Pukkelpop Saturday at Kiewit Belgium, August 20 2016
The day starts out very smoothly and from our friends' house only half an hour away, it is a quick drive down to the parking lot. There we hop on a shuttle bus and find ourselves on the festival site sipping a Belgian lager within no time. The sun has come out as well, so we couldn't be off to a better start. We explore the site a bit and then go into one of the tents for the first show of the day.
Andre Brasseur & Band
Andre Brasseur is a Belgian organist and keyboard player that rose to fame in the sixties and seventies, mainly in his own country, although he had a few international hits most notably the song 'Early Bird'. The 76-year old musician may have started his second youth as he is looking very lively and enthusiastically behind his organ. The swinging rock, jazz and blues songs are a wonderful way to start the day. Brasseur has formed a good band around him who remain a bit on the background. Of course the star of the show is the old veteran himself, who is enjoying his festival appearance and the mostly young crowd.
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VANT
We get reacquainted with the British band VANT that we saw play the Best Kept Secret festival a few months ago. The lads look pretty good again and give it their best. It's still early so it's not really crowded in front of the stage. But the group doesn't let that get them down and play their catchy rock songs with a lot of heart. Maybe it's the relatively low turn up today or maybe I need to get into it a bit more myself, but their show looks less convincing this time and more played on routine. The band is working hard however and if they can keep going like this I guess things will work out for them in the end.
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Highly Suspect
The trio Highly Suspect is a band on the rise especially since they earned a few Grammy nominations last year. It's about time we get to know them a little better. Their music is a mix of hardrock and alternative and sometimes you can also hear a bit of grunge in there. The band is tight and also play in an intense way. Singer Johnny Stevens' voice isn't always to my liking but that's my personal taste. The three rockers play a convincing show in the end and are another band to watch.
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Defeater
By then hardcore band Defeater have already started playing their set at a half full "The Shelter" stage. It's not bad what they are showing and some songs do sound pretty good. At those times the band is powerful and singer Derek Archambault is moving around the stage a lot. But his voice isn't very versatile and their songs do sound alike a lot.
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All Them Witches
We hear the sound check of All Them Witches and it sounds very promising. Their psychedelic and dark blues rock sounds very vintage from time to time. When I listened to their music I instantly liked it and it is convincing live on stage as well. I read about their growing live reputation and that doesn't prove itself today. The band looks solid but it isn't exactly an explosive show. It is nice enough to keep an eye out for in the future though but for now we leave to make sure we don't miss too much of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.
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King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Because I know out of experience that this band's live reputation is very justified. Their last record Noganon Infinity blew me away as well so I simply had to see them play again. The seven piece band doesn't disappoint for a bit. It's an energetic long jam that almost doesn't stop, just like the record. The band simply doesn't let go and the two drummers keep the psychedelic trips going with full force. Singer Stu Mackenzie picks up his flute now and then to add an extra dimension to the psychedelic trip but especially when he's rocking his guitar the music is excelling. I love this band! The best thing is I get to see them again in two weeks time at the Into The Great Wide Open festival. Live is sweet! And shaped like a purple doughnut at the moment...
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Grandaddy
In the nineties I was pleasantly surprised with Grandaddy's music which now seems like a lifetime ago. I lost track of the band around Jason Lytle and when they split up, this kind of went passed me. They have reformed a few years ago and this is the first time I get to see them play again. Their spacy fuzzed out music takes me back twenty years again and I immediately remember why I like their music. It's the warm sounds of their music combined with some melancholy but with a very light edge. It's nice to see them again and I'm looking forward to their full show later this week.
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Biffy Clyro
We get back to the main stage together with a wonderful Belgian "frietje stoofvlees" (fries with some kind of meat stew, simply delicious). Biffy Clyro have come a long way and their music evolved a lot. From quite complex rock songs they moved to a more mainstream sound with sometimes easy and simple sing-along lyrics. It has brought them a lot more fans and therefore I expected more people at their show. They are playing at the end of the afternoon on the main stage while, the weather has turned into full blown summer sun. The Scottish band always play with a lot of heart and that's not different today. Songs like 'Bubbles' and 'Black Chandelier' are still major crowd pleasers and the band sounds very tight as always. I don't really like the poppie songs that are aimed at teenage girls to sing along to, but their more powerful and rough songs are quite good.
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Thrice
We hang around the main stage for a while, where more of those lovely Belgian beers follow. Then Bring Me The Horizon starts playing which turns out to be metal for teenagers who act like they are really tough. Moments later we find ourselves at Thrice, which would normally not be my top choice either. The emo hardcore band is playing a pretty solid show though. It's just that this is simply not my kind of rock music and I find it hard to stay focused. Somehow this type of rock music sounds all alike to me. Still not a bad way to kill some time with friends and a few cold beers.
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Graveyard
By now it's time for the toughest choice of the day. One of the reasons I wanted to come here this day, was because of LCD Soundsystem. But they are playing at the same time as Swedisch rock band Graveyard. I decide to stay for a few songs at the Graveyard show and am happy I did. The band is amazing and it's a shame I keep missing them when they play nearby. Their swamp blues sound is heavy and laid back and the band are always playing in a relaxed style. The short part that I see is very tight and it's hard to pull myself away from here.
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LCD Soundsystem But by the time I make it to the main stage I'm really happy to see beloved LCD Soundsystem there, who rose from their ashes not too long ago. This disco punk rock band fronted by James Murphy, are always a delight to watch. I love their edgy and groovy songs with that rough wild side. Within no time I'm totally into their music and show again that is supported by a great light show and visuals. Of course the big disco ball is hanging above the band as well. The show is taking off slowly like a heavy machine speeding up, but once it rolls on full speed there's no way stopping it. By the time it is starting to rain no one cares at all and you can only keep on dancing. The set list is not a surprising one but does have all those great song on it. 'Daft Punk Is Playing At My House' is there of course and early in the set, but especially 'Turbulation', 'Yeah' and a vicious 'Dance Yrself Clean' do their job. 'Losing My Edge' couldn't be closer to the truth and 'All My Friends' ends their show in style. What a band!
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Soulwax
One other highlight of the day should have been those genius Soulwax brothers, but it's a long journey to the Dancehall stage for us and by the time we get there it's packed of course. We stay outside and dance to the music while trying to catch a glimpse from what's going on inside. Their show is called "Soulwax Transient Program For Drums and Machinery" and I see two drummers high up in the air at either side of the stage and find out later there is a third one in the middle as well. Of course it's one big party in there and the two brother blend their music into one big rough funky disco party. It's a bit of a let down that we made it to the stage so late and couldn't get inside, but on the other hand we had a good time there.
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Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg
Now it's time to go out with a legend. Unfortunately the Ramones are no longer there since all members of the original line-up are jamming at the great gig in the sky. Marky Ramone was the drummer for the Ramones for a long time as well though and is the only surviving member of their most famous era. Now he's keeping their legacy alive as Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg and doing a great job at it. He found a fine bunch of friends to play with him including a very convincing Ken Stringfellow on vocals. It's great to hear all those classics like 'Rock n Roll Highschool', 'I Wanna Be Sedated', 'The KKK Took My Baby Away', 'Pet Sematary' and of course 'Blitzkrieg Bop'. This may be the closest you can get to what a Ramones show must have been like. I can try to write a long story about it, but it's better to just raise my fist and shout "Hey Ho! Let's Go!". What a way to end this day!
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We celebrate a wonderful day at Pukkelpop with a couple of last beers before we head home in the same smooth way as we sailed in. This was a very good first time at this festival and we are already thinking about coming back next year for the full three days.
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