Pet Shop in a box

Boys land at Latitude

18 July 2009 - The Pet Shop Boys put on an audio-visual feast as they headlined Latitude festival's Obelisk Arena last night, with four energetic gymnast dancers providing the moves and the sex appeal.

Neil Tennant was his usual arch self arriving on stage with a box on his head to obscure his face for the first few numbers. He and Chris had clearly splashed the cash on the technical aspects of the show, with screens and computer graphics and Gilbert & George style videos.

One of the highlights was a cover of Coldplay's Viva La Vida which Neil wore a velvet cape and ludicrous gold crown to perform in, much to the crowd’s amusement.

Some parts of the audience were left frustrated by the more obscure tracks in the set list which kick started the gig,  but It's a Sin closed the first part of the show, complete with exploding glitter cannons.

"It’s dark and our show looks good, and we play a lot of pop songs, the audience are normally quite surprised that they quite enjoy it.”
Pet Shop Boy, Neil Tennant

They returned for an encore wearing ostrich feather hats for Being Boring, but there was no getting away from the fact that the crowd  was left wanting more hits.

Just before the 80's icons performed, Neil Tennant said they are getting right into the big summer events after launching their festival career on Worthy Farm back in 2000:

"In Europe we started around about the time we played Glastonbury. We played Roskilde, in fact we've headlined Roskilde, which is the biggest festival in Europe three times, including two weeks ago. We've done a lot of them, and actually we quite enjoy it."

The band who earlier this year got handed the Outstanding Contribution To Music award at the Brits, may not seem like the obvious choice for a festival, but Neil reckons, the reaction they get is surprising:

“It sort of works because, festivals tend toward rock music, and actually if you are on a bit later at night when it’s dark and our show looks good, and we play a lot of pop songs, the audience are normally quite surprised that they quite enjoy it.”

Grace Jones tops tonight's bill, and Thom Yorke looks set to provide a festival highlight making his first solo appearance for a special midday set tomorrow.


Julie Cullen and Jo Youle