I just got back from Rock Zottegem, and well... it kinda rocked. We missed the first group though - the skavengers - but caught Mauro and the Grooms partially. Why partially? Because we left after about 30 minutes to go grab some drinks and food. My first impression of the band was that Mauro reminded me of Prince - especially in his moves - and while their set was nice, it was not really my cup of tea.
After the necessary drinks and food we went back in the tent to see Krezip. I don't know much Krezip songs, nor had I ever seen them live, but their enthousiasm and performance were outstanding. Totally worth my time so to speak. Not that I'm a fan now, but still, I know a good performance when I see it.
A good performance was not something that could be said about Anouk. While I was looking forward to seeing her live on stage, I walked out after the third song or so. It was a total disaster compared to Krezip. Either Anouk just didn't feel like giving everything, or that's just the way she performs. Doesn't matter to me, I was seriously disappointed.
Up next was the godfather of Soul himself : James Brown. I don't know what the deal was with them, but either James or his Soul Generals couldn't find the right clothes or something coz they started about an hour late. Up to that point, the shows had been running as clockwork, so it's not that they were all delayed. Anyway, after waiting for 45 minutes, they decided the show up, and while it rocked - wait, is that the right choice of words for James Brown? - it also became pretty boring after 30 minutes. I guess it's the way they perform in the USA, but there is not really a point in introducing every single member of your 13 man strong entourage on stage, and then give them each a couple of minutes to do their thing solo.
I don't think I was the only one to think the same of it, coz when I went outside, there was about the same amount of people as inside the tent. Happily drinking, chatting and eating. Near the end we heared him do some of his hits like Sexmachine, but it was all too dragged out for me.
Then, finally, around 01h30 Front 242 was ready to kick off a set that blasted us away. Body to Body to open with, followed by more older work like Im Rythmus Bleiben and such. A small technical problem did interrupt the set for about 5 minutes, but after that the ride just continued, to end off with three extra songs, one of them being Kampfbereit. The first time I've seen that song being performed live ever!
The atmosphere during the set was very good, even if some idiots just didn't seem to get that violent dancing and pushing is NOT the same as starting a fight, or hitting people deliberately. I can understand that it might be a fine line for non-Front 242 fans, sometimes hardly visible, but the line is there and we will not stand for fighting. Anyway, I think they got the idea after some people intervened a few times to calm them down and after that it was just sweet.
Oh, in case the beautiful tall woman with the curly brown hair (shoulder length) that was dancing next to me during the live set reads this, get in touch! I was looking for an opportunity to start talking to you right after the show, but my thirsty friends decided differently. I went back inside, but couldn't find you anymore :(
Maybe - hopefully - I'll see you on the Lokerse Feesten on August 4th for another Front 242 gig?
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