After the early end of day 1, with the Roots canceling prior to taking the stage due to extreme weather conditions, the 2nd day of the festival was that of extremes also. The mains being extreme heat, extreme under appreciation and did i mention extreme heat. The day was hot before noon, with a blistering sun, oppressing the crowds every step. From the get go the crowd was lackluster and for the first few hours of the main doors opening, there couldn’t have been more than a few hundred people in attendance. from the first step in the gates, most of the mass made their way to shade, wherever they could find it. The layout, as with every Virgin Festival, had two stages, a main stage and a second stage. The acts were divided up into headliners and newcomers, and alternated back and forth so there was no break in the music. After the early dismissal of day 1, all tickets were honored for day 2, which meant as the day wore on, the venue became overflowing with over heated music goers. First band to take the Virgin Mobile Stage (main stage) were The Manvils, local act with high energy and a growing fan base. I would see them again, and in fact will be seeking out a local show to check up more on them. They had a great vocal hook, something about the singer grabbed my attention from the first note. All the beginning acts were on stage for very short sets, and I felt robbed when The Manvils were leaving. The obvious love from the crowd flowed like water and it was evident these guys were playing for the fans. I got home and immediately started digging more and more about this band, and I plore you to do the same. After a trek over to the filler playing at the second stage (festival stage), came the classic jams of De La Soul. For the heat that was blazing over head, they sure powered out and trekked through their hits. This group really showed that the accoustic setup at this venue was crisp and capable of carrying great tones without dilution. I listened from three varying locations, and at all three stops the sound was perfect. The interaction of De La Soul with the crowd was typical for the type of act, but the interaction between the group was fun to watch. They seemed to be having fun and really enjoying the moment as they played. Soon enough the mass of music goers were bouncing to the beat and some people were actually dancing. This is quite a feet when its a record breaking high temperature out, good on them for playing what they love and sticking too it. Jarvis Cocker, was a strange fellow, he was very odd yet intriguing. I would gladly pay to see him headline at a smaller venue. His style is kind of Bowie’esque alt rock, and you can really here the Bowie styling when he is speaking to the fans or talking during a song. His antics on stage are playful and fun, which is great for a festival. He could be a main stay and find himself type cast though if he is not careful, much like The Flamming Lips. Jarvis was obviously roasting in his tweed coat, with streams of sweat twisting over his face, but he could careless and really gave a great performance. At one point he through hands full of candy into the fans and too my surprise most people just let it hit the ground, an example of the over heated under enthusiastic crowds mind frame. Sonic Youth was the 4th on the docket for the main stage, and I had to admit I was mildly excited to see them. Too my dismay the performance was low energy, the performers were incredibly boring, the sound was faded and weak and poorly mixed. This was like taking home the hottest girl in high school too find out she stuffed her bra and wore a girdle. The singer, was standoffish from the fans and really didnt put any emotion in her performance. The band obviously was there for the pay cheque and squashed what respect I had for them. This may not be a good judgment as the environment was rough and the crowd was pissy, but I think the band should fuel a show and not the crowd so shame on them. The most part the band stood and posed for the cameras as if they were in the mindset of Noel Gallagher and really could give a flying crap about the people who paid to see them. All in all i was very disappointed in them and it would take a great venue and a great price for me to want to risk seeing them again. Metric rocked the stage and set the way for the main headliner. This proved why they were one step down from main stage top dog, they really came out with all guns blazing and rocked hard. The energy level was an immense part of there success with this group of sweaty onlookers. When Metric took the stage and busted straight into there set with explosive enthusiasm, the melting pot of people jumped at the chance to rock out. Soon enough the onlookers were smiling and swaying steadily to the musical blessing being bestowed on them. Emily Haines was intense with her delivery, from my last spotting of her at Virgin Festival Vancouver 2007, she still carries the same tractor beam effect. When she is deep in the moment of any song you have no choice but to watch her. Her love and passion for the art, travels across her face and lights up her eyes. Although this time she sheltered the passage to her soul with some wayfarers you were still drawn in an eaten alive by her. The band played solid and the depth is starting to show through. Complexity is starting to build like layers in every song, a single note shift here and there could be spotted to accentuate every feeling and mood. Ben Harper and the Relentless 7, in my years as a concert addict I have never had the opportunity to see them play. Well my wait was over and I was excited, although I have never heard anything about there live shows I new from the context of their album that it would be a pleasure to witness. My feeling was right, they play with over the top emotion, insane bluesy depth and soul. Ben Harper powers through the verses of every song and spills his heart out with every lyric. He would take a single word and stretch its feeling into the depth of a book and you could see it exploding out of every pore. They covered some Zeppelin and Vaughn and laid no shame to retelling those blues driven masterpieces, some might even say they gave them a delicate twist that made them pop as if brand new. Throughout the performance the entire band was smiling and bouncing to the beat, as if they were some young garage rock band playing hits with their friends there to enjoy. It wasnt though, it was a crowd of over heated, bitter concert goers, who now were instantly wooed by this band. It took one note, nay, one breath, to win them over. Ben Harpers name is tossed around like he is some common everyday rocker, but he isnt. The band and him are unique in this day and age, they play from the heart and enjoy every minute of it. Some people enjoy and good scream from a lead singer and I am one of them. Ben Harper let out a bluesy cry that had the entire mass clammering to clap and scream. He let rise a powerful burst of raw emotion and blew the top off the perfect evening with a sudden shout. But not out of context, and not out of place, like the last stroke of a painting, it tied everything together and really finished it quite nicely. The rest of the set was just as powerful and kept me “star gazing” for the last few songs. THe band threw up there hands and thanked the crowd, leaving the stage with smiles and a sense of accomplishment. They didnt leave the stage like they owned us, they left the stage like they had shared there soul and left a piece of themselves with us. I would jump at the chancge to see this group any day of the week at any venue, no hesitations. I would love to see an intimate show and really hear every note as clear as it should be. The night ended almost instantly after this, people streamed to the exit and a new change had laid itself over them. No longer were they bitter and sweaty and wishing they hadnt been to this show. Now they were bearing smiles and laughing and embracing the beauty they had just been privy too. For the price I would say this was a great day. A few of the bands were hot and had no choice but to be a little lazy and underwhelming. It sucks for their fan appeal but as a concert addict I get it. Overall I would give this show 3.5 out of 5. The musts from this show are Ben Harper and Metric, get out and see these bands, hurry dont miss it, go and see them. I cant wait for the next Virgin Festival, but I fear this may be the last for Vancouver, as the turn out was poor and the crowds attitude said it all.
Jamie Taylor
www.concertaddicts.ca
Javis Cocker pictures by Jamie Taylor(click on image to enlarge)
De La Soul pictures by Jamie Taylor(click on image to enlarge)
Sonic Youth pictures by Jamie Taylor(click on image to enlarge)
Metric pictures by Jamie Taylor(click on image to enlarge)
Ben Harper and the Relentless 7 pictures by Jamie Taylor(click on image to enlarge)
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Jamie Taylor – who has contributed 3308 posts for Concert Addicts.
"With a love for live music, way too much to say and inability to put down his camera , photojournalism was a logical step in his journey. Concert Addicts was born from a desire to express his opinion, share his photography, and share knowledge. Now the community is no longer his, it is ours."
