Review: The Shins

6 out of 10:Reading, Saturday, 3.05pm. Less a set for bobbing around to than one for lying on your back and letting your body process the Carling you've consumed.

Stage: Main stage, Reading

Time: Saturday, 3.05pm

Dress code: Much what you'd expect of a gang of thirtysomething men: T-shirts, sunhats. You half expect them to have BBQ tongs hanging from their belt hooks.

In summary: Perfect, Beach Boysy, multi-part harmonies and jangly guitars should equal the ideal band for the sunny mid-afternoon slot. But while you can't fault the Shins' flawless musicianship and glorious Teenage Fanclub-type melodies, it was less a set for bobbing around to than one for lying on your back and letting your body process the Carling you'd consumed. More Latitude than Reading, in other words. A bit too grown up.

Better than: Brian Wilson on the psychotropic drugs.

Worse than: Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys

Highlight: Phantom Limb. Sweet melodies that never quite go where you anticipate.

Talking point: Nothing to discuss - it was background music.

Where they'll be next year: Somewhere where the audience isn't half their age.

Out of 10: 6

Contributor

Helen Pidd

The GuardianTramp

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