Fortunately (since we didn’t go) one of the winners of Stereogum’s Virgin Festival ticket giveaway was kind enough to write up a review for us:
My Free Ticket to a Virgin by J SegerThere was no Natty Bo! Come on, being in Balmer and all…There was a Freak Lounge, a dance/DJ tent, two stages, mysterious inflatable chairs, even a batting cage, but no Natural Bohemian. Besides the beer choice, the only other disappointments of the day at Pimlico were a Neko-less New Pornographers and the simultaneous scheduling of the Flaming Lips and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The first time for the Virgin Festival in America proved to be quite romantic?maybe we?ll do it again?
I started my day sitting through a Drive By Truckers set waiting to see if Neko Case would even be present with the New Pornographers. The Truckers delivered their somewhat cheesy, but heartfelt Southern rock-ish set, while the New Pornographers kicked it straight Canadian indie rock style. Someone in the crowd wanted to have AC Newman?s baby, ew. The Raconteurs are a must see. Having seen them at Austin City Limits a week earlier, I can now firmly establish that they are the most rockin? band in the US. I will also confirm labels of live Zeppelinisms, evidenced by their set finale ?Blue Veins.? The song is a sort of ?Since I?ve Been Loving You? or ?No Quarter.? The Killers pulled a somewhat large crowd to the main stage. They killed the time before the Who?s set, keeping the mood dancey and upbeat; all of the songs were seemingly the same tempo. The Who blew out some classics, streaming old video clips on the jumbo screen. They sounded great, almost too great. I noticed a ?fifth man? on guitar/back-up vocals lingering in the back of the stage, avoiding the cameras.
Other older artists like Bob Dylan and Van Morrison don?t utilize a ?fifth man.? That?s why they sound as if they?re actually 60 years old, still making music, still relevant, and still great. Uninterested, I left to get a good look at the Scissor Sisters. Have they played Vegas yet? I can?t wait ?til they get their Vegas showed worked up.
Then came the decision of the night, the Red Hot Chili Peppers or the Flaming Lips? Having seen the Lips at ACL also, the Chili Peppers would have been the more logical choice, but I couldn?t give up my spot. About 10 rows back and fully aware I could possibly get my hands on ?The Bubble,? I denied myself the Chili Peppers? presence. The Lips delivered the same set as a week earlier. Wayne in ?The Bubble,? Wayne firing confetti cannons, Wayne getting people to sing and then shushing them via hand puppet, Wayne building song bombs, and Wayne not delivering an encore. They were still amazing in a ?before you die? sort of way. Fortunately, the Chili Peppers did play an encore; begun with a few choruses of ?Tiny Dancer,? prompted and sung by Frusciante. A full out version of ?Give it Away? was followed by a seriously Flea-driven jam. He and Frusciante traded overindulgent, but equally as inspiring solos while Kiedes rambled and howled random vocal melody, a red-hot, like chili peppers, moment if you ask me.
Thanks J! Anyone else go to Pimlico? Tell us who rocked, and watch some blurry Who. Plus, great photos here.
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Good review, but I just have a couple of things to add.
Why no mention of Gnarls? They came out in ancient Roman outfits and Ceelo was rockin’ the battle helmet. It was pretty sweet. One complaint that I had was what they did with “Transformer.” Instead of staying with the old arrangement of almost manic glee, they made a much slower acoustic arrangement that I thought was the intro, but it ended up being the whole song. That was a dissapointment. Also, ascool as Ceelo is, it seemed like his between song banter was exactly the same as Lollapalooza. Just change your material a little bit Ceelo, that’s all I ask.
Having seen Gnarls Barkley already at Lollapalooza, I left early to see the Brazilian Girls. They absolutely rocked. They have so much going for them. Their bassist is very funky and technically adept, their drummer and their keyboardist are also on point nearly all the time. And their singer never fails to cause me to shake my head in awe because of her seductiveness and her ability as a performer. Despite the fact that she was wearing this slim beekeeper type mask over her face and periodically paused the set to put a full arsenal of makeup on it, this couldn’t hide her undeniable beauty. I am quite envious of whatever guy out there is sleeping with her. Not to mention that she is also a great singer, and supposedly very nice. The whole crowd was moving, something that I see all too rarely at shows that I go to nowadays. Go out and see them live, I guarentee that you won’t be dissapointed.
Other than that, I was dissapointed about missing Kasabian and getting to see only a few songs of the New Pornographers. And yes, even the Lips were still amazing, as well as the Raconteurs. Bow down before Jack White. Not a bad festival, Richard Branson. Keep it up.
P.S.-Fuck the Chilli Peppers.
The Raconteurs were great. They killed it. I was also presently surprised by Wolfmother. The Killers sucked and so did Gnarls Barkley.
The Flaming Lips were awesome. They even helped the roadies set up.
It’s called fucking National Bohemian, not Natural.
PS – Fuck the Chili Peppers.
i second his point about Natty Boh. For those who don’t know, it’s a Baltimore beer with a funny looking monocled mascot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Bohemian
This festival was god-awful. I hate Maryland high school Trash. Pimlico looked like a Soviet airport located in the nicest part of Baltimore (sarcasim). There was no chemistry in the audience. Everyone was all pissed off about something. Tweens walking around just to be noticed and giving two shits about the music. I know festivals should be about the music and who cares what everyone else is doing, but when everyone else is yelling, bumping in to you, throwing up, and fighting its not really worth it anymore. Not for a $100, atleast! I saw a 20 year old dude punch this old man (obviously there for the Who) because he wouldn’t move to let him go past. Aside from the Maryland Trash, the music was great and the bands all sounded really sharp.
Virgin Festival is no Coachella or ACL, that’s for sure.
I wouldn’t be heartbroken if we never had this fesitval again.
Maryland is a sad state.
Considering the beer was the same price as the hard liquor, I spent the show in a steady haze of Gin and Tonic water. Gnarls killed me, opening with We Are the Champions and rocking it roman gladiator style (although I had to help many a crowd surfer achieve the nirvana that only the hands of about 50 people cupping your ass can give you).
On our way to the Scissor Sisters we managed to catch Skeletor crooning in the Freakshow tent.
The Scissor Sisters put on one hell of a show though. I took two friends to that performance who weren’t familiar with the material. One got into it, danced, laughed, enjoyed. The other was put off by the abundance of falsetto, and regretted leaving the Who so soon.
Having never seen the Flaming Lips I was pleased with what I saw. A stage crew dressed as super heros, the famous bubble, being showered with streamers, the topless girl in the back…
I was very much pleased with the goings on at Pimlico.
My apologies, National Bohemian it is. I was confused by the other shitty beer, Natural Light. And Maryland is a glorious state…although I could do without the classic Waldorf/Good Charlotte tweens. It’s because of the shit DC/Balti rock stations.
great review j!! you seem as if you are a musician yourself!
great review j!! you seem as if you are a musician yourself!
Was I the only person who didn’t like the Raconteurs?
Something about it was so off to me. Maybe I needed more $8 beers?
agreed.. fuck the chilli peppers…
i wasn’t there.. but.. waiiiit for it… fuckthechillipeppers.
word.
No offense, “Maryland Trash,” but you were at a festival – therefore, there are bound to be obnoxious people there.
Don’t judge Maryland based on one show. Thx.