Modesty Powder

There's a place called worth checking called the Big Bang Bar on Carrer de Botella. They have jazz sessions where some good players drop in. Also an open mic night and the occasional rock act. All very relaxed.

Great feeling about yesterday. Getting to the site is a slog, but once you’re in there is plenty of water, no queues for beer or toilets, a massive range of food and the cashless system works well. Add in a relaxed crowd and friendly security and bar staff, and it’s the dream vibe. (I believe there are some bands too.) Highlight if the day for me was Sports Team. Full of energy, the new stuff is at least as good as the old, and the unexpected Bangles cover was a treat.

Except there’d be water in a sauna.

If it’s any consolation for people who are worried about wristbands, I forgot mine last time and it took barely a minute to get a replacement on-site. Just showed the ticket on my phone and they set it up

Yes, Rhak, I think it was you who awoke my inner socialist on this. There’s a story that someone hassled Karl Marx for travelling first class on a train. “Shouldn’t you be back in third class with the workers?” Marx replied, “No. They should be in first class with me.” So no VIP at all is the best option, and improve the basic like water and toilets for everyone. Hope the Covid treats you lightly.

One thing I think was actually improved this year was the VIP placement. Someone here said that paying more should get you comfort, not priority, and it really landed with me. Let the hardcore fans queue for the front rows, and give the oldies (me) a half-decent view away from the crush. The big upstairs VIP place was odd, in that you couldn’t see the stages at all. Going to a festival to watch a gig on a screen feels like music biz types who haven’t been excited about a band since 1990. But you could get a drink there and recover between sets.

My partner has just pointed out that Julian is just over covid, so the monologue breaks might have been a way to get his breath back.

I can see how all the banter from Julian could be tiresome, but I actually enjoyed it. At least he knew where he was, and actually engaged with the event. It gave it an air of unpredictability. I would take that any night over a backing track and 100 repetitions of “Make some noise, Barcelona!”

It’s not just a question of your own hands though. It’s all the people serving you food and drink, and everyone around you. That’s a bit off at any time, but as jannybruck says, inexplicably wrong-headed now.

Is anyone feeling inspired about tomorrow? Maybe I’m jaded, but it looks like the most lacklustre line-up I’ve ever seen.

If you’re a bit early, I’d strongly recommend checking out CMAT at Tous. I’ve never seen her live, but the music is fabulous. Country-inflected pop, full of hooks, with a healthy stab of melancholy behind intelligent and funny lyrics.

I’m still mystified by who gets to play the main stages. No disrespect to Khruangbin, but an hour and a quarter at Mordor? While Pond get 40 minutes at Plenitude? Maybe I have a skewed idea of what’s popular. As to coming back next year, it completely depends on Gabi. If it’s “lessons learned, we’ve listened and upped our game,” then yes. But if they act like everything went according to plan, and we were just slow to catch on…

How was the Cupra for Wet Leg? Was it rammed full?

Sorry about the empty post. Did anyone catch Za!’s new act at the Ouiga? I loved them a few years ago at the Apolo, and I thought they did something really sublime tonight.

I thought that too. The band seemed to genuinely love it too.

I picked the gate with the tiredest looking guy. He barely glanced in the bag.

If you’re worried about hydration, you could take in a bag of fruit. It’s not enough, but it’s something.

I just won fifty quid from the Prize Bonds. That’s something, I guess.

Much as I like Dinosaur Jr, you’re right about their appeal. When they played a few years ago you could saunter up to the front. Wet Leg today will be a real test.

Like many people here, I think, the Rayban always gave me that special Primavera glow. It’s beyond sad having to rule it out for the entire festival because it doesn’t feel safe. I am especially worried the crowd movement before Smile.

No crowding problems, but my partner queued for exactly one hour for a beer. Toilets dirty and dark. I feel it will be a bit worse tonight, with bigger crowds and people arriving to the festival expecting trouble.

Bigger Jeff.

I hate to pile in on a city I love, but they really haven't dealt with the pickpocket problem. If there's something you want to get rid of, stick in your back pocket and spend ten seconds on the Ramblas. I don't think direct mugging is a big issue at all, but I had the same experience as JohnDenis. A stranger stepped out in front of me and started dancing, as a prelude to God knows what. I pushed him away instinctively, and saw that he had a couple of colleagues who weren't too happy. But it didn't go any further than that. I haven't had any problems at the festival, but loose pockets would certainly be a bad idea.