The Polyphonic Spree

Rolf Harris void filled

There was a huge potential void at Glastonbury 2003: the mighty Rolf Harris, for once, stayed away.

Thank the Lord, then, for The Polyphonic Spree. Frequently, they engaged on musical passages that sounded like they ought to be the theme music to Jackanory. Rolf would have approved. He may even have got his wobble-board out.

But has any band ever divided Glastonbury opinion so much as The Polyphonic Spree? Exactly half of my friends hated them, didn't get them, and went elsewhere. The other half - including me - wanted to join their cult and make happy-clappy music. If, indeed, it is a cult.

One guy clearly wanted to join The Polyphonic Spree. Dressed in a rather skimpy home-made white robe (wasn't it cruel of them to wear red robes?) which revealed that he was wearing blue and brown checked trolleys, he vaulted the fence and bounced towards the band, making at least 20 yards' progress before being collected by security.

I, personally, think The Polyphonic Spree are onto something. They are the most hilarious band I've yet seen. When you see them on stage, you don't know where to start - the Residents-meets-Dali backdrop? The harpist? The constant, unremitting euphoricness of the music? But would all that uplift start getting you down after a while?

There is one way, however, of knowing for sure that The Polyphonic Spree really are onto something. That will occur when the first Polyphonic Spree copyist band appears. I'd join 'em.

Steve Boxer

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