2010-08-02

THERAPY? + MÖTLEY CRÜE + GOLDEN EARRING

Two years after the New York Dolls passed by our country on this festival, Lokerse Feesten decided to book yet another pack of glam rock greats, accompanied by Therapy? and Golden Earring.

Needless to say, yours truly had to be there for countless reasons.

After a good walk from the train station to the festival grounds, we arrived at the ticket booth in a rainstorm, much like two years before. Luckily, like two years before, the rain stopped (or just about) before the first band kicked off: Therapy?

Some of their stuff I wanted to see and hear just for nostalgic reasons, but it looks like youth memories were better than the actual gig: Andy Cairn's vocals just don't cut it on stage as they do on studio material. With the occasional little rain shower still coming by, this was not really a gig to remember. Song-wise it was great, the execution was not though...

Next up were the Saints of Los Angeles, as the Crüe likes to call themselves these days, and they came packing: an hour's worth of classics, along with the title track of their latest album and even an old school song here and there. All things considered, this was a superb set.

The crowd atmosphere was definitely okay, people had just about enough room to take out their air guitars and position themselves with legs wide for all what was presented: Kickstart My Heart, Too Fast For Love, Dr. Feelgood, and so many more were played with the same youthful energy as they possessed back in the days.

One slight touch of negativity though: vince dropped a little too much of his lyrics (breath issues, who knows?) and due to the fact that Mötley Crüe switched headliner slot with Golden Earring, we came three songs short of a great set. They deserved that headliner slot, but didn't take it because of logistic reasons, which was a shame but probably in their own best regard.

Golden Earring followed the Crüesters and did so with a set packed with classics. They provided the exact musical calmness that they do on record, and did that with great musicianship. The best of these regions you might say, and a great band to finish the evening.