Tennents Vital Day 2
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Tennents Vital DayÌý2
Stone Roses, FlorenceÌý& the Machine, Rodrigo Y Gabriella, Maverick Sabre, Gerard I2
Boucher Playing Fields, Belfast
Wednesday 22nd August 2012
It was always a tough sell. Foo Fighters are the quintessential festival band, well trained and reliable, an absolute banker. - well, we all know that Ian Brown misses more notes than he hits, we're told they don't get on behind the scenes and we know they haven't released a record in almost twenty years. But Ìýare up for the cup, determined to make the most of it. The babysitters are booked after all.
It started with Strabane man, with his blend of Ìýhip hop and electro breakdowns. He gives it his all, clearly enjoying every second,Ìýand although today sees a slower rush from the crowd he steadily gets people on board. Complemented by his drummer, array of samples and in your face backing tracks, Gerrard's fierce and passionate vocals shine through at all the right moments.
Over in the bar and a dirty half dozen of local acts are doing their best to compete with both the main stage and a cackle of noisy drinkers. This is essentially stage two - acoustic sets on the floor provided by a selection of Northern Ireland's finest. Once again, kudos to Vital for the concept, even if it did end up a huge anticlimax - a swing and a miss, if you like.
, for example. He'll muster on like the pro he is, those tunes still there for anyone not entirely focused on getting their round in. The usually awesome don't fair quite as well, a normally brutally awesome force neutered and vulnerable, armed as they are with a single guitar and cajon drum box. Even the merest hint of those songs makes for a few enjoyable moments, but it's unlikely they won over too many new fans with these timid, scaled down renditions of their usually gutsy rock. In general, this bar is a very frustrating place to be. So back out into the….sunshine! Yes folks, we're wearing shades.
The sun sits perfectly above Irish-English singer-songwriter and rapper on the main stage. A genre hopping set showcases his natural vocal gifts with a mix of blues, R n B and his Winehouse-lite styleÌýmaking for mass appeal. CitingÌýtechnical issues that few notice,Ìýhe brings out the acoustic for hisÌýtake on 'Wonderall'Ìýwhich feels like a pointless gimmick.ÌýThe set takesÌýa different direction with hisÌýChase and Status collaboration, 'Fire in Your Eyes'Ìýbut it's the likes ofÌý'Let Me Know' and 'No One' that are perfect festival fodder, unleashed to (gradually) win us over.
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have made a few changes. A salsa style band with live brass, drums, bass and keys beef up the mexican duos sound to almost unrecognisable levels. It's impressive, but at a cost - their intricate guitar work now sounds a little….lost. A lot of energy sapping running, some funk,Ìýand a little too much 'wah' starts to resemble a Santana set, andÌýwe're relieved to eventually see a return to more familiar, solid territory. Gabriella's rhythm gets ya, while Rodrigo goes back to his acoustic shredding ways. On the whole - pretty confused.
At least you know where you stand with Welch. She'll milk adulation for all it's worth, conducting the crowd in her own trippy, Faux-KateBush way. But dressed in a pretty impressive flowing green number and armed with a souped up band and mini-choir combo, this is quite the spectacle. 'What the Water Gave Me' is the first 'moment' of the day, 'Rabbit Heart' the second. Her voice is as majestic as ever and, thankfully pretty reigned in. Too many times we've witness that girl screech.
, then. Thirty seconds of 'I Wanna Be Adored' and we get the jist - Ian Brown is a singer who hasn't learned how to sing. John Squire and Reni are incredible musicians. Mani is knackered. A mixed bag, for sure.
But yes, it's all about the occasion. After all, one could argue only John, Paul, George and Ringo are four bigger legends in the same band. And, if rumours are to be believed, after tonight that's definitely it for the reunion. 'Shoot You Down' is an early highlight, gentle and complementing what's (thankfully) a pretty mild evening breeze. 'Fools Gold' is an absolute marathon, lasting long enough for a trip to those horrendous toilets (seriously, who puts a load of urinals in amongst a queue for the ladies?) and back. Those little nods to other songs helped us through it, mind. Was that a bit of 'Day Tripper' we heard in there, Mr. Squire?
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'Love Spreads', on the other hand, is an absolute car crash. We were warned about the rap, yet when it arrives (after some of the worse vocals of the night), it's time to run for cover. 'Stone Roses, built to last, Stone Roses….Belfast' - Ian Brown makes a point of repeating the line to his drummer, clearly very pleased with himself. We're not so sure.
'This is the One' keeps the rollercoaster going - absolutely blinding. 'I Am the Ressurection' - ditto. 20,000 backing vocalists helps. At this point Ian Brown is throwing what he can to the pit - set lists, stage tat and paper aeroplanes. Mani is calling us 'best', Reni comes down to say hello. Even John Squire breaks a smile. They're hugging each other, bigging up themselves and ourselves in equal measures. It's a pretty special end to a patchy set as charm and genuine gratefulness win over a few doubting stragglers.
An odd day then - and aptly so - it's been a strange journey for Vital after all. Inside a marquee in 2002 before confused line ups in Botanic (Kings of Leon supported by Faithless) and mega-gigs in Ormeau. Off to Bangor for a single year and now at a surprisingly picturesque site between car showrooms and shopping centres on the Boucher Road. Chased around the country for ten years. Following complaints about noise (and we're told their volume levels were both the standard and completely legal, by the way), they're possibly facing further nomadic adventures in 2013.
Built to last? Lets hope so.
Words: Rigsy, Amy McGarrigle, Ross Haymes
Photos: Tony Irvine
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