Japan Times, August 2, 2012: Difference between revisions
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Actually, the only real rain that festival-goers were made to endure was just after British rock outfit Radiohead closed the Green Stage on the Sunday night — and even that lasted for an almost refreshing 10 minutes, barely enough time for the retreating audience to put on their ponchos before promptly taking them off again. And plus, if it was going to teem down, then after the group's sublime performance was just the right time. | Actually, the only real rain that festival-goers were made to endure was just after British rock outfit Radiohead closed the Green Stage on the Sunday night — and even that lasted for an almost refreshing 10 minutes, barely enough time for the retreating audience to put on their ponchos before promptly taking them off again. And plus, if it was going to teem down, then after the group's sublime performance was just the right time. | ||
After a whole weekend of waiting for the five-piece to take the biggest stage at the festival, the waves of expectation and anticipation rippling through the well-over 40,000-strong crowd were palpable. Opening their gig with "Lotus Flower" followed by "Bloom," the band took the crowd into their own pace by playing a modern setlist centered around songs off their latest albums | After a whole weekend of waiting for the five-piece to take the biggest stage at the festival, the waves of expectation and anticipation rippling through the well-over 40,000-strong crowd were palpable. Opening their gig with "Lotus Flower" followed by "Bloom," the band took the crowd into their own pace by playing a modern setlist centered around songs off their latest albums ''The King Of Limbs'' and ''In Rainbows''. Nonetheless, fans of the band's back catalogue made their appreciation clearly audible during the opening riffs of "Kid A," the title track of their fourth album released in 2000, and "The Gloaming" from their 2003 album ''Hail To The Thief''. | ||
The famously introverted lead vocalist Thom Yorke hardly spoke during the performance, and all he could muster up was a mumbled dōmo, a simple "thank-you" in Japanese, well into the two-hour set. This hardly took away from any of the magic that was conjured up throughout the show, however, and by the second encore and a spine-tingling version of "Paranoid Android," the audience knew without question that it was witness to one of the best bands in the world. | The famously introverted lead vocalist Thom Yorke hardly spoke during the performance, and all he could muster up was a mumbled dōmo, a simple "thank-you" in Japanese, well into the two-hour set. This hardly took away from any of the magic that was conjured up throughout the show, however, and by the second encore and a spine-tingling version of "Paranoid Android," the audience knew without question that it was witness to one of the best bands in the world. | ||
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Brit rock weekend in Naeba was not without it's share of drama, however. Perhaps the most infamous brothers in British music today, the Gallaghers, faced massive public and media attention in the runup to the festival as both Liam and Noel were slated to play with their respective newly formed bands Beady Eye and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. One wonders how Liam may have felt when he heard that his crew was only going to fill the warmup slot for The Stone Roses on Friday, while his brother headlined Saturday's program. | Brit rock weekend in Naeba was not without it's share of drama, however. Perhaps the most infamous brothers in British music today, the Gallaghers, faced massive public and media attention in the runup to the festival as both Liam and Noel were slated to play with their respective newly formed bands Beady Eye and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. One wonders how Liam may have felt when he heard that his crew was only going to fill the warmup slot for The Stone Roses on Friday, while his brother headlined Saturday's program. | ||
While Noel didn't betray any sign of the ongoing feud, baby bro Liam couldn't quite help himself as he dedicated the only two Oasis songs in their set to his older sibling with a sarcastic, "The one and only Mr. Noel Gallagher" when introducing "Rock N Roll Star," and opening "(What's The Story?) Morning Glory" with a snide, "This one is for The High Flying Smurfs." Unfortunately, it was this open display of bad blood that hurt their performance, as Liam's defiant attitude throughout created an uneasy vibe that lingered in the audience — evidenced by a distinct lack of applause from start to finish — until they closed with "Sons Of The Stage" from their 2011 debut album | While Noel didn't betray any sign of the ongoing feud, baby bro Liam couldn't quite help himself as he dedicated the only two Oasis songs in their set to his older sibling with a sarcastic, "The one and only Mr. Noel Gallagher" when introducing "Rock N Roll Star," and opening "(What's The Story?) Morning Glory" with a snide, "This one is for The High Flying Smurfs." Unfortunately, it was this open display of bad blood that hurt their performance, as Liam's defiant attitude throughout created an uneasy vibe that lingered in the audience — evidenced by a distinct lack of applause from start to finish — until they closed with "Sons Of The Stage" from their 2011 debut album ''Different Gear, Still Speeding'' to polite claps and no demands for an encore. | ||
Perhaps unsurprising to many, The High Flying Birds went down much better with the congregation in Naeba. Oozing with the rough-around-the-edges charisma that he is so well known for, Noel swept the crowd off its feet with just the right balance of his new band's repertoire, Oasis tunes and a generous helping of playful banter with audience members — the most memorable of which was when Noel echoed one fervent lady fan's repeated calls of "Will you marry me?!" — adding: "I can't, I'm already married. Alright, tell you what, you can be my second wife." | Perhaps unsurprising to many, The High Flying Birds went down much better with the congregation in Naeba. Oozing with the rough-around-the-edges charisma that he is so well known for, Noel swept the crowd off its feet with just the right balance of his new band's repertoire, Oasis tunes and a generous helping of playful banter with audience members — the most memorable of which was when Noel echoed one fervent lady fan's repeated calls of "Will you marry me?!" — adding: "I can't, I'm already married. Alright, tell you what, you can be my second wife." |
Latest revision as of 18:08, 15 April 2021
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