Festival Plaça Odissea, music & attitudes

Pegasvs, Klaus & Kinski, Cloud Nothings, Maxïmo Park. 
Festival Plaça Odissea, Barcelona, May 12th

Back to the Maremagnum for the main day of the free Festival at the Port of Barcelona. The line-up was, in principle, quite eclectic and diverse, so its no surprise the impressions of each gig were so different.

Pegasvs

Pegasvs at Plaça Odissea.
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

It was our second time seeing Sergio Pérez and Luciana della Villa and we couldn't dispel the doubts we had regarding their live performances. They have a great album, and the songs evolve in a nice, pleasant way live. But nothing more aside to highlight from that. Songs sounding very similar to the LP versions, but  a flat show again: little interaction with the audience, quite a cold and lineal feeling while performing. These factors, and an excessively loud sound, in particular several "effects", didn't help enjoying their gig fully.

Klaus & Kinski

Klaus & Kinski.
Photo: Pablo Rodríguez-Aguilera

I was curious to see Klaus & Kinski, as they are a unique band in Spain, with an extremely diverse palette of styles in their songs. Which Klaus & Kinski would predominate live? I can't clearly say, but the result was a bit indigestible for me. I have read somewhere that they recreate some sort of a "Village Fair" spirit in their gigs. I agree. Hearing various older members of the audience, ages away from the indie stereotype, mentioning "Paquito Chocolatero" or younger ones commenting "this are the sort of tunes that my parents danced" confirms it. But anyway, to me, the dance moments were the worst ones. Sad, because when they embrace a more defined indie-pop path, they show talent, with a very remarkable violinist and guitar section.

Cloud Nothings. Photo: Pablo Rodríguez-Aguilera

Cloud Nothings
After two national acts, it was time for the Ohio band Cloud Nothings, who radically changed the music direction of the day, while the premonitory rain showed up. Blame me for just disliking this sort of music, but their very heavy, dense noise pop tunes, somewhere between post-rock and hardcore, with many neo-grunge tics was just awful for me. 

 

Mäximo Park

Paul Smith, thunderous frontman
Photo: Pablo Rodríguez-Aguilera

And finally it was time for headliners, the brits Mäximo Park. After years being pushed to a discreet second place, the Newcastle band returns with the new album "The National Health" of which they presented several songs in Barcelona. A couple of them sounded promising, but in all honesty, the whole show was stolen by Paul Smith, restless, hyperactive, even euphoric. He brought his uncontrollable passion to the stage, and with the help of the remarkable presence of compatriots among the audience, the gig was quite a rush of adrenaline, addictive, engaging and indie-rock hits. Again the sound wasn't perfect, but Maxïmo Park was ready for fighting... and winning. What a difference attitude can make...