Here’s a little story for you, covering the entire weekend of Groezrock 2013, as seen from my eyes. I hope you’ll take your time to read it, and don’t hesitate to leave your comments! Enjoy…
Pré-fest, venue Genendijk, friday april 26th, 2013.
The fact that Rio-rock organisers, in coöperation with Groezrock, were going to throw another pré-fest party/show, was already common knowledge. The line-up however, was a well kept secret until the last week before D-day, Hans Maes loves to create some tension… Then, hour after hour, band after band was added to the roster, Life Load (BE), Colours Dead Bleed (NL), Astpaï (AU), Smoke Or Fire (US), … en then, then it happened, where I for one, had been hoping and praying for, KID DYNAMITE !! After that even Rocket From The Crypt got the final slot, they appear to be legendary, but were never really my cup of tea. But Kid Dynamite on the other hand, boy oh boy, the feeling when that name appeared on my screen… I was over the moon!
From then on, I started planning my Groezrock weekend meticulously, because I didn’t want to risk arriving late for that exclusive show. Small venue, no pre-sales, no reservations, first come first served, full=full…
Last year I also attended that pre-fest-showcase, arriving well before opening of the doors. The line-up then wasn’t too bad either with Lifetime (first EU mainland show) and Cornflames (local heroes, Eppo Janssen, first gig after a long hiatus). Nevertheless, there were only a dozen people as early as I, waiting to enter.
This year, I arrived just as early, and what I thought became clear immediately. De streets in the venue’s neighborhood were parked with cars, of which the visible contents, the bystanders or the stickers, made it crystal clear that a lot of people shared my intention to try to get there as early as possible. My feeling was that I had to join a cue of around and about a hundred people already! Somewhat surprisingly, most of them turn out to be foreigners. I said hi to some British and Dutch people, and a completely crazy gang of Eastern-Europeans, seven of them made the trip over in one van. They didn’t arrive long before I got there, but in that short period of time, the designated driver (after being sober for the 13-hour drive) had succeeded in becoming by far the most drunk member of the posse. 13 hours, with six passengers, in a van stacked with alcohol, does have its consequenses… They’re already tripping over their own feet, faces have been written on with permanent markers, eyes are bloodshot and red, … I heard this quote from the lovely ladies at the entrance :”Oh my, they’re not going to enjoy this, are they? They won’t even remember a thing by tomorrow…” Yep, it’s Groezrock time baby!
Alright then, after cueing for about half an hour, we’re allowed inside. Compared to last year, there have been some obvious changes to the venue’s infrastructure in- and outside, there are a few party-shelters, a little merch-tent, and a hot-dog and hamburger stall! Thank god for that, because the local town’s french fries-shop, which must have had a bestselling-night last year, was not opened this time. It’ll soon be time for the first band now, while people keep entering the venue.
Local heroes (apparently, I didn’t know ‘em yet) Life Load get to ignite the party. 5 (really) young, and rather shy dudes step on the stage, but when they play their first note, it’s immediately clear that they mean business! A tight hardcore/punk sound, with surprisingly raw vocals coming from the singer. Inbetween songs, he comments on the uselessness of religion, and relates that to the Boston marathon-drama, no more shyness whatsoever! Halfway through their set, a couple of their exuberant friends arrive, and the four of them succeed in filling the empty dancefloor ‘slash’ moshpit…
Next up is Dutch combo Colours Dead Bleed, also unknown to me at the time. Their stage attitude and performance proves their experience. Also, soundwise, they are really tight. They get some action and reaction from the audience, and clearly enjoy their time on stage. On the other hand, I had to eat at some point, so I didn’t hang around for their entire show.
Let’s check out Astpaï! Four Austrians (nót Australians…) give us a set that thunders through the venue like a train. Great stuff from the bass, rocking guitars, pumping drums, topped off with two great vocalists. Punkrock at its finest, exciting and ballsy! It reminded me of Nothington and None More Black, but a lot faster. I’m about to find out later that they performed in Leuven, not too far from where I live, a few times already. Kids, check your local shows!! I thought I did, but this band had escaped my attention, until now. They more than made up for lost time, and I reward their enthousiasm by bying both their albums at the little merch-corner. We also got to see a first crowdsurfer, and quite some excitement in the pit!
During the Smoke Or Fire set, I take care of my inner self a bit more, one’s got to maintain a healthy fluid- and energylevel, no? However, what S.O.F. brings on stage is really great! I’m not really familiar with them, but I had checked their albums out since they got added to the Groezrock festival. So I recognize quite a few songs, and it seems to me they sound awesome live. The venue fills up nicely, tension is rising. Jason, Dave, Michael and Dan from Kid Dynamite walk in and out, checking the other bands, grasping the atmosphere.
And then, finally, it’s time! Kid Dynamite! On a knee-high stage, in a small-town little venue with a 400 (max?) capacity! And that is their very first European performance. Ever! And I am there…
I had one fear : would it sound right when performed live, because some of the live tracks on their ‘Cheap Shot Youth Anthems’ compilation had me in doubt…
My fear was not necessary.
What. An.
Energy. Jason is in great shape singing, the PA does a great job mixing from the first song, and after half a note stagedivers are already running back and forth onstage. A steamy moshpit throughout the entire set, with all the pushing and shoving, pulling and tripping that can be expected, also because of the limited height of the stage. Jason even takes a little break a couple of times, checking whether we’re all OK, for it is mayhem, on and off the stage. Every line of lyric is screamed with full dedication, every square inch of the stage is covered. I saw him perform with None More Black on last year’s Groezrock festival, but that was a totally different ballgame alltogether. I can feel the four men onstage enjoying this moment, they were even making fun of eachother, and what about that drummer, he truly is an ‘animal’. If they even needed a driving force (which they didn’t), Dave Wagenschutz is their man. You don’t get many occasions to witness such a legendary band up close, so I feasted my eyes! I enjoyed it to the fullest, and I can check off “getting a soar throat” from my Groezrock-to-do-list…
Completely battered, sweaty, tired but satisfied, I get my hands on one of the setlists, and I’m headed towards the bar, fluid-level adjustments are once again very necessary.
I hung around for a couple of minutes into the RFTC-set, but I’m really not into that band. So I decide to call it a night, so I can get as many hours of sleep as possible, in view of the weekend lying ahead of me.
All in all I can say this show, once again, was a more than suitable warm-up for the real deal festival, and I brace myself for next year. Because this pre-fest-thingy is building a reputation. We’ve had two editions, totalling four sort of “reunions”, not the least ones either! (Cornflames, Lifetime, Kid Dynamite and Rocket From The Crypt…)
I could easily propose some more for next year… The Loved Ones, Undeclinable, Five Days Off, Jawbreaker, Black Train Jack, Stretch Arm Strong, … Hey Hans! Take your pick…
Groezrock, day 1 : saturday april 27th, 2013.
After a decent night’s rest, the time has finally come. I left home really early (I remember a long line of cars in the fields last year, cueing to enter the parking spaces) because I wouldn’t want to miss The Rocket’s show! By 9 o’clock I can smoothly drive into the parking meadow, en it’s only 9.30 when I’m already on holy Groezrock-grounds…
This is my first time being so early in the morning, and it kinda feels like the festival is mine alone! As it seems, there is one food- and drinkscoupon stall open, so I decide to get some supplies. Remarkable : the price for drinks has risen to 2 Euro’s again. True, in comparison to other festivals this size and bigger, that still is a bargain. But remembering the latest two editions, with beers at 3 for 5 Euro’s, this is a minor setback in our festival-budget…
What else is to be noticed : the field is in perfect condition! It’s dry weather, chilly, slightly clouded, and there are WiFi-spots!! Chop chop, let’s get that first picture update on Facebook! In the band’s merch-tent, people are running in and out, hauling in their boxes of shirts, CD’s and stuff, getting their merch-tables displayed. At the other, third-party festival market, a lot more is already in place, I stop by the Funtime display for a quick chat. By 10.30 I witness a constant flow of people entering the terrain. Quickly stuff my pre-ordered festival locker (tip!!) with extra clothes and junk, and let’s head to mainstage for some tunes!
Minutes before The Rocket’s launch (ha!) I enter the Monster Energy- aka mainstage, to find a few dozen people standing there waiting. Mainly familiar faces from the The Rocket / F.O.D. / Octopussy’s / Gino’s Eyeball – camp. Of course among them, Mark the handsome Nun-Alcoholic! Then five black-and-white dudes walk on stage, with ear-to-ear smiles that tell me they’re enjoying their moment. The Rocket takes off (ha!) and delivers a tight set, the sound was good, and after a couple of songs I find the tent quite full up onto the PA-tower. Something looking like a moshpit is going on, there are plenty of singalongs, and believe it or not, the first attempt to crowdsurf is a fact. Groezrock 2013 is on in full effect!!
Almost noon, so quickly get me a pack of french fries, before there’s a rush on the food stalls, and they don’t take the time to bake them enough anymore. Than, traditionally, one of my first actions every year : check the Etnies booth for the schedule of bands that will pass by for meet and greets and signature-sessions! Which ones of our heroes can we say hi to this year? I for one take note of Implants and Pulley!
Aquabats are also featured, even though I heard a rumour about them not playing the festival. That turns out to be a hoax, and this year, as far as I know, there will be no last-minute line-up changes!
Next up on mainstage : Far From Finished. From Boston, aka Dropkick Murphys hometown for example. There is something known as ‘the Boston sound’, and you’ll hear that in FFF too. All in all they deliver a great performance, so there’s nothing wrong with that. I for one am not bothered by it.
Even better, they play some of the really nice tunes from their latest 7” EP, and the previous full album, which wasn’t highly acclaimed, is completely ignored. The audience’s response is quite OK, and a couple of man-size chickens are being spotted in the pit for the first time. We’ll see a lot more of them during the rest of the festival.
Whilst waiting for John Coffey’s show at Etnies, I quickly say hi to the guys from The Rocket, who get the first signature session. There isn’t really a crowd of screaming, fainting, teenage girls awaiting them, but who knows what’ll happen in a few years time…
Peter aka ‘Pierre’, bass player for F.O.D. (where Hans also takes care of vocal duties) is also around, as some kind of roadie. I wish for him to get a spot at next year’s festival with F.O.D., they sure as hell deserve one! Make sure to also check Kloemprock festival later this year, where they’ll take the stage in a memorable way I’m sure.
At that time, John Coffey is soundchecking at Etnies. The vocalists do so in singing parts of Jon Bon Jovi classics, triggering enthousiastic singalongs from the building crowd! Right about then, as if it were orchestrated, a gang of glam-rock-dressed-up fans enter the tent, wigs, pink fishnet t-shirts, leopard-print tights, ripped up slim fit jeans, … You name it, they had it! This is Groezrock baby!
The show itself was a first highlight. The Dutch gang turn the stage and the audience into one boiling party with their Stoner/Metal/Punkrock. I only discovered them weeks ago, but it seems they played the MacBeth stage on a previous occasion. Take it from me, they’ll belong on the mainstage soon, if they don’t outgrow Groezrock in the meantime… We might even have to turn to Pukkelpop or Werchter to see them again. They perfectly blend Nirvana’s ‘Breed’ into their set, and they successfully organise the first Wall of Death. They clearly enjoyed themselves on stage, and more than once, they showed their gratitude to the audience. That audience, in return, showed the band their love, by loudly singing along, a great moment! Etnies stage once again lives up to the expectations as the best stage of the festival. No barriers, so interaction between band and audience is unbelievable. Every year, I hope most of my favourite bands will take a slot at the Etnies stage. I know that there are bands that’ll only play that stage! And they’re right!
It makes me look forward to the Implants’ show later on, but I’m saying hi to the guys first at their signing session. There is, literally, noone there to meet the band! Except for me. It may sound strange, but in a way it’s logical, they still have everything to prove as a band, they only take the stage in a few hours, and their debut album isn’t released until may 7th, but thankfully, they’ll already sell it at this festival! I’m sure as hell gonna pick up my copy later. Even though every member of the Implants could show you quite an impressive career in punk rock history, they turn out to be really lovely guys. They are thankful that at least someone showed up for a chat and a signature, en they are absolutely looking forward to their Groezrock debut.
I catch a few minutes of Joey Cape’s Bad Loud. Doesn’t sound too bad, but I’m not familiar with that project, so I move on to A Wilhelm Scream! They’ve turned into a well oiled punkrock machine, tearing down mainstage with a perfect performance, stuffed with all the ‘hits’ and the audience’s favourites. The tent is packed right up to the PA tower and beyond! Strangely enough, a smaller festival, like Kloemprock last year, doesn’t seem to succeed in attracting a larger audience with that band on the bill, inbetween a couple more of well known national and international acts…
Meanwhile, some of my friends have also arrived, so I lay off the running around from stage to stage for a while. Instead I enjoy some drinks with them and just hang around the Mainstage, waiting for Pulley to begin!
Without a doubt, that must be one of the most anticipated acts today. I can imagine Pulley featuring a lot of people’s top-three wish-lists for the festival ever since they last played here, years and years ago. We all know the reasons behind them not being able to come back sooner.
But now they’re here, and they treat us with an awesome set, covering all their classic tracks, sadly though, not always perfectly mixed soundwise. Especially really close to the stage (where you should be for such occasions!) it was a problem, and it would happen more than once today, and tomorrow…
But don’t get me wrong, it was one hell of a punkrock party, the sheer stacks of lost or dropped wallets, cellphones and creditcards handed over to the security people were living proof of that. Why do people leave those things in their pockets when they’re in a moshpit, I don’t know. I keep wondering though, and I can suggest everyone to rent a locker, they are absolutely great and useful!
After their gig, über-friendly and all-round awesome dude Tyler Rebbe hears my request and makes sure one of Pulley’s setlists is handed to me, and do I need to say that I’m quite pleased with that?
A quick glimpse at the Aquabats, it all looks like a lot of fun, but it doesn’t really appeal to me, although I love their albums. It reminds me too much of a dress-up party with all those black-and-blue superhero outfits…
Nations Afire, closing up the MacBeth stage were also marked in my festival timetable. A rather new band, featuring members of Rise Against and Death By Stereo, among others! They live up to the expectations, and they succeed in gathering a decent crowd. I can advise all of you to check their debut album, and I’m quite sure we’ll see these guys again at Etnies stage or elsewhere!
OK then, it’s time to head over to Etnies stage for Implants! I thought there would’ve been a larger crowd, but then again, this band still has everything to prove to most of the Groezrockers. And boy do they! Even though most of the songs premiere in those forty minutes, there really is some action in the crowd. The few songs that already featured on their bandpages here and there, even get quite a few singalongs, so there is indeed some love for this band! And they deserve it.
The love for music just shines off these guys, en despite all of them being experienced punkrockers already, they seem to be enjoying every second on stage as if it was their first time. They mention the fact that their album is exclusively pre-released here at Groezrock, triggering Lode De Feyter to start swinging his copy around in the pit… I had wisely decided to put mine away in my locker earlier.
At the side of the stage, on stage, there is a lot of interest in the Implants’ show. The entire Pulley-crew is there to watch their friends, but that was probably an orchestrated manoevre, as seconds later, Scott and Mike (I think?) join the stage, singing to a Pulley cover of No Defense. The audience clearly appreciate this gesture, and goes berserk…
From a distance (outside the tent that is) I catch a few Pennywise songs, and I can hear they are laying down an impressively tight set. With Jim back on vocal duties, they sadly enough skip the entire album with Zoli as the singer, on which featured some really good songs to perform live. That being said, Jim is really in great shape, and we are treated to a classic Pennywise set at very high standards!
I have to hurry to the Etnies stage once more though, for (believe it or not) the second European Kid Dynamite show in history. And I’ve witnessed them both! In a packed tent, dozens of rampageous punks start running across the stage at the first note, jumping into the audience incautiously. Better check your landing area’s dear Kamikaze’s… On several occasions I can literally feel the ground shake when another one smacks into it, because there was noone there to catch him. Luckily, as far as I know, never with grave bodily harm. KD’s set is comparable to the day before, and they play it with the same passion and heart, it’s a true feast for ears and eyes. Jason at one point, mentions the set will end in about 15 minutes, because that’s when Dave Hause will perform in the Accoustic tent, and he invites everyone to check that out. After the show’s end, however, I do have the chance to have a little chat with Jason en Dan, and to get my (yesterday’s) setlist signed. They are really the coolest dudes around, no rockstar attitudes whatsoever! Dan Yemin even wants to know my name and what I thought about both shows. I’m having the time of my life, and rush off to the accoustic tent.
Dave Hause’s set is well on the way there, and when I find myself a decent spot in the crowd, I notice Dan and Michael from Kid Dynamite are already watching Dave’s show from the side of the stage. The entire tent is ecstatic and sings along to almost every word. Dave, who had a similar experience last year, is clearly impressed and moved. The performance he offers us is outstanding. Just by himself, with nothing more than his great voice and a guitar, he is able to have thousands hanging on to his every word for over an hour. Everyone went crazy when ‘officials’ granted him a little encore, and even then, we were all disappointed when the show actually had to end. This was one the absolute highlights of this year’s festival!
It’s time for saturday’s final show now, Rise Against! I can totally enjoy every album they released so far, but I can’t deny that I love the first three or four albums a little more in comparison with the more recent ones. So I (among many others) was hoping we’d get a set filled with older songs for this Groezrock occasion, instead of a more mainstream set like I’ve seen at Werchter for example. Alas, as their set continues, it becomes clear that the older songs are rare… And yet, noone can accuse Rise Against for being mega-rock-star-machines, performing standardised setlists over and over again. But we will have to come clean with the fact that they have evolved, as a band, towards this type of sound, and this pace of songs. And nothing’s wrong with that!
Tim McIlrath is still as charismatic as ever, and takes the time to encourage young bands to stick to it, mentioning that Rise Against also started at one of the smaller stages years ago. He steals the audience’s heart by giving several shout-outs to other bands and performers featured on this year’s line-up. After almost an hour, the band leaves the stage a first time, only to have Tim coming back alone for a first, accoustic, encore. He will get some assistance from Dave Hause, backing up ‘Swing Life Away’, and Geoff Rickley helps out with ‘Make It Stop’. A second encore, again with the band, doesn’t succeed in holding my attention and I aim for the exit, listening to the final songs. I brace myself for a cold night in the back of the car, so I put on all the clothes I brought, and crawl under as many blankets as I can find.
Skipped or missed at day one : Streetlight Manifesto, Russ Rankin, Samiam, The Kids, The Story So Far, Scorpios, Like Torches, Grade, Title Fight, Comeback Kid. Damn, looking at it, it’s quite the list…
Groezrock, day 2 : sunday april 28th, 2013.
It didn’t get that freezing cold anyway, as I slept like a rose the entire night. In fact, if my girlfriend at home, hadn’t sent me a text message in the morning, I probably would’ve slept too long… Even now, I almost had to run to be in time for the Nothington gig.
They turn out to be more than worthy openers for the second day of the festival, and there is a little crowd already. At 10.30 AM, that’s quite an accomplishment! Noticed in that crowd, one guy, looking like a mess, holding a cold beer, sipping it for six or seven times, and not succeeding in drinking half an inch out of the cup, pulling all sorts of faces going from revolting to nausea, to disgust. Probably just a little bit too hung-over to enjoy that first beer. Makes me curious to know if he finished it.
Off to Etnies then, to catch the start of the Masked Intruder show. The hype, the mystery, the enigma, or as the speaker announces them : the best kept secret in punk rock!
Admitted, their balaclava’s cover up their faces, but all of their tattoos are perfectly visible. Is there noone who could analyse those, and find out their identities? Or should we leave everything a mystery, and just enjoy it while it lasts…
Any way, they surely are quite experienced musicians, without a doubt. I can’t not feel like comparing them to the likes of Screeching Weasel or The Queers as I’m listening to their songs. Like The Ramones, they play their songs a bit faster live, compared to the CD, and that’s for the better, I really like it! Even though the masks, guitars, shoes, … in matching colours make it look a little bit over the top and gimmicky for me… And as I had promised myself to give The Dopamines my full attention, I leave early to head for Mainstage again.
They clearly suffer from that timetable-clash with ‘the masks’, but those that have showed up, get to see a more than decent performance. Mikey is in a very good mood, and we are treated to dozens of more or less lame gay-jokes, beer-for-breakfast references, and a couple of to-the-point Blink182 heckles. We all have a few laughs.
I hang around to listen to Smoke Or Fire from a distance, I saw them on Friday already. Again they play a tight set, but this time around, they’ve put the most upbeat and fast, anthematic songs early in their set, to get the crowd’s full cooperation from the start, and they seem to succeed in doing that. Keep an eye on this band! If you weren’t already…
After that, I make sure to get to the Etnies stage, so I don’t risk arriving late for one of the shows I had been looking forward to the most. Iron Chic! And do they live up to my expectations? Oh yes, they easily do. In the center of the pit, it almost feels like the crowd is one entity, enjoying the show with one big heart. The no-barrier Etnies stage always guarantees a lot of stage divers, but this time a lot of people attempt to hug singer Jason Lubrano before jumping off again. One time, Jason fails to see one of them ‘huggers’ coming in, resulting in a head-to-head collision, and a serious nosebleed. However, Jason just sings on and finishes the song as if nothing happened.
Rarely have I seen such a display of genuine emotions on stage, never have I believed a performer more than now, I can féél every word he utters, it makes my spine shiver. Throughout the entire show, every hair on my arms and in my neck stands up straight. Singing along is hard sometimes because of choking up all the time, even now as I’m writing this report, my mind wanders off to that Sunday afternoon again. One thing’s for sure, if Iron Chic tours Europe in the future, I’m gonna go see them! Almost the entire Not Like This album features in their set (well it’s only 10 songs long…), along with a couple songs from other, smaller releases. Musically, they’re tight as shit, it’s a top-notch performance, mixed perfectly, and that second guitar really is a feast for our ears!!
Just a little tip : everything (well almost) is up for free download at their bandcamp page! Get your asses over there! While at it, I can strongly suggest checking the band ‘RVIVR’, another spin-off from the legendary Latterman. More than worth your while, and also up for free and official downloads at their record label’s website, Rumbletowne records.
By then it’s time to get some food and drinks in, and while I’m checking out the different stalls, I catch some Flatliners’ tunes far away. From what I’ll hear later, that probably wasn’t the best gig of the day. Seems like I didn’t miss out on too much then.
About the food and drinks, one of the most positive comments heard at this year’s episode, is the laaaaaarge (at last) section of vegetarian/vegan food. I’m still a convinced meat-eater, but I’m all for variation in my menu, so I can confirm that the quiches and stir-fry-thingy’s with fake meat whatevers, did taste great!
Then it’s off to Etnies once more, where Pure Love are seconds into their set. Ex-Gallows frontman Frank Carter clearly has his mind set on making this one hell of a party. Two inflatables catch his attention in the audience, so he decides to confiscate them, only to dare the guitarist to race him, on those inflatables, surfing on the crowd, around the two major tent-poles, and back to the stage. The crowd goes berserk once again, especially when the guitarist even succeeds in playing his instrument the entire time! A few songs further down the set, Frank asks for a giant circle pit, all the way around the PA, even far outside of the tent, and with success! No doubt you’ll be able to find plenty of videos on youtube. His attempt to get a love-pit going, is less succesful, but then he summons everyone to climb on stage, to find it filled up to the brim in seconds. People onstage, start stagediving off the drumkit, onto the crowd that’s already on the stage, even crowdsurfing on the forementioned inflatables. It must’ve looked like the most fun in the world, because the guitarist also, once again, plays the final notes on of those mattresses, carried by the audience on stage. Because of all that craziness they maybe didn’t play their entire setlist, but the fun we had more than made up for that! And mark my words, we will see this band again on bigger stages. Let’s just hope they can pop by Groezrock at least once more before outgrowing this festival.
The sun decided to burn a lot brighter than Saturday, making it a lot hotter (at least, warmer) outside. That’s always nice on such a festival, and it caused me staying outside the main tent while listening to the Ataris’ greatest hits. That sounded pretty OK for all I know, and different comments afterwards confirm my opinion. It’s also time for a break, and I have to take a seat for a few minutes. Day two of a festival like this, and I know I can’t trust my legs to carry me for twelve hours on end. Or more…
That’s why I also start listening to Strung Out from way back in the main tent. And I have to say it sounded pretty OK from where I was standing then. I’ve seen quite a few of their shows being fucked up because the soundcrew doesn’t succeed in mixing Jason’s voice properly. A few songs later, I decide to move closer to the stage anyway, and I immediately notice far less quality of sound there. How is that possible? Are we too low under the giant speakers there? Too close to the stage? I don’t have a clue, but it surely is a shame, and for what I’ve been reading on different blogs and social media ever since, I wasn’t the only one feeling like that.
Next up on mainstage are Less Than Jake. I’m in let’s say fifth or sixth row in front of the stage, and for reasons beyond me, the sound is perfect this time. Surely it must be the technicians then? The horn section might have benefited from being a little more on top of the mix, but for example both Chris’ and Roger’s voice could be heard perfectly. The bass was outstanding, and Roger is one of the coolest bassplayers/vocalists around, no? You should check his other band Rehasher too! Because also in Less Than Jake, I tend to like the songs where he does the singing, the most…
Actual frontman, Chris Demakes, is another cup of tea. Recently at their M.O.D. show in Hasselt (Belgium) with Mad Caddies, he portrayed himself as quite the short-fused kinda guy. Today is no different, as all of a sudden, he starts yelling and screaming at someone backstage, who is seemingly banging on a spare drum kit (warming up for his gig?) Quote : “I don’t care what the name of your fucking band is, you’re being rude!” A bit later, another little tantrum, when he gets the ‘one-more-song’-sign, triggering him to make a throw-away-gesture. He finishes the song, says a quick goodbye, and stomps off the stage in a fury. At the same time, someone must’ve given them the word up for another five minutes, so he steps back up to the mic, as if nothing happened, plays two more songs, and then again, walks away, still looking rather angry… Don’t mess with LTJ…
After stopping by Strung Out’s signing session, I listen to Polar Bear Club playing Etnies’ stage. The tent is stacked with people, and this really is a band to keep an eye on. After several missed occasions due to different circumstances, they finally get to play here a first time. That’s the reason, I think, they were appointed to the Etnies’ stage, but they would’ve filled half the mainstage without a doubt. Time to pick up some merchandise now. If you want to support some of your favourite bands, buy their merch directly from them at a show. That way, they really benefit from it, without seeing their profits melt away into distributors’s or shopping-websites’ hands… And you’ll save a few bucks on mailing cost! On my way to my locker with the loot, I notice the mainstage tent being almost empty (!) for The Starting Line… The least succesful of the Groezrock-2013-reunions? I think so. Seeing this, Strung Out and Less Than Jake should’ve at least been one slot higher up the bill!
As I feared, my legs are really shot by now, and standing up straight is becoming quite tricky. And there isn’t even that much alcohol involved! I couldn’t really (or not at all) be bothered by The Used, Billy Talent or Bad Religion, and even though Flag promises to become one for the history books, the fatigue takes over control… I decide to call it quits (which I’ll regret a little bit, when I hear about Flag’s performance later…) and I empty my locker. I stumble to the car, and I’m really happy to sit down on a comfortable seat. Then it’s off to home, with clothes full of dust, muscles full of pain, a stomach full of junk-food, and a head filled with lovely memories! (and a few CD’s waiting to be spinned at high volume, but that’s not for now…)
Missed at day two : Tim Vantol. I’m double sorry because afterwards I read about his show, and it seems the guys in John Coffey joined him onstage.
Slowly, it dawns to me that tomorrow it’ll already be Monday again, and how can we describe that feeling better than with Iron Chic’s words to their song Black Friday :
we get up early, we come home tired
our lives for hire, we're making money for someone else
can't breathe like there's hands around my throat
can't scream this place is filled with ghosts
everybody's looking for something
can't leave or we're left with nothing
clap your hands do the dead man shuffle
slouch our way into an early grave
is it disappointment or mild annoyance?
a sense of contentment or fucking resentment?
move your feet to this dead end beat
slouch our way into an early grave
get out of bed, get fucking dressed
and think of better ways to keep busy
clap your hands do the dead man shuffle
killing ourselves for a living wage
get out of bed
get fucking dressed
and get busy
Singing
along… That ain’t no problem at all
during a Skin Of Tears show. Having
lived their finest moments as a band, like what, fifteen years ago? But I was completely over the moon when they
decided to start performing and even touring again a couple of months ago. This was such an incredible party, we danced
from the first to the last note, I ran out of breath a couple of times, but I
wouldn’t give up. It was that kind of a show. Is that only sheer nostalgia? No
it isn’t, Skin Of Tears has some undeniable qualities, and their joy for
playing a punk rock show just radiates into the crowd. Let’s say there is a young skate-punk fan,
that has never heard of Skin Of Tears, and you play him one of their
songs. I bet he’ll react in enthousiasm,
rather then saying, mèh, what kind of old outdated stuff is this… Up The Cups, Need A Beer!
And by
then, the grand finale is still to come!
The Cornflames! No need for an
introcuction, this is thé band out of the Funtime roster everyone remembers,
and was whining about to have to reunite until they did last year. Let thàt attention go to Five Days Off from
now on… But we’re wandering off, this
bit was about Cornflames.
Charisma-machine Eppo Janssen and his crew had clearly set out to end
Funtime’s label night in a memorable way.
And did they? Boy did they
ever… I myself am not that familiar with
a lot of their material. But then again,
witnessing this show, watching this crowd of dedicated fans, in a completely
filled up venue, going berserk throughout the entire set, does leave an
impression. And what a great sound! Along with some kind of a magic vibe that was
going on, the band seemed to play under a divine glow, or were that just the
beers taking over?? There is in fact one
song I do know very well. The Speakers. So I want to take this opportunity to
officially say thank you to the Cornflames to make that their last song of the
set, and thus ending this year’s Funtime Fest with an unforgettable highlight!
