For the past few days, our gang of losers lived of canned food and live music at our annual rock'n'roll orgy : Rock Werchter.
As always, it was memorable.
For the first time, the temperature didnt climb in the 40°C and it was nice to not feel like we were gonna melt any second.
Like every year, we thought we had gotten lost, only to miraculously surface right where we had to be.
Like every year, that happy mistake started our festival on the right foot.
After weeks apart, stuck with our nose in our books, the freedom was exhilarating.
We had beer and crisps for breakfast and slushees for dinner, impromptus dances and happy sing-alongs, we shared many cuddles and many more fits of laughter.
It was perfect.
I don't think it's possible to do justice to Werchter in a post, but here are some personal highlights of the festival :
After some heavy lifting and campsite building, it was great to chill in the sun while listening to
his raspy voice.
The best part of his gig was when he brought none other than the great John Paul Jones on
stage. The sight of this living legend next to Steve and his homemade guitar was really one to
behold and it was the perfect start to 4 days of great music.
* The Queens Of The Stone Age were awesome.
They started their set with Feelgood Hit Of The Summer which was a great way to put us all
straight in the mood. I loved dancing with Mr K. to Make It Wit Chu and getting to see the
beast that is Josh Homme on stage again was super cool. I did'nt expect any less from them but
man, they did not disappoint.
* The 13 year old in me almost fainted when she read that Linkin Park was gonna be playing
on the first day, mostly because when I was thirteen I was obsessed with Hybrid Theory and
woke up every morning with it blasting in my room.
To be honest, I didn't expect them to be that great and just wanted to see them on the chance
that I'd get to hear my teenage soundtrack live but they surprised us all -even baby brother
who really isn't a fan of their stuff.
They threw hit song after hit song at us and really gave an awesome show.
If you were a fan too when you were a kid, it's really worth it to see them live.
* On Friday, I couldn't wait to see Lissie and also to know what my brother would think of her
live seeing that me and the Mister had seen her already and were hooked.
I'm happy to report that N. loved her too and that they were even better than the last time we
saw them. Clearly, I wasn't the only one thinking that because the audience was really showing
her some major loving, singing to every song and clapping like mad.
Also, I wanna say again how fucking awesome her band is; her guitarist is one of the best I've
seen.
Remember the name Eric Sullivan because one day the man is gonna be HUGE.
* Two years ago, I was in a heat induced dazed when White Lies took the stage and I couldn't
be bothered to get my head away from its comfortable resting place (read : Mr K.'s lap)
to watch them. Still, even if I was half asleep, I heard enough for me to be excited to see them
live again.
Their performance was really good and their mellow music was just what we needed to chill in
the grass.
* To say that we were pumped to see Arctic Monkeys would be the understatement of the
year.
We've been fans ever since their first EP got out and we were ready to sing at the top of our
lungs !
From the beginning to the end, they were awesome and it was so great to get to enjoy their gig
together.
Also, I don't know if you heard me all the way on stage Alex, but just in case you didn't, and just
in case you pass by here : some of us actually were ecstatic that you played Cornerstone.
* On Saturday, it really was a shame that we were so little to have schlepped to the festival site
to see Rival Sons because they really rocked. They had been advertised as being very reminiscent of Led Zeppelin and they definitely lived up to that title. What better way to start the day than with some fat riffs right ?
* We were a bit skeptical as we were walking to the Marquee to see The Pretty Reckless, mainly because her bratty attitude makes it hard to focus on her music.
Once there though, and once we got over the fact that all her bandmates were old enough to have fathered her twice, we actually enjoyed her performance.
You can't say that the girl doesn't give it her all and she was very sweet with her audience, going as far as to cuddle (and lapdance for) some blushing groupies.
Live, her songs really come to life and if you've got the chance, it's worth checking them out.
* Taylor Momsen's performance was followed by Jenny and Johnny's gig.
Just as they came on stage, the sun started to shine and as I lay comfortably on Mr K.'s lap, listening to their beachy music I couldn't help but think that all that was missing really was a cocktail with a little umbrella in it. Perfect summer soundtrack !
* I Blame Coco took the stage next and woke us all up.
She delivered a really solid performance and since she was accompanied by a band on stage, her songs sounded a lot more edgier than on her CD which was really cool and quite unexpected.
I'd definitely go if she was ever touring here again and I'd encourage you to do the same :)
* We really didn't know what to expect of Bright Eyes.
Knowing only their mellower songs, we weren't sure of how it was gonna sound live at a festival.
Turns out, we shouldn't have worried.
While many words (amongst them, memorable) could be used to describe their gig, mellow really isn't one of them.
On some songs they almost sounded like a garage band and Road To Joy was the perfect way to end a great set.
* Portishead played as the sun was setting and frankly they couldn't have played at a better time. Beth Gibbons haunting voice serenaded us and put the festival site in a dreamlike trance.
* Our day ended with Underworld's performance and boy, what a way to end the day that was.
They took us back to a time when wearing Buffalo platform shoes and popping X was all the rage and threw us one motherfucking party while doing so.
I don't know how many we were but enough for it to be crazy when we all started dancing like maniacs to the tune of Born Slippy.
Thankfully, the song didn't inspire Mr K. to pull a Spud on me because frankly, in a tent, that would have been plain old nasty.
* When we got to The Vaccines's gig, we couldn't quite believe that it was Sunday morning already.
This year, time at Rock Werchter really seemed to fly and it's with a heavy heart that we schlepped to the field one last time.
Thank God though, The Vaccines were exactly what we needed and after their gig we felt better and ready to enjoy every second of our last day.
* Kasabian was really great and I kid of regretted never having paid more attention to their music before. I loved how different they were from what we'd heard since then and I definitely will dust off my old Kasabian CD to get ready for the next time I see them live !
* The last artist that we saw live was Robyn.
I have absolutely no idea of what she was on when she took the stage but I want some !
Girl was on fire, pulling some crazy moves on us that even had me jealous - and I'm the inventor of a little gem I like to call "the constipated skier".
She had us all dancing and I couldn't have thought of a better way to cap off 4 amazing days.
Tack !
After 4 way too short days, we headed back home, filled with happy memories and, what else, singing at the top of our lungs in the car.
Like each time, it was one of the highlights of my year and I'm already looking forward to next year's edition.
Thanks for those 4 days boys.
It was absolutely perfect.
x, K.
year.
We've been fans ever since their first EP got out and we were ready to sing at the top of our
lungs !
From the beginning to the end, they were awesome and it was so great to get to enjoy their gig
together.
Also, I don't know if you heard me all the way on stage Alex, but just in case you didn't, and just
in case you pass by here : some of us actually were ecstatic that you played Cornerstone.
* On Saturday, it really was a shame that we were so little to have schlepped to the festival site
to see Rival Sons because they really rocked. They had been advertised as being very reminiscent of Led Zeppelin and they definitely lived up to that title. What better way to start the day than with some fat riffs right ?
* We were a bit skeptical as we were walking to the Marquee to see The Pretty Reckless, mainly because her bratty attitude makes it hard to focus on her music.
Once there though, and once we got over the fact that all her bandmates were old enough to have fathered her twice, we actually enjoyed her performance.
You can't say that the girl doesn't give it her all and she was very sweet with her audience, going as far as to cuddle (and lapdance for) some blushing groupies.
Live, her songs really come to life and if you've got the chance, it's worth checking them out.
* Taylor Momsen's performance was followed by Jenny and Johnny's gig.
Just as they came on stage, the sun started to shine and as I lay comfortably on Mr K.'s lap, listening to their beachy music I couldn't help but think that all that was missing really was a cocktail with a little umbrella in it. Perfect summer soundtrack !
* I Blame Coco took the stage next and woke us all up.
She delivered a really solid performance and since she was accompanied by a band on stage, her songs sounded a lot more edgier than on her CD which was really cool and quite unexpected.
I'd definitely go if she was ever touring here again and I'd encourage you to do the same :)
* We really didn't know what to expect of Bright Eyes.
Knowing only their mellower songs, we weren't sure of how it was gonna sound live at a festival.
Turns out, we shouldn't have worried.
While many words (amongst them, memorable) could be used to describe their gig, mellow really isn't one of them.
On some songs they almost sounded like a garage band and Road To Joy was the perfect way to end a great set.
* Portishead played as the sun was setting and frankly they couldn't have played at a better time. Beth Gibbons haunting voice serenaded us and put the festival site in a dreamlike trance.
* Our day ended with Underworld's performance and boy, what a way to end the day that was.
They took us back to a time when wearing Buffalo platform shoes and popping X was all the rage and threw us one motherfucking party while doing so.
I don't know how many we were but enough for it to be crazy when we all started dancing like maniacs to the tune of Born Slippy.
Thankfully, the song didn't inspire Mr K. to pull a Spud on me because frankly, in a tent, that would have been plain old nasty.
* When we got to The Vaccines's gig, we couldn't quite believe that it was Sunday morning already.
This year, time at Rock Werchter really seemed to fly and it's with a heavy heart that we schlepped to the field one last time.
Thank God though, The Vaccines were exactly what we needed and after their gig we felt better and ready to enjoy every second of our last day.
* Kasabian was really great and I kid of regretted never having paid more attention to their music before. I loved how different they were from what we'd heard since then and I definitely will dust off my old Kasabian CD to get ready for the next time I see them live !
* The last artist that we saw live was Robyn.
I have absolutely no idea of what she was on when she took the stage but I want some !
Girl was on fire, pulling some crazy moves on us that even had me jealous - and I'm the inventor of a little gem I like to call "the constipated skier".
She had us all dancing and I couldn't have thought of a better way to cap off 4 amazing days.
Tack !
After 4 way too short days, we headed back home, filled with happy memories and, what else, singing at the top of our lungs in the car.
Like each time, it was one of the highlights of my year and I'm already looking forward to next year's edition.
Thanks for those 4 days boys.
It was absolutely perfect.
x, K.
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