The thing was actually like a music festival with a twin main stage, dance music tent, punk room and hiphop room. But a large part of my day there was taken up by other distractions. Catching up with old friends and enemies. I managed to catch glimpses of bands here and there, caught Machines On 9 (or were they called MM9? I'm totally not hip to that scene.), Skulker, Bodyjar, 28 Days, Endorphin, and some other bits and pieces here and there.
But I came and I laid my money down for one band in particular, and that was the Bird.
I waited thru the rock acts at the main stage, nodding around but not really connecting with anything happening there.
By the time the Bird came on, the skies were darkening and the rock crowds wandered off to the punk music room to be with their kind. Meanwhile, a select few, more than I had ever seen at any other Bird gigs I had been to, stayed put and even chanted �We want the Bird! We want the Bird!� This being apparently their fifth time visiting this 'festival', no wonder there was a healthy cult following awaiting the lads here today.
Behind a crowd barrier and with half a dozen guards on a sparse stage, the good old twin tier keyboards and shambles of a drum kit appear. It was quite a curious sight, the stage ten minutes ago filled with a full rock band now looking rather barren and desolate with only keyboards and drum kit present.
As the sun sets, the bird gets into their intense tribal business, on the main stage with smoke machines and lasers. Having seen these lads rock out more than a few times now, this was one of the best, more high energy sets from them. After a few minutes into the first drum break, Ben the drummer taunts the crowd for not keeping up!
"Fuck that. You guys aren't really. What are you talking about? ... I didn't see shit from you people!"
Loved it when Simon got the chance to dish out some heavy bassline solos too. It's not just about the drums, you know. But my gosh. I love these fellers more every time I see them. Their performance is wild and unpredictable, today there was even some Cuban percussion flavours being served up. It leaves everyone absolutely gob-smacked.