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– The Copenhagen Post
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– Danish Architechture Centre
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Kraftwerk Roskilde Festival Orange Stage (Last show) July 2013
German precision, but little passion, from festival’s closing act
Electronic pioneers Kraftwerk offered a 3D spectacle, but Roskilde’s decision to have them close the Orange Stage was nothing short of bizarre
Cyborgs in a computer world
July 7 at Roskilde Festival, Orange Stage
To say that electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk are a band whose influence on modern music has been tremendous would be a gross understatement. The German quartet have inspired acts such as Blondie, Joy Division and Depeche Mode in a 40-plus year career that has seen them carve a name for themselves in the annals of electronic music. They had the honour and challenge of being the last act to grace the Orange Stage at Roskilde this year.
Kraftwerk stepped onto Orange for what would be an engaging two hours through some of their best known content. Cementing their unique form of musical artistry, their live show was aided by free 3D glasses that were worn by most of the 60,000 or so revellers who showed up for the festival’s final big show in a scene that resembled a cult gathering of anonymous cyborgs gathered before the four stage silhouettes of the Kraftwerk quartet. The show began in a modest manner as a series of robotic tracks performed in the backdrop of a bewildering 3D show that added a creative interactive element to the performance.
As things progressed and the sky turned dark, Kraftwerk stepped up their game and delved deeper into their repertoire of driven, repetitive tunes, all the while backed by 3D visuals that contained numerous references to European culture and history, such as the Cold War conflict. A welcome break to the generally monotonic drone of beat sequences and synthesiser stabs came in the form of a lengthy performance of their ‘Tour de France’ track, which was flanked by excellent visuals that highlighted the cultural symbolism of the annual cycling event. Lighter, more ephemeral beat foundations ousted the heavy, structural patterns that punctuated the better part of the show. This was a short-lived occurrence, however, as the robotic, alienated structuralist beat patterns returned all too quickly. In fact, whilst the show did indeed play on the themes of human alienation through technology, it appeared that Kraftwerk themselves seemed too alienated from the audience during their performance.
A lack of footage of the musicians in action behind their instrument panels was partially to blame for what seemed to be an unfortunate lack of interaction between the artists of stage and the crowd. Similarly, Roskilde’s bizarre decision to choose Kraftwerk as their closing act must be queried.
Having seen the likes of Coldplay and Björk do their bit in the past to leave Roskilde Festival attendees with an emotional overload of epic, memorable moments, It was something of a disappointment to leave the Orange Stage after a performance that left many in search of the essential elements expected of a closing act.
Efterklang, Roskilde Festival Arena July 2013
Danes deliver music for the contemplative at heart
Original article at: http://cphpost.dk/culture/roskilde-2013/danes-deliver-music-contemplative-heart
*** (3 out of 6 stars), July 6 at Arena
Roskilde’s third day of music is in full swing and the festival is ablaze with a brilliant orange feeling, aided no doubt by the soaring temperatures and the adrenaline-laden air of anticipation ahead of Metallica’s concert at the Orange Stage later tonight, which should be the apt antidote to many a Roskilde fan who may feel somewhat conned by pop diva Rihanna’s presence at a traditional rock festival.
With the sun high in the sky, I managed to catch Danish experimental indie rockers Efterklang at their afternoon show at Roskilde’s Arena stage. Rasmus Stolberg, Casper Clausen and Mads Brauer are the charming trio behind Efterklang, the Danish word for “remembrance” or “reverberation,” both of which are abundant throughout the band’s music and live shows.
A dreamy show start that consisted initially of an almost purely vocal intro that soothed the crowd gently into the Efterklang ethos set the tone for what was never going to be a dance-friendly concert. Efterklang wooed the crowd with a blend of arty, contemplative content that, truth be told, is more at home on film scores and abstract art installations. For their fans though, and there were many, this seemed to be exactly the sort of poetic respite they’d been waiting for after a week in the primordial conditions of Roskilde Festival. Many simply shut their eyes and swayed gently to the celestial, ruminative combinations that Efterklang wove together with the elegance of a swan on still water. It was however apparent that others were all but bored by the afternoon’s proceedings, which perhaps didn’t match their expectations or band stereotypes.
Midway through the show, and with the crowd comfortably entranced, Efterklang gave a polite and well-versed thank you to the crowd, that soared above the usual “we love you all so much and this show is so special” routine cliche that too many musicians tend to embrace all too often. Efterklang complimented their gentlemanly gratitude by handing out festival memorabilia from their recent performance at a Dutch music festival before steering the show into its closing stages with a casual performance of ‘The Modern Drift’ one of their well-known tunes.
The still, almost dull silence present at the start of the show culminated in a colourful, complex end that had the crowd clapping and swaying in approval after a relaxing, soothing concert by Efterklang, who were performing for the fourth time at Roskilde.
Of Monsters and Men, Roskilde Festival Arena July 2013
Of Monsters and Men **** (4 stars out of 6), July 5 at Arena
When Icelandic chamber pop maestros Of Monsters and Men performed on Danish soil for the first time last September at Store Vega, there were not that many people who had heard of the band and fewer still who defined themselves as fans.
Fast forward a few months. Roskilde Festival is kicking into gear on its second day and the event is alive and awash with a cheery vibe to suit all tastes. Of Monsters and Men are the third act of the day to perform on the Arena stage and the first to open the evening’s merry making.
The Icelandic quintet opened proceedings with the sun high in the sky, playing a set that consisted predominantly of songs off their 2012 debut album My Head is An Animal. Rather surprisingly they opted to unleash one of their marquee tracks ‘From Finner’ very early into the show, which was initially not that well received but by the end of it all had become an essentially catalytic element that set the tone for what would be a memorable evening.
In similar vain to ‘From Finner’, it took time for Of Monsters and Men to well and truly woo the crowd, but once they did, they had the concert in the palm of their hands, playing with a musical mastery that complemented the uniqueness of their folk-influenced music.
Similarly, as was the case with last night’s final show at Arena by American psychedelic trio Animal Collective, poor acoustics at the start of the show tainted things somewhat, as lead singer Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir seemed to struggle to make her potent vocals heard.
The acoustics did improve however, and with the crowd enjoying themselves as much as they were, Of Monsters and Men went all in and unleashed their signature track ‘Little Talks’ at the peak of the proceedings, much to the delight of the partisan crowd who danced and shouted with approval.
This and ‘Mountain Sound‘, another banger off the same debut album, underscored Of Monsters and Men at their best, an act who took up the baton from chamber pop pioneers Edwarde Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros and popularised a genre of music that may well become a familiar fixture on the global music stage.
Animal Collective, Roskilde Festival Arena July 2013
Teetering on the brink of sheer genius
As something of a wildcard in the concert lineup, experimental band Animal Collective were always bound to cause a slight bit of controversy or turn out to be sheer genius, or perhaps do both. Animal Collective, or simply AnCo as their fan base affectionately term them, stepped on as the last act on Roskilde’s Arena stage and after a slow start wound up delivering what will surely be one of the most seminal concerts of this year’s event. The boundary-breaking trio were in peak form throughout a concert that ventured into the dreamy, contemplative territory frequented by the psychedelic enthusiasts from Baltimore.
Animal Collective stepped on to an ornate stage, colourfully adorned and laden with elaborate stage props that magnified the presence of the trio quite. A weave of trippy visual effects interspersed with adroit if not abstract tunes for the first half hour or so set the stage for a concert that grew in personality as the minutes ticked.
Such was the experimental feel to Animal Collective’s opening that many would be forgiven for losing interest in the concert from the word go. An over-zealous approach and poor sound were to blame, yet remarkably the trio from Baltimore were able to dynamically and eloquently erase any poor first impressions with a performance that peaked in its closing stages. Improved acoustics midway through the proceedings certainly played a part in this, though credit is due to the creativity and boundary-pushing musical ethos that competently underscored the better part of the show. Animal Collective veered between sounding like the path of a raindrop in a thunderstorm to a drum set in an ethereal catacomb, a juxtaposition that evidenced their creative genius. Each song in their hour and half long set was built from the bottom up, generating a beautiful psychedelic sequence of layers that unfolded into picturesque musical soundscapes that piqued the imaginative character of everyone present. The show ended with a stage that was awash with a myriad of colours from the captivating light show, backed by passionate, experimental sounds provided the imaginative, hard-to pigeon-hole feel of Animal Collective.
The band produced one of the most artistic, creative concerts that this reviewer has come across and will surely carve out a name for themselves in Denmark after a performance of magnanimous stature.
Roskilde picks: Day 2
Roskilde picks: Day 2. original article at:
http://cphpost.dk/culture/roskilde-2013/roskilde-picks-day-2
July 5, 2013 – 10:04
With a schedule full of acts, it can be difficult to make choices. Our music writers give you their picks for today’s must-see concerts.
Plenty of choices for music fans on day two of the 2013 Roskilde Festival (Photo: Scanpix / Torben Christensen)
Although it is known as much for the camping, the partying and the “orange feeling”, believe it or not, for some people the Roskilde Festival is still all about the music.
With a full schedule across the festival’s seven stages, it can sometimes be hard to know when to go where. The Copenhagen Post offers our picks for each day’s best concerts, but any Roskilde veteran would caution against planning your schedule too carefully. Part of the beauty of the festival is stumbling across new acts and stepping outside of your musical comfort zones.
But if you are unfamiliar with some of the names on the schedule and want to know a little more, here are our picks for Friday:
It’s early in the day, so don’t be high as a kite when you watch HighasakiteHighasakite
14:00, Pavilion
Flying on top of the skies is Norwegian indie pop band Highasakite. Vocalist Ingrid Helene Håvik, who writes most of the group’s music, is known for her mesmerising voice. The band just released their debut album All That Floats Will Rain last year which the music critics received with open arms and flattering reviews. The band prefers to dress in Indian clothing upon entering the stage and are said to put on very memorable shows. They are known for their catchy tracks and the EP In and Out of Weeks, which was released this spring, is no exception. Sigrid Neergaard
Of Monsters And Men
18:30, Arena
Chamber pop, a sound popularized by the enigmatic Edwarde Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, looks set to become a genre in its own right thanks to Icelandic sensation Of Monsters And Men. The six-piece will be making only their second visit to Denmark, having played at Vega late last year. Expect plenty of epic sing-along moments and a concert that will linger in your mind for a very long time to come. Allan Mututku-Kortbæk
Catch living legend Bobby Womack on the Orange StageBobby Womack
19:00, Orange
An active recording artist since the late ‘60s, the veteran soul singer Womack has had an enduring influence on the world of funk, deep soul and R & B throughout the decades. Sharing similarities with some of soul’s most prestigious figures – including Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett and Otis Reading – Womack has been a part of a modern reemergence of nostalgic funk during the last few years along with such acts as The Temptations, Charles Bradley and Cody Chestnut. Daniel van der Noon
Rokia Traore
19:00, Odeon
One of very few African acts at this year’s festival, Rokia Traore is part of the modern wave of Malian musicians that includes Amadou & Mariam, Ali Farka Toure and Salif Keita. The widely travelled Traore has recently released her fifth album, Beautiful Africa, a work that represents a coming of age of sorts for her. This marks her third visit to the Roskilde Festival. Allan Mututku-Kortbæk
Maskinen
19:30, Apollo
This Swedish act got its Scandinavian breakthrough with the release of the upbeat hit ‘Alla som inte dansar’ (Everyone who doesn’t dance) in 2007. The song was impossible to miss in Denmark, but the Swedes have not been very visible since. They have toured in the US and Brazil but are now trying to get back on the Danes’ playlists. Their mixture of pop, rap, bass and electronic sounds are sure to start a huge party and you don’t need to understand Swedish to appreciate their beats and energy. Sigrid Neergaard
Easily the most controversial name on the bill this year, the pressure will be on Rihanna (and festival organisers) to deliver a strong showRihanna
22:30, Orange
One of the main names at Roskilde Festival this year is R&B mega-star Rihanna. She will be set to rock the crowd at the festival’s largest stage despite many Roskilde Festival enthusiasts being displeased with the booking, as the pick is more pop-orientated than the festival’s traditional picks. The young woman from Barbados broke through with her hit ‘Pon de Replay’ in 2005 and has since then delivered hit after hit. Over the years she has transformed from a sweet innocent girl into a sultry sex icon. Sigrid Neergaard
Tego Calderon
24:00, Cosmopol
Reggaeton is a genre that can easily become tediously repetitive, generic and flat-out boring, but not if you look towards one of the pioneers of the genre who sought to bring the Latin vibes from the poor neighbourhoods of Puerto Rico to a widespread global audience. Tego Calderón performs his steaming reggaeton with dignity, always pushing to open the boundaries of the hedonistic party music. Put on your dancing shoes for this year’s Latin party. Michalis Nielsen
Crystal Castles01:30, Arena
Canadian punks Ethan Kath and Alice Glass form one of the most unique bands around, with their radical concoction of ethereal boundary-pushing electronic music. Their sold-out show at Vega earlier this year was one of the best the venue has played host to, replete with epic moments of crowd-surfing, as it cruised the fine line between untamed chaos and sheer genius. Crystal Castles have been touring non-stop for the last two years, so to say that they are an act in top form is a gross understatement. Allan Mututku-Kortbæk
Simian Mobile Disco
02:00, Apollo
Simian Mobile Disco may be a bit past their prime but are nonetheless still a force to be reckoned with in the intricate, erratic world of electronic music. Their live show is a maelstrom of chaotic musical arrangements strung flimsily together with aplomb. The duo have released a consistent string of albums over the years and collaborated with the likes of Florence and The Machine and the Arctic Monkeys and are an active component in the UK’s effervescent music scene. Brace yourself for a wild and hedonistic late-night show. Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk
Roskilde picks: Day 2
July 5th, 2013 10:04 am
But if you are unfamiliar with some of the names on the schedule and want to know a little more, here are our picks for Friday:
Highasakite
14:00, Pavilion
Flying on top of the skies is Norwegian indie pop band Highasakite. Vocalist Ingrid Helene Håvik, who writes most of the group’s music, is known for her mesmerising voice. The band just released their debut album All That Floats Will Rain last year which the music critics received with open arms and flattering reviews. The band prefers to dress in Indian clothing upon entering the stage and are said to put on very memorable shows. They are known for their catchy tracks and the EP In and Out of Weeks, which was released this spring, is no exception. Sigrid Neergaard
Of Monsters And Men
18:30, Arena
Chamber pop, a sound popularized by the enigmatic Edwarde Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, looks set to become a genre in its own right thanks to Icelandic sensation Of Monsters And Men. The six-piece will be making only their second visit to Denmark, having played at Vega late last year. Expect plenty of epic sing-along moments and a concert that will linger in your mind for a very long time to come. Allan Mututku-Kortbæk
Bobby Womack
19:00, Orange
An active recording artist since the late ‘60s, the veteran soul singer Womack has had an enduring influence on the world of funk, deep soul and R & B throughout the decades. Sharing similarities with some of soul’s most prestigious figures – including Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett and Otis Reading – Womack has been a part of a modern reemergence of nostalgic funk during the last few years along with such acts as The Temptations, Charles Bradley and Cody Chestnut. Daniel van der Noon
Rokia Traore
19:00, Odeon
One of very few African acts at this year’s festival, Rokia Traore is part of the modern wave of Malian musicians that includes Amadou & Mariam, Ali Farka Toure and Salif Keita. The widely travelled Traore has recently released her fifth album, Beautiful Africa, a work that represents a coming of age of sorts for her. This marks her third visit to the Roskilde Festival. Allan Mututku-Kortbæk
Maskinen
19:30, Apollo
This Swedish act got its Scandinavian breakthrough with the release of the upbeat hit ‘Alla som inte dansar’ (Everyone who doesn’t dance) in 2007. The song was impossible to miss in Denmark, but the Swedes have not been very visible since. They have toured in the US and Brazil but are now trying to get back on the Danes’ playlists. Their mixture of pop, rap, bass and electronic sounds are sure to start a huge party and you don’t need to understand Swedish to appreciate their beats and energy. Sigrid Neergaard
Rihanna
22:30, Orange
One of the main names at Roskilde Festival this year is R&B mega-star Rihanna. She will be set to rock the crowd at the festival’s largest stage despite many Roskilde Festival enthusiasts being displeased with the booking, as the pick is more pop-orientated than the festival’s traditional picks. The young woman from Barbados broke through with her hit ‘Pon de Replay’ in 2005 and has since then delivered hit after hit. Over the years she has transformed from a sweet innocent girl into a sultry sex icon. Sigrid Neergaard
Tego Calderon
24:00, Cosmopol
Reggaeton is a genre that can easily become tediously repetitive, generic and flat-out boring, but not if you look towards one of the pioneers of the genre who sought to bring the Latin vibes from the poor neighbourhoods of Puerto Rico to a widespread global audience. Tego Calderón performs his steaming reggaeton with dignity, always pushing to open the boundaries of the hedonistic party music. Put on your dancing shoes for this year’s Latin party. Michalis Nielsen
Crystal Castles
01:30, Arena
Canadian punks Ethan Kath and Alice Glass form one of the most unique bands around, with their radical concoction of ethereal boundary-pushing electronic music. Their sold-out show at Vega earlier this year was one of the best the venue has played host to, replete with epic moments of crowd-surfing, as it cruised the fine line between untamed chaos and sheer genius. Crystal Castles have been touring non-stop for the last two years, so to say that they are an act in top form is a gross understatement. Allan Mututku-Kortbæk
Simian Mobile Disco
02:00, Apollo
Simian Mobile Disco may be a bit past their prime but are nonetheless still a force to be reckoned with in the intricate, erratic world of electronic music. Their live show is a maelstrom of chaotic musical arrangements strung flimsily together with aplomb. The duo have released a consistent string of albums over the years and collaborated with the likes of Florence and The Machine and the Arctic Monkeys and are an active component in the UK’s effervescent music scene. Brace yourself for a wild and hedonistic late-night show. Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk
Roskilde Festival Camping Feature 2013
Orange you glad it’s festival time again?
Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk
July 3, 2013 – 20:03
Although the main music doesn’t kick off until tomorrow, the party has already been raging for days
From the opening of the gates last Saturday until the last musical notes are played Sunday night, the Roskilde Festival campgrounds are a frenetic – but beloved – mix of people, booze, noise, and mess (Photo: Scanpix)
It’s that time of the year again. The usually quaint, sedate town of Roskilde has turned into a temporary carnival, bursting with hordes of festival-goers from all over the world who’ve turned up to Northern Europe’s largest music festival. Roskilde is now in its 42nd year and has grown into one of the most respected events on the global festival circuit – and a blueprint for what can be done through good organisation, a fair bit of volunteering and excellent planning.
A complex festival of the size and scale of Roskilde is very much a multi-faceted affair, with numerous dimensions to it. One of the most discussed aspects of Roskilde is life in the camps, which for some is far from an ideal accommodation option. For many though, camp life is a fundamental and fun part of the Roskilde experience.
Chaotic from the word go
The start of the festival is always a hectic affair, as throngs of festival-goers flock en masse to the entrances to queue in long lines to be amongst the first to be allowed into the festival grounds when they open at 6pm on Saturday a full five days before the main musical aspect kicks off.
The early days at Roskilde are always hectic, as festival-goers race to be the first into the festival grounds when the gates open (Photo: Scanpix)Competition for a good camping spot is formidably fierce. For many years, organisers faced the problem of the fence being toppled over many hours before the gates were officially opened, though this challenge has been mitigated somewhat by fence patrols and stiff penalties for anyone caught trying to force entry into the grounds. Once the gates are open, the masses are free to set up their camps as they please. This too is a chaotic affair in which camps are assembled at breakneck speed and the pastoral fields around the village of Kamstrup are transformed into a colourful patchwork of pavilions and tents that will house the festival’s guests in conditions ranging from summer heat to torrential downpours. Many camps appoint the fittest amongst their ranks to run with as many tents as they can carry and pitch whilst others wait at the gates with large amounts of camping gear, loudspeakers, stocks of alcohol and other festival essentials.
With the camps set up, the party has officially begun and for the five days before the large concerts start, festival-goers are largely left to their own ingenuity and imagination when it comes to keeping themselves entertained. There are, however, numerous activities to keep one occupied around the festival grounds during the warm-up days. This year’s features include:
Fixed Apollo Stage
Last year, Roskilde experimented with a mobile Apollo stage, which wandered from one camping area to another, night after night. This year, the stage has a fixed location (between camping area G and the music area) and will be hosting several acts a day in the lead-up to the main music period.
Maker Space workshop
As an antidote to the ‘if it’s broke, trash it’ culture that tends to underscore the philosophy of numerous Roskilde-goers, Dream City houses a temporary workshop that focuses on reuse and sustainability. Cheap solar cell mobile phone chargers and concrete ‘life-hacking’ advice are but two of the possibilities at the Maker Space workshop.
The Velvet State
A collaboration between performance design geniuses Fiction Pimps and Collective Unconscious, the Velvet State is an interactive art installation that is designed to take one through a vivid journey of different states of mind, in a boundary-pushing experiment that straddles the territory of the dreamy and the unconscious. The Velvet State is one of many art installations at Roskilde – all of which focus on co-creation and enticing the artistic spirits hidden within each and every festival-goer.
The Skate Park / Roskilde West
Roskilde West is the de facto cool location to hang out during the camping period. Home to both the skate park and Game City, this area is a vibrant mix of cultural activities and sports tournaments. Die hard punk rockers Hashbug rested their case for the ‘punk is not dead’ maxim on Sunday at the Skate Park, and with a host of different DJs behind the turntables every night, this is one location that consistently provides entertainment in the days before the big acts take over the festival.
With something for everyone at Roskilde, The Copenhagen Post caught up with some festival attendees for a quick chat about what camp life is all about:
(Photo: Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk)Barbara Nino Careras
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Number of Roskilde Festivals attended: First time
Best thing about the festival?
“Definitely the people: they are open. They share, they love. Everyone is free, and there’s a lot of happiness around.”
What is camp life like?
“It’s difficult, but everyone is doing it and is part of the same shared experience, so it sort of balances it all out in the end.”
(Photo: Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk)Niv Dayan
Hometown: Copenhagen
Number of Roskilde Festivals attended: Three
Best thing about the festival?
“People are really friendly. The feeling of happiness is just infectious.”
What is camp life like?
“I don’t really like the camp life that much. It’s loud, dirty and pretty grim, so I spend most of my nights at home, but I do have a tent pitched here just in case.”
(Photo: Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk)Edoardo Botallico
Hometown: Milan, Italy
Number of Roskilde Festivals attended: Four
Best thing about the festival?
“You become a different person. You lose the facade you have in everyday life which means you connect to other people as one ought to.”
What is camp life like ?
“It’s very basic and sometimes difficult, but you share the experience with your friends which is very beautiful.”
Charles Bradley and his extraordinaire’s, Lille Vega June 2013
Original article:
http://cphpost.dk/inout/concerts/souls-screaming-eagle-proves-hes-still-extraordinaire
Charles Bradley ****** (6 stars out of 6); June 17 at Lille Vega
Bradley’s impeccable presence rocked Lille Vega for the second year running (Photo: Flickr / sebascrub)
When Charles Bradley first came to Denmark in 2011, he was an unfamiliar fixture in the world music circuit. When he came to Lille Vega last year, he was still not that well known worldwide, yet alone in Denmark. But after last night’s show at the same venue, however, I have a sneaking suspicion that we have not seen the last of Charles Bradley, and that his best may still be yet to come.
Starting out as ‘Black Velvet,’ Bradley performed James Brown impersonations before eventually landing a contract with Daptone records a few years ago at the tender age of 62. His songs chart his struggle and call for change in society, a veritable critique of the fallacy of the American dream and of the greed and corruption with which society is awash today. Bradley’s show last night was by far the best concert I have ever been to, a bewilderingly beautiful performance that saw him shed tears of elation and sorrow alike.
The backup band of the evening, the seven-piece Extraordinaires, stepped on stage before the main man himself, announcing their presence with an intense instrumental performance. Bradley took to the stage shortly afterwards, clad in clothes he’d made himself and resembling James Brown down to a T.
‘The World (Is Going up in Flames)’, off his debut album No Time for Dreaming set the pace, slowly working up a crowd that lived up to the cliché of being an audience with a frightful tendency to be stagnant and noncommittal. This stereotype was thankfully broken down as things proceeded though, the result being epic hands-in-the air moments and genuine interaction from the crowd. With Charles giving it his all, performing with a dedication that saw him sweat profusely on the warm stage, an early instrumental interlude early saw him waltz off stage to take a breather before coming back on to woo the crowd with tracks such as ‘No Time For Dreaming’ and the sentimental ‘Loving You.’
With the venue in the palm of his hands, Bradley and co rounded off with an epic performance of the newer track ‘Confusion’, showcasing a series of dance moves that few people in their twenties, let alone a veteran, can muster. A befitting encore saw him change outfits and come back on stage dressed in a fiery red suit to perform the powerful ‘Victim of love’ and ‘Why is it so Hard?’, both off his 2013 album,Victim of Love, which documents the travails and struggles of a man who has taken a long and weary walk to freedom.
Noah & The Whale, Lille Vega May 2013
Not a whale of a time, but the quintet’s consistent
Original article at: http://cphpost.dk/inout/concerts/not-whale-time-quintets-consistent
June 10, 2013 – 15:57
Noah and the Whale **** (4 stars out of 6); June 9 at Lille Vega
While Noah and the Whale’s show felt unenthusiastic at times, the quintet delivered an overall solid performance at Lille Vega on Sunday night (Photo: Flickr / Aurelien Guichard)
The major music news in Copenhagen this weekend was rock band 3 Doors Down’s performance at Store Vega on Saturday. While English quintet Noah and the Whale are far less known than their American counterparts, what they pulled off at Lille Vega last night was nothing short of special. The cheery indie band stepped onstage with a steely determination in their eyes, opening the proceedings with the catchy ‘Give a Little Love’ off their debut album Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down, released in 2008.
Noah and The Whale are, in Craig David’s words, “slicker than your average”, in that they are a cut above the classic ‘two men and a guitar’ rock cliché that tends to accompany many revered acts of the modern day. Their varied instrumentation includes keys and an unmistakable violin input, which announced its presence from the word ‘go’ and punctuated many of the show’s peak points.
With the foundation for a solid show laid by the end of the first track, Noah and The Whale played the cautiously optimistic ‘Tonight’s the Kind of Night,’ which veered more towards the cheery dimensions associated with the band. One song later and they had ventured into the more melancholic, contemplative territory that also demarcates them as a band, playing the emphatic ‘Blue Skies’ track from their 2009 album The First Days of Spring. Lead singer Charlie Fink showcased his vocal prowess with this particular tune, drifting off in a coarse, candid rendition that was simultaneously captivating and astute.
From then on, the quintet stuck to the jovial side of things as they slowly but surely built up a steady momentum that climaxed towards the end of the show and naturally enough got people’s feet swaying. Things ended rather appropriately with a bland albeit effectual performance of the self-explanatory L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N, which paved the way for a solemn encore.
All in all, Noah and The Well were solid and consistent last night, performing with a coolheaded wit that showed their maturity as a band. However, from time to time it did feel as if they could have injected a bit more enthusiasm and drive into the show. This notwithstanding, their music, some of which is inspired by writer Charles Bukowski, is even more remarkable when performed live – the bold, emphatic lyrics that characterise much it gain a heightened definition and a more pronounced meaning.
Kortbæk_Travels 