Fujirockers: The official Fuji Rock Festival blog

Amadou and Mariam were nothing short of amazing @ FOH

Here were my top-five fave performances from FRF ‘11.  Click on the links to read live reviews of each act’s set at the fest.

1) Amadou and Mariam @ Field of Heaven (7/29) — review here

2) Warpaint @ Red Marquee (7/31) — review here

3) Battles @ Green Stage (7/30) — review here

4) No Age @ White Stage (7/31) — review here

5) Tie: Washed Out @ Red Marquee (7/29) — review here & Obrint Pas @ Orange Court (7/30) — review here

As always, I had a blast in Naeba and hope y’all did too!

Photo by Julen Esteban-Pretel

Love is all around

Despite what you may have heard the rain was tolerable last weekend. It mainly poured in the morning when people were still sleeping off the previous night’s revelries. The precipitation in the daytime rarely got more intense than sprinkles. People thought it was wetter than it was because of the persistent mud, the cooler temperatures, and the almost total lack of sunshine. In fact, if I missed anything deeply it was the glow of twilight behind the Orange Court or White Stage during a late afternoon/early evening performance, and I don’t think I’ve seen that for the last three years. If that’s a sign of climate change, then I’m against it. Continue Reading…

So another festival has come and gone. Five days later, here’s what I can remember:

Best act: I’m gonna give this one to EKD, though Manu Chao made a good case. There’s something so original about the EKD sound, and so perfect for the last night of a festival. Review here.

Best visuals: The Chemical Brothers’ VJ proved worthy of the Green Field headline slot. And without him, what would that show have been?

Wish I’d seen: Tinariwen. At the time, a 10-minute walk to see Tinariwen seemed like an awful lot to ask. In retrospect it probably wasn’t.

Biggest disappointment: Walking into the Field of Heaven and realising the pizza joint wasn’t there this year.

Best drink: Yona Yona ale

Best blog comment: “Kern, you wouldn’t know a good time if it was riding your mustache.” by Darkstar1st

Best food: Don’t ask me, I’m vegetarian and there was almost nothing to eat. Fuji Rock could be ten times more eco-friendly if it threw all its garbage in one bin, powered everything with powdered rhino horns, but swapped all those meat stands for falafel stands. Or just one of them. Alright, I’ll shut up now.

(photo: EKD by Julen Esteban-Pretel)

For my last vibe piece of 2011’s fantastic Fuji Rock Festival, I thought I would let the people speak. So, packing up in the campground, I asked a slew of campers and a few staff a simple question, “What was the best thing about Fuji Rock this year?”
I knew people would say, Chemical Brothers, Coldplay and Thai food, but some other responses surprised me, made me laugh, made me think, and made me already nostalgic for something that may have just happened yesterday!
So, with no further ado, here is a small sampling of some Fuji rockers favorite top memories of the fest:
- Wilco
- Chemical Brothers
- Fireworks during Coldplay
- Onigiri
- Pole dance
- a flat tent space
- Heineken
- Hanaregumi
- Many kids babble, I’m play too (???)
- Enjoy bike (dude rode a hog to the fest from who knows where)
- “Minna de pa-ti” (Everyone partying)
- “Dai shizen” (Big nature)
- the girls
- the recycling
- “Ame” (the rain)
- frog caps
- made up with my girlfriend (congrats!)
- so many artist positive vibes to Japan, Tohoku
- frog caps (yes, again)
- Mot playing Rookie A-GoGo stage
- Tom Yum Ramen
- Hanggai throat singing in the forest
- Bacon on a stick and Rum Chai for breakfast
- Crystal Palace mosh pit for Manu Chao and the way the whole crowd embraced my hairy naked chest (!)
- hanging out with Manu Chao backstage (jealous)
- Yummy fuckin’ hamburgers (mmm…also good for breakfast)

So maybe that rekindles a special memory for you, maybe you salivate a little, maybe you wonder how the hell to get backstage to hang out with Manu Chao (staff secrets). Any way you cut it, I am sure you have your own laundry list of hilarious, momentous, audacious and wonderful experiences to take with you and tell stories about for years to come. Maybe you recycle more. Maybe you buy a CD of your new favorite Japanese artist, maybe you quit wearing shoes.
So, remember what you learned, reminisce about what you miss, and I’ll see you next year. ☺

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…

GOGOL BORDELLO'S LEGENDARY '08 CRYSTAL PALACE TENT GIG

A few weeks back, Dom shared some of his favourite shows from Fuji Rock’s past.  He specifically highlighted The Pogues (2005), Madness (2006), The Cure (2007), My Bloody Valentine (2008), Roland S Howard (2009), and JohnFogerty (2010).

Like my good mate, I started going to FRF in 2005.  Since then, I’ve seen no shortage of very good shows in Naeba.  Here’s my list of the best performances I’ve watched each year: Afrirampo (2005), Broken Social Scene (2006), Battles (2007), Gogol Bordello (2008), M83 (2009), and Matt & Kim (2010).

As Dave mentioned earlier today, the 9^th Fuji Rock lineup is out.  The fest’s timetable was released along with it.  There are 212 acts now listed, and while it’s possible that a couple more performers may be added in the next 27 days leading up to the fest, things are pretty much set.

Looking at the timetable, what are everyone’s predictions for top performances of 2011?

And while we’re at it, who are everyone’s favourite acts from previous years?

For the seasoned vets who have been FRF-ing it up since the late 90s, what are the fest’s all-time greatest concerts? Gogol Bordello’s Crystal Palace Tent gig definitely has to be included in there somewhere.

Here’s to old FRF memories and the new ones that will be made in a few weeks time.

*Photo by Miyuki “Sam” Samata and used with the permission of Fuji Rock Express ‘08.

An extremely energetic Matt & Kim at The White Stage on Sunday Morn

My performance best o’ list for FRF ‘10 is as follows:

Matt & Kim — Sunday, August 1 @ White Stage (I know Kern said they did the *exact* same show on Saturday at Avalon, but I didn’t see them on Avalon and hot diggity damn were they ever fun on the White Stage)

Dirty Projectors — Saturday, July 31 @ Red Marquee

Vampire Weekend — Sunday, August 1 @ Greeen Stage

John Fogerty — Saturday, July 31 @ Green Stage

Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro — Sunday, August 1 @ Field Of Heaven Continue Reading…

Best feat of engineering

Best show
John Fogerty: After seeing Stevie Wonder at Summer Sonic last week, I was refortified in my opinion of what a rare and wonderful treat Fogerty’s Saturday evening set was. Though Stevie can still ram and jam with the best of them, it’s clear that those classics, as great as they are, mean less to him with every passing concert. He’s just played them too many times. Fogerty, on the other hand, went almost three decades without playing his classic CCR tunes in front of people simply because he didn’t own the publishing and didn’t think he should pay for the privilege of performing them. Now that he’s got the publishing back, it’s like he’s discovered these songs for the first time: fresh, tough, eminently sing-alongable. Now it’s our privilege to hear them again.
Runnerup: Moriarty, the best France-based, Anglophone, Irish-American-roots rock group with female lead singer. Every festival should have one. Continue Reading…

Plenty to cheer about this year

Another Fujirock has come and gone. Here are a few of my most memorable moments:

Best performances of 2010:

Alberta Cross: Whoever was working the boards of this show should be given a medal. The band’s 3-guitar attack sounded perfect, and vocalist Petter Ericson Stakee proved he could hit the same notes live as he did on album. Jeff’s review here.

Beardyman: Magic comes out of this dude’s mouth. I saw all three of this beatbox/DJ’s shows, and aside from the occasional meandering club thump, was blown away every time. Reviews here and here.

The Human Cannonball: Yes, you read correctly. This guy, in a blaze of smoke and thunder, flew out of a cannon and into a nearby net. Nightly. More on him here and here.

Continue Reading…

Hey ma and pa, what the hell is wrong with ya’ll? Why isn’t the rest of the year as much fun as Fuji Rock?. Ahh, reality… Here are some memories to fuel us till next year:

Best Acts at FRF 2010:
Fishbone – 20 years and counting, and still one of the best live bands in the world, period. Angelo Moore may now look like a pot bellied pig, but this was FRF 2010’s best mosh pit, with no second place. Read Kern’s awesome review.
Air – 2 guys, so much sound. I can’t imagine what they’d be like with an entire orchestra, which I hear is what they’re trying to do on their next tour
Buffalo Daughter – Dressed in red, and their unique, amazing electro-jamming was at full force. Do yourself a favor and buy their new album.
John Fogerty – Way more than just a 70s rock icon. Read Phil’s terrific recap.

Best DJ set:
Fischerspooner – There was certainly Spooner, but where was Fischer? Who cares. They’ve got the tunes.

Best World Music:
Narasirato Pan Pipers – Wonderful envoys from the Solomon Islands. read more
Anyango – This Japanese girl’s a celebrity in Kenya, and with LOTS of fans! read more

Best Moment:
Fishbone lead singer Angelo Moore handing out flyers at the Crystal Palace at 3am. The flyers were cheap computer printouts and just said “Fishbone”.

Favorite Anthem:
Well, anyway, this was the song I couldn’t stop humming in my head on the bus ride home from Naeba. Riva Starr’s “I Was Drunk…” Yeah, fitting.

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.

This was actually kind of hot

We always tell everyone to go to the Palace of Wonder after hours, that you’ll often have your best time of the festival. It’s probably a blessing that so few listen, because it always seems to be just the right amount of packed. But, once more, I’d like to point out that this is the kind of weird crap you can see there: a lithe long-haired dude in a creepy Jason mask dancing to Upside Down with any and all comers at Vegas In Milk, mostly guys as it happened. (Can’t blame the ladies…that mask just screams ’stranger danger’) The guy had some sick moves, and it all made me feel very very happy.

Those eyes...so dead...like windows to an empty soul...

-Kern

Not sure what these girls were doing. Just being cute I guess.

The river under the bridge just before the White Stage is a perennial favorite hang-out at the fest. Full size photos of the throngs frolicking after the jump! It looks so refreshing I can’t believe I’m in here just writing about it! Continue Reading…

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…

He was enjoying Zappa so much I didn’t have the heart to stop and ask his name.

Once I was at a BMX race when I was about 12 and I saw this Journey hat for sale at a stand, and I really wanted it and I asked my mom and she was just about to buy it for me but then it turned out it was kind of dirty and so she didn’t. I’ve never told that story to anyone before. Also: I don’t even wear hats!

-Kern

Well the others have summed it up pretty succinctly, I think. Not much more to say, other than don’t listen to anyone on what you should like.

But we don’t go for the music. Nope. If it were the music we went to see, then we’d shell out like the rest of you do. Then we could actually relax and enjoy said music. I remember a few years beck, our esteemed leader commented that he was having a near perfect weekend, catching up with old friends, and if only the bands would shut the fuck up and give them some peace it would have been truly perfect! Continue Reading…

“Fuji Rock won’t really be like Glastonbury until the Emperor shows up in a pink wig.” – Jon Helmer, Fuji Rock documentarian

Tents & Bugs & Rock N Roll

My all-purpose recommendation

The one bit of advice that I give to those attending Fuji Rock for the first time (or those coming back after a long hiatus) is to figure out your footwear!

Going back to your hotel room or pup tent in between sets is probably impossible as you should be prepared to mosh around in one pair of shoes the whole time. That said, you better decide what it’s gonna be, and trust me, there are a million good choices out there such as Tevas, Keens, Wellies, Saucony (Kern’s pick), Blundstone, Crocs.

Personally, if I were to buy a pair of shoes for the festival today, I would take my friend Dave’s advice (a fellow blog writer) and get a pair of Gore-Tex lined, ankle high Nike ACG. This half-boot provides enough wet weather protection to muck your way around every footpath at the festival. It also has enough bounce to keep your knees happy on the Red Marquee’s concrete floor. And more importantly, it will give you enough traction to stay upright on the slippery slope near hilltop Heineken tent at the Green Stage.
Continue Reading…

Melbourne's The Tote Re-opens

While this doesn’t affect bands plaing directly this year, it’s worth noting that Melbourne music institution the Tote is reopening tonight after a long battle.

For the last 30 years, the Tote hotel has provided a venue for the craziest of touring and local bands. It was, along with the Corner and the Espy, one of the cornerstones of the music industry in a city that became, through these and a slew of other great venues (as well as no small amount of help from the two excellent independent radio stations RRR and PBS), the centre of Australia’s live music scene, and the incubator for many of the best bands Australia has produced. It all threatened to come crashing down in the mid 90s when Victoria allowed hotels to hold gaming licences, and we lost many venues to the insidious pokies. Only the strongest willed of operators managed to resist the temptation to sell their souls to this cash cow and keep doing what they knew was right. Bruce Milne of the Tote was one who will be going up, rather than down, when his time comes. Continue Reading…

Just some random shots taken as we stumbled around the Festival. As Canadian icon Art Bergmann once rasped, “I love the people I eat and the food I meet…”

Continue Reading…

At the very beginning of Jon Helmer’s DVD Tents & Bugs and Rock N Roll, we see a dreadlocked Aussie or Kiwi or Brit (damned accents) standing outside the Naeba hotels getting totally excited about the fact that, somewhere within the walls of that hotel is Limp fucking Bizkit (profanity added by the present writer to better portray said excitement). This first section having been filmed in 1999, I concluded that either a) this was exactly the sort of time-warp nostalgia experience you look for in a DVD like this, because clearly the memo from on hipster high that the Bizkit suck hadn’t yet been circulated, or quite possibly b) this gentleman just thinks for himself. (For the record, I still think “Break Stuff” is one of the top 5 greatest raging angry songs ever.)
Continue Reading…