Primavera Sound 2008 Part 2

Day 3

After the most adventure day of my life, I am very sobered and tired (mind you I didn’t went to bed till 8am!) and slept through my morning and lunch time. By the time I got up it was half past three so I missed Bon Iver completely! The weather on day three was miserable compared to Day 1 and Day 2, cloudy and rain. Because of the weather, I went to Auditori as soon as I arrived to Fòrum.
End up seeing the start of Emma Louise Niblett (also known as Scout Niblett), lots of media like Pitchfork and Dis like her. After that I saw I don’t think I would ever bothered, she was loud enough to wake me up, on the other hand, her songs were dired and bored me to hell. The best moment was she did TLC cover No Scrub and one of the song she performed it with drum-only. The rest were dull. I could not think of her set afterward, if it was not because I have no energy to move I would have walk out after few songs. Sorry Miss Niblett, you are heading up for “The Worst Artist I have seen on the weekend” award.

I still couldn’t make up my mind who else I want to see other than Tindersticks and Buffalo Tom, I tried not to see anymore act like Scout Niblett. Seeing Estrella stage was empty and only few people wait for Okkervil River, then I would give them a chance. After few songs from the band, I was thinking why the hell took me years to discover them? They are bloody amazing! Brought on the spirit of festival and smile for all the audience (except a guy who stood in front of me walked out after three songs, his loss!). Okkervil River were totally mean business this evening, they made the crowd clapping their hands and dancing around the concrete floor. Their songs were rocking, emotional and epic, simply awesome and mindblowing! For anyone going to Latitude or Truck, you are so in luck because they are playing! Go and seeing them and listen their records, highly recommended particularly for anyone like Arcade Fire, you will definitely like them!

10 minutes before Buffalo Tom come on, so I have plenty of time to walk over Rockdeluxe stage. Buffalo Tom are veteran alternative rock band, in Britain they don’t receive much meida attention and I don’t have a clue why. For me their records are catchy and powerful, their slow songs in particular are beautifully gorgeous. Their live performance delivered it and justified why they should be grant as legend status like other alternative band such as Sebadoh. Even the crowd was not as big as I expected, they still got the crowd going. Their singer Bill has his moment by stumble on the stage and fell on his arse, laughter all round and even the band itself. They were impressive and deserved more merit for deliver more wonderful records.

Time to catch more bands I have never heard off, walked across ATP stage as it sounds very loud. Kinski were playing and I think they will add up my record collection very very soon! Their songs are the top bollocks! It was all instrumental and dead noisy, post rock style like 65daysofstatic but a lot heavier than that, almost as good as watching death metal band! Very aggressive set with somewhat racket noise, heavy riff and hard drumming. The crowd is like split as half, few were headbanging, other few were more involved with a mini moshpit, and probably the only mosh pit I have seen all weekend! This band is so enjoyable to watch. My highlight was that the bassist used to bow to make more noise effect on her bass. While the guitarist stop his heavy amp and play the flute, kind of hell random but it worked somehow, it was so loud and noisy that made few people had their hands to cover up their ears. Fucking mental set from Kinski, I would definitely see them again!

After had some drink and food, also disappointingly knowing Primavera Sound cambi (it means tee-shirt in Spanish) was sold out, I head back to Rockdeluxe and waited for Tindersticks. Before I watched Tindersticks, I was surrounded by Spanish and watching their own country hero Morente Omega. First song sounded like Ladysmith Black Mambazo, First I thought it was a fucking joke. However, few songs later, it sounds nothing like this. It got more upbeat and heavy and my impression has changed, it wasn’t too bad I supposed. My highlight was hundred of Spanish in the crowd were singing Hallelujah, it was amazing and give the festival so much spirit. Not bad at all, very different from other act, so I will give them some credit for that.

After Morente Omega, still have an hour before Tindersticks start! I shift toward the front right on the barrier for a good spot. I was actually expected the same set they played at Royal Festival Hall earlier this month. The start of Introduction was utterly beautiful as usual except the sound of xylophone wasn’t clear and that ruined abit. Throughout the set they had experienced technical problem, mainly from guitar. Other than that it was a fine performance from them. I was very pleased that they played Sleeping In and The Travelling Light on the set as I admired their second album so much. Only disappointment was that they didn’t play my favourite Tindersticks song – My sister (they played it at Royal Festival Hall!). Because of that I think Primavera Sound set was nowhere as good as RFH one (which was totally spot on along with performance!).Boobar Come Back To Me was my highlight, although its not my favourite from The Hungry Saw album, the lyrics was still a killer, such a emotional song, Stuart Staples and the rest executed this song perfectly.

That was it, Tindersticks ended my evening and my experience of Primavera Sound. Although there was a post party but I didn’t go. I love this festival, I love the atmosphere, not too crowded or emptied, the crowd was friendly and as was the Spanish. Although Spanish were not so enthusiastic on music as few people spent more time talking and txting on the phone than paying attention on the stage (Maybe that was their culture so I can stand that). Food wise I would say they could have more stalls (probably next year then as the festival still growing) so people don’t have to queue for too long. Not much choice on beer but at least Estrella Damm taste better than Carling by some margain! People always debates about festival is not all about music, Primavera Sound is the ideal festival for proper music fans. Same time next year I think my holiday is certainly booked