Primavera Sound 2015 in brief, day 1

You find us right in the middle of Primavera Sound 2015' week so, it's time, like we did on previous editions, to begin our quick chronicles of each day of the Festival. To begin with, our particular opening day!

The Good

Heavy-pop: Our beloved friends Las Ruinas were the responsible of opening Primavera at the Forum on Wednesday. Yes, it was pretty early on a working day, so the crowd was mainly composed of familiar faces And yes, it wasn't the best of their gigs (seen them a dozen of times) but what a great way to start a Festival! A band that combines talent, playfulness and attitude. Plus songs, many many songs: 'El Olivar', 'Secundarios del mundo, uníos!', 'Ramón y Cajal', 'Cerveza beer', 'Un regalo', 'OVNI'...

Edu Chirinos, heavy-pop champ. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Bad

Christina Rosenvinge: I do believe Rosenvinge's career, at least since 'Tu labio superior', deserves to be followed. But the gig at Fòrum was... flat, sadly. An understatement compared with the records, subtle and precious pop, combined with awkward moments of distortion, noise or unnecessary howls.

Cristina Rosenvinge, lady Dolores. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Queen
Cinerama: Can't be impartial if we talk about David Gedge: we like him so much. But it was the first time seeing Cinerama, after the show at Apolo at the line-up presentation was ruined because of people too worried about grabbing another free beer and chat, showing no respect for the band playing. Questions arised before the gig: Would the Fòrum be the right place for such a delicate and rich proposal, chamber pop with half a orchestra live? Would people behave (the entrance on Wednesday was free for everyone interested)? Luckily, the answer to both questions was yes, a categorical yes. David crooning, flute and trumpet embellishing instantly attractive tunes... Haunting 45 minutes of great pop. Did we say we love David Gedge?

Dress up to pop with Cinerama. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Brief of the first "big day" of the PS15, Thursday 28th, coming very soon here!

Primavera Sound 2015: my draft schedule

And the day has come. It's time to, at least make the first attempt, and try to assemble the puzzle that the Primavera Sound Festival schedules' are. And also time to start digesting and make some painful choices due to the recurring, I guess they are inevitable, overlaps. So, are you ready to "play" with us? Pending on Primavera als Parcs' schedule this is what our PS 2015 looks like (initial impressions):  

  

Thursday, May 28th, Parc del Fòrum
18:35 Twerps (Pitchfork)
19:45 Viet Cong (Pitchfork)
21:10 The Replacements (Primavera)
22:20 Antony and the Johnsons (Heineken)* 
22:50 Spiritualized (ATP)
23:45 The Black Keys (Primavera)
The "easy" day, it goes quite smoothly, with the sole exception of missing Antony and the Johnsons (although I'm very far from being a fan, I was curious), and the clash between the highly recommendable Ought versus The Replacements.

Friday, May 29th, Parc del Fòrum
17:00 The Pastels (Heineken Hidden Stage) 
17:45 Núria Graham (Pitchfork)
19:00 Ex Hex (Pitchfork)
20:35 The Julie Ruin (Ray-Ban)
22:20 Sleater-Kinney (Heineken) 
23:45 Ride (Primavera)
The "big day" it's a pretty excruciating one. Getting into the Pastels' gig will be tough (as you have to grab the tickets well in advance that same day). There's not a lot to choose among until Ex Hex... and then overlaps all over until. Will see The Julie Ruin so bye to The New Pornographers, Patti Smith, Tobias Jesso Jr.. and also to Damien Rice and Belle and Sebastian, 'cause the important gig of the day is, of course, Sleater-Kinney. Then Ride and over? What an incredible day could have been...

Saturday, May 30th, Parc del Fòrum
16:00 Patti Smith (Auditori Rockdelux)
17:30 Ben Watt (Auditori Rockdelux) 
18:55 The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger (Primavera)
20:30 Tori Amos (Ray-Ban)
21:40 DIIV (Pitchfork)
22.20 Interpol Heineken)*
23:00 Flyying Colours (H & M Pro)
23:45 The Strokes  (Primavera)
Same sad song. Nice start with Patti and Ben Watt, then a sort of a wasteland (although we'll manage) and more clashes. DIIV will be the chosen band and then, whatever happens...

Sunday, May 31th, Apolo/Sala BARTS
19:40 Soledad Vélez (BARTS) 
20:45 Torres (BARTS) 
A very relaxed day with just one gig that we really want to attend, but what a gig. We love Torres... Sure (and also hope) there will be more changes and adds to this schedule as the Festival approaches. We'll see!

* Incomplete, or depending on the distances between stages

Primavera Sound 2015: first impressions

Primavera Sound Festival 2015's line-up unveiled! The show was quick and the videogame used to reveal the band names was a funny idea, (although a bit too easy?).Hipsters/posers were quite ok compared with previous years (except when the food arrived, the animal instincts appeared no matter how cool you dress) and the overall feeling was a pleasant one. Thanks to the organisers. 

But let’s go to key question. What an impressive line-up they have gathered! We are extremely happy they have followed our advice (kidding of course) and prepared an almost riot grrrl stage (by the sea perhaps?) on Friday with The Julie Ruin, Ex Hex and Sleater-Kinney. Amazing. Now please no overlaps, at least on Friday.

As happened last year, we’ll focus on the “middle class”, although my better half will strongly push for seeing The Black Keys and The Strokes (huge question marks on the latest one), which looks, as always, interesting, diverse, and with a lot of potential. DIIV, Eels (finally!), Spiritualized, Patti Smith, Torres (YEEES!) and a huge list of well-known (like Belle and Sebastian) and recently discovered names (Twerps to name one)… If we are lucky with the overlaps, this edition could be simply spectacular.

So, honouring the Blog’s tradition, here’s our traditional rough (we don't have the timetables yet) “paint & colour” version of the line-up with our first impressions on the bands we are willing to see. Promising, right?

CONFIRMED ARTISTS FOR PRIMAVERA SOUND 2015

27th-31st May

ALBERT HAMMOND JR. • ALT-J • AMERICAN FOOTBALL • ANDREW WEATHERALL ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS • ARIEL PINK • ARTHUR RUSSELL INSTRUMENTALS BABES IN TOYLAND • BAXTER DURY • BELLE & SEBASTIAN • BEN WATT • BENJAMIN BOOKER • THE BLACK KEYS • THE BOHICAS • BOREALS • BRAND NEW • CARIBOU • CHEATAHS • CHET FAKER • CHILDHOOD • CHRISTINA ROSENVINGE • THE CHURCH • CINERAMA • DJ COCO • D.D DUMBO • DAMIEN RICE • DAN DEACON • DAVE P. • DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 • DER PANTHER • DIIV • DISAPPEARS • DIXON • DULCE PAJARA DE JUVENTUD • EARTH • EARTHLESS • EELS • EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN • ELECTRIC WIZARD • EX HEX • EXXASENS • FERRAN PALAU • FOXYGEN • FUCKED UP • FUMACA PRETA • GERMA AIRE • THE GHOST OF A SABER TOOTH TIGER • GIANT SAND • GREYLAG • GÚDAR • GUI BORATTO • HANS-JOACHIM ROEDELIUS • HAR MAR SUPERSTAR (dj set) • HEALTH • HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER • HOOKWORMS • THE HOTELIER • IBEYI • ICEAGE • INTERPOL • JAMBINAI • JAMES BLAKE • JESSICA & THE FLETCHERS • JOAN MIQUEL OLIVER • JON HOPKINS • JOSE GONZALEZ • THE JUAN MACLEAN • JULIAN CASABLANCAS+THE VOIDZ • THE JULIE RUIN • JUNGLE • KELELA KEVIN MORBY • THE KVB • LAS RUINAS • LES AMBASSADEURS • LES SUEQUES • LOS PUNSETES • LOST TAPES • MAC DEMARCO • MARC PIÑOL • MARC RIBOT'S CERAMIC DOG • MDOU MOCTAR • MIKAL CRONIN • MIKE SIMONETTI • MINERAL • MIQUEL SERRA • MOURN • MOVEMENT • MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND • NANCY WHANG (dj set) NELEONARD • THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS • NUEVA VOLCANO • NÚRIA GRAHAM • OCELLOT • OMD • OUGHT • PALLBEARER • PANAMA • PANDA BEAR • PATTI SMITH & BAND perform HORSES • PERFUME GENIUS • PERRO • PHARMAKON • RATKING • THE REPLACEMENTS • RICHIE HAWTIN • RIDE • ROCIO MARQUEZ • ROMAN FLOGEL • RUN THE JEWELS • SALVAJE MONTOYA • THE SAURS • SHABAZZ PALACES • SHELLAC SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO • SINGLE MOTHERS • SLEAFORD MODS • SLEATER-KINNEY • SOAK • THE SOFT MOON • SPIRITUALIZED • SR. CHINARRO • STRAND OF OAKS • THE STROKES • THE SUICIDE OF WESTERN CULTURE • SUN KIL MOON • SUNN 0))) • SWANS • THEE OH SEES • THE THURSTON MOORE BAND • TOBIAS JESSO JR.• TONY ALLEN • TORRES • TUNE-YARDS • TWERPS • TWIN SHADOW • TYLER THE CREATOR • UMBERTO & ANTONI MAIOVVI • UNDERWORLD dubnobasswithmyheadman live • UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA • VIET CONG • VOIVOD • WHITE HILLS • YASMINE HAMDAN • YOUNGHUSBAND • THE ZEPHYR BONES

Green- Definetely seeing them. Absolute must
Orange- If there are no overlaps (in particular with the green ones), I'll be there for sure
Yellow- Curious about it/"on research mode"

Primavera Sound 2015: My Wish List

Another tradition in our blog to be honoured before the year ends, our Primavera Sound Festival wish list. With just two names announced so far, The Strokes (so so) and Ride (great one, very happy to see them!) this is one of the most mysterious editions I can remember so, as there was much more guessing than ever, the following bets have been done more with the heart than with the head (yeah, I also think bands like Ariel Pink, Jungle, Shellac or Modest Mouse will probably be in Barcelona, but I don't really care...). While we hope the forthcoming January (probably by the end of the month) will be the chosen one by the organization to reveal the complete roster, and as we did on previous years, here's how our wish list would like. We hope you like our bets!

Antipodean Bands. Every single music lover has a Festival curator inside. Mine would include an Australian/New Zealand stage for sure that this 2015 would look stunning. The Zebras (one of the best records of 2014), The Chills (after Indietracks, have to see them in my city), the majority of our dear Fishrider Records bands (looking forward to the new Prophet Hens album, such a crime it's so hard to have bands from down under...), The Ocean Party ('Soft Focus' rules)
Decemberists, The. Mandatory band, first chapter. Been asking them for ages, and with a new album to appear in three weeks chances are, fingers crossed, huge. We'll say it again: we can't wait to finally see them!

Desperate Journalist. Ultra-early contender for record of the year 2015, with such a debut LP and ten tones of talent they would be a perfect Primavera Sound fit.

DIIV. Here's a band that made a colossal record, then cancelled their gig at Primavera years ago and, somehow, vanished. Time for a comeback, maybe?

Lambchop. They are making some special shows celebrating 'Nixon's' anniversary, so what about Barcelona, at the Auditorium maybe? Could be amazing.

Line & Circle. Discovery of the year, what a pleasure would be discovering them live this spring...

Primavera Club repeaters. Three bands that should be in Barcelona again. Alvvays (because their gig was so-so), Fear of Men (because we just love them) and Ought, because they have an incredible live show.

Riot Grrrls stage. And the curator in me returns. This should be the year. Can you imagine a stage with Wild Balbina, Bleached, September Girls, Honeyblood (beyond exciting tunes), Ex Hex (best record of 2014?, we think so), The Julie Ruin, (unfortunately Kathleen Hanna cancelled last year due to her illness, but seeing they are touring again...)? And that leads us to the stage headliner, which is... 

Rose Elinor Dougall. I'll keep asking for her since. Every single year. 

Sleater-Kinney. The reunion of the year, new album, tour on the works. They HAVE TO BE IN BARCELONA. It's MANDATORY. MUST. YES OR YES

Teenage Fanclub. Rumours of a new album arriving in 2015? What about playing the hits in Barcelona? Haven't seem them yet, would be a most welcomed surprise!

The New Pornographers. With just a bunch of US dates until February, this looks like a secured sport at the Festival. We'll smile.  

Torres. Isn't she working on her second record? Among the most mind-blowing singer-songwriters, it's time we confirm it live.
TV On The Radio. Never been a fan of them, but even I can't explain why, I'm so addicted to their latest album, 'Seeds', so would love to see them live.