Primavera Sound 2013 in brief, day 1

Like we did on previous editions, we start our quick chronicles of each day of the Primavera Sound Festival 2013. So here's a brief note of what our particular opening day was like!

The Good

Join The Bots!
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Much better at the Parc: I admit I wasn't very enthusiastic with the idea of going to the Fòrum for the opening day. It's far, every walking distance is huge and the thought of massification (the gigs there were free) at Ray-Ban was discouraging. But distances aside, it proved to be a much better choice than have it at very centre of the city, like last year.
Sound quality: In that sense, the four bands saw yesterday enjoyed a much better sound than on past edition. Hope that's a sign for the days to come.
The Bots: Wasn't mesmerized about the songs, in my opinion still to be polished, more defined as a whole, but I got seriously impressed by the performance and potential of this incredibly young duo. The reincarnation of The White Stripes from a very exciting couple. Band to follow closely.

The Bad

The Vaccines. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Night at Apolo: Terrible organization, or better said, suffered from the lack of it. We arrived early there (skipped Delorean to have enough time) asked security at the front door of the venue, who told people willing to go to La [2] de Apolo would enter at 23:30, while the cue for Apolo would do it at 00.00. So we had a speedy dinner and at 23:20 we were there... to see how the cue was gigantic, just one for the two venues, already cornering the whole block. Impossible to get into such a small place like la [2] de Apolo. The result: missed Cheatahs and Veronica Falls due to bad organization (or at least misinformation from security).

In Guards we trust. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Queen
Guards: It was a day without outstanding performances. I didn't enjoy Aliment, although I guess they did a solid gig. And I'm pretty sorry to confirm what I already after seeing them at past Primavera Club. The Vaccines have the songs, but with the exception of an relentless frontman, they are a quite limited band. So the "queen of the day" title has to go to Guards, who were, as expected, pretty good. Less poppier than on record, tunes gained weight, fitting perfectly for the festival format. Sadly, the gig was short and they choose a couple of noisy instrumental interludes that for me, weren't necessary, and not representative of their fantastic taste/talent for pop melodies. Nevertheless, a solid performance. I want them back on a small venue!

First "big day" this afternoon/night. It's brief coming very soon here!

Primavera Sound 2013: first impressions

#BestFestivalEver? Not for me, sorry. It makes no sense to criticise such a fantastic line-up, full of some of the most prestigious (some would add cool) indie artists from the past, the present and (maybe?) the future. I understand how proud the organization has to be, and how happy many people must be right now. But it is simply not my dreamed line-up, and considering the amount of my "favourite/have to see" artists that could have potentially (touring in the forthcoming months, releasing new works) is somewhat of a deception, with few "indispensable" acts for me (Camera Obscura and Phoenix only).

This is, of course, just my first impression. Some promising bands have to be checked, and others will depend on the overlaps during the Festival. Here's how PS13 would look for us today! 

On a final comment, thanks to the Organization for such a nice event. Loved the detail of the poster.

 CONFIRMED ARTISTS FOR PRIMAVERA SOUND 2013

22nd-26th May

ADAM GREEN & BINKI SHAPIRO • ALIMENT • ANIMAL COLLECTIVE ANTONIA FONT

APPARAT plays Krieg and Frieden • THE BABIES • BAND OF HORSES • BARRY HOGAN DJ

BETUNIZER • BLUE WILLA • BLUR • BOB MOULD • BORED SPIES • THE BOTS

THE BREEDERS performing Last Splash • CAMERA OBSCURA • CAYUCAS • CHRIS COHEN

CHRISTOPHER OWENS • DJ COCO CRIME & THE CITY SOLUTION • CRYSTAL CASTLES

DAN DEACON • DANIEL JOHNSTON • DAPHNI • DAUGHN GIBSON • DAUGHTER

DEAD CAN DANCE • DEAD SKELETONS • DEATH GRIPS • DEERHUNTER • DEGREASER

DELOREAN • DEXYS • DIIV • DINOSAUR JR. • DISCLOSURE • DO MAKE SAY THINK

DOPE BODY • EL INQUILINO COMUNISTA • ETHAN JOHNS • EXTRAPERLO • FIDLAR

FIONA APPLE • FOUR TET • FOXYGEN • FRED I SON • THE FREE FALL BAND

FUCK BUTTONS • FUCKED UP • GHOSTIGITAL • GLASS CANDY • GOAT • GRIZZLY BEAR

GUADALUPE PLATA • GUARDIAN ALIEN • GUARDS • HAL FLAVIN • HIDROGENESSE

HONEYBIRD & THE BIRDIES • HOT CHIP • HOT SNAKES • HOW TO DRESS WELL

JACKMASTER presents Tweak-A-Holic • JAMES BLAKE JESSIE WARE

THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN • JOHN TALABOT • JOZEF VAN WISSEM & JIM JARMUSCH

KILLER MIKE • KING TUFF • THE KNIFE • KURT VILE & THE VIOLATORS • L'HEREU ESCAMPA

LA BIEN QUERIDA • LA BRIGADA • LIARS • LOCAL NATIVES

LOS PLANETAS tocan Una semana en el motor de un autobus 

MAC DEMARCO • THE MAGICIAN

MANEL • MATTHEW E. WHITE • MEAT PUPPETS • MELODY'S ECHO CHAMBER

MENOMENA • MERCHANDISE • METZ • MOUNT EERIE • MULATU ASTATKE

MY BLOODY VALENTINE • NEKO CASE • NEUROSIS • NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS

NICK WATERHOUSE NILS FRAHM NURSE WITH WOUND OM OMAR SOULEYMAN

ORCHESTRE POLY RYTHMO DE COTONOU • PAUS • PEACE • PHOENIX • PONY BRAVO

POOLSIDE • THE POSTAL SERVICE • RODRIGUEZ • ROLL THE DICE • SAVAGES

THE SEA AND CAKE • SEAN NICHOLAS SAVAGE • SHELLAC • SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO

SOLANGE • THE SUICIDE OF WESTERN CULTURE • SWANS • TAME IMPALA • TARANTULA

THEE OH SEES • TINARIWEN • TITUS ANDRONICUS • TOUNDRA • THE VACCINES

WHITE FENCE • WILD NOTHING • WOODS • WU-TANG CLAN 

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 Club 2012 in brief, day 3

After a few "technical issues", here's the last chapter of the review series of the Primavera Club Festival.

The Good

Standing Against Heart Crime. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Stand Up Against Heart Crime- Nice surprise. Convincing sound: a bit of synth-pop, some kraut-rock, some post-rock with an eye on the dancefloor, a slightly dark atmosphere, and foremost, solid songs. Pretty sure it won't be the last post about them.
Toy- My "big name" of the night, all the expectations were quickly confirmed. Their music is fierce, polyhedral, a sonic blast. Even despite the sound wasn't the best, what a band.

The Vaccines. Photo: Bloodbuzed

Mark Lanegan Band/ The Vaccines- Lanegan was powerful & flawless, as expected, and his band was impressive (spectacular guitars). Sadly, his gig was misplaced, he should have played on a more intimate venue, interested people would have enjoyed it more. On the other hand, The Vaccines, despite sounding quite shallow on great tunes like "Post Break-up Sex" or "Teenage Icon", proved they already have an impressive "army" of infallible pop-rock songs.

The Bad
Shut your mouth! (part 3)- We suffered a new modality of this despicable catalogue of lack of education/respect for the artist or the people attending a gig. During Stand Up Against Heart Crime, at the very front row, the band's crew/people didn't stop talking for a single second. It's a strange way to help your supposed friend/partner on the stage, don't you think?

Toy in Barcelona. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Toy- A very short gig, that didn't include the mind-blowing "Motoring", because it ended abruptly. Was the band so furious about the sound? Frustrated? The audience was for sure...
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti- I don't care about Pitchfork's (add/replace for whatever magazine/blog/music reference you prefer instead) opinion. The music of this guy is beyond horrible. He is capable of taking all the (admittedly) dubious music styles, like soft-rock or sunshine-pop and transform into forms of torture. Add that he sounded plain awful at Sant Jordi Club (atrocious volume). Like being at the dentist without anesthesia. Poor ears....
Strange line-up- Probably it has to do with the problems the organization has faced, but the running order of the gigs was a bit weird. Deerhoof tried very hard to connect with the audience, and have to be praised for that, but their music is too "special" to reach such a big crowd. Same applies to the music of Mark Lanegan. But one thing is for sure: they don't fit together. Add more confusion with the disastrous gig of Ariel Pink's following Lanegan. The result? Quite a tired audience leaving before what it was, in principle, the biggest gig of the night, The Vaccines.

The Queen
Farewell Primavera Club- There was nothing quite outstanding or memorable on Saturday. As a matter of fact, for me there was an atmosphere of... exhaustion. Something that makes sense if you think on the decision the Organization of the Primavera Sound announced on Sunday. Won't be another Primavera Club in Spain. After the unacceptable behavior of authorities in Madrid and (to a lesser extent) in Barcelona, the shameful rise of the VAT to cultural events, their decision is absolutely understandable. From a human perspective, of the entrepreneurs with a consolidated and successful event fed up of dealing with such a stupid (sorry but that's the word) bunch of people, makes even more sense. But for me, and I assume that for any music lover located or able to visit Spain for Primavera Club, this is just a let-down of gigantic proportions. It's very simple: it feels like I have been abandoned for the ones that were able to bring us the music I love.

Primavera Club 2012: we (finally) have timetables!

It's been a tremendous battle: against the economic crisis, against the stupid decisions from politics, who are on the verge of killing our cultural industry with the incomprehensible raise of the VAT tax for the sector, against bureaucracy (in Madrid and Barcelona) and against bad luck, with the cancellations of Cat Power and Crocodiles. So it has to be said first. Big, huge thanks to the Primavera organizers for not giving up and overcoming all obstacles. Thanks for bringing us the music. Again.

So here it is, finally. The timetables for the Primavera Club 2012 in Barcelona. I'm very happy to announce Bloodbuzzed, like past year, will be covering the Festival next week. and after checking times and venues (I still have to figure out how to move from one to another in a couple of situations), here's what my schedule looks like right now (this is not final).

Thursday 6th
19:15 Ghandi Rules OK at Sidecar
20:20 Dusted at Arteria Paral·lel
21:05 Great Lake Swimmers at Arteria Paral·lel
22:10 Cats on Fire at Arteria Paral·lel
23.15 The Soft Moon at Arteria Paral·lel

Friday 7th 
18:15 Little Wings at Arteria Paral·lel
19:30 Fernando Alfaro at Sant Jordi Club
20:30 La Bien Querida at Sant Jordi Club
21.35 Sr.Chinarro at Sant Jordi Club
22.45 Triángulo de Amor Bizarro at Sant Jordi Club
23.55 Los Planetas at Sant Jordi Club

Saturday 8th
19:30 Stand Up Against Heart Crime at Sant Jordi Club
20.15 Toy at Sant Jordi Club
21:25 Deerhof at Sant Jordi Club
22.50 Mark Lanegan Band at Sant Jordi Club
00:20 Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti at Sant Sant Jordi Club
01.40 The Vaccines at Sant Jordi Club

Primavera Club 2012: 50/50?

Wednesday arrived, and as promised, the organization revealed the full line-up of the forthcoming Primavera Club 2012 (December 6-8). And on my first impression I have mixed reviews about it (click on the image to enlarge and see the complete list).

Negative side

• Just one name from my wish list, which is quite a disappointment (their agendas made think they were possible, so I was hoping for a few more "hits"). Maybe for spring 2013? 
• Less days and less bands. Not to mention the quite dramatic reduction in Madrid. I know this is not the fault of the organisation, but the consequence of the absurd policies of our governments... but still, it is frustrating.
• Distributed in five days, last year I was able to be at more than a dozen concerts. I'm afraid with the reduction of days, overlaps can be more painful than ever. Hope I'm wrong on this matter...
• Sant Jordi Club instead of Casino l'Aliança? Sound was pretty great, hope the change works...

Positive side

• Cat Power. Finally I'll be able to see Chan Marshall! 
• Toy (the one on my wish list), Great Lake Swimmers (totally unexpected, very happy with that), The Vaccines, Cats On Fire, plus the special gig of Los Planetas. Five must-see acts.
• Aloud, El Genio Equivocado and BCore will have showcases during the Festival. That means nice bands to discover/enjoy, almost granted.
• Quite a few bands to research and, maybe, discover, one of the biggest pleasures, and trademarks Primavera Sound always offers us... 

Next week, the organisation will have the schedule, which could be a major fact in order to value more accurately the line-up (fingers crossed for the overlaps). But whatever the case, plenty to see and enjoy this December! Thanks Primavera!

Discoverer 22: new indie findings

New bands to recommend you!

French Films. You wouldn't associate the music with where they're from, beautiful Finland (Espoo and Järvenpää, close to Helsinki). Because this band, formed in 2010, with an EP, "Golden Sea", and an LP, "Imaginary Future", out now, will initially recall you to sunny places and bands like The Vaccines or The Drums. Humming songs, catchy as hell, full of hooks and irresistible urgency. Maybe is the scent to catch an unforgettable melody, the keyboards, the New Wave hints, or the unusual cohesion during the whole album. This is one of the most enjoyable albums of the year so far.
Imaginary Future (2011) by French Films

Laura K. My EardrumsPop friends did it again. Their ePop 18, completely free and available on their website, is another sample of the best indiepop, besides introducing us new artists to follow, this time a ridiculously young artist, Laura K, between Brisbane and London, where she is now based, with an amazing talent to create sweet gems that seem very simple on the surface. Impossibly cute and mellow, "Saboteur" and the short "This Happens Every Time" are followed by "Beach Comber" a beautiful (handclapping!) rendition of Real Estate, another band to check. Download!!
Laura K - ePop018 - digital single by EardrumsPop

Young Romance. And the third proposal comes from London, in the form of a charming duo, Paolo and Claire. This inseparable couple makes delicate and stunningly gorgeous indiepop tunes, with an intensity that suggests a real emotion and passion in what they do. These few available songs seems really a slowly-built work of art. I'm still blown away by "Swollen Hearts, Bitter Tongues", "She, Me, Him and You" and the candle-fire "Six Sides". Pure pop perfection, as immediate as lasting. From now on, count me as a fan and follower of the adventures of this couple.

"Recharge & Revolt", on the road with The Raveonettes

The week starts with the first complete listen of "Angles", The Strokes comeback (if you allow me the euphemism, not very impressed), having doubts about "Belong", the sophomore effort from The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and the confirmation The Vaccines deserved all the hype (their album is officially released today, don't miss it). But among them...."Recharge & Revolt", mesmerizing new tune (plus a beautiful and classy video) from The Raveonettes, included in the forthcoming "Raven in the Grave".

Several music reviews to come in the next days... so stay tuned!

Amazing month of indie music

Off for the weekend, so there won't be new posts until Tuesday...but once we're back, an amazing month of March, full of promising music is awaiting: R.E.M., Elbow, Noah and the Whale, The Vaccines, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart... Have a great weekend!














Noah and the Whale- 'L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N


The Vaccines- Post Break-Up Sex


The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Belong