than billed. Despite this surprise change in proceedings his presence alone was enough to start a buzz in the crowd that here was a real legend. Gil, now hitting his 60s and sporting two fuzzy grey sideburns, sprouting from the sides of his obligatory baseball cap, seated himself behind his pulpit, a Fender Rhodes, to give us "the Gospel according to Gil". The band themselves were superb but very loose sounding, bass, guitar and two percussionists made up the backline, the lack of a kit drummer
adding a lightness to the sound. When you have a history like Gil's it's quite a task to choose your set list, but when most of the songs last around ten minuets, it doesn't matter what they are, 'cos they all sound great! However just for the record 'Winter In America' and 'The Bottle' with a little spoken verse of 'The Revolution Will Not Be Telivised' at the start were amongst the rambling but totally compelling music. Sounding dustier than ever Gil's cracked honey voice still possesses an urgency of spirit that can make goose bumps prickle on your back. Full of emotive cries of "Let's celebrate, let's celebrate", on the final encore, he hits a spiritual mark with the supreme accuracy of a worldly wise marsman. Whether the message is still meaningful or not is not really the point here, it's whether or not Gil still has the power to move a crowd, to make them feel his frustrations and his hopes. After tonight, a special 30th anniversary
Glastonbury moment, Gil blessed this century's first festival with his powerful presence - a good omen - for all of us to carry on fighting the fight. This time the revolution wasn't televised, it was on the web - now that is progress!
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