Well this is being posted up later than planned. I'm actually writing this the day after our journey home but due to internet issues while I was away… going to be up late, not that it matters of course. I have of course just spent the weekend at the Southside Festival in Germany. I spent the weekend with my beautiful girlfriend and her awesome friend Seppster. It was overall, amazing! I have been to many festivals before but never actually camped for a whole one. A weekend full of great music, uncomfortable beds, fear of using toilets and all round good times with everything in between. I figured that I need to blog more and a what a perfect time to do a run down of the bands/ artists I had the pleasure of watching.
FRIDAY
BUSY P
Last time I saw Busy P was at the Warehouse Project in Manchester a
couple of years back. Unfortunately I wasn't too impressed with his song
selection. I had however, seen him a year earlier at the same place and
he was amazing. In a nutshell, he was more amazing than the first time.
Having to deal with one of his decks breaking all the time, like a true
champ he carried on and pumped out some great tunes. I had dragged my
girlfriend to see him, wasn't really her thing but she enjoyed it. Busy
P! What the fuuuuuck!?
DIE ARTZE
Die Artze are my girlfriend's favourite band and she has seen them
countless times. I was first introduced to these guys through her early
on in our relationship and even though they of course sing in German,
they are still enjoyable and my God, do they know how to put on show
for their fans. Three talented musicians full of charisma and full of
genuine wit… plus Farin the bassist drinks tea on stage. What's not to
love? Oh and a little bit of trivia, Die Arzte where the first of 2 acts
at Southside who used a 9/11 reference. Seems legit.
JUSTICE
Oh Gaspard, I still have a worryingly big amount of love for you but
sort the hair out. I miss your shorter curly… oh wait… Justice are one
of my favourite acts of all time. This is the third time I have seen
them live. The first time was their first run of live shows, the second a
DJ set at Warehouse Project and this third time with their newer show.
All I can say is that seeing Justice live is an experience that everyone
must try. Great sound and an amazing light show. This show is a lot
better than their first run but I have to say [SPOILER ALERT] I do miss
Masters Of Puppets being their finale. Gaspard and Xavier, thank you, it
was amazing!
SATURDAY
BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB
BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB
This was Seppster's choice and I have to say I thought it was damn good.
My dad has told me about these guys for a few years but I never got
round to checking them out properly aside from their more popular songs.
This was a great way to be introduced properly, I shall be inducting
these guys to my prestigious itunes music library sometime soon.
K.I.Z
Another German act suggested by my girlfriend. I was only intending on
seeing a couple of songs to pass the time before another act started but
after listening to the "gangster" lyrics lovingly translated by my
girlfriend and the genuinely awesome music. I enjoyed it. Not to be
taken seriously at all and from I gather the guys are just having fun
and being very ironic with their songs about fucking your mother and
other family friendly activities. Give these guys a listen, they're fun!
THE MARS VOLTA
Only caught the last 20 minutes of their set because of K.I.Z. I have to
say, not really heard too many songs from these guys aside from the
ones that used to play on MTV2 and the indie music channels that used to
be on Sky. From what I had heard, I pictured that this would be epic
and fr the most part it was. Some great music but like I said, only saw
the last couple of songs. I shall be having a further listen soon
though.
THE SHINS
Shiny happy music for people who love to wear flannel shirts and buy
fair trade food… oh and think of Starbucks as a statement of their place
in society. That being said, I love Starbucks (Caramel Machiatio is my
official coffee) and I love The Shins. Not because it's cool to do so
but because they create great music and their live show was very good.
You probably love The Shins so I don't need to say more. Great stuff.
THE CURE
Another highlight for me and an even bigger highlight for my girlfriend.
We both love The Cure and Robert Smith and to share a moment like this
with the one you love stays with you man. A great set mixing the
classics with the new. Not too familiar with recent stuff but hearing
Robert Smith's fantastic voice singing our favourites was amazing. He
still has a great voice and props to him for keeping the same look and
not going all clean on us. Smith seems like a genuinely beautiful person
and his almost childlike innocence is refreshing. If you haven't please
go see The Cure if you can. Love Catsssssssss!
NEW ORDER
One of those "You have to at least once in your life…." moments. Being a
MASSIVE fan of electronic music and a lover of the city of Manchester…
this was amazing for me. I remember my dad playing stuff like Smiths,
Joy Division, New Order… (you know the artists awesome dads like) all
the time as a child. Joy Divions helped me learn guitar instead of going
down the "Smoke On The Water" route. Seeing songs like "Blue Monday",
"Temptation" as well as classic Joy Division songs such as "Love Will
Tear Us Apart" is something for the heart to behold. It's a real shame
Hooky isn't a part of it anymore but it doesn't matter because a loofa
these producers nowadays and their pre teen followers don't come
anywhere near as special as New Order, arguably one of the most
important bands of all time, especially for electronic music. Another
reason why this was so special for me was because I again, shared it
with the one I love. You can't ask for more. Oh and thank you dad if you
are reading for giving me the ability to appreciate great music.
SUNDAY
EAGLES OF DEATH METAL
EAGLES OF DEATH METAL
"Just leave him alone because the boy's bad news…." These guys where
awesome. Full of charisma a great catalogue of songs. Again, a band that
I knew because of a couple of songs and again, a band who will be
gracing the prestigious Mondo Squallido music library sometime soon. A
real fun performance and I don't know the frontman's but you sir are one
cool motherfucker.
WOLFMOTHER
Very solid and enjoyable set. I am not the biggest Wolfmother fan but I
do like them a lot. There was a crazy girl next to us who was either
French or on good drugs who enjoyed this a lot more than probably anyone
else did. Aside from constantly standing on mine and my girlfriend's
toes… I salute your…. mental side. I think you need good beer or
evidently, good drugs to really appreciate Wolfmother. Not bad but can't
say I remember much…
RISE AGAINST
One of those bands who you have no fucking idea who they are but you've
heard their songs all time. From moody teenagers who think they have
lived to flicking through channels like Kerrang and Scuzz on Sky. One of
my girlfriend's favourites so of course I will give it a try and a try
is all I gave it. Only saw the first two or three songs because I was
again waiting for another act. I have to say, not bad. Don't think I'll
be racing to the nearest record store but if Jeanny's got a CD or two
I'll have a go.
SEBASTIAN
OK. Fisrt things first. THIS WAS THE GREATEST FUCKING THING I SAW AND
LISTENED TO!!!! I fucking love SebastiAn. One of my favourite producers
ever and one of my face Ed Rec Cru members. Just his whole middle finger
to modern and popular electronic music is amazing. He uses sounds that I
have never heard used before in a way that they shouldn't actually work
but they do. SebastiAn and Oizo seriously need to collab more or at
least release stuff together because that would literally blow up the
world. Sorry Rise Against but I definitely made the right choice here.
The only act I saw on my own and I'm kind of glad because I danced like a
man possessed. To put my thoughts on this live experience in a
paragraph is just impossible but believe me when I say that you NEED to
experience SebastiAn and you need to do it now. I knew the live show was
going to be amazing because his music live is amazing and after seeing
him DJ at Warehouse Project at 4 in the morning when everyone is fucked
and literally having 10 seconds of droning, distorted noise building up,
killing your ears at the start of his DJ set while he continues to give
the middle finger to the audience and even lying down smoking a cir…
yeah I have gone off track but Jesus, GO SEE SEBASTIAN NOW! Oh and
another bit of trivia… contained the second 9/11 joke/ reference. CTFO!
BLINK 182
Remember right at the start of this run down I said I dragged Jeanny to
Busy P? Well, this was my "punishment" if you will. I will happily go on
record to say that I never have and never will be a fan or a lover of
the music of Blink 182. That being said, this was actually a great
performance. The fans loved it, Blink knew it, they milked it… everyone
loved it. A lot more enjoyable than expected. Plus, this also had a
special feel to it because not only did it take me back to my youth,
more importantly the skateboarding (I would have been better than Rodney
Mullen if I would have carried on) but the fact that Jeanny was lost in
the music of band who she adores… it was a gorgeous situation to be in.
Call me old fashioned but moments like this make life amazing. Oh by
the way, I gave up watching Stone Roses to see Blink…. don't worry,
never really cared for the Stone Roses anyway.
So there you have it, a rather impressive list of acts if I do say so
myself. Aside from the great music, it was just a great experience all
round. Spending time like this with awesome people and just living in
filth was awesome. I was always skeptical of the festival experience but
I have to say I rather enjoyed it. If the information is still on the
site I will be putting the link down below so you can see who else
played. I had an awesome time and have moments that will stay with me.
Jeanny if you are reading this, our first festival together was amazing
and I can't wait for more!
Because I am feeling the love right now, I thought I would share a few pointers and give my words of wisdom to you guys:
1. Girls, don't dress like you're going to be included in a street
fashion article, you just look stupid. Boys, now is the perfect time to
wear women's clothing and customise your own, it's comfortable and you
are allowed!
2. Tinned ravioli is love in a tin.
3. It may be hard at first but overcoming the fear of festival toilets is a must.
4. note to self… I need to make a music system from a car CD Player and some speakers… that shit looked and sounded awesome.
So yeah, that's me out. Here's a photo of me kinda looking like a girl… sorry ladies… and boys but I'm taken ;)
Love,
PDx
