Photo: Richard Gray
Ben Khan and Slaves both performed incredibly visceral sets this afternoon (29 August) at this year's Reading Festival.
Having only released his 1992 EP recently, Ben Khan took to the dance stage surprised at how many people turned up to hear his "more Prince than Jai Paul" brand of dance-funk. He seemed daunted, but played flawlessly.
Khan is a man of very few words - or so this performance would suggest - but his music speaks louder than he ever could. Playing a clean white Stratocaster, a rarity in the dance tent, Khan’s smooth guitar licks peppered the deep, throbbing bass and jazzy rhythms.
Starting his set with the humid sounds of ‘Eden’, the most popular tracks were met warmly, but not to the same level as the fresh and intricate sounds of his new material. We’re expecting huge things for Ben Khan; his presence is mellow, but his talent is effervescent and undeniable.
As Gigwise cleared from the smoke and paisley-decorated set of Khan’s, the crowd were spilling out of the NME/Radio 1 Tent as Slaves whipped up a storm. Reading was the festival they were born to play - even the band themselves think so: “Reading is the best festival in the world”, announced singer/drummer Isaac Holman before bursting into a concrete-smashing rendition of ‘The Hunter’.
Taking a moment of reflection was never Slaves’ wheelhouse, as they rambled quickly about the death of Laurie’s pet goldfish, Gerald. “Ger-ald, Ger-ald, Ger-ald”, the crowd chanted in remembrance of the aquatic companion they never knew. That’s how dedicated Slaves fans are.
The blues-tinged studio versions of the songs dissipate as Slaves perform their raw, more confrontational (if such a thing is possible) renditions of ‘Where’s Your Car, Debbie’, ‘7am’ and ‘Sockets’.
Slaves’ performance was the literal encapsulation of search and destroy.
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