Primavera Sound: 29th of May

The festival started out with the Spanish band THE MARZIPAN MAN. Not a very interesting musical mix of boring pianos, harps and violins trying to be 'magical', as it is described,but failing to do so.
Anyone that ever went to primavera sound knows that choices have to be made, not according to what band you want to see (in an ideal world you could see every single one) but according to the time you have left between your favourite bands and your mood. So by the time I got to the decision to chose between Mount Eerie and MGMT I chose the latter, since I was in the mood for fun. And fun it was!! i was in a warm and sunny disposition, and their musical bliss, ending the set with the magnificent «kids» and a little outrageous boy (probably a band member's son) jumping along on stage with them was just the perfect welcome to the festival with a good fix of fun. The great songs 'electric feel' and the hymn 'time to pretend' made their way into the warm fuzzy air of Barcelona;)

Then we took a little walk out to the beautiful new stage (VICE) sponsored by Jägermeister to get kicked in the brain by ENON's amazing fast, violent but contageous punk-rock with a japanese twist. You can see in the photo, not only do they have a great sound and a wonderful new album out, but what a set of legs right? who needs Tina Turner anyway?? eheh

I proceeded to check out THE NOTWIST and I just arrived at the moment they were playing my favourite song ('Pick up the phone') but by the look on people's faces and the lack of enthusiasm by the band I thought I'd better be of with something to eat and with the company of the magnificent BRITISH SEA POWER. If I thought I liked their records I was in for a treat, because their live performance was really magical; at times I got those goosebumps (I swear I did)that say that there's something out of this world going on before our very eyes (and I'm not just talking about their god-awfull but striking wardrobe - although they dressed way better than MGMT lol)

ERIC'S TRIP was next and although I'm a big fan of Julie Doiron's solo work, I thought the concert was utterly dull, so I headed to PORTISHEAD and their first presentation of the new album in Spain. I had already seen it a few weeks ago in Lisbon so the songs came to me as no surprise ( I almost knew by heart which was going to be played next) but it's also a proviledge to see one of my all-time favourite bands play that striking new acoustic/vocoder-fueled version of Wandering Stars; on the downside, what were they thinking actually inviting this lowlife, dull as dishwater gansgta rapper to sing with them? I was ready to pack my things up and go after that one. And again, I stand my ground and state that their poster song 'Roads' should be completely banned and become their own private 'Creep'; it's worn out and out-of-date and they should focuse on some of the more obscure and powerful songs on their previous two records ('Elysium', 'It could be sweet', 'Undenied' or 'It's a fire').
There was not a hint of deception as my heart started racing on my way down to the All Tomorrow's parties stage to get acquainted with the live performance of one of my favourite post-rock bands, EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY. I am not exaggerating when I say that I almost cried like a little girl when they played 'yasmine the light' and most of the arrangements were so pristine! It's striking how that kind of intimate and intricate sound can lift the audience up in such a huge stage. Fantastic, absolutely made the trip worthwhile all by itself.
The night came to an end with MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS and their presentation of their great album Dystopia. Not the best of concerts, but I was tired so maybe I didn't enjoy it as much as I should have (it was 3.30 am, come on!).