Some people want it all and to others it comes naturally. The Kooks, it seems, can have it all without really trying. God bless ‘em.

 

When Inside In/Inside Out entered the chart way back at the turn of 2006 nobody really made too much of a fuss. This was mainly due to the poor choice of singles which proceeded it (Eddie’s Gun and Sofa Song for the record), but you would like to think that somebody out there knew it would turn out be one the biggest growers ever seen. Of course, nearly 18 months later the record is still selling by the bucket load and has produced, counting the initial pair, six hit singles.

 

It’s no surprise then that as The Kooks enter the stage everyone is anticipating big things. For such a calm and relaxed band it could’ve been their worst nightmare. Most of the time they are used to happy strumming along in the sunshine, not a tiring, wet Glastonbury crowd.

 

How great then to see Luke Pritchard stroll on with sleeves rolled up, rearing to go. One benefit of selling millions of albums is that generally the crowd will be able to sing along. It is doubtful though that anyone reckoned that you would be bearly able to hear a word of opener Seaside as 60,000 drown out Pritchard quite easily. But it doesn’t matter because he is loving it. The pace picks up with See The World, a tremendous Matchbox and the now definitive Kook’s song, Ooh La. Of course the biggest singalong is saved for the everyone’s unanimous hit of last summer, She Moves In Her Own Way.

 

 

As Sofa Song rounds off a triumphant performance from The Kooks, you can’t help feel that they have really achieved something here today. And the look on their faces gives it away, it seems they finally believe in themselves. Not so naive after all, perhaps.