From the blog of the violin player from Arcade Fire. Lovely story!
"I was nervous today. Earlier in the week our manager got a call from Jarvis Cocker asking if Id play Common People with them, last song in the set at Exit Festival, where we were playing before them. Their regular guitarist/violinist couldnt be there. So I spent a few hotel hours obsessively watching live clips of the song, mostly from the 90s, to see what he was doing. Simple enough, but not the kind of thing you want to do half assed. Jarvis Cocker is full on. So I had the jitters. Which is unusual these days. Arcade Fires been playing together so long and its so comfortable between us. Even when we do something new off the cuff theres a sort of mind reading/intuition going on that makes it all flow. And of course I play with other bands, but Ive never stepped in to something as big or iconic as a Pulp show. We met, me blushing like an awkward teen and them, cool, odd and British. i was going straight into Russells rig, a patch heavy on delay, chorus and, gulp, flange. Pretty awesome actually. No run through, just watched their show after ours, gripping my case. Hypnotized by Jarviss tweaky cat movements. His flawless banter. Theyre playing really well. 8 years away from it and they come back super charged, dynamic, heavy. Their sweet crew led me to position, the only other monitor besides Jarviss at the front of the stage. Heart attack. In Arcade Fire you always have a buddy 3 feet away, here I had 20. I was expecting to launch right into the song- mines the first note. But he saunters over to me and starts talking, fucking with me really. Amazing. He makes me introduce the song. Deer in the headlights. I kind of wish I could go back to that moment and be witty, introduce Common People in their classic robot voice. But whatever, I was shy and Canadian, enunciating the words and grinning like an idiot. But then we killed it. I mean, they were already killing it, I just joined in. Such a good song played with so much abandon. I tore into my new flange sound like the 80s rock violinist I always wanted to be, and didnt even miss the shots. Definite highlight. Thanks Pulp."
I can't believe she only got the call earlier in the week... If I was her I wouldve wanted a bit more time to prepare, considering she was already touring with Arcade Fire!
Travelled from here in London (via Warsaw then Belgrade) to the festival - brilliant fun was had, but Arcade Fire and Pulp were the highlights of the the weekend for me. Just got back to London after a week in Varna, Bulgaria for windsurfing, partying and lovely sit down meals by the beach - got the train there from Serbia and flew back.
As for the gig itself we left our apartment, went and grabbed a burger and beer overlooking the river Danube in a quiet corner of the festival - lovely setting - pics tomorrow. The grabbed drinks and went to check out Bad Religion, who weren't half bad, I have to say (three of the 17 of us at the festival were huge punk fans). Went for a walk to check out the surroundings - just awesome - it's in a fortress with a very small main stage in comparison to UK festivals. Came back and saw Arcade fire - only about 100 metres away from the stage and with shitloads of space to enjoy the gig with minimal fuss. They were excellent and almost as great as Pulp (who I'd seen the weekend before at Hyde Park).
After Arcade fire we went to grab a beer or two for Pulp - then headed for the front of the crowd for a better view. Wow - two beers in hand walked straight to the frront five to ten people deep from the barrier no pushing, no shoving. Super cool crowd with a hell of allot of excited Serbians - but so, so friendly.
Brilliant, brilliant gig. Highlight had to be this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDmov1o-afI - I spy with Jarvis in the crowd. Were not much further back from the vantage point from which this vid was taken. Again - pics tomorrow.
Setlist went -
Do You Remember the First Time? Pink Glove Mis-Shapes Something Changed Disco 2000 Sorted For E's & Wizz F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E I Spy Babies Underwear This is Hardcore Sunrise Bar Italia Common People
As for the rest of the festival - JUST GO. Amazing setting, wonderful people. Fell in love with the place. Other Highlights were Sitting on a cobbled street leading to one of the stages familes eating meals outside a restaurant, making friends with a stray dog who wanted his tummy tickled - you'd never expect anything even close to it at a UK festival, Hadouken! (so much energy), Groove Armada DJ set, Santigold, Portishead and Grinderman (Nick Cave's new band).
It's a bitch to get to but so, so worth it.
Will post some photo's from the trip after work tomorrow as promised.
