THERE is an intangible element that can make a good gig a great one.

Friday, at Reading Festival, Alkaline Trio had that mojo, with an absolutely stonking set hidden away on the Lock Up Stage.

Cards on the table - I'm a big fan of the post-punk threesome from Chicago. But that doesn't mean I'm blinded. Last year their gig in Camden was ok because it did not have that vibe: This weekend at Reading they had it in spades.

Lead singer and guitarist Matt Skiba just had joy in his eye, despite being 'relegated' to the Lock Up Stage and with the knowledge that a slipping schedule would cut the set time down and also mean a chunk of the audience would slip back to the Main Stage to see headliners Green Day.

I would have had the hump but Alkaline Trio were there to put on a show and that they did, tight, quick and a perfect selection from their long canon with a concetration on the older classics.

Stand-out highlight for most will have been the quick version of This Could Be Love, along with Radio and Private Eye.

A couple of newbies off their latest album My Shame Is True, I Wanna Be A Warhol and I'm Only Here To Disappoint, went down well but the true gem was Sadie.

This ditty about one of the Manson family was thrown in as a surprise and was just sensational.

Green Day closed out the night on the Main Stage with their more recent material before flicking over to playing their classic album Dookie.

Playing career highlight albums was a theme, with New Found Glory turning in a much better performance than two years ago as they went through 2002's Sticks and Stones.

Back in 2011 NFG failed to prove they could play the Main Stage but this year were much better - again maybe that intangible element?

Kate Nash, away on the Festival Republic Stage was pretty good, although her backing band were pretty loose for the first few numbers.

One of the great things about a festival is accidentally discovering new bands. As can be evidenced by the groups above, the last place I expected to be was the BBC Radio 1 Dance Stage. Not my type of music.

But as I was wandering to get my bearings early on and looking at my phone to plan out the day's itinerary I happened to pause by the dance tent. And I was drawn by the sound from within - a band I have since learned to be called Is Tropical.

I wouldn't have known them if I had seen them in the street before Friday, muchless crossed over to listen. I don't mean to be rude by saying that but they would never be on my horizon. However their Naked and Famous-like sound is pretty good.

I'd recommend a cheeky download, myself, to give them a try.