12:50 my train to Athens leaves and gifts me with a one hour delay, which resulted to me missing Hercules & Love Affair (sorry, mates; next time), who came on stage at 19:20. It was my fault really, I organized this badly. Oh well.
20:30 Stereo MC's time and I'm still trying to get there (well done, self). Had time to catch a part of their set (and Runnin' and Deep Down And Dirty), and I assure you that it was a good energetic stage. While they are still on stage, we decide to go for a beer.
(kind of irrelevant note: first festival I've ever been to where they didn't even look inside my bag; considering that a certain group of people was throwing bricks at Underworld at the same festival last year, I think it's safe to say that some people just don't learn from their mistakes)
21:30 Still waiting for that beer. The organizers thought it was clever to have only 3 taps for beer for each bar. Very clever, indeed.....
21:45 - 22:00 beer, Red Bulls and bottles of water done and done, and we head over to the outdoor stage for James. James are huge huge huge in Greece. I reckon there were about 10,000-13,000 people there, and 90% of them were there for James. I have to say that as I go older and my soul is rotting (...), I find myself being dragged further away from their music, but I'd see them gladly, nevertheless. Their set was very good, with the exception of 2 songs that are not very live-friendly. Bonus points for a sweet acoustic version of Lose Control. Tim Booth was, as always, a very charismatic frontman.
Around 23:15, before James start encoring us, we decide to go get a good spot for UNKLE at the indoor stage and grab drinks while we're at it. And....surprise! There's no lines in the bars or loos, 'cause everybody is watching James. mwuahahhahahah
00:40 we are at the third row and UNKLE come on stage. They were fucking magnificent. Superb live, my top 2008 live show yet, and one of my all time favourites as well. We actually initiated the mosh pit (\m/) -me, my friend, an awesome blonde in front of us and then others joined in- & kept it violent till the end, which resulted to much eye contact, smiles and good words from all the musicians on stage. I think I shed about 2 kilos worth of sweat (isn't that a lovely image). They were so bloody fantastic, that we simply couldn't speak properly after their show for at least 20 minutes. 'Huge', 'huge' sound, SHARP guitar riffs. Did I already say that they were magnificent? They are not to be missed live.
A special note must be made about one of the guitarists that was with UNKLE. Long black hair, black buttoned down shirt with small white polka dots, black skinny jeans, those adorable pointy shoes and black shadow/eyeliner. He had this unbelievable energy coming out of his body, which resulted to some exquisite body moves and guitar playing.
02:30 The two members of Digitalism take the stage, and manage to make us forget how tired we were. Their songs were mixed together cleverly, drumkit and keyboards and sampling of their delicious beats, dancing, energizing, singing, all was good.
03:45 apparently, the organizers thought it would be a good idea to lock the chemical loos before the festival was over. Again, good planning. Snort.
06:50 On my train back to Thessaloniki. ZzzzzZZzzZzZzzzzz......{yes, I'm practically a zombie now}
My Trusted MOGs
Nice. Cool to hear it was fun all around.
As for the transpiration: don't sweat it (drumroll please). It goes well with a handful of things in life, one of them being RnR.
-G.
My Trusted MOGs
hahaha Also, it's good for the economy (it made me drink 6 bottles of water)...
My Trusted MOGs
Don't worry about missing those early acts... you can always pick up a live album instead :P
Also, wtf is with throwing bricks at an act? Bottles of piss I can just about understand. but that is just mental.
And someone tell that UNKLE guitarist to stop stealing my style...
My Trusted MOGs
'lock the chemical loos before the festival was over'
Squatting behind parked cars again where we? LOL!
My Trusted MOGs
Anna, What a great post.
BTW, what did you think of UNKLE'S performance?
My Trusted MOGs
Wow - just read about Hercules and Love Affair in the NY Times (can you believe it?). James - THE James? Their new single is fantastic but I didn't know they were playing shows again. Why did they take a break? UNKLE - one project I have never seen but have loved since Psyence Fiction. I think it's the Josh Davis connection that drew me in as Never Never Land didn't quite top the debut, but I'm curious what they're like live? Festivals are the way to go! You catch everybody you'd want to see in one big swig.
My Trusted MOGs
Eric- yeah they are totally performing and were in NY recently....I missed em to Anna. Till next time- bc their live set is suppose to be priceless...bloody priceless
My Trusted MOGs
Yay UNKLE! That guitarist was in NIN for maybe 5 minutes a couple of months ago. How many guitarists did they use?
My Trusted MOGs
Hey, I took a nap and now I feel more..human.
ahhahahaha Joxy...I knew that post would come back to bite me in the arse eventually :P
I know. It was a black festival day that one. :(
Didn't know you were sporting polka dots ;)
Neill, ahhahahah not this time, I managed to hold it in. But I did find myself in a loo without toiler paper earlier and I used the grey cylinder that's left when the toilet paper is out to wipe. I felt dirty on the inside but clean on the outside. ahhahahah
Jeff, why thank you :) ahahhaahha it was rubbish ;P
Eric, hehehe :)
Tim Booth left the band and then returned. I saw them live last year in Spain after they reunited {hence my laidbackness about them this time}. Their new single sounds very good live btw.
UNKLE were more electric than electronic in this tour, which should have to do with their War Stories (one of my top 10 favourite albums of 2007; it's mandatory spinning....). Guitars, drummer, bass, decks (hellz yeah), two basic singers, astonishing live performance....
Faith-Ann, (naps make me foggy-headed, I assume you're talking about H&LA), my friend who was already there told me they were good and had a very attractive female presence with them (yeah, that's not exact the words he used about her.....).
My Trusted MOGs
Andrea, my UNLLE buddy!
ahahhahaha what happened??
i want to say 2... Maximum 3.
My Trusted MOGs
I don't know, but he was in, then he was out. He just formed a new band, though. When I saw UNKLE they had one lead guitarist, and another guitarist who came out for a few songs and also sang. But I've seen video clips where there are two guitarists and then the guy who comes out for a few songs, making it three. I think that would be cool to see live. They need to come back to America.
My Trusted MOGs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Fownes
My Trusted MOGs
There was a guitarist to the left of the stage, main singer/guitarist, and then Fownes (thanks for that link!). They also had another singer with them that came on the stage for a few songs, drummer and keyboardist. And of course, his hotness behind the decks and occasional singing :)
My Trusted MOGs
Don't worry about missing Hercules, I'm gonna do the same thing Wednesday (would've gone if Santogold didn't cancel, 3 acts I halfly want to see are worth the 20 euro price, 1 act isn't. And 1 act because I heard Hercules ain't that good without Anthony, so I'm only counting MSTRKRFT.)
Good to hear you had a great time! Send the lads this way, will ya? ;) And seriously, throwing bricks? geez...
Btw, I love this venue in Amsterdam, sometimes I go there and afterwards I go to me parents so I've got this amazing bag with laundry I have to do there and schoolbooks and what not, and they just let me in. I could be carrying a car in there for all they know.
My Trusted MOGs
Moshing to UNKLE? So you're the type of person responsible for moshing to unmoshable bands, I should've known @;). Sounds like a great time!
My Trusted MOGs
Stefan, you have a strict concert policy :)
They will be released from my basement next week and I'll ship 'em off :)
Stefan, you have a bag like Sport Billy's, don't you! :o)
I know...it was a group of people looking to start serious trouble. Point is, there should have been more security there, and of course, there wasn't...
Uncle A, see them live and then we'll talk mosh ;)
It really was! :)
My Trusted MOGs
I'm slowly growing to like UNKLE after some initial resistance to their method of having mainly guests do vocals (silly, maybe; if you can have guests on other instruments, why not vocals).
'Huge', 'huge' sound
I'm confused. I'm used to single quotes being used ironically (or, in work contexts, to mention rather than use the words inside the quote marks, but I'll leave that geekery to one side). But you're dead serious, aintcha?
My Trusted MOGs
Great review Anna, just wondering if I could get it again with it not being in metric.............kilo's of sweat? Isnt that what they deal cocaine in?
My Trusted MOGs
...great report from the front lines... thanks!
My Trusted MOGs
Pekka, I think you feel that because you're estimating them like a typical rock band. I estimate them as an electronic band, so guest vocals (which they pick with care), is something I'm pretty much used to, even if their their War Stories isn't really electronic.
Pardon. I thought you use '....' when you are speaking for something metaphorically, since you can't really mueasure sound, it not being solid. Ooops.
GEEK!
Kevin, 2 kilos is about 4 pounds. Now if you tell me how you know what they use to deal cocaine...................;P
You're very welcome, van. Happy that you enjoyed my sweaty review :D
My Trusted MOGs
being a teacher its the easiest way to get addtional income here in the states..... so I have been told
My Trusted MOGs
So so jel that you got to see UNKLE tear into War Stories live. That album remains one of my favorites from last year.
All right, I'm gonna ask: Who are the clods that wold throw bricks at Underworld? And can I slap them with fishes now?
My Trusted MOGs
sounds divine! great review, the ups the downs and the digitalism!
My Trusted MOGs
Oh Kevin, when I think about all the innocent souls you corrupt on a daily basis.... ;P
One of my favourites, too, brother, no doubt about that :)
Well, every country has a group of people whose only purpose is to go somewhere and cause trouble. Greece is no exception. But Greek concert organizers have a different way of dealing with security issues and needs than other countries, if you get my drift.
Thank you, Molli! I was practically a zombie 'cause of lack of sleep when I wrote it, so it's my first undead review mwuahahhaha :)
My Trusted MOGs
Just got to this - a zillion days late. Now that sounds like an odyssey worth taking! Pretty eclectic, too.