on-triumph

The Brits Aftermath

2009-02-20T07:09:00.000-08:00

I haven’t watched The Brit Award since 2001, yet again I missed it this year but I wasn’t too fuss about it. Every year the list has been nothing short of disappointment, also every year they changed the rule or whatever it was. Like this year, only artists had Top40 album or single chart will be eligible to be nominated. For me that’s bullshit! Some truly great artists would never ever get recognised. Have been mentioned from the music award were the way to get their album sales and profile rise up, otherwise who the hell would come to gigs and see the artists that no one had heard of? (Few of my friends and I didn’t count because we spent more time on internet to discover new music, but not many people do that isn’t it?)

Also, every year had controversy but this year was perhaps the most embarrassed one, bet shop had suspended the betting because of the scam and suspicious of information has been leaked. As a result, Paul Weller was an outsider for winning the Best Male category and became favourite. As soon as I found out Paul Weller had actually won it, really made me laugh. For the Brits committe you really screwed it, people would think "oh well its fixed what's the point to watch it?"

What the fuck was Kate Perry get nominated, I meant won Best International Female? Just because she had a hit song about loving it to be a lesbian? Fuck that! I think I should be the one that vomit and not her! That perhaps was the worst winner I had heard for years (since A1 won Best Breakthrough Act in 2001, and that probably the reason I stopped watching it!).

Not everything was moaning though, fair play to Elbow and Duffy. I thought they both deserved to win something. Duffy had an incredible year with best selling album Rockferry, which took her almost 4 years to make. Whilst Elbow just kept going making music since 2001 but got ignored by media and press till last year when they released The Seldom Seen Kid, it was the album that gave them luck, won Mercury Music Przie, sold out Brixton Academy on their late autumn tour. They beat the like of Radiohead and Coldplay to win Best Group made me think that finally they are in the same league as big profile band. Even though I found them boring at Latitude, I am happy for once to see them get recognition they deserved.

The rest I was not too fuss about, one thing though. I used to hate Girls Aloud, but recent two albums really impressed me. I just didn’t understand why Call The Shot didn’t do well on the single chart otherwise they would have won The Best Single last year with that song. Oh well they got it with “The Promise” to make up for it. People should stop branding Girls Aloud as a manufactured pop group by now they were came from Pop Idol that sort of crap.

That was it this year, glad I didn't witness Lady fucking Gaga ruined Pet Shop Boys song, I think listening to 5live for football was better entertainment than that thank you very much!

good time? bad time?

2008-12-31T15:23:00.000-08:00

Right I don't expect people read those but I can share it all if anyone bothered, that is my highlight of this year 2008, month by month in brief:

January:
Going to 5 gigs in that month was surprised me. Normally January was a quiet month. Rolo Tomassi was the best band I have discovered this year.
While everyone at work recovered from flu. It was my turn to be ill, I had no voice and yet still came in and worked has suffered me.

February:
Stalking BRS; Chinese new year, got three valentines cards (first time in 27 years I have got a card on the day that I don’t really give a fuck, how weird?)
Laura got a sack while Chris and I got a verbal warning at work. My hatred of my boss Dupe has started, as was I Was A Crap Scout as I drove up all the way to Cambridge just to see Rolo Tomassi and it got cancelled!

March:
Hardly have any highlight for me. Hardly have anything made me happy
I have been slagged off by the store owner, Dupe in favour of Franck made me felt isolated and losing my motivation. In no win situation and Kylie wanted to leave I was thinking of quitting even though I love the staffs I was working with (most of them)

April:
BRS stalking start again, playing cowbell in front of 600 people with the band was fun, something will live in my memory for a long time.
Planning to go up north and see Lisa but couldn’t make it in the end. Work has gone bad to worse, I was so close to move to Canterbury store successfully and already hand in my notice, but store owner blocked my move by complaining to headquarter. After a long chat with Dupe and some thought from myself I decided to withdraw my notice. Kylie has gone, since then she didn’t talk to me even found a new job she told Chris but not me. I always treated her as my friend but I was upset by what she did.

May:
Primavera Sound and trip to Barcelona was brilliant. Discovered few bands, saw Portishead twice, get involved on Holy Fuck stage invasion, getting first metro train then got myself locked outside and slept on the front door. Ace time!
Kylie and I stopped talking each other and she still owed me 1000 quid, and she sent me a text by called me ‘a cunt’

June:
Nothing much happened, Sarah suggested me not to talk to Kylie anymore but I decided to give her second chance as she apologised for what she has done. We kissed and made up.
I have been accused racist at work by Jack, who then turn out to be rebellion worker. Also Franck had visa problem and could not come back to work for weeks.

July:
Shit summer started. Jane has left, I had a bust up with Jack and the only weekend I asked for day off was completely ruined because of him. The only good news was that store owner (who hate me) step down and his dad (who actually like me) in charge. That and my strong mentality made me not to leave

August:
Shit summer continued, double shift almost everyday last year, same thing happened this year. Jack mugged me off and I end up doing 25 hours in 2 days. Then he has done a sick leaves for 2 weeks left to piss me and Dupe off. Laura has gone off with me because we had an argument on the phone.
Ra Ra Riot and meet up with few people on Ra Ra Riot gigs was my only highlight for my wonderful (NOT!) summer.

September:
Kylie promised me to pay me back some money, but she failed her promise and ran away for a week, she left me on debt again and I felt like an idiot by giving her a second chance. This time, I listened to Sarah advice, ignored what happen just have a good time at Bestival. Even though I have no money I still had a great time at Bestival. Seeing people did mud slide and mud wrestling, everybody dressed up on the weekend lighten up despite the shitty weather. Bestival has also become my favourite festival and turning point of my life. To make it better I got myself a pay rise.

October:
Another good month, seeing my best friends on this month. Came up north to see Lisa (13 months since I had seen her!) and got pissed up, first time ever been so drunk in BRS gig, missed my shout out from Steven. Then later that month I came across to Shropshire to see Sarah (10 months since I had seen her!) and stayed with her for weekend. Went to lots of places like Cadbury World, shopping in Worcester and Bullring. Got her a handbag she loved as her christmas present.

November:
Very happy for Sarah, she passed her theory test early November then passed her driving test on late November. Planning how much I need to save to complete my investments has restricted my frequent visit to London. However, I discovered so many things, Oprington is the best place if I want to stay in London till very late; Monday is my favourite day at work; Little Boots live set is a lot better than I expected.

December:
Witnessed my gig of the year. Coheed and Cambria played first and third album at the venue which will close next year. Came up to see Lisa again and witnessed her pint was glowing (well, she dropped her blackberry in her pint). Found out Kylie still not pass her theory test and Jack work as a bin man made me had the last laugh for end of the year.

Well overall I don't think it was a bad year, could be worse! This year I definitely find my real friends who care about me and trustworthy, yep thats right Sarah, Rob, Chris and Lisa, I was talking about you, thanks you! Now 3 blogs in one day, I can fuck off to bed, happy new year! don't say to me "happy new year" yet till 26th Jan, I only do Chinese New Year ;)

Conic's Top 10 album of the year

2008-12-31T15:07:00.000-08:00

Right I took too long to write up my top 5 gigs of the year so I can't be arse to do any detail write up, that is my top 10. Note: this is my own opinion overall, tough if you disagree some!

(10) Sigur Ros - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
(9) Blood Red Shoes - Box Of Secrets
(8) Thomas Tantrum - Thomas Tantrum
(7) UpCDownCLeftCRightC + ABC - Embers
(6) El Guincho - Alegranza
(5) Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line
(4) Mystery Jets - TwentyOne
(3) Rolo Tomassi - Hysterics
(2) Okkervil River - The Stand-Ins

Album of the year:
(1) Portishead - Third

Also, those followings were decent album but just narrowly missed out my top10, it will be a waste not to mention them:
The Notwist - The Devils + You + Me
Tindersticks - The Hungry Saw
Hercules & Love Affair - Hercules & Love Affair
The Wedding Presents - El Ray
Sarah Brightman - Symphony
Sons & Daughters - This Gift
Holly Golightly & The Broke Offs - Dirt Don't Hurt
No Age - Nouns

To be honest, not a bad year on album, would be better if the press or media stop pretending Foals and Fleet Foxes and Glasvegas released something so called "critical acclaimed", give it another 5 years I can't see people still talk about them!

Conic's Top5 gigs of the year

2008-12-31T14:38:00.000-08:00

So 45 gigs including two festivals, I sum up my top5 gigs this year, took me a long time to re-fresh my memory and get words to summarise them (god I must remember to do diary in 2009!),

(5) Rolo Tomassi 22nd September, Old Blue Last, London
One of the best band I have discovered this year. That was album launch gig, saw them three times before but they were all supporting. I am so sure they are capable to do headline show by now. They played the debut album “Hysterics” in full, as soon as Eva hit the note on “Oh, Hello Ghost” here came the mosh pit which was abit messy, painful but fun. Jamie split the crowd to half and we have witnessed Old Blue Last wall of death. One of the guy couldn’t let go of the amp so Jamie did a rugby tackle on him and of they went from the stage. Sound problem made their set longer than scheduled but the performance was ace as usual. All those entertainment cost me absolutely nothing, what more can I ask for?

(4) Coheed & Cambria 1st December, Astoria, London
3 years ago, I saw them for the first time in the same venue. Now they are back to same place for Neverender tour – playing all four albums each day in full. The expectation and tension from the crowd was there. As soon as they brought on “Second Stage Turbine blade”, there was no looking back, everyone was in for a cracking evening. “Delirium Trigger” brought me absolute speechless, the prog bit was amazing with light effect and the crowd clapping their hands. “Neverender” was stunning and the crowd created banter of the evening along with the crowd scating “The Ring In Return”. After the epic ending from bonus track of the album, the band came back and brought the crowd went wild by playing one song each from other three albums. Great start from their Neverender tour.

(3) Holy Fuck (Primavera Sound) 30th May, Parc del Fòrum, Barcelona
At 4:30am, the atmosphere in in Parc del Fòrum is still lively. I have heard their brilliant self-titled album, but whoever have not seen Holy Fuck live, you have definitely missed out. Electronic and synth but they made it incredibly loud, well you can called that a noise but the noise I will love to hear everyday. They also have tape machine, I have seen so many unique instruments but tape machine top them all. Stage invasion of “Lovely Allen” was fucking crazy, I well remembered the stage from the ground was very high but 50 odd people managed to get up there. Watching on youtube again that really would live on my memory for a long time.

(2) Portishead (Primavera Sound) 29th May, Parc del Fòrum, Barcelona
Almost 11 years waited to for their third album and caught one of my favourite 90s band playing live, is it worth a wait? I think so. 12 years since they last played in Barcelona, and what a comeback. The whole set from “Silence” to “We Carried On” with few of their classic songs like “Sour Time”, “Glory Box” and “Mysterons” in between was amazing. Awesome light effect and video background. Chunk D did a rap bit on “Machine Gun” and it was surprisingly brilliant. Wondering Star and Roads were both utterly beautiful. Beth Gibson is definitely, in my opinion, the best British female singer. Portishead certainly did not disappoint me for one second.

(1) Coheed & Cambria, 3rd December, Astoria, London
Day before they were meant to do In Keeping Secrets Silence Of Earth:3 album in full, but power cut forced them to postponed and skip to next chapter Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV: From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness. Because of the disappointment, Cobeed & Cambria has delivered the amazing show that made me buzzing for a week! I have never witnessed Astoria was so lively and full of enthusiasm with the whole crowd scating “The Ring In Return”. “Always & Never” and “Wake Up” were both beautiful and yet hilarious with the crowd out-of-tune singing, while “Welcome Home” was a top bollocks as usual and got the crowd bouncing and we could feel the floor vibrating like a little earthquake. “The Willing Well” Anthology was nothing short of spectacular. “From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness” in particular was amazing.

30 minutes of “Final Cut” was mental with each band member contributed their solo skill. 2 hours set including 6 songs encore, it was unforgettable set, I was definitely felt like being in heaven. Coheed & Cambria was top class, absolutely sensational!

worrying time

2008-12-29T07:41:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since I post a blog, lets go for some random rant. I bet not everyone enjoyed their christmas this year. World on recession, economy hitting everyone, Pounds against Euros is very week, few high street store had either went into administration or closing down for last two weeks: Woolworths, MFI, Zavvi, The Officer Club, Whittard, Adams and the latest, USC

More high street retailer could go bust by early next year. More people will lose their jobs (up to 600,000 by next year). I sympathise and feel the pain for the people who is going to get redundant. I experienced it back in Oct 2006, I lost my job as the restaurant I used to work has gone into administration and it forced to shut down, and it wasn't fun trying to find a new job while I was unemployed, I have been told to seek jobs or sending CV at least 3 times per week. I was not allow to leave the country or I would lose my allowance. Walked into Jobcentre to report for your job hunting progress was like in a mouse trap, it was just painful experience.

If you are in my situation right now, not much you can do, hope for the best, look at the bright side. I still think the future is bright, just a matter of time when economy will go back on track

Muxtape time!

2008-06-22T02:34:00.000-07:00

First of all, apologise to everyone I only put 12 songs instead of 24 songs because of my stupid laptop decided to crash in the wrong time. Stop the moaning, let’s share my choice of my muxtape, most of them are chosen from my experience of Primavera Sound this year, while some of them are my old collections which are now people have completely forgotten. I have written few recommendation if you like their songs and want to hear more.

Go to http://conic.muxtape.com to listen. Track by track guide as follow:

Cat Power – Where Is My Love
As a start, I want to surprise everyone and start with a ballad. I didn’t come across with Chan Marshall till she released “The Greatest” (worth listening but remind you, it could make you feel fragile!). Chan is just amazing artist as I concluded after I saw her in Primavera Sound. This is a beautiful song combined with simple lyrics. The title said it all whenever I am alone, “where is my love?” perhaps the ongoing question I will ask for myself till I find an answer…

If you like it: download The Greatest of course and You Are Free, Jukebox is also listenable.

Tindersticks – Travelling Light
Carried on weeping people (yes I am sad and miserable sometimes!)The most underrated musician in Britain bar none. I was spring in mind whether I should choose My Sister or this one. Although My Sister is my favourite one, it won’t link up previous song at all. This song is about the couple who used to love but now broke up, looked back the memory and it was all history and mean nothing, I think this song will mean something to everyone unless you are machine and never been in love!

If you like it: urge you to get first three albums (Tindersticks I, Tindersticks II and Curtains), they are masterpiece! Also try Hungry Saw and Waiting For The Moon.

Kylie Minogue – Confide In Me
My Guilty Pleasure? Say what you want people. People have criticism on her all the time, I think she is brilliant artist and her contribution of music deserved OBE. The first song I have heard from Kylie is not “I Should Be So Lucky”, is actually this one. The lyrics is not relevant to myself, it was about secret and confession in relationship, more relevant to my parent as they experienced it and almost broke up when I was a teenager. It is still the sexiest record she has ever made, and yet the best one from her.

If you like it: Erm you all should know her stuffs by now so I won’t go further. However, get Ultimate Kylie which contained 66 songs. Self Titled and Fever are also well recommended.

Okkervil River – Unless It’s Kick
I still don’t understand why it has taken me so long to discover this band, after I saw them at Primavera Sound, they have became my latest obsession. The riff of the song is awesome from the beginning till the end; also this song can make you suddenly nodding your head even though you have never heard of it, very catchy. Okkervil River are top bollocks live band. Go and see them if you have chances!

If you like it: Down the River of Golden Dreams, Black Sheep Boy, The Stage Names are all brilliant album

Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs – Everything You Touch
It’s about time to change the mood and get some blues and country song. On the muxtape it only said Holly Golightly but I can’t change it in some strange reason (perhaps muxtape has been anal!). They are my ideal band to play my wedding only if I become millionaire! Every time when I listen to that lyrics “Everything You Touch Become Stone” give me grin on my face, perhaps it is a happy song. Also the slide guitar solo in this song is awesome.

If you like it: Other than You Can't Buy a Gun When You're Crying, just get My First Holly Golightly Album because it will make you a fortune to collect all her old stuffs!

The Notwist – Pilot
I don’t call myself massive fan of The Notwist as I never touched their early materials, but latest two albums really hooked on me. Neon Golden in particular is amazing. I picked this song as I like the bassline, the fragile vocal that could melt your heart. Of course, it is a beautiful song, perfect for summer!

If you like it: Get Neon Golden and their latest beautiful LP Devil, You + Me would do, their old stuffs are different, but if you like rock music get them as well!

Saint Etienne – Conchita Martinez
Another odd choice like Kylie Minogue, back in the old day when I was still a sixth form student I was a fan of Saint Etienne, I haven’t listened their stuffs since disappointing LP Good Humor. All of sudden one day I listened to their album So Tough, which is one of the most complex album I have owned (took me years to understand the concept of the album!). I admired their creativity of their early materials and this song is the example. It combined the element of electronic and pop, also this is the song made me start listening to Rush as it contained the sample of Rush hit, The Spirit Of Radio.

If you like it: get Smash The System single collection or Too young To Die (later one is hard to find so get first one if you can) first, then move on to Tiger Bay and Foxbase Alpha

Ellen Allien and Apparat – Metric
Time for more electronic! Ellen Allien is established German electronic musician. On the deck she is awesome, on the record isn’t far off the standard either. This song is taken from Orchestra Of Bubbles, collaboration LP between Ellen Allien and Apparat. The strings sample combined with electronic beat worked perfectly and it really amazed me! Metric sounds like soundtrack from thriller movie. The rhythms and beat will easily get into your head. Note: Don’t turn the bass up too much, as the bass sound is very heavy!

If you like it: Orchestra OF Bubbles is a must! Then Berlinette, in fact own all Ellen Allien stuffs!

Kinski – Boy, Am I Mad!
It’s about time start something epic and heavy. I love this band ever since I saw them at Primavera Sound (okay this is the last time I mentioned those two words I promise!). This song is purely amazing, started off with melodic riffs until 2 minutes 9 seconds it all kicked in with progressive build-up then brought to heavy riff with faster speed and finished off with loud and noisy feedback effect. Fan for people into post rock and instrumental and progressive/noisy music.

If you like it: Get Alpine Static as well as Down Below It’s Chaos

Million Dead – Pornography For Cowards
I came across this band when I heard I Am The Party which is amazing and I had no hesitation to get the LP A Song To Ruin. As soon as I listened to this song I first thought was “wow! Fuck me! (Well not literally)” The riff of the start is a killer. The lyrics is intelligent and powerful, it about the problem of modern society we are living in and raging the concern of sexism. With the combination of violent vocal from Frank, this song is genius 2 minutes quickie

If you like it: They only have two albums. If still not enough try Frank Turner stuffs, very different from Million Dead but still good

Daft Punk – Rollin’ & Scratchin’
Somehow this song linked up fine with Million Dead. If 2 minutes quickie is not enough, I think this 7 minutes noise will bring you into climax. This song was not on my original choice but seeing few people putting Holy Fuck on their muxtape, I decided to put something different. Daft Punk is the band that made me into techno and house music. Homework is a masterpiece, shamed that now people forgot how ace was the album and more likely become coaster replacement for everyone. I choose this song because it is the loudest and my favourite DP song ever, also I love progressive dance just like this.

If you like it: Not much to choose from except Homework, everyone should own this album if you like Techno, simple!

Portishead – We Carry On
Thank you for listening first 11 songs of my muxtape. Finally I can bring my last song for my muxtape execution, I cannot leave Portishead out of it as they had produced my favourite album of 2008 so far. This song has brought me the memory of witness amazing moment at Auditori – Portishead stage invasion. As they have been using this track to close their live set, I want to use this song to close my muxtape.

If you like it: Just own all three albums, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you for listening and reading, my choice is abit more grow up for you so you may/may not like it, mine is more diverse because I am very open minded when it comes to music and I never concentrate on one particular genre (by the way genre is so overrated!). Enjoy :)

Primavera Sound 2008 Part 2

2008-06-06T13:24:00.000-07:00

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

Primavera Sound 2008 Part 1

2008-06-04T14:05:00.000-07:00

Well what you going to do if you are pretty much sick of festival in UK, same-old-shit line up, price has gone up in regular basis and did not match up with the excitement? Don’t want to suffer with bad weather and sleeping with mud (hello Glastonbury)? Go to festival abroad! Even though you may have to end up spending fortune for flight and probably hotel. If you never try, you never know how much you enjoy it even though it may cost you a lot!

Seeing lots of my friends have been to oversea festival and they all enjoyed the experience. So it is about time I am doing one! My music taste has changed a lot on past few months and I want to go to a festival without too many money-grabbing-commercial-overrated-multi-media hyped-crappy average bands, I want to go to the festival without pissing down or baking to hell, sunny mixed with breeze is perfect for me. I want to go to festival that I am not afraid to go alone even though knowing little second language. Only one applied to me, and that is Primavera Sound.

The festival itself is take place in Parc del Fòrum, which located in the seaside of Barcelona, Spain. It start from one day festival and with public demand and more sponsor the festival expended to three days event and moved to Parc del Fòrum in 2003 (I think). Now its 8th year running. With weekend ticket you can also attend pre-party festival and post-party festival and don’t have to pay anything extra!

I missed out first 2 days of pre-party as I arrived to Barcelona on Wednesday at 8pm. As soon as I left my luggage in the hostel I ran off to La Pau and search for Apollo Venue, I walked to the wrong direction (instead I randomly found a strip club) but eventually I discovered Apollo Venue. It is a very cool venue, similar decoration like Bush Hall. Choice of beer isn’t much there but Spanish more preferred wine and spirit. Saw Matt Elliot last couple of songs on his set, first one like mental electronic, second one is Spanish folk style, so diverse and random. I stayed on for last band of the night - The Clientelie. Less diverse this time, more mainstream and mellow, they really reminded me Belle & Sebastian mixed with Teenage Fanclub mixed with Absentee, it was a good thing though. Even though their first two songs sounded abit dodgy (techincal fault mainly), later on they overcome that problem and got the confidence on stage, as a result the performance was getting solid. I like their last song of the set, instrumental with beautiful melodic piano sound. They were very good and I like them a lot. Shame they are just warm up, they might be on proper lineup next year you never know.

Day 1
After spending late morning in the hostel and early afternoon walked around Grácia, I headed off to Fòrum. There was no queue for wristband but I will get one anyway, they gave out a wristband and a festival card, you need both of them to get in or you won’t be able to access the site. Also an envelope contained timetable and site map and yellow highlight pen, and the massive programme contained 270 pages about all the band participated this year festival and brief history of Primavera Sound. Forgot to say they were free with weekend ticket.

Maybe it was still too early, it was empty in the site. The site for different stage are spread out, Auditori is outside main entrance, CD Drome on the cover roof, Vice Arena is near the seaport but you have to walk along then stairs down. Good thing about that was even you are at the back you can still have clear view for the band on Vice, ATP and Rockdeluxe because there are stairs around those stages and it is down slope.

MGMT started at 7:30pm , despite the hype, I like the band as they have their own sound and original. That was the first time I have seen them, they were good. However, the crowd…probably still early to the majority of the crowd, dired till they played Time To Pretend . I really like the set though, the guitarist pulled few brilliant riffs that ideal for air guitar. The highlight was Andrew took the rug with writing “who deserve bad karma?”, flicked on the other side of the rug it said “Vampire Weekend”, that made me laugh so hard. They were much better than I expected and I wouldn’t mind to see them again in the future.

I stayed at Rockdeluxe arena and watched The Notwist, indie band with electronica influence. I have heard their latest album The Devil, You + Me and one of my top5 album this year and that along with their previous effort Neon Golden convinced me to see them. They had some techincal difficulty on few songs, but still pulled off an epic and beautiful an hour set. They maybe electronica influenced but they are stupidly loud on the whole set. They have a guy who did the programming by holding remote control like a console. Pilot was my highlight, wasn’t too long on record but live was like 10 minutes but it was an awesome enjoyable 10 minutes, its was unbelievably epic. I recommended people to see them live, The Notwist are wonderful to watch.

Public Enemy next, it was 10pm by then. They are celebrating 20 years anniversary of releasing “It Take A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back”. They attracted a massive crowd tonight and kicked start their set with Don’t Believe The Hype. I don’t into hip hop but Public Enemy are legend and much respect on them. It was an entertaining set by the old skool hip hop. The performance from Chunk D and MC Flavor Flav rapping were brilliant, the band itself got the crowd going. My surprise they were enjoyable to watch, really I respected them a lot more than I used to.

I always wanted to watch Portishead, by the time I am allowed to go to gigs without getting grounded they decided to take a long break after self-titled second album. 11 years of waiting, they are back with equally awesome third album. Silence was a perfect song to start their set, Mysteron was ace with Geoff made some utterly brilliant record scratching. I like their set more than anyone as they fully used of light effect and projector on the background, make it look like a proper show and worth of money. Beth vocal was purely beautiful with mixture of soulful and emotion, I really can’t think of any British based female vocalist have a brilliant voice like Beth. Machine Gun, oh how much I loved that song, I was worried that it sounded average like Coachella set, but not one bit tonight, completely flawless! Made it better, Chunk D came on and did some rapping make it so special, what a pleasant surprise! Machine Gun was definitely my highlight along with Wondering Star (tender but beautiful). In fact the whole set was brilliant, not disappointed one second. They definitely made a triumph return to Barcelona (12 years since the last time they played there!), anyone want to top Portishead performance tonight has to do something very spectacular. After what I have seen, I did not make my mind for a split second and decided go to Auditori tomorrow and see them again

Day 2

As soon as I got up I went straight back to Fòrum for day 2 of the festival. I thought Portishead reserved tickets on sale at 12pm. Actually didn’t start until 3pm! Of course, being stupid come in too early, I got myself a ticket.

Now head back to Auditori and queued up for Holly Golightly and The Brokeoffs. They were meant to start at 4pm but it has been delayed and they were half an hour later than the schedule. Holly admitted that they missed out the soundcheck but from where I seat (8th row), sounded perfect for me. The Brokeoffs, was awesome, performed like a one man band with his guitar while hitting percussion with his foot pedal. I like their songs involved domestic violence, children scared of escalator and train, very funny. The best one, was the Eurovision song joke, it made the crowd giggled. They were very good and their set made me happy. One day if I get married and becomes millionaire, I will hire them to play my wedding for sure!

There were myspace acoustic set near front entrance around market area, saw McEnroe was playing but it was very dull so I went elsewhere. To ATP, MV & EE with The Golden Road were playing, after two songs I got bored with them, they are not rubbish, just nothing special at all, on the book it said Sonic Youth influenced and I expected better. So I went to Rockdeluxe and caught up Grande-Marlaska. Pity there were only 100 people there, to be honest I think they deserved better than that. Yes they are Spanish and obviously I don’t understand a word of what they are singing. I really like the tune and the sound that made you danced on the concrete floor! I hold little expectation on them but they really surprised me.

Back to ATP, MV & EE with The Golden Road are still playing, well I rather stay to watch them till Pissed Jeans on. When Pissed Jeans came on stage, the singer introduced themselves then kicked start with very aggressive sound. By the third song on their set, the guitarist has broke his guitar and ended up heavy bass sound and the noise of drumbeat while getting new guitar to plug in. Forget about the tune, I think the performance alone was worth watching. The singer really cracked me up, he tried to do some dance move but all you can see was his wiggling belly! Loud, aggressive, comedy and of course awesome!

Off across the other side to see No Age, unfortunately I only can see them half a set as I have to queue up for Portishead at Auditori. I like their record, but the live performance, I have to give them another chance. Not overly great from where I stood, I can hear the instrument but vocal was like hit and miss, little bit disappointing but amazed me that how can one guitar made that much noise, that alone will give them little merit for that

Seeing Portishead again, this time was held at indoor. They played in front of packed crowd in Auditori. Same set as last night. Yet again projector screen on the background played the part of it and it was bloody awesome. Performance was as good as last night. Except no Chunk D rapping on Machine Gun this time, and after Cowboy they left the stage to tease the crowd. They came back and played Thread, Road and awesome We Carried On. Toward the end of the song, as soon as Beth came off the stage and walked toward the audience the crowd went mental. Then the unthinkable thing started with few people up on the stage, few seconds later it ended up a massive stage invasion! I don’t think I have ever expect to see Portishead stage invasion, well I witnessed that, it was a brilliant scene with around 100 (maybe more than that) people on stage. They better hurry up and tour again soon!

Nearly midnight, I am still not tired yet. Time for more acts! Back to Rockdeluxe to see Cat Power at 1am, I always admired of what Chan Marshall has done, Jukebox is an unbelievable wondeful cover album, herself and the backing band played fair few off that album as well as her own effort The Greatest. Chan was a great singer, also a great performer. Dancing and moving around the stage made the cameraman very busy indeed. Her voice was heartbreaking and yet brilliantly soulful. Her performance delivered what I expected of her, very unique compared to other female artist.

Head to something different, this time I went to CD Drome around 3am for Ellen Allien. She didn’t play any off her own record as it was DJ set not live set. She brought on few records and produced an hour non-stop mix. What I like about her was that her innovative and creative work, and tonight it didn’t disappoint me one bit. Her mix was full variety: Electronic, upbeat, progressive and chillout. I went fucking crazy when she played Portishead Machine Gun. How she pull that out I have no idea but it was unbelievable. After an hour of dacning in my own little world, look at the watch, 4:15am, time to go…

To Vice arena and see Holy Fuck, by that time everyone was drunk (included myself), so the crowd was more friendly which was surprising. Electronic music with synth and tape machine (WHAT!) and it was incredibly loud. That tape machine with the guy pulling film out was weird, how did that thing work I don’t know but I have never seen that before. Fully of creativity and noise was purely brilliant! It wasn’t enough to witness one stage invasion tonight. There goes another, this time for Holy Fuck. Very funny that seeing drunken people started climbing up the stage from concrete floor, I thought I am going to have a crack with that and actually it wasn’t that hard to climb up! Quickly it got full up with 50 audience on stage with the band, absolutely crazy stuff! Holy Fuck chants after the set from the audience was brilliant and that will live in my memory for a long time. Put Portishead aside, Holy Fuck is probably band of the weekend.