Midlake – bolachas.org

Willis Earl Beal © Hugo Lima

So the first official day (Main Stage was finally ready to welcome the festival goers) started with former homeless Willis Earl Beal. When I saw that black dude coming to the stage my mind couldn’t stop thinking of Motown. At the moment he started singing I saw James Carr (a little bit more caustic) and Tom Waits. Although he was stage-alone and the instruments were recorded and played live, Willis Earl Bell conquered the small audience with his peculiar way of tale-telling.

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis © Hugo Lima

Time to peek into the main stage. I’ve missed you, dude. And what a way to open the main stage! One of my favorites, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis never seem to amaze me. Family Durham play a irresistible mix of 50’s rock n’ roll/ska/everybody dancing that can’t be forgotten. Totally a debut in Portugal and probably one of the most underrated bands in all the lineup. I saw them in Spain back in 2010, but I have to point that in Paredes they looked more motivated. And I was in better company.

Midlake reminded me of the Appalachian Mountains and I’ve never been there. In a crowded stage full of different instruments (e.g. flutes, keyboards, and the customary folk acoustic guitar), Tim Smith and his beardy bandmates conquered the mainstage with their folk, reminded me of the Fleet Foxes, even though they’ve been in the music scene way before them. Probably one of the most adequate shows considering the sunset.

Patrick Watson © Hugo Lima

Patrick Watson sure is a welcomed guy here in Portugal. Countless are the times he’s been in Portugal, with full concerts almost all over the country. Wasn’t different this time. Dozens of fans were already queuing at the secondary stage, trying to get close to him as possible. Shifting in between the piano and the microphone and getting lauded song after song, Patrick sure was a happy man. With an intimist set (as expected) Watson took a hold of all the lonely hearts and ended solo on the stage: just him, his piano and a dim light.

Sleigh Bells © Hugo Lima

Back to the main stage Alexis Krauss told Derek: lover I am still here breaking chairs. If Patrick Watson was more like a delicate bird, Sleigh Bells just bombed the stage. You read it right, bombed. WWII B-17 Flying Fortresses were nothing compared to what was just happening. Totally overwhelming Krauss kept dancing and singing in front of blasting amps in a peculiar fashion. Crossing pop with hardcore punk, Sleigh Bells were probably one of the best shows that the festival ever had. Not suitable for epileptics.

dEUS © Hugo Lima

For the third time in Paredes de Coura, dEUS are always a favorite. With seven records and a handful of great songs, dEUS were welcomed by a huge crowd. The once grassy floor was completely covered by the feet of more than 20,000 persons. Starting with “The Architect”, followed by “Constant Now” the claps and screaming made me realize how popular they actually are here. Crowd favorites like “Instant Street” and “Suds & Soda” delighted the audience and there was still time for a new song in French. A little bit short show but Tom Barman still does it right.

Digitalism was the chosen band to close the main stage. And it was a challenging task. Electro-rock, pure fun, catchy sounds and a visually appealing show conquered the crowd who didn’t wanted to leave the stage. Just two dudes standing still on stage with their keyboards. The crowd was going along with their music, waiting for the big electro rock pumps which turned out a huge dancing scene. Pogo, probably one of their most known songs closed their concert and eventually the stage, making time for an unusual thing in a show like this: moshing. Oh, the drugs.

After hours was handed to Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (catchy electronic) and Kavinsky (Ed Banger’s hangout, probably most known for his song “Nightcall”), made probably one of the most crowded afterhours set in the whole festival.

JFC