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Vice Blog

SCANDINAVIA – HULTSFRED FESTIVAL

Ken Ring and his new found friend Saigon kicked butt in Teaterladan on Thursday night, making the crowd go bananas. The air was filled with weed smoke and while I'm sure neither Ken nor Saigon minded, the security guy had a hard time flashing his light in enough peoples eyes. Ken started off with his set and later Saigon joined him on stage. The two did a great gig and Ken even taught Saigon how to rock out to a real indie-banger, stomping his feet on the ground and doing "the hammer" with his arms…

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Starting out the same way as their reunion show at Coachella, Rage Against the Machine walked out accompanied by a prison alarm and the first song "Testify" was really worth waiting for. I had been looking forward to the "guantanamo bay" introduction to the show, which is all over youtube, but apparently they only do that to Germans. Rage delivered hit after hit and no one left the Hawaii-stage unsatisfied. Zack de la Rocha didn't go all political like he did a year ago, trash-talking the US government and their new job as world police, but there is no doubt he's glad to be back on stage.

Familjen also did a great job over at Atlantis stealing a bunch of people from the Rage show. Looking like he just got out the gym, dressed in sweat pants and hoodie, Johan played his super dancy tracks and no one was able to stand still.

After a while the urge to drink alcohol took over and we all headed over to the backstage bar where the beer flowed until about 6am. We stayed out, but two youngsters in our crew went home, watched some porn called Young Asses of Tahiti and passed out.

Friday was probably one of the worst days ever when it came to concerts. But VICE Records' Black Lips did a gig over at Atlantis which was really impressive. Unfortunately the semi-drunken/hung over crowd weren't really in the mood and didn't deserve a show of that caliber.

Except for that we spent most of the time checking out the festival camp area. This place has, within a week, transformed from a beautiful Garden of Eden to a urine drenched, foul smelling pile of garbage, just the way it should be.

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We started talking with this hyped up crowd sitting in their camps drinking and chilling out, waiting for the next average Joe band to go on stage. We took some time interviewing a pair of kids wanting to declare their new found love to the world. Puppy love at it's best.

VICE: Where did you guys meet?
Herman, 21: Uhm… I guess it was just right here behind us.
Lisa, 20: Yes, right there like two days ago.
Are you in love and going to spend the rest of your lives together?
Lisa: Yes, of course we are.
Isn't is really annoying having sex in a tent?
Lisa: You answer this one…
Herman: Uhm… We wouldn't know I guess.

Friday night we ended up at a near orgy in a super nice house party. Our favorite VICE party resident DJs, Stocholm Beat Connection and friends, entertained the backstage area. Drunk out of our minds and each of us working up a really nice dance sweat, they kept playing banger after banger until 5am Saturday morning. The SBC DJ-gig also featured Looptroop Rockers who had some kind of official after party there. Even though I was pretty drunk we were lucky enough to hook up with Promoe from Looptroop and Afasi & Filthy for an interview. They had also played a gig at the festival, on the Friday. We never stopped working.

VICE: Are you satisfied with your shows tonight?
Afasi: (unable to speak)…
Filthy: He's got the rapper's decease. I guess that shows we did a good show.
Are you planning to see any more shows while you're here?
Filthy: We were pretty late getting to the festival and unfortunately we haven't had time to see any other gigs.
How long have you had those stupid dreads?
Promoe: They've been growing for 13 years!

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Saturday, during the day, we were able to catch a glimpse of the Mange Schmidt gig over at Atlantis which was good, but the Euro 2008 game Sweden vs Spain was way more important than seeing anything else so we headed back home and drank some beer. Sweden fucking lost which means we will drink our sorrows away backstage yet another time.

The Hultsfred festival is over for the year. Saturday night included some good shows from Håkan Hellström, Robyn and some metal from Swedish band, The Haunted. It seemed the sad faces from the football game would have to wait until Sunday.

Most impressive was Robyn who looked like she really enjoyed her first big Swedish gig in two years. She and her band members were tight and the enthusiastic, the crowd had a great time. Robyn did a great job getting them into spirit again with some great tunes, singing and executing probably the funniest dance I've seen at this festival.

Although the band line-up this year was far from the best I've ever seen, the festival was  great. The bands of any interest really put on a great show. Festival gigs sometimes tend to lack a bit of energy and intimacy but that feeling didn't really apply here. Seeing a great gig gives you a good feeling and when you get loads in a few days you're almost euphoric. But really hung-over.