Roskilde festival 2006 (Part IV)

Update on the latest events: I've been quite lazy with posting this week, sorry!
Have spent a lot of time at the sea trying to overcome the before mentioned heat-wave, dedicating as much time to one of my guilty pleasures too - the latest book in the Harry Potter sequence, Latvian translation. Sobbing like a baby again..I wonder if the Rowling lady sacrifices more characters for the sake of closer-to-reality vs. well-known-structure-of-events plot, I'll be sobbing more than that or seriously overthink including Potter in my favourite book list.
Anyway, it got me into a lot of productive and mostly non-productive thinking (probably it's still a part of the acclimatization process) about events of the last half a year.
Then, have managed to catch a nasty cold. I hate the numb feeling medicine gives but the fear of ending with another angina with fever is too big, real dilemma, mja.

A step back to more exciting things:
The sun was high in the sky on Friday with feather-like clouds gliding along it and the day in Roksilde came with a slight tiredness from soul-nutrition of the previous day. It turned out to be the best day of the festival.

The first one to go and a gig I was mostly looking forward to with a huge dose of impatience was Martha Wainwright, member of the famous McGarrigle/Wainwright musician dynasty.
Last summer I had accidentally come across with one of her songs on a Q Music Magazine CD compilation. Had never heard anything about any of the Wainwrights before, but the haunting vocals of that particular song got me stunned and the search for more info started. Finally, her debut album came into my reach and her music had obtained my love and so did her life performance in Roskilde on the small, cosy Pavilion stage.

Only Martha, her guitar and her great, great, great voice...she took the crowd immediately and I was surprised that so many people knew her and her music that well, a strong Danish fanbase :)
She played songs from her album, a couple of b-sides, as well as her father's Pretty Good Day and Leonard Cohen's Tower Of Song, and one of my favourites Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole in the encore.

But the most enjoyable thing along with the music was Martha's stage presence. A confession of love by a guy from the crowd couldn't get Martha too confused (the slight blush on her face was adorable, however), instead an appropriate twist in the lyrics of the song she was singing was brought in. The intimate and laid-back atmosphere stayed for the rest of the gig, with her out of the blue asking if her hair looks ok or inquiring for info if it was legal to smoke pot in Denmark and where to get it, not willing to be left out from the rest of the festival visitors, hehe.

Here's a link to an interview with Martha on Guardian Unlimited
One of my favourite songs by her Martha Wainwright - Factory [link expired]
And a Studio Session on Australian ABC radio, here [link expired]

Moving to the Orange stage following a wish of my friend Mette we saw the crazy, oil-barrel hitting, you-have-to-get-involved-in-a-mad-dance and can't-keep-your-legs-still performance by the Norwegian Kaizers Orchestra. Was fun, music was ok, though have found an unreasonable and silly unlikeness in songs that are sung entirely in Scandinavian languages, plus - started to feel consequences of being in the sun for too long during that show, luckily only temporarily.

Then saw a tiny bit of Morrissey as we had just run to and from our camping place and rushing to see Martha's brother Rufus on the second biggest stage.

Must say, Rufus was a bit disappointing playing alone on the piano and singing rather melancholic songs that after the energy-driven Kaizers felt somewhat lame. Given the chance to listen to the music in a more intimate surroundings I can bet I would have been blown away. Though, he had the same great sense of humour as his sister calling Axl Rose's hair "a concentration camp for hair". Anyway, the joy came back when Rufus was joined by Martha on the stage, a perfect sounding duo! Even though it wasn't enough to keep me away from thoughts of going away what we eventually did not waiting for the final songs.

Here's a YouTube link to a home video made by Rufus and Martha in honour of their mother and aunt - it's bloody hilarious! ;)

Didn't see much of Bob Dylan either, as the Orange stage and the area along it, was stuffed with people and after a brief fight to get a view of Dylan in the screens proved it to be rather boring and dull performance.

Not being too keen on staying alone somewhere on the festival site waiting for the next concerts I joined to see The Streets gig on Arena bit later. It was incredibly full and regreted to have gone there! Unfortunately, was reminded of how annoying can teenagers be when they are left on their own, drinking beer and behaving like total morons. Well I'm not and won't be a fan of Mike Skinner anyway.

Next stop was Scissor Sisters - even more involvement in legs/arms/bit of hip movement occupation! Stayed for a couple of songs including Take Your Mama and then run..

..to see Kashmir!! Apparently they have been criticised before of putting too much focus on their new material, so it seemed like they did their best that night to make everything good again. A lot of tracks from Zitilities album were played to my great delight and older ones as well. Danes were going mad screaming and singing along (I confess, I did the same!), pure pleasure and Rocket Brothers at the finish line.

Kashmir - Melpome [link expired]

I came to the camping site very exhausted but flying few inches above the ground again!