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MGMT – Saturday September 6th, 2008
Virgin Festival, Toronto Island
Electronic pop-rockers MGMT came out, purple pants and all, to a sizeable crowd on Saturday afternoon, assembled largely due to the buzz their debut album has collected over the past year. Kicking off their set with the crescendo building ‘The Youth’, MGMT played with little energy or movement, yet the band still held the audience’s interest due to the brilliance of their music. Playing as a five-piece rock band, the polished, electronic edge of their recorded work was gone and instead the band had a ballsier, gritter rock ‘n roll sound which added passion and power to the majority of their tunes. Only their hit ‘Time to Pretend’ suffered from the lack of synths and sampled drums, but the crowd sang and pumped their fists anyway. Just when MGMT, a notoriously odd bunch of guys, appeared to be calm, run-of-the-mill indie rockers, things got weird for their final tune, ‘Kids’. The entire band disappeared save for front-men Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden who laid down their instruments and sat side by side on the floor while a recorded music track played the song for them. They giggled as they sang in harmony sipping from a water bottle they passed between them. They then proceeded to stalk about the stage, trading clothes and eventually VanWyngarden poured a circle of water around himself and sat in the puddle. A matador on stilts began dancing in the crowd while a giant fake giraffe walked by. The lead guitarist then rejoined the two singers to pound out a mesmerizing solo over the beat and VanWyngarden apparently become entranced by his guitar which he examined the way a gorilla might examine a pogo stick, running his hand up and down the neck, his face inches from the fret board. All in all, it was an awesome way to end their set, and quite fitting of their stoner, psychedelic rock personas.
- Sam Stilson
Bloc Party - Saturday September 6th, 2008
Virgin Festival, Toronto Island
By the time British band, Bloc Party took the stage the V-fest crowd had doubled in size from the early afternoon performances. This band clearly has a fan-base in Toronto. Bloc Party played their scrappy, dancey, New Wave-ish, punk songs, with absolute gusto despite their derivative sound and the crowd seemed to eat it up. In particular lead singer Kele Okereke, who spoke often to the crowd and flashed his big white smile, was incredibly charismatic running about the stage in his black skeleton t-shirt. The rest of his bandmates, dark, quiet, nerdy looking guys were fairly static save for the drummer who seemed as into the performance as the singer. The crowd loved every minute of the Bloc Party’s set but other than a good dose of energy added to the tracks, their music was as equally uninspiring as it is on record for all the non-fans in attendance.
- Sam Stilson
MSTRKRFT - Saturday September 6th, 2008
Virgin Festival, Toronto Island
Filling in for Switch and SebastiAn who couldn’t make the gig, MSTRKRFT played an absolutely raucous DJ set in the Bacardi B-Live tent, Saturday night. Those who found out about the unannounced performance were treated to an all-out dance fest that had the whole room shaking their butts and screaming their lungs out. Flashing lights cut through clouds of smoke as dancers sweat out their watered down Bacardi drinks to the pounding basslines spun by the Toronto DJs. Jesse Keeler was going nuts behind the decks, rocking back and forth like a mental patient as a lit cigarette dangled from his lips. It was truly a welcome surprise appreciated by the packed tent at V-fest.
- Sam Stilson
Foo Fighters - Saturday September 6th, 2008
Virgin Festival, Toronto Island
“How many of you mother*ckers have never seen this band play before?” a beer-swilling Dave Grohl asked fans mid-way through the Foo Fighters headlining set. The packed field of concert-goers responded with a respectable cheer. “Well, it only took you thirteen years...” Grohl shot back sarcastically.
It really was an accurate point, because from the first chugging palm mutes of “All My Life” that opened the show to the hoarse screams of “Best of You” that ended their amazing set, all the first-timers had to ask themselves, “Why the hell did I wait so long to see the Foos?”
Dave Grohl, full beard and long hair flowing seized the Virgin Fest crowd in his capable rock hands and put on an adrenaline filled performance that put all the other bands that played that day to shame. He screamed, he ran around like a chicken with his head cut off, he hung from the stage set-up, and most importantly he rocked his ass off. Just as impressive were the rest of the Foo Fighters, who played their parts to perfection, whether it was Chris Shiflett battling Grohl with guitar solos, Taylor Hawkins desperately trying to break his drum kit, or Nate Mendel’s rock solid bass work. Hell even Pat Smear seemed cool.
Other than a mid-set lull which consisted out a drawn out drum solo, and some generic blues riffing (including a Who cover), the Foos set was a greatest hits package that ranged from their early albums to their latest. “My Hero”, “Monkey Wrench”, “Let It Die”, “Learn To Fly”, “Times Like These”, and a stark, solo electric “Everlong” were all met with pounding fists and all-out sing-alongs. However, it was the last song before the encore, their smash hit “The Pretender” that was the set highlight, as the entire island buzzed with energy during the performance and not a throat was left intact as the crowd screamed along with Dave. It was truly an impressive performance and a great way to finish off the first night of V-Fest.
- Sam Stilson
Mardeen – Saturday, Sept 6th, 2008
Virgin Festival – Toronto Island
Talented up-comers Mardeen hail from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and made this reviewer a fan when I first heard their songs, “Telephones” and “Kids”. On Saturday afternoon they delivered a high energy performance that rocked the fans at the TD Stage. They were a great choice to represent Canada’s East Coast music scene and did the Atlantic region proud.
- Sean Chin
We Are The Take – Saturday, Sept 6th, 2008
Virgin Festival – Toronto Island
On the much smaller Oh Henry! Stage, indie act We Are The Take played to a crowd of V-festers. Having not heard much from these guys prior to seeing them live, this reviewer can say that they were truly impressive, without a hint of bias. Despite their unassuming clothes and look, this band had an incredible presence. Even through their following is still rather small, they put on an inspired performance that pumped up the entire crowd,
- Sean Chin
The Airborne Toxic Event – Saturday, Sept 6th, 2008
Virgin Festival – Toronto Island
The Airborne Toxic Event, who were second to play on the main Virgin Mobile stage, really kicked off the 2008 Virgin Festival properly. Coming all the way from California, they brought the sun with them and gave the festival-goers a fantastic opening act. Some guitars here, some violins there, some jumping here and some yelling there, the gang of five played all their hits, like “Gasoline” and “Sometime Around Midnight”. They were an excellent primer for the headliners to come.
- Sean Chin
The Constantines – Saturday, Sept 6th, 2008
Virgin Festival – Toronto Island
All The Constantines, who are signed to the always musically-gifted Arts & Craft label, had to do was play “Hard Feelings” and that alone would have guaranteed a groovy weekend for this reviewer. They did by the way, and very well I might add. These guys are the next big thing, their stage presence and music is so fresh and rockin’. It is truly fantastic to see that Virgin is actually willing to give great indie bands like The Constantines space to rock.
Sean Chin
Lights– Saturday, Sept 6th, 2008
Virgin Festival – Toronto Island
Another good example of how V-fest promotes new bands, is in the case of Lights. A pretty little girl with a keyboard in hand. Last year, she was just your typical ‘MySpace music girl’, but thanks to some clever tunes and a growing fan base that landed her an Old Navy commercial, she is now playing Virgin festival. It doesn’t get much sweeter than that, and her performance Saturday afternoon showed that she belongs on a stage of this size.
- Sean Chin
Against Me– Saturday, Sept 6th, 2008
Virgin Festival – Toronto Island
Playing on the main stage, Florida natives Against Me! were kicking it live with their cool retro tiger graphic backdrop. The band played with a good dose of passion and which the crowd appreciated. They were particular loud for the band’s recent hits “Thrash Unreal” and“Borne on the FM Waves of the Heart” which also features vocals from Tegan Quin of Tegan and Sara, who disappointingly did not participate at this year’s V-fest. Other than that, they were a solid act that are definitely worth checking out.
- Sean Chin
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