Lannie.net

So, how was Graspop? It was hot and it rocked really hard. I saw some shows that were decent, some that were not interesting, but also a couple that really surprised me in a good way, and a few that gave me everything I hoped for. I’m ridiculously tanned and ridiculously tired – so I’d say that we got our money’s worth

Thursday
Unlike the past few years, we already set out to Dessel in the afternoon. We left at 2.30pm and were aiming to arrive between 4 and 5, because the camping was rumoured to open already around that time. Despite the fact that Lucie took us over the scenic route (showing us quaint villages like Baerle-Nassau and Chaam) we arrived around 5-ish with no problems. We could park our car easily and there were hardly any lines. In fact, we nearly got lost because we were confused by the lack of traffic jam, heh. The walk to the camping was a bit different this time; it was longer. In the oppressive, dizzying heat that wasn’t very comfortable, but when we got to the entrance we could easily obtain our bracelets and go to the camping where we could set up our tents. We were really in the front, close to the 24 hours area and the festival terrain, so we made good use of that. Around 6pm our camp was standing and we went in search for food. So far everything had been completely painless and smooth, and we were very impressed by Graspop’s logistic management once again. Take that, Lowlands! We were in good spirits because of it; all excited for the musical goodness that was about to come. We bought t-shirt merchandise, hung out, went to the parking lot where we used our car radio to listen to the match between the Netherlands and Cameroen, had beer and were up until 3am or something; the night was positively balmy after a hot day. Because of illness (Derek) and school obligations (Kat) we were not with the whole group yet, but we made up for it by drinking the beer that was designated for them. It was a great first evening.

Friday
We woke up around 7.30am in a tent that was already way too hot for comfort. I took a shower (no lines, I could walk right on through – something i was able to do all weekend <3) and one by one we all woke up and gravitated towards the 24 hour zone, where they sold breakfast and had a breakfast tent that offered some shade. It was in the morning warm but still doable; but already it was heating up intensely. When the Festival terrain opened we immediately went for our old hangout spot at the fields: the shade of that one solitary tree that was on the festival area. We were glad to see that our little tree was still there, even though the layout of the festival area had changed around quite a bit. (they seem to do that every year so far). Revamp, the new band of After Forever’s Floor Jansen kicked off the festival, and we watched it with some mild interest. We weren’t very impressed by it, though, we mostly had lunch and chilled out. What came after was Ghost Brigade, and that was one of the big surprises of the Festival for me. They were atmospheric and melodic, and they reminded me very much of the Gathering in their older days; or perhaps Explosions in the Sky, with a more metal edge. Completely in my street, so to say. I’ll definitely have to check out their stuff, I was very impressed by them. Anvil, which we checked out afterwards, was as sympathetic as we knew they would be from their documentary. Their music isn’t really my thing, but I still cheered them on as loud as I could; they deserve it. By then the temperature had skyrocketed, and within the tents it was scorching hot. Most of us left after Anvil in search of some shade, shower and chillage. Tijs and I checked out Billy Talent, but they didn’t really enchant me so I went back to the camping where Derek was just arriving. We’d already set up his tent, so all he had to do was inflate his air mattress (or rather, buy a new one because the one he had couldn’t be closed) and he was all set. We were back on time for the last bit of Anathema (which was pretty amazing – I dozed in the grass next to the tent while they were playing and they were excellent to dream away to), and the people in the tent simply adored it. Then there was another split; some people wanted to see Slayer, and I was among the people who wanted to see Devin Townsend, but we returned to the rest of the group soon enough when Devin couldn’t quite warm our hearts. So I still saw Slayer. At least now I can say I saw them live, and rocked out to “Reign in Blood”.
I half-listened to Therion going on in the tent next to us while part of the group was rocking out with them, and we lazed around for quite a while after that; going back to the camping at some point to booze up some more and put a bit of clothing on, since evening had fallen and the temperature was dropping. There was an orange hunter’s moon hanging over us, quite beautiful and quite present too. Kat arrived just in time to join us to see Aerosmith, the closer of the day. And damn, they did deliver! Steven Tyler’s an ass, btw; but he’s a very charismatic lead singer and the band played well and made good use of their stage equipment. We sang along with all their hits to our heart’s delight.
And then it was time for more beer at the camping, until we were too tired to see straight and went to bed.

Saturday
After another way too short night I woke up at 7am because of hot tent, had my morning shower, and went to search for Olli who’d already gone on to the 24 hour area. He and I hung out sitting in the shade, eating our breakfast and smoking cigarettes until the others joined us. When at 10am the Festival terrain opened, we shopped around a bit on the metal market, where Brenda bought a sarong and Olli bought the most hideous pimp hat (that turned out to be a fine protection from the sun, but it was hideous anyway). We watched Sylosis for a bit, but most of all we did our best to avoid the oppressing heat by staying in the shade as much as possible. We had to save our energy for Sabaton of course! Sabaton was, as always, made of awesome. They had some upgrades in their stage equipment and were obviously still madly in love with the Graspop party people, and the symbiosis that we had going on there was nothing short of brilliant. Great show! Tijs and I even ended up with our mugs on the big screen, as the camera filmed us while we were singing along with “Prima Victoria” on top of our lungs. I haven’t  found the video of it on the internet yet, but I’ll be sure to link it when I do
We spent a lot of time chilling out at the breakfast tent in the 24 hour area, since our little tree spot had been occupied by other people, and this was one of the only other places on the Festival terrain that offered both shade and a breeze. Thankfully the Leffe stand was closeby, so we had enough booze and water to keep us going. At dinnertime Slash performed, and he did so very well! I was very impressed by his performance (at least, the parts that I didn’t snooze through). The tail end of it, at least, was very strong. He ended with a couple of Guns n Roses songs, and his lead singer made us forget all about Axl Rose. Well done! After checking out Sick of it All it was time for what I thought was one of the highlights of the festival: Eluveitie! The temperature in the tent wasn’t funny anymore, it was positively sauna-like. A lot of us couldn’t take it and went outside, only Marco, Derek and I stayed. And at some point I reached a decision point: either I’d be miserable with the heat, or I’d be miserable with the heat while PARTYING MY ASS OFF. You can probably guess which one I chose. Some guys behind us started a cheerful dance/mosh pit to the equally cheerful folk metal tunes, and the boys and I danced, jumped and partied with them. It was a great time and I had so much fun during the gig; despite the rivers of sweat that soaked me completely. I really want to see them in the Melkweg, with better sound and lighting (and a lower temperature), I bet they’d be magical then. And I invite you all to come along when they do play here, because they are made of win.

Sunday
…was the sunniest day of them all. While the Friday and Saturday had occasional white puffy clouds or misty hazes obscuring the sun, on Sunday none of this was the case. The heat was merciless and killing. We literally had to cop out of several shows that we otherwise might have checked out because it’d be simply too hot in the tents. Instead, on Sunday Olli, Bren and I checked out Atreyu (good show) while the rest was at Between The Buried And Me (which was apparently also great) and then we just… fled. We fled for shadow and stayed there for the next couple of hours. Some of us even took showers in that time.  The only thing that was able to entice me to come out of that cool shade was As I Lay Dying – one of the very reasons why I had wanted to go to Graspop; topping my goddammit-i-haven’t-seen-you-yet list for the better part of three years by now. Now imagine this: a tent with a band that rocks relentlessly, temperatures skyrocketing and sweat dripping from every body that’s packed into the place. Around you, most of the men are bare-chested, and a surprising amount of the ladies have taken their tops off, walking around in bikini or bra above a skirt or shorts. And I decided fuckit. I took my top off as well and enjoyed the concert in my capri shorts and my purple bra. It helped with the heat, and damn, the concert rocked my socks off. It was a great setlist, a great concert, and it was completely utterly worth it. Now I just have to see them in the Melkweg with a longer set, and a dedicated audience… but as it was, it was all I hoped for and more.
After that we went back to our shade spot for more showers and some very needed drying up and hydration (both drinking and putting my head under the tap at the toilets). We smoked and drank a bit, and spaced out a little before we went to check out Killswitch Engage. By then the temperature had gone down somewhat and was only somewhat above the comfort zone now. They played at the main stage and they were obviously terribly drunk. The show wasn’t too great, either, but they had a lot of fun on stage. I admire Adam greatly as a guitarist and a producer, but man that guy is whack I especially appreciated it when he said: “And this song I dedicate to all you girls tits. This song is called My Curse.” *giggles* He then proceeded to fuck up the intro to the song. But at least we had a very fun time
Although I’d really have liked to see Unearth, this was one of the bands that I had to skip because of the heat. We went back to the camping terrain for some needed chillage, although some of us hung around to check out Amon Amarth (who was allegedly really good) before we would watch Kiss, the closer of the Festival. Two years ago Kiss was a total cock up in my eyes. We had a great time at the gig, but not because of the performance but the beer we’d consumed. This time, however, they gave a great show. They played well, had a lot of audience interaction, pyrotechnics and lightshows, and they ended with confetti, fireworks and a screen that said “Kiss loves you, Graspop!”. The fireworks blended in with the ending fireworks of Graspop itself and I had lost the rest for that moment and watched the fireworks with a heart full of emotion and a huge grin on my face. I always get stupidly emo over fireworks, I don’t know why. Anyway, I rejoined the others soon enough and we hung out at the tent camp for a while, completely knackered but unwilling to go to sleep, because then the festival would be over. Eventually exhaustion won out though

The next day we woke up at 8am, the sun had given us an additional hour of sleep in which we didn’t suffocate in our tents, a rare gift this weekend that we sorely needed on Monday morning. We’d quickly packed up and walked to the car, from where we pretty much effortlessly were able to leave the parking lot and went home (learn from this, Lowlands!). Olli and I were home around noon, where we lazed around for a while and went to pick up Bodhi from the pension.

And then life resumed. Back to the real world!