BBK Live 2019 as we lived it

Jul 13

Jul 13 BBK Live 2019 as we lived it

Hidden among the misty mountains of Spain, there is an indie village. Relying on something as modem as guitars, BBK Live continues to prove that festivals are not just a profit and loss account.

One immediately realize the growth of BBK Live festival, which in this edition number 14 has a whopping seven stages. However, its very careful, spacious aesthetic offers the best experience among characteristic green sceneries of Kobeta mountain.

Thursday – July 9

Thursday was Liam Gallagher's big night. He had time for several Oasis songs and a couple of his own. Starting with Rock ‘n’ Roll Star and finishing his set with an unsurpassed Wonderwall, Supersonic and Champagne Supernova combo, Liam distils nostalgia. He also played Morning Glory, Columbia, Slide Away, Roll with It, Cigarettes & Alcohol, Wall of Glass, Greedy Soul and Shockwave.

Another iconic British artist who made a career in the glorious 90s was Thom Yorke. The leader of Radiohead, who came under the bombastic name of Thom Yorke Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes, offered a hypnotic and dark show. The main repertoire was from his recent album "Anima" (2019) followed by "Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes" (2014), and "The Eraser" (2006). His set was about dark and somewhat obsessive sounds, mixed with layers of robotic production, Yorke's voice and his total delivery on stage. Thom wanted to make it clear that his show at BBK Live would not be related to Radiohead. But it was a victory of the different sounds, with a great electronic bet.

Slaves know that British pop is so lost that it can only be saved by the rough way. It was a blasting punk hurricane, refined with touches of garage and blues. They performed songs from “Acts of Fear and Love” (2018), and literally stormed the Txiki stage. Isaac hit the drums so hard that he had to change the drumsticks at the beginning of each song.

The Voidz showed us one thing: this is the band where Julian Casablancas takes off and hits with experimentation. The Voidz are open to new and interesting concepts. Their show felt like eclicticity and avant-garde attached to rock. It felt like punk, psychedelia, new wave and pure garage to dance with the band's neon trappings. The Eternal Tao was a cherry on that cake, an indispensable piece in their liveshow.

Friday – July 10

Rosalia had arrived and since the first song began to sound, the BBK Live collapsed. Her presence is imposing, the voice overwhelms with power and beauty, and the choreographies work with an obvious plasticity. What is missing? Surely something to defend a show where for an hour there are no musicians. Meanwhile, the songs, like Catalina a cappella, the wonderful Say my Name or the delicate Let the Moon not Rise did really hit the crowd. The audience enjoyed the whole concert with fervor but without fuss, to let go crazy in an urban final composed of With Height, Aute Cuture and Badly.

We must highlight the overwhelming energy of Idles. The authors of “Joy as an Act of Resistance” (2018), gathered a large group of fans who ended up fused in constant mosh pits. The festival organizers had to place six bars to prop up the fences to resist the storm that emerged with Danny Nedelko, Never Fight a Man With a Perm, Love Song (with a nod to Strokes's Last Nite included), or Exeter (with Livin 'on a Prayer falsetto). Joe Talbot, king of brutalist punk, urgent and rabid, was impeccable in his work.

But it was clearly the night of The Strokes. The band is inspired by the famous New York scene of the seventies, which broke barriers, brought punk and opened a way to make music that still shakes the one who knows it. The Modern Age, Reptilia, Hard To Explain, New York City Cops, Last Nite, 12:51 and Soma, are more than enough to headline BBK Live. The Strokes treasure one of the greatest arsenals of songs in the indie scene. They hold an enviable ability to mix the best of punk, rock and classic garage. On this tour they only play songs from their first three albums, “Is This It” (2001), “Room on Fire” (2003), and “First Impressions of Earth” (2006). Their set at BBK Live was a machine gun, with hits sounding nonstop. It went slow only for a while to come back like a hurricane with Someday, Is This It and an their iconic Last Nite.

Saturday – July 11

The cold darkness of The Good, The Bad & The Queen landed at BBK Live during the last day of the festival. It’s the project of Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz) with Paul Simonon (The Clash), Simon Tong (The Verve) and Tony Allen (Fela Kuti). A gorgeous performance got around ten people on stage, and the band played songs like Herculean, Kingdom of Doom and songs from their most recent album “Merrie Land”.

Hot Chip pulled classic hits and turned the main stage into a disco room. They opened with Huarache Lights and closed with I Feel Better, linking it with songs such as Boy From School, Over And Over and Ready For The Floor. Also, we got a version of Beastie Boys' Sabotage.

Weezer started strong with Buddy Holly, continued with Undone - The Sweater Song and completed it with Holiday to show that their blue album is their greatest work, and they know it. Up to four more of the "Blue Album" were played, not forgetting themes of the acclaimed "Pinkerton" (The Good Life), and the successful "Green Album" (Hash Pipe, Island In The Sun) among others. Weezer was probably the most anticipated act of the night. Cuomo, dressed in a floral shirt and a fisherman's hat, was singing to nostalgia again. A great wrap up for those fans who have spent the weekend returning to their youth.