| on 13-07-2008 19:51
|
Published in : , Music |
 Exit Fest Day 2
By Stephan Delbos
Revved up on local cornbread and free hugs from the Christian hippies handing them out along the riverside, festival goers mounted the long staircase up to the Petrovaradian fortress. Day 2 featured a more laid back vibe than the first night, with a few explosive acts along the way.
Gustafi provided bouncy Spanish klezmer on the World Music stage, quick upbeat major chords that kept fans happy and grooving in the dust between brick walls, the stage being situated in the palace moat.
Paul Weller provided a 90 minute set on the main stage, with laid back rock grooves reminiscent of The Eagles and all the music my father liked to listen to on long car rides. With lyrics about wishing on stars and shadows falling, Weller seemed a bit out of place, if not outdated, among the stellar performances and the screaming kids with face paint and neon sunglasses. If there is anything necessary to providing a good show to 50,000 people, its being able to carry the crowd. In this day and age, that means more than strumming your guitar and telling the audience why you wrote each particular song.
 Fortunately, the Hungarian Pannonia All Stars Ska Orchestra knew how to provide, albeit to a smaller audience. With their front man decked out in a white suit and a panama hat, they hopped through a set that included reggae, ska, ragga, and even fire jugglers dispersed throughout the crowd to keep things hot. With their infusions of traditional Hungarian rhythms and Jamaican accents and upbeats, they're definitely a band worth watching.
Word was that Soulwax put on a show in the Dance Arena that was "Off the chain," though this reporter was too busy waiting for Gentleman and The Far East Band to work through their technical delays and get the show started. It proved worth the wait however, with an energetic set that had the crowd waving peace signs and lighters. The only question that remains is when all reggae bands will quit spitting cliches like "More Fire!" and "Yes, I," phrases which have become meaningless utterances after years of mindless abuse. Like Paul Weller, such elements of performance leave discerning listeners wanting some innovation, if not inspiration.
 The lineup for Night 3 includes Gogol Bordello , Juliet and The Licks , and Manu Chao , among others. Wowzers. As festival goers peel themselves from their sweaty sleeping bags, they look around at the vast crowds - men sporting fresh Serbian beards, women with dirt in their fingernails and weariness weighing in their eyelids - and wonder if they look as haggard as everyone else. The answer is an easy yes. But a little cornbread and a hug or three - these are age-old remedies, good for what ails you.
|
|
|
Users' Comments  |
|
Average user rating
 (0 vote)
|
|
Add your comment
|
