Yeah, so some guy called Danny Boyle or something did this sort of spectacular thing with loads of grass and sheep and industrial revolutions and Beatles and stuff. However, it was yesterday that the good shit really got going. Of course all of the sport is alright (apparently it's pretty integral to the whole 'Olympics' thing) but the real place to be? The Emerging Icons stage, of course. Our first day set the tone of what's to come from our amazingly talented artists, providing something for everyone, no matter what it is they'd like to hear. Unless it's silence. We don't do that so well.
Opening the show were the finest ice-breakers this side of the Arctic Circle, Tankus The Henge. Having decided that our stage looked like 'a shark's mouth that's turned into a UFO', this fine band of urchins bravely performed surrounded by its futuristic teeth, leaving the enamoured lunchtime crowd thoroughly warmed. Purveying madness and melodies in equal measure, there were theatrics that ranged from stage-leaping to creatively cathartic screaming. It encapsulated the beauty of true performance that this stage intends to celebrate 'til we pass out. Jaz Delorean remains to be the most impossibly charismatic frontman we've witnessed for some time, inviting the Olympic audience to feel welcome and get involved with the party- and he's a guy you just can't say no to.
True to rock n' roll form, James Craise admitted to suffering with a stinking hangover when he took to the stage in the afternoon. Well, we didn't mind. We heard about the Olympics Opening Ceremony drinking game that was knocking about so we could totally understand- especially as you had to drink three fingers worth every time Team GB were mentioned. Even though we were unable to offer the soul crooner some Alka-Seltzer, it didn't really matter as he said that seeing all the faces that turned up for his set at the Games made him feel amazing. Aww. You could really tell too- because that ridiculously smooth voice of his carried on the breeze across the park like a sexy siren slathered in nectarous goo.
Talking of sexiness, indie rockers Auction For The Promise Club sizzled the faces off their crowd. With vocalist Zoe as the helm like a racy Captain Pugwash, she steered the performance with the clout of any great front woman- and it's so hard to not see The Joy Formidable's Ritzy Bryan echoed with each ballsy attack of her guitar. But that's not to say that the other duo of this trio didn't belt us just as hard. Guitarist Perran and drummer Toby commit so much to their meticulous craft that we were held for a minute or two while they tended to a 'technical difficulty'... although we couldn't detect a single fault in the impressively tight set. Ah, well. There's nowt wrong with a bit of perfectionism.
Special guest slots were filled by astonishing guitar-wailer Guthrie Govan, the marvellously cheeky Ed Drewett, and the dry wit of blues rockers the David Sinclair Trio. The latter proved to be a perfect addition to the first day of the games, opening with a lyrical portrait of the capital in the form of 'London Dust'. If any of our foreign visitors were yet to get hold of a map and/or tour guide, they should be all set now. For the time being, a few of our diverse crowd got so caught up in the swing of things that they couldn't help but have a little dance
When we weren't embarrassing ourselves with attempted shape-throwing, we were kids in a candy shop when it came to soaking up the atmosphere. The vast array of bars and food stands have just flung their marquee doors open and the hype and bubble of excitement pulsing through the park can just make you feel giddy just standing still and looking at things. The Olympic Stadium. The Olympic gardens. The Olympic bins. Everything is just so Olympic. We're definitely going to have one of those boring 'You Had To Be There' photo albums full of landscapes and buildings- but the problem is, everything makes you feel like you need to take a picture. It's really rather special.
And the best thing? Well, we got to meet Wenlock. No biggie.
Stay tuned for daily updates straight from the Olympic Park...