McRackin
Super Moderator
Just a quick look to the line-ups of this season, its eighth already, and it's obvious Ibiza Rocks is still going strong. A season in which we'll see for the first time at the famous open-air stage and debuting on the island the likes of Palma Violets, Beady Eye, Franz Ferdinand or Foals and the return of favourites like Jake Bugg, who headlined this year's opening party.
As we entered San Antonio's Ibiza Rocks Hotel on wednesday evening we had that feeling of anticipation again. After seeing some pictures on the net we were curious to see how the relocated stage really looked like so, after the obligatory greetings to the Ibiza Rocks family, we went downstairs to have a glance around. The stage has been moved to the left and is now facing the pool (reason why the VVIP had to be moved a little bit too), which is a good change as it allows more people to see it from far away, and there's also a new elevated dj booth behind the pool from where now the residents play... yes, maybe only little details but enough to build our excitement!
Backed by a drummer and two guitarists (no bassist!), Natalie and her band reminded us of The White Stripes and the raw awesomeness of PJ Harvey's early material. With the exception of the more slow "Stoned And Alone" (where she plays guitar too), her vocals move from sensual to shouty in less than a blink of an eye. Special mention to the infectious "Your Sister" (your sister is not your sister - I've seen the way you kissed her, she screams), the kind of song that gets stuck in your head.
All in all, the perfect band to share stage with this week's main act and one to follow from now on.
Who would've thought when we saw the relatively unknown Nottingham singer-songwriter Jake Bugg opening for Ben Howard last year in the then still not too crowded hotel that one year later he would be headlining in front of a packed house?!
Since then he released his self-titled debut that went straight to the #1 in the UK album charts, becoming the youngest british male to ever achieve it, and was awarded with various nominations. If that wasn't enough for a 19-year-old after only one album, last week it was announced he worked on a couple of songs with the production guru Rick Rubin (a re-recording of "Broken" with Chad Smith from R.H.C.P. on drums, to be released as his next single, and a new track titled "Slumville Sunrise"), who will be also behind the decks later in the year for his sophomore release. We're talking about the man who produced masterpieces such as Reign In Blood, Licensed To Ill, It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back or Blood Sugar Sex Magik to name a few (all of them featured in any decent all-time best albums list) and who also revamped the career of Johnny Cash, bringing it to new generations of fans... Bugg for example. Looking forward to hear what comes out of that union.
His show consisted of most songs from the first album, with people singing every word to them, spiced up with the EP Taste It in its integrity and a new song (the mentioned "Slumville Sunrise") that sounded great too. He hardly moved and barely spoke between songs, letting the music do all the talking. Personal favourite moments were when he played the more epic songs like "Ballad of Mr Jones ", "Someplace" or "Broken" although undoubtedly the most applauded songs of the night were the singles.
One of those nights that will be remembered for a long time... and we know this is just the first of many to come this summer!
More pictures, setlists, etc later...
As we entered San Antonio's Ibiza Rocks Hotel on wednesday evening we had that feeling of anticipation again. After seeing some pictures on the net we were curious to see how the relocated stage really looked like so, after the obligatory greetings to the Ibiza Rocks family, we went downstairs to have a glance around. The stage has been moved to the left and is now facing the pool (reason why the VVIP had to be moved a little bit too), which is a good change as it allows more people to see it from far away, and there's also a new elevated dj booth behind the pool from where now the residents play... yes, maybe only little details but enough to build our excitement!
To kick off summer 2013, Findlay from Manchester who already toured with Bugg in the past. With only a 7" and a 10" in the market, Natalie Findlay's first album (out soon on Polydor) has been mixed by the famed Andy Wallace... interestingly enough Natalie has a song called "You Gave Me Grace" in reference to Jeff Buckley's classic Grace, which was produced/engineered/mixed by Wallace!
Backed by a drummer and two guitarists (no bassist!), Natalie and her band reminded us of The White Stripes and the raw awesomeness of PJ Harvey's early material. With the exception of the more slow "Stoned And Alone" (where she plays guitar too), her vocals move from sensual to shouty in less than a blink of an eye. Special mention to the infectious "Your Sister" (your sister is not your sister - I've seen the way you kissed her, she screams), the kind of song that gets stuck in your head.
All in all, the perfect band to share stage with this week's main act and one to follow from now on.
Who would've thought when we saw the relatively unknown Nottingham singer-songwriter Jake Bugg opening for Ben Howard last year in the then still not too crowded hotel that one year later he would be headlining in front of a packed house?!
Since then he released his self-titled debut that went straight to the #1 in the UK album charts, becoming the youngest british male to ever achieve it, and was awarded with various nominations. If that wasn't enough for a 19-year-old after only one album, last week it was announced he worked on a couple of songs with the production guru Rick Rubin (a re-recording of "Broken" with Chad Smith from R.H.C.P. on drums, to be released as his next single, and a new track titled "Slumville Sunrise"), who will be also behind the decks later in the year for his sophomore release. We're talking about the man who produced masterpieces such as Reign In Blood, Licensed To Ill, It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back or Blood Sugar Sex Magik to name a few (all of them featured in any decent all-time best albums list) and who also revamped the career of Johnny Cash, bringing it to new generations of fans... Bugg for example. Looking forward to hear what comes out of that union.
His show consisted of most songs from the first album, with people singing every word to them, spiced up with the EP Taste It in its integrity and a new song (the mentioned "Slumville Sunrise") that sounded great too. He hardly moved and barely spoke between songs, letting the music do all the talking. Personal favourite moments were when he played the more epic songs like "Ballad of Mr Jones ", "Someplace" or "Broken" although undoubtedly the most applauded songs of the night were the singles.
One of those nights that will be remembered for a long time... and we know this is just the first of many to come this summer!
On a curious note, the legendary photographer Steve Emberton (Record Mirror/NME/Sounds), who gave an illustrated talk at the Ibiza Rocks House last summer and whose pictures decorate the VIP of the hotel, was in the pit shooting both artists.
More pictures, setlists, etc later...
