Song from way before I was born, but thanks to parental influence, still managed to get to know this song pretty well. The issue seems to be around for quite a while already then, and today is no different. Monday is the end of the weekend. Or the start of a new week. Or however you want to read your weekly calender exactly. Anyway, today it marked the end of the Lowlands festival.
It started out in a rather traditional fashion. Before I get to enter the festival grounds, things go terribly wrong and delay my presence on Camping 1. Last year it was a group of people being way late thanks to public transportation from their side of the country (damn you!). This year, it was a group of people late thanks to a more private form of transportation. Using your own car. My ticket was in one of the designated cars. The only car, out of 3 or 4, that got involved in a little accident, disabling the car to get any further than its current stance. Which was not at all at the edge of the parking grounds I can tell.
As they waited for professional help and a replacement vehicle (I think they got a taxi) to get to the entrance, I waited at the entrance. With my bag, mattress and sleeping bag, as I gave my tent to friends wíth a ticket instead, so they could set it up for me, claim a little spot for it to spend the days and nights. Last year it might as well have been a few hours, and this year. Again!
Arrived at 12:30 or so, was reasonably proper timing. They, the accidental main roles, came around four hours later. At which we finally started to get in line.
The waiting line kept us outside of the grounds for another 45 minutes or so. We went through faster than most, with proper routing tactics. Headed over to Camping 1, which is furthest from the entrance, but it's the place we've been at for the last 3 years now.
On thursday itself, it's just a matter of socialising, eating, drinking, getting your gear ready, make joint schedules to decide who you'll want around you on which particular date and time, and more of that. Went to meet up with some people and went to bed around 2:30, I think.
Friday started off with a very, very proper imitation of a freaking rooster! Now I love the wake-up sound itself, for it's cliché background, but seriously, it's not funny when it goes off at 8:15, when the owner of that imitation is pretty awake as he went to bed earlier. Easy morning, with some dairy to start the day with, a bit of relaxation in our yard (I think there were around 8 or 9 tents, having their entrances all pointing towards our central yard, imagine) and some newspaper reading and some more last minute planning.
Doors to the festival area opened at 12:00 and we went in around that time, waiting for Henry Rollins to give a spoken word performance. Nice bit of warming up, decent jokes and stories and just nice to have on my last. Next up is Killswitch Engage. Talking about waking up. Metal all the way, starting at 14:15 already. Best thing about their stage presence must be Adam D. The lead guitarist, providing screams along the way, is dressed in shorts, wears a simple shirt and a headband, and keeps walking across the stage from left to right in the weirdest marching movements I've witnessed up until now. Loved their performance. After KsE, it was time for The National to get on that same stage in the Grolsch tent (to all foreign people reading this, try pronouncing it a few times, no hints from my side). Really impressed by their performance, and has definately got me interested in their music again. Decided to put up a video from them at the end of the story.
After The National I went to the India to go and see Thrice. Alone. With at least 7 stages it's not all that weird that people have other ideas too. Last time I saw Thrice, they had a pretty bad way of doing their soundcheck, cutting their airtime back from over an hour to just 30 minutes. What I heard then, struck me as being much more raw than their album tracks, but I loved every bit of that. I guess they just picked the best songs to be play in that remaining half hour.
This time, everything sounded raw and hard again, even the new songs from The Alchemy Index concept album which, in essence, should be way more accessible in a way. Also heard The Artist In The Ambulance and some work from their previous album Vheissu, so I was content after all, but there's no need for me to see them yet another time, really.
Took some time off to later join in on the fun at Bravo, where Pendulum was playing their first Dutch live show, instead of the DJ sets they normally have. A lot of energy despite the last album being rather poppy instead of the energetic drum'n'bass they used to make. Still came out rather soaked from the heat and action in the tent, and I loved that. Really great performance to me, though some journalist wasn't quite impressed. Then again, if thousands go crazy over the tunes, who is he to grade their performance as insufficient?
Next up, in the Charlie tent, Late Of The Pier. I hadn't heard about them yet, but trusting the judgment of others, I went to see them. Honestly, this band was awesome. Got soaked beyond Pendulum-levels and got myself a cut in the arm that I didn't even notice until the show was over. That intense, fun, busy and interesting that I was really into it.
Went to see DJ Scotch Egg for a bit. A tiny bit. This man makes breakcore, or so it's called, and that basically comes down to no fixed rhythm longer than 5 seconds, and a speed that's too fast for dancing to start with. Didn't last that long and went back to the camping to change clothes. Get something a little warmer to get through the night, as temperatures dropped quite a bit later those days. Went through some places with resident DJs and walked, talked and danced until it was time to go to the camping and get some rest.
I knew Saturday would be a day with little organised entertainment for me. Not much I really wanted to see, so I've been all over the place that day. Saw and heard things I never noticed before, and that won't stick with me for very long after the weekend either. Then, later that day went to the mainstage, the Alpha, for some N*E*R*D, and I can't help but to agree with all the journalists. This show was on a whole different level from the rest. Was out in the grass on the side of the tent, watching the screens instead. At times, looking into the tent itself, I noticed how huge these guys were. Moments in which the entire tent, from front to back, and from left to right, would jump up and down at the same time, sing along to lines they knew, or do whatever they were asked to do. Must have been amazing to see that from the stage itself, as an artist.
Furthermore, saw some comedy that night, Raoul Heertje had a rather serious but interesting performance. It resulted in someone complaining about the tone of the show, and the lack of positive news. I could have personally bashed the person for having such a mindset, but Raoul knows how to take care of the smart people too.
Did some more walking, talking and dancing through the day, and that was it. Missed Night Of Comedy as people were heading back to the tent to change into warm clothes and get something to eat or drink. Should've been in line alone after all, to at least see it, but well.
Oh, earlier that day, at 11:00, I also did Tai Chi in the Lima to wake up and get ready for a day of festival survival, but really, after 10 minutes that was enough for me and the people I went with. Too intensive if you've underslept.
Sundaaaaaay! Went to the festival area pretty early to hit the toilets there (as the ones on the camping are filled with lazy people who don't want to walk that far yet), dropped off my phone at the docking station and went to the internet cafe for a bit. They have these bit beanbags there to lay yourself to rest and watch some TV as well.
After a small while, they were starting to organise a backstage tour. Most people had signed up, but as there was still some room, we were asked to join in too, and we accepted.
Got ourselves a nice little Nederland 3 (tv station) shirt. Black with lime text and logo. Oh, also played Rock Band on stage there before and a shirt from that too! Anyway, backstage tour. First went to the Beugelbar, a small comedy place with limited access. Went through the back door and looked at things from the stage instead. Saw more behind the screen material. The artist cafe, where all performers could eat, drink and relax, the 3FM studio on site, a small peak backstage in the India when Lucky Fonz III was playing (didn't like that at all, but was fun to see the tent from the side of the stage instead). After that we headed back to the tent to drop the shirts and pick up some people to go to We Are Scientists with us. Took us two songs to jump all the way from the side to the middle of the tent, at the second row. Managed to stay there the entire show and loved everything about it. Couldn't sing along to that much, but did raise my voice with their Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt and Chick Lit.
After that I went for a festival run, seeing some Plain White T's, Textures and Danko Jones, all within an hour and a half. Went back to the camping for something to drink and just take some time off. Then went to MGMT because others recommended that to me, but I seriously didn't last longer than 3 songs. First a bad soundcheck, delaying the start, and then music I really didn't like. A drummer that annoyed me with his simplistic playing and weird movement while being at that. Went to Grolsch instead to see Elbow. Such a huge sound, really beautifully arranged songs that kept my attention from the downpour nicely. As it was rather wet outside, I manage to stick around the Grolsch to see Sigur Rós. Anyone who has never heard about them should look up anything on youtube or anywhere else. Just maybe, someone knows this song? I didn't manage to stay until the end, as I really, really wanted to see Stephen Lynch. Managed to drag someone along and found a place in the waiting line. Had so much fun messing around with other waiting people, also playing a game with a beach volley ball with the entire mass. The show itself, what can I say? Great songs, great sense of humor, a little harsh at times, but nothing I mind hearing, and some great new material from his side. If you ever get the chance to catch this man live, go do so. Especially if you can't sing along to his songs yet. Guaranteed laugh!
After that show went straight back in line for Comedytrain, and had some more stand-up comedy that night. Went back to the tent, enjoyed the time there, despite the appearance of a bunch of people, in our little yard, being really out of place.
Went to bed at 4, ultimately, to wake up at 8 to start packing. All the equipment was wet as can be, and it was still softly raining, but noone had any problems packing and moving out.
Managed to get on a bus pretty easily, and then took a train home.
A bit of resting and catching up with mails, messages and TV series today, and now done with the report of last weekend.
As promised, here's some The National for you.
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