We got to Goffertpark and could hear Krezip on stage, I like this little lowlander band, they have spunk and don't seem to sound like all the other Dutch girl bands out there, and they did a rocking version of (Britanny's) Toxic as well to finish up their set.
Just after we got our passes sorted out Simple Plan was about to hit the big double stage. I had only heard of these guys but then found out that they were not only from Montreal, Canada but they seemed to have more energy than was allowable by law on stage, they worked for their audience. Reminiscent of Blink 182 and other such from that genera and not at all like the other Canadian bands that I have been hearing lately such as the Dears, Metric, Broken Social Scene and New Porographers.
Next came Queens of the Stone Age on the other side of the double stage. I am not at all sure why exactly this band has rose to stardom in the last years. I find their music not at all interesting nor their "talent" worthy of all the attention they get. Oh well it takes all kinds I guess.
Then the strangest band on the bill Jamie Cullum, there is no doubt this kid has talent for singing the blues standards, but what the heck was he doing at a ROCK concert? He is booked usually for events such as the North Sea Jazz Festival. I really wonder if the organizers of this even knew who they were booking or they picked haphazardly the acts to fit their schedule.
Keane came next, these guys are also quite popular these days, and I'm not sure why.... exactly. I like the fact there is no bass player in the band and the guys plays the keys which are front and sideways on the stage in barefeet. But other than that his voice is so Arrggg, and to me the music sounds so much the same. I must mention their back drop though, it was quite special and looked to be by the same artist who did the cover for a lesser known Brit band Martin Gretch.
During Keane I headed down to the Tent stage for Interpol. One of my favorite new bands from New York. They were on my iPod when I got it from Wes and I was hooked from the beginning. They also remind me of bands such as The Dears, The Shins and The New Pornographers, somehow the New-new Pop-Rock sound that is out there.
I decided to stay near the tent as I was not that interested in watching Lenny Kravitz nor R.E.M. and was much more intrigued with Nine Inch Nails who were due next in the tent. While we were waiting for than LK came on up the hill on the main stage, I have never really been a fan, but can imagine he probably used to be quite a force on stage, now it seemed fairly wooden. I just heard a lot of noise, and although he was scheduled for 1.5 hours. He wasted at least 10 min walking off and getting back on for an "encore" what a gyp for those people who came to see him play.
Just around the same time NIN started, so did R.E.M. as they moved up their slot a bit earlier. I am guess the majority of people who are big fans of REM are not so into a band like NIN, who have not seemed to slowed down in their stage presence nor energetic and aggressive music... Wow! There was guitars flying into the photo pit, and drum kits nearly being knocked over.
Meanwhile up the hill was a fairly big production for REM, having never seen them I am sure it was a good show. Michael Stipe was wearing his zoro mask and seemed to be doing ok. But I was glad to be down near the tent watching all that testosterone fly about.
Over-all mood of the festival, mellow, quiet and laid back. It just seemed to be lacking some sort of umpff in the line-up. By the time NIN and REM were not even half way through their sets, it looked as though at least 1/4 of the park had emptied out.
Maybe next year they will manage a bit more continuity and draw more people... Perhaps not as many as the ZuiderPark still but you never know.
The photo is of a guy who managed to jump into my frame at the exact moment I was taking a photo... actually it is perfectly framed and quite funny!
No comments:
Post a Comment