Fujirockers: The official Fuji Rock Festival blog

Ok it was Mannish Boys, and the crowd was so thick at Gypsy Avalon they were even standing behind the rubbish bins. Talk about packing it in!

It’s Sunday, and it has been raining like a mofo so you can be forgiven for leaving a few things behind like your camping chair, bug eye glasses, and even boots. Fear not, many of these items have been recovered and are now at the Lost & Found in the Oasis area. Stop by to pick up things that you still may need today. Chemical Brothers are playing tonight and it would be real nice to sit in a chair and enjoy the whole show.

Here are some of the images appearing on the message board near the Oasis Food Court. There are red and blue and black marker pens are available, allowing some people to scribble and put their Tumblr addresses, while others are doing drawings about dog poo. Stop by and add your own comments and or artwork.

RUBBER BOOTS = ESSENTIAL GEAR

By 2PM Thursday when I arrive, there is already an over-achieving line of go-getters headed for the prime, flat campground spaces, far away enough from stinky toilets, mud pits, and any other possibly disastrous proximities. The single-file line of pack mules has gotten smarter though. Wheely carts haul the mountains of gear that Japanese Fuji Rockers bring every year to set up shop like kings and queens, come rain or sun, in elegant professional, Coleman brand camping style. (I personally forgot the rolling cart, so the 30 minute trek from parking with a backpack full of water to avoid the taxed 200yen bottles for sale, and the 4-man tent, was getting kind of freaking heavy!)

Even still, approaching the campground, the closest flattest spots are already totally snagged. So, we walk about 5 minutes down the sidewalk and find a spot near a towering row of pines, that only has one small hump under us (that I wouldn’t actually realize until later as I am laying my weary body to sleep, and all the blood is rushing to my feet).

But of course, before we can pitch the tent, a torrential rain of drenching proportions falls, just in time to humble and welcome us properly to what seems to be the start of 2011 Fuji Rock Mud Fest. Hope you brought your Welly boots…!

Sketch by J Muzacz

The Music Green Stage 2005

Having attended every Fuji Rock except the first one, I’ve seen many of the bands performing this year before at the festival, though in almost every case I can remember they performed on different stages than the ones they’ll perform on this year. Perusing the roster and recalling those shows, I’ve come to develop a certain mindset for each venue and now wonder if a shift in values hasn’t taken place over time. I prefer hanging out at the butt end of the festival, past Gypsy Avalon, where regardless of who happens to be performing the general vibe is more conducive to…well, hanging out. And because the African acts and certain artists whom I’ve never seen before but always wanted to will be playing there (Cornershop, Buddy Guy), I expect to spend the bulk of my time there this year, as well. Continue Reading…

Are you ready?

Alright people, it’s about that time. The first bands of Fujirock 2011 were announced last night.

Check it out HERE

Check back here soon for more news and analysis.

Earlier today concert promoter Smash announced the dates for Fuji Rock 2011.  The festival will take place from July 29 – 31.  We hope you can join us in Naeba this summer!

Thom Yorke's back

I’ve just been down at LCD Soundsystem, and now I’m at Atoms For Peace. One thing that’s been bugging me all weekend, and that’s the complete inability for Japanese video operators to get it right.

Extreme closeups. I don’t need to know how long it is since Thom Yorke cleaned out his ears. I don’t need to see the back half of his head occupying a quarter of the shot and the backdrop behind him taking up the rest. I don’t want to see James Murphy bounce in and out of shot as you try in vain to follow him. Zoom out for fucks sake! Continue Reading…

Strolling back down the hill from our hotel after a quick trip to dump my gear, a quick grab of the Boom Boom Satellites can be heard as the traffic lulls and the wind blows the right way. It reminds me of what I’m missing, but it makes a long walk much more pleasant.

A true natural?

See them every day of the festival at 4:30pm.

A Food Court Open For Grazing

There’s only so much epic music a man or woman can handle in a single night, and after Them Crooked Vultures* and Broken Social Scene I was epic’d'out, so Muse was out of the question. Instead, I had dinner. With everyone at the festival at either Muse or !!! (or further afield), the food court was empty, and I had the rare treat of selecting the perfect meal from multiple vendors. This will heretofore be a thing which I do at Fuji Rock, take advantage of the empty food stalls while the main attractions are drawing the attention of the rabble.

Then I sat down and took in a bit of Yuzoband at the Shokudo stage.

Continue Reading…

If, like me, you don’t eat beasties, Fuji Rock has always offered slim picking for dinner. This year, as far as I’ve seen, there are no veggie samosas in the food court, which makes it even worse. But it’s not all pizza, pizza, pizza. Here’s a veggie don with onsen tamago in the Field of Avalon – that hippy one where they massage you and talk about peace.

We know the weather hasn’t been the best, but we told you to bring rain gear right? Here’s a couple of tales from the campsite involving getting set-up and squared away, including a few tips for people who are still coming in.

Sean Brophy came in on Thursday afternoon and thought that the  clouds would hold until he got his tent up. Hence his lax approach when it came to putting on his rain gear and when the heaven’s opened up Thursday afternoon, both he and all his gear were soaked.  To make matters worse, he was alone making difficult work out of setting up his  6,000 Yen tent with as he described, “bendy poles”. Well the rain continued and thankfully some fellow campers felt pity for him and help him with his tent. In the end, 4 PET bottles worth of water had accumulated in his tent leading him to retreat to his car where he turned on the heater and sat naked trying to dry out. A golf bag in his trunk luckily had a set of old clothes and he was able to reappear after the rains stopped.  His advice to campers: Stash your gear and send someone to get your wrist band. Also, don’t be disheartened, it gets better.

Another camper with lots of experience is freelance rock writer, Micheal Lara, who has contributed to Relix Magazine, NME, and mostly recently “Stay Thirsty.” He got to Fuji Rock on Wednesday and his tent is adorned with the flags of Canada, USA, and Ireland. “No particular reason for Ireland, someone just brought it along,” said Lara.  He’s here to interview Fishbone and Flogging Molly and he’s full of folksy wisdom such as “stay hyrdated”" though in the next breath he says “whisky is my middle name.”  Maybe the latter was the reason he “totally faded” on Wednesday night. His advice to campers, “bring ponchos dude.”"  Hold on just a little longer, the sun is supposed to come out both Saturday and Sunday.

Few stores carry pharmacy/drug store type products in Naeba, so if you need some basic over-the-counter headache or cold medicine, bug spray or sun block, check the Plateau, a steel and glass building just next to the Ticket Exchange Place near the Fuji Rock entrance (it’s the next building over if you’re walking back towards the Prince Hotel). Once you walk in the door, turn left, and there is a small pharmacy in the corner. [dave]