Primavera Sound Festival, Barcelona Spain, May 27th

Well, I’ve gotta say, this festival didn’t go as I had expected but I say that in a good way LOL. I’d never been to Spain and tbh, had heard that people who lived there liked to drink a lot and party late so since this was not only a FREE festival night but there was only going to be one stage for everyone to gravitate too— and OMD weren’t coming on until 22:25 (after 5 other bands) I expected things to be super crowded and crazy. 🙁 As it turned out though, things were quite mellow and spacial for a festival which was a pleasant surprise! 😯 🙂

So it was going to be 5 of us for the fest. Paula and her husband Trevor, Wendy, myself and my friend Lara. Lara was an “OMD Virgin” as we jokingly called her. 😆 We’ve been friends since 2009 and last year while bumming around the UK after the DS gigs she asked to hear some of OMD’s songs. I pulled various ones up and she recognized some of them so decided to come over to Barcelona so we could do a visit but she was excited to check out OMD too.

We arrived shortly before 6pm and a band from Australia called Panama had just started. They were two young guys, one on piano and computers (I think) and the other on drums but I liked them. Next up was an artist I had come in knowing I’d not be a fan of (the website had links so you could check out what the other bands sounded like and read a bio) and honestly none of us really cared too much for her. Her name was Christina Rosenvinge and she was quite yelly at times but us girls had fun watching the lead guitarist as we not only thought he was good looking but also liked watching the faces he’d make while playing. 😉

After her was a band called Cinerama and as soon as I saw a mini orchestra area get set up I thought “ooo, these guys are going to be good!” I had forgotten but it’s a side project of the band The Wedding Present so they sounded a bit like a throw back to the 90s (there was a bit of a Pulp era coming off the stage which was nice! 🙂 ) but we all liked them. The final act was my favorite of them all (I think we all thought that)…Albert Hammond Jr. He’s a member of the American band The Strokes (more alternative rock) and his sound fit theirs but obviously a bit different. Quite a young following as many teens and those in their early 20s had come rushing up to see him. By this time it was almost fully dark so the fest had some cool lights coming from him and all his songs were fresh and interesting so it certainly passed the time in an enjoyable way. 🙂

Once finished, the usual set up for OMD began though I found it kind of funny (in a “hmmm” kind of way) that they seemed to kind of squash the guys together a bit. I had expected Mr. C.s keys to be out more since the stage was big but they condensed space a little it seemed LOL. I should probably put in a disclaimer here as I’m not going to be as detailed and lengthy with this blog as usual. It wasn’t a “normal” OMD gig for me in that I was having a hard time seeing Stuart sitting in Mr. H.#2s chair so my mind wasn’t 100% focused on the gig and instead a lot of emotions were running around but I’ll do my best. I should probably also clarify for anyone who’s wondering and so there’s no misunderstanding that I do NOT mean I wanted to see Mr. H.#2 there because I didn’t! It’d be too dangerous and scary for him to come back and I’m truly glad he’s put his health in front of anything else as that’s what’s truly important!!! However, that being said, it didn’t make it any easier having Stuart there sitting in his chair. I’ve only seen OMD as the 4 original members. It’s what I grew up with, what I’ve known through the umpteen gigs over these past few years and Mr. H. #2, (like any of them really), is a special piece to the OMD puzzle so…it made the night hard for me personally. 😥 Because of this, it’s going to be a bit more general in the blog department, sorry. 🙁

Right, moving on….as mentioned earlier, I’d never been to Spain but Paula has and she told me how the crowds love OMD and sing the “der der der da der der da deeer” part to Enola Gay so when the lights went down, DS got done booming, and the full band was on stage, I got to experience what she was talking about as that was the first song the band sang….and the crowd sang too LOL. Things were looking good for the guys. 🙂 After it was over Mr. M. said a greeting in Spanish (don’t ask me what but we can figure a general idea LOL 😉 ) and then in English said something like “so we’re in Spain at a festival. No more of this cultural stuff. It’s time for electronic music and dancing.” He got no complaints from the crowd LOL.

Lots of cheers as Messages took off next and things continued for Tesla Girls as Mr. M. prompted the crowd to clap along. It was a lovely night, great weather, and I was happy to see that no one was pushing, shoving or squashing me which was a pleasant relief! 😉 Of course shortly after, Mr. M. put down the bass (which sadly was NOT Ol’ Faithful 🙁 ) and off he went bouncing to HoM. From where I was, there were a number of people bopping around which is always a good thing.

Since it was a festival set and they only had 60 minutes, we were treated to two songs of Mr. H. but tonight they were in a row! 😯 FLaD which of course brought Mr. H. forward was greeted with a lot of cheers and not only was Mr. H. beaming but the crowds reaction was making Mr. C. beam too. 🙂 And Souviner which, despite the language barrier, I had heard a couple talking about and from the gist, the wife was taking the “they HAVE to do Souvenir!” stance so she was quite happy when it came on LOL. 😉 He was all smiles for both. But then the section of the gig I was dreading came on. Normally I love JoA and MoO but obviously tonight was different. I honestly can’t report much on Stuart’s playing (or Mr. M.’s windmillling for that matter) as, tbh, I was a wreck by the time MoO came but everything went down as planned and the crowd seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. Earlier, while watching Cinerama, Lara made a comment about the lead singer and how he looked shy and such. She then said “is Mr. M. more charismatic than this guy?” I was like “OMG yes! He’s all over the place! Just wait. You’ll see.” Well, she saw LOL! 😉

I wondered which “slow song” they’d do afterwards to allow Mr. M. to catch his breath as it’d been a few years since seeing them perform at a fest but as soon as TLaC started I thought “oh yeah” LOL. Sitting on the stage monitor, Mr. M. got the back and forth arm swing going by saying “yes I know. It’s a festival cliche swaying back and forth but you KNOW you want to.” I hadn’t yet gotten a song recorded and kind of regret not getting the next one as it was shortened for the festival setting but good to see them do a new one with Metroland, Mr. M. making a joke that they were old men with a new song. Hey, why not? 😉

Time was going by and shortly later Mr. M. said something about doing a different song and turned to Mr. H. and Stuart. Then said “there’s a voice in my ear telling me we have to cut a song because we’re running late. But we HAVE to do this song.” That lead to Locomotion and it was good to see Mr. H. and Mr. M.s exchange a cute hand shake! 🙂 Next came SotSS and I think aside from Enola Gay (and Electricity which came at the end), it seemed to be the best sing along. During Mr. C.s awesome solo, I saw Stuart looking over smiling at him as Mr. C. jammed it out. 🙂 When Mr. M. introduced Electricity as the last song the crowd did the usual “awww” (and I was glad to see that the venue didn’t shut it off LOL!) They finished without a snag and they all seemed to be relieved. First gig with the new line up so I’m sure it was nerve wrecking for them all but they made it and all seemed quite pleased as they came together to give hugs and pats and then waved to all of us. A few “gracious”s from Mr. M. and Mr. H. while everyone in the crowd continued to clap and then they left the stage as the full set of outdoor lights came on.

Once all gathered, we made our way out and soon the guards were making it very clear we had to get out NOW despite us waiting at the toilets for our full group to be together. Had to tell the guard with the megaphone in our ear (literally) that we couldn’t leave as one of our group was still in the toilet…oh my! 🙄 😆 I truly hadn’t seen myself at this fest when it was originally announced but I’m very glad I came! OH, and a side note….the next night Lara and I went to see the “Magic Fountain of Montjuic” which gets lit up on Thursday nights while music plays. They started an 80s medley and I jokingly said “OMG, wouldn’t it be cool if they played OMD?” and thought “Enola Gay? Maybe Electricity…?”. Well it was windy and the fountains were getting pretty intense so after waiting for what felt like 10 minutes and my camera and us getting sprayed, I turned my camera off thinking “nah…not going to happen.” And then….”der der der da der der da deeerrrr”! 😯 OOMMMGGGGGGG!!!!! Turned the camera back on and though it wasn’t loud and (aggravatingly) was shorter than most of the other song segments, I managed a small bit of video (among girly excited squeals LOL :blush: ). Yup, Barcelona loves OMD! 😉