Yesterday I started reviewing Rock en Seine, but since I have lots to explain I decided to write at least two posts about it. So here we go.
Day 2: August 25th.
The second day of Rock en Seine started with some music discoveries. First I discovered Of Monsters And Men, an icelandic band with bright melodies and with enormous amounts of energy, they connected really well with the audience even if at that time it was more a warm up than a full set. After them I stumbled across Alberta Cross, I hadn't checked them out before the festival before it, I don't know exactly why, but they are really good, they turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. After them there was the set of one of the bands I was looking forward since I got the tickets, Maximö Park, it's not that I'm a fan but I knew I liked some of their songs and I really wanted to see how they fared live and they are great, they enjoy themselves on stage, the keyboardist even started doing crazy things, like climbing on the keyboard, and in general they were really really good, also they were funny. After them, there came dEUS, I had listened to them before the festival, but not much actually, I knew I liked some songs, but I hadn't high expectations, I mean I was just going there to see what they had to offer and I have to say that I really liked them, which made me wonder how much music I'm loosing out just because I don't have the chance to listen to it. As the day went on the stars of the lineup started appearing, so it was the turn for The Temper Trap, I've liked them since I watched (500) Days of Summer (some of their songs are on the soundtrack), and I wanted to see them when they came to Barcelona, but by then I wasn't keen on going to concerts alone so I missed them out, therefore I was really excited to see them, and they were brilliant, they have just released a new CD which is awesome and, of course, they have those bright songs of their first CD, I'm definitely seeing them again live. Then it was turn for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, I went there for sheer curiosity and I didn't actually engage a lot on it, I mean it was good, but I wasn't thrilled. There were two concerts left on my schedule, the first one being Eagles of Death Metal, don't let the name fool you, they're rock'n'roll all the way, not only for the music, but for their attitude, I had a blast with them, they're exactly how rock bands used to be, only that now, at one point the singer had a full glass (I think it was half a liter) of whisky-cola in a sitting, I really, really liked them. And the final concert for the day was The Black Keys set, I don't need to say that they are good, because everyone knows who The Black Keys are, even if they haven't listened to their music, and they are even better live (yes, when you thought things could get better it does), I mean I don't even own any of their music (yes, I do pay for music) but if there was a concert of them close to me I'd go without even thinking about it (and I'd probably sing along most of the time). So, Saturday was a complete rock'n'roll day, could it get better?
8/30/2012
Rock en Seine 2012: Review (Part 1)
This year I decided to write a short review of all the concerts I've gone to. Well, this last week I went to Rock en Seine.
Rock en Seine is a 3-day festival which takes place in the Domaine Nationale Saint Cloud, which is a park in Paris (close to Bois de Bologne). This year was special because it was the 10-year anniversary so they it was circus-themed. It was my first time at a music festival and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. One of the really good things of it was that the concerts ended early enough so you were able to go back to the center of Paris using the public transport.
As I said I'm going to write a little review on the concerts I got to see.
Day 1: August 24th.
First day of the festival, it started in the sunshine, but the skies were soon full of menacing clouds. Taking profit of the still benevolent weather I headed to see Citizens! who were a pleasant surprise, they are engaging and full of energy, keep an eye on them I think they have a really bright future ahead. After them I went to see a bit of The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, but unfortunately I cannot tell you much about their set since it started raining, although of what I could hear they are good, after all they were featured in a Heineken comercial. I was really excited to see Get Well Soon because they were playing with the Ile-de-France National Orchestra so I endured the rain and got to listen one of the most heartbreaking performances I've ever seen, I wish they'd do more collaborations like this one with rock bands and orchestras. Finally, the rain stopped and I went back to the main stage to listen to Dionysos, I'm very ashamed, but I have to confess that I had never heard about them before, although I guess it is natural since they are French and usually French indie music doesn't get here, anyway, I fell in love with them when they made their entrance at the music of Star Wars Imperial March and when they played a song that had a chorus that went something like "I feel like John McEnroe", being a tennis lover as I am, I could not stop singing that line. After them it came one of the most anticipated sets, The Shins, I think they need no introduction and also no need for me to tell you to listen to them, their set was brilliant although I couldn't see it all. The reason why I couldn't see it all was because, on the main stage, Bloc Party was about to start, and believe me, if I had known what was about to happen I wouldn't have gone, Bloc Party was a complete disappointment, really, I was kinda excited about seeing them live but it isn't worth it, even if there was some people who were really enjoying themselves. Luckily after them I saw sigur rós, they are not what you'd call rock'n'roll, but I think they did fit in the festival, it was the first time I was seeing them live and it was one of the most anticipated sets, I guess that the best way to describe it would be that watching them live is like watching a force of nature, like a volcano eruption or the sea during a storm, it is terrifyingly beautiful and it doesn't know it, and you can't do nothing but contemplate it. The final set I saw on Friday was Placebo, I knew them but I never actually listened to their songs thoroughly, but I enjoyed the show anyway, I guess that a fan of them would tell you more about it, it was a really good set and it convinced me that I needed to listen more at them.
This is the end of the first day of the festival, I thought I could write everything in just one post, but it's way too long already.
Rock en Seine is a 3-day festival which takes place in the Domaine Nationale Saint Cloud, which is a park in Paris (close to Bois de Bologne). This year was special because it was the 10-year anniversary so they it was circus-themed. It was my first time at a music festival and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. One of the really good things of it was that the concerts ended early enough so you were able to go back to the center of Paris using the public transport.
As I said I'm going to write a little review on the concerts I got to see.
Day 1: August 24th.
First day of the festival, it started in the sunshine, but the skies were soon full of menacing clouds. Taking profit of the still benevolent weather I headed to see Citizens! who were a pleasant surprise, they are engaging and full of energy, keep an eye on them I think they have a really bright future ahead. After them I went to see a bit of The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, but unfortunately I cannot tell you much about their set since it started raining, although of what I could hear they are good, after all they were featured in a Heineken comercial. I was really excited to see Get Well Soon because they were playing with the Ile-de-France National Orchestra so I endured the rain and got to listen one of the most heartbreaking performances I've ever seen, I wish they'd do more collaborations like this one with rock bands and orchestras. Finally, the rain stopped and I went back to the main stage to listen to Dionysos, I'm very ashamed, but I have to confess that I had never heard about them before, although I guess it is natural since they are French and usually French indie music doesn't get here, anyway, I fell in love with them when they made their entrance at the music of Star Wars Imperial March and when they played a song that had a chorus that went something like "I feel like John McEnroe", being a tennis lover as I am, I could not stop singing that line. After them it came one of the most anticipated sets, The Shins, I think they need no introduction and also no need for me to tell you to listen to them, their set was brilliant although I couldn't see it all. The reason why I couldn't see it all was because, on the main stage, Bloc Party was about to start, and believe me, if I had known what was about to happen I wouldn't have gone, Bloc Party was a complete disappointment, really, I was kinda excited about seeing them live but it isn't worth it, even if there was some people who were really enjoying themselves. Luckily after them I saw sigur rós, they are not what you'd call rock'n'roll, but I think they did fit in the festival, it was the first time I was seeing them live and it was one of the most anticipated sets, I guess that the best way to describe it would be that watching them live is like watching a force of nature, like a volcano eruption or the sea during a storm, it is terrifyingly beautiful and it doesn't know it, and you can't do nothing but contemplate it. The final set I saw on Friday was Placebo, I knew them but I never actually listened to their songs thoroughly, but I enjoyed the show anyway, I guess that a fan of them would tell you more about it, it was a really good set and it convinced me that I needed to listen more at them.
This is the end of the first day of the festival, I thought I could write everything in just one post, but it's way too long already.
8/20/2012
Relationships
I don't usually talk about really personal stuff in here because I'm not a 16 year old who is discovering love or Bridget Jones. Specially because I'm not Bridget Jones, or ever intend to be. But as a socially awkward person sometimes I just need to think outloud (and since people already thinks I'm crazy I'd rather do it in here that on the street).
I've always found it difficult to relate to real persons, to understand the problems of the people around me, and at the same time I've always found difficult to confess my secrets or my problems to my friends. I've got close friends, for sure, but I don't always open up as I should to share the burden.
As I said I'm socially awkward but in a kinda strange way, I can be really outgoing when everyone's new, but it takes me longer when I meet people who are already in a group. In a similar way I find it really easy to make friends with guys, but almost impossible to reach another level.
Of late I've only liked guys that had girlfriends, it's not that I met them and then they told me they had girlfriends so I thought that I had to like them, but rather that I met them, I started liking them and then I discovered they had girlfriends. Which I guess makes an awesome superpower since I can detect the boys that are willing to be in a committed relationship (although not with me).
After that I though about the kind of romantic relationships around me, I know some couples that have been dating since they were really really young and they are already moving in together, I know some people who have had long lasting relationships and they are what you would call "serial monogamists", I know some other people who aren't looking for anything serious so they have one-night stands, and then there's people like me who have nothing at all. Actually I'm not even looking for anything, sometimes I think it'd be nice to have someone who comforts you and everything, but I'm a really independent person and I can't stand having someone around me all the time, I really need to have my own space. I guess the only chance of having a long lasting relationship is finding someone like me, though if he's like me he'll be doing exactly the same I'm doing, pushing away anyone who dares to get too close.
Anyway, what I wanted to say is that I no longer know what is supposed to be a normal relationship, because in evolutionary terms, right now, nothing makes sense. I mean why are we still staying with the same person most of our lives, if what should interest us the most is to find the most fit individual to have offspring with? This is particularly true for guys, they should try to have kids with as many women as possible so they can spread their genes. And still there are some men who decide not to. Ok, yes tell me whatever, but you know that out there there are married men who have kids outside marriage with other women, so why are we restricting evolution and denying nature?
I know I have a strange view on relationships for someone who is so unlucky on them, but I don't know it's just what I see, maybe it is the society that's strange or maybe it's just that I cannot understand it.
I've always found it difficult to relate to real persons, to understand the problems of the people around me, and at the same time I've always found difficult to confess my secrets or my problems to my friends. I've got close friends, for sure, but I don't always open up as I should to share the burden.
As I said I'm socially awkward but in a kinda strange way, I can be really outgoing when everyone's new, but it takes me longer when I meet people who are already in a group. In a similar way I find it really easy to make friends with guys, but almost impossible to reach another level.
Of late I've only liked guys that had girlfriends, it's not that I met them and then they told me they had girlfriends so I thought that I had to like them, but rather that I met them, I started liking them and then I discovered they had girlfriends. Which I guess makes an awesome superpower since I can detect the boys that are willing to be in a committed relationship (although not with me).
After that I though about the kind of romantic relationships around me, I know some couples that have been dating since they were really really young and they are already moving in together, I know some people who have had long lasting relationships and they are what you would call "serial monogamists", I know some other people who aren't looking for anything serious so they have one-night stands, and then there's people like me who have nothing at all. Actually I'm not even looking for anything, sometimes I think it'd be nice to have someone who comforts you and everything, but I'm a really independent person and I can't stand having someone around me all the time, I really need to have my own space. I guess the only chance of having a long lasting relationship is finding someone like me, though if he's like me he'll be doing exactly the same I'm doing, pushing away anyone who dares to get too close.
Anyway, what I wanted to say is that I no longer know what is supposed to be a normal relationship, because in evolutionary terms, right now, nothing makes sense. I mean why are we still staying with the same person most of our lives, if what should interest us the most is to find the most fit individual to have offspring with? This is particularly true for guys, they should try to have kids with as many women as possible so they can spread their genes. And still there are some men who decide not to. Ok, yes tell me whatever, but you know that out there there are married men who have kids outside marriage with other women, so why are we restricting evolution and denying nature?
I know I have a strange view on relationships for someone who is so unlucky on them, but I don't know it's just what I see, maybe it is the society that's strange or maybe it's just that I cannot understand it.
8/01/2012
The art of travelling alone
The first time it was already three years ago. Montréal. I lived there for more than a month, I know people don't usually say they've lived somewhere unless they have been there more time but I got to live the city. In there I discovered how does it feel to explore a city on your own, finding your favorite places at your pace. It was revealing, I never thought I could travel alone before and I think it did change me for good.
The second time I travelled alone was this April, for Frank Turner's concert in Wembley arena, I really wanted to go to the concert and I knew I wouldn't find anyone to keep me company so I did it all by myself. I had been in London before with my friends, it was the first trip we made together, but I enjoyed the city much more alone, revisiting the places where I had already been, visiting the amazing National Gallery. I guess it was just that it was at my pace.
The third time I travelled alone was just last week. As I said on my last post I got some unexpected vacations so I decided to go somewhere I had never been, it could have been anywhere, but I ended up in Budapest. Since I didn't know the city I went on a Free Walking Tour (which I recommend if you're the kind of person who is gregarious and likes to share discoveries), but it wasn't quite my thing. I realized that I enjoy more when I'm on my own with my camera taking hundreds of pictures a day, because that's the way I live the cities.
I'm not an expert on how you should travel, but I think that at least once in your life you should try travelling alone, afterwards you will decide how do you feel more comfortable. If you don't like it you can always write a post on "Why I didn't like travelling alone", but I bet you will like it.
The second time I travelled alone was this April, for Frank Turner's concert in Wembley arena, I really wanted to go to the concert and I knew I wouldn't find anyone to keep me company so I did it all by myself. I had been in London before with my friends, it was the first trip we made together, but I enjoyed the city much more alone, revisiting the places where I had already been, visiting the amazing National Gallery. I guess it was just that it was at my pace.
The third time I travelled alone was just last week. As I said on my last post I got some unexpected vacations so I decided to go somewhere I had never been, it could have been anywhere, but I ended up in Budapest. Since I didn't know the city I went on a Free Walking Tour (which I recommend if you're the kind of person who is gregarious and likes to share discoveries), but it wasn't quite my thing. I realized that I enjoy more when I'm on my own with my camera taking hundreds of pictures a day, because that's the way I live the cities.
I'm not an expert on how you should travel, but I think that at least once in your life you should try travelling alone, afterwards you will decide how do you feel more comfortable. If you don't like it you can always write a post on "Why I didn't like travelling alone", but I bet you will like it.
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