Fujirockers: The official fansite of the Fuji Rock Festival

It’s that bloke from Big Willie’s Burlesque. He’s at the Crystal Palace every year – as far as I know, the only live act to play every year. This year he’s also at Cabaret Fiesta.
A couple of hours earlier I watched Rustic Pans at the Fiesta and they tore the place to pieces. Willie has more trouble. He keeps asking if anyone would like to dance, but it takes half the set before anyone does. It’s partly because it’s pelting with rain and half his audience is here for shelter (which becomes painfully obvious as soon as the rain stops). But it’s also because William sets the bar for dancing way too high with his scantily clad ladies that wiggle their bottoms and boobs. I must say at this point that I disapprove of the exploitation of women for sexual thrills. Ha, just kidding, it’s fine. Linda comes out and wiggles everything she has, and there was probably some music playing but I didn’t much notice. She’s dancing in stilletos, which I think is a breach of health and safety in the workplace regulations. Then Linda leaves, Willie asks for a round of applause and gets a cacophonous clapping. He then asks for the same for the singer/timbales guy, Luka, and he gets a noticeably more muted clapping. It’s clear that this crowd love boobs more than top-grade Cuban jazz.
When the ladies are off, we can hear the music again, and it’s tight as tight could be. If this were a jazz club, we’d all be on our feet. But somehow it’s the wrong place and wrong time of day for this music, and the most Willie ever manages is four members of the crowd on their feet. For anyone that saw the Rustic Pans gig earlier, the contrast is stunning. I’m pretty sure William and co will fare better at the Palace later this weekend.

Cuban ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Dancing (onstage) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Dancing (offstage) ★

Yes, fella, this is what you died for. Cabaret Fiesta Cuban tent at Fuji Rock.

I decided to take the boardwalk to the Cabaret Fiesta stage, which turned out to be a bit of a mistake. The Narasirato Pan Pipers were about to start, and they must have picked up some fans with their Thursday night set at the Red Marquee, because the path was gridlocked. At times like these, I’d usually take it as a sign from the God of music festivals and stay to watch the act I’m gridlocked in front of, but the schedule said I had to watch Rustic Pans, so I pressed on, and I made the right choice.
The Rustic Pans are a six-piece that claim to play Cuban music, but that’s clearly only because they’ve been put at the tent sorta sponsored by Havana Club and subtitled “Havana Nights”. Clearly this is Trinidadian. Sorta. The Rustics play the steel drums with a broader range than you’ll probably hear in the Caribbean. There’s only so much range you can get from a 6-piece where 5 of you play steel drums, but they get right to the edges of that range.
But enough of the music. One of the guys looks like Ozzy Osbourne on lots of uppers. He’s got the same face (Ozzy from the ‘70s) but he grins broader than I’ve ever seen a grin. By his side is a guy who is probably about 4’ 5”, and looks like the baddie in a Scarface knockoff. I’m pretty sure all these guys would get no women if they weren’t in a band. I’m not so sure they get any women even being in a band.
They’re all wearing matching Hawaiian shirts, which won’t help their women situation either.
Every so often, Osbourne pulls out a toy cap gun and fires it in time with the music. Sometimes it jams, but he just grins and fixes it and fires again. The band like to do a crescendo thing where they start with their faces beneath the pans and rise up with the music. When Ozzie’s face appears, he’s grinning the biggest grin.
A Japanese guy next to me turns round and says “I think THIS is Fuji Rock.” I think so too. Best band so far, and they’re not playing again. You had your chance.

Groove ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Cuban ★
Seatability

The Drum Master At The Stone Circle

The Fuji Rock grounds used to end at the Orange Court, but I’d heard tell of rumors of some newer locales beyond, though I had not yet had a chance to see them. About a seven minute walk on the hill behind the crowd at Orange you reach The Fiesta Cabaret and Stone Circle. The Cabaret is an indoor tent with a wall full of tequila (natch) and a small stage. Here’s some images for the curious:

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Below you’ll find some of my music recommendations, but first off, a few nuggets of advice:

What to remember:

- Don’t forget sun protection (hat, extra sunglasses and sunblock). And if you use them like I do, bring your own genki drinks for an added late-night boost. Despite all the stalls at Fujirock, I’ve only rarely seen these on sale.

- Walk the entire length of the fest grounds at least once. That’s right: from the Red Marquee all the way to Cabaret Fiesta and back. At sunset or after dark is best, and make sure to take the boardwalk. Try not to look at your watch. You’ll be glad you did.

- Take the Dragondola up to the Day Dreaming stage at the top of the mountain, even if you just turn around and come back. The view, the fresh air and thrity minutes off your feet will do you good.

What to see:

Trying to point out a handful of shows at Fujirock is like recommending only one dish at your favorite restaurant: the entire menu is delicious, but you only have so much room in your stomach. It’s a foregone conclusion that bands like LCD Sound System, Broken Social Scene and One Day as a Lion will be mind-blowingly great live experiences, so I’ll try to point out some of lineup further down the marquee:

My list after the jump

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