EuroYeYé 2010, Gijón, Spain – Part 2 of 2

by Parsley on Mon, 2010/08/09 - 12:14pm Post to Twitter

PARSLEY’S COMMLOCK

Festival Review : EuroYeYé 2010, Gijón, Spain 29th July to 2nd August – Part 2 of 2
On Saturday night back at the Oasis, the main gig venue for the festival, Al Supersonic and the Teenagers, an extremely professional Spanish band, opened the evening’s entertainment. The girl keyboard player had a dual and single Nord, and the band were very slick backing their guitarist singer. However the action moved up a notch significantly, when they became the backing band for Northern Soul legend Tommy Hunt. He had a great voice and an enjoyable selection of songs, including his hit ‘Human’. At the end he sang ‘I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself’, which he explained had been picked up by Dusty Springfield after she had seen him do it in New York. He said that playing at EuroYeYé made him feel like he was 21 again, and his infectious grin set the tone for a very well attended Saturday night session, followed by another all night dancing opportunity.

During the days it was possible to bump into suitably splendid collections of Scooters arranged in lines at the Plaza del Marqués. On Sunday 1st, I went into town to see the film Danger:Diabolik, which was a bad move, because it wasn’t on until Monday.

That night at the Oasis The Draytones (from the UK although decidedly multi-lingual) played a great set of multi-harmony guitar pop songs. Gabriel Boccazzi (guitar) and Luke Richardson (drums), put together great vocal harmony sounds with the help of Chris Le Good (bass) and Andy Pickering (rhythm guitar). They had some excellent songs I hope to hear more of.

After them Wau Y Los Arrrghs threw proceedings into chaos with their crazy rock&roll action. They use riffs from Link Wray, John Barry and others, but the chaos that ensues is all their own. Juanito on vocals was typically Spanish with his deep buzzing voice. Molongui on guitar has amazing affro hair which adds energy when he lashes out on his instrument. Satu on bass looked like one of the Ramones had risen from the grave. Fletan added solid energy to the band’s sound on drums. Isidro on the organ was businesslike and unstoppable.

The set included a guest spot by Jorge Explosion on harmonica. A song key mix up had caused him to bring the wrong harmonica, and he had put some miraculous life into one the band had by drowning it before going on stage. He later translated some of their histerical lyrics – partly provided by his good self – for me.

Gijon was quiet on Sunday night, and after the all night partying that had gone on on previous nights it was hard to believe it was the same place.

In town on Monday afternoon it was finally time for Danger:Diabolik, listed as Diabolik and made in 1968, the iconic Italian/French production, chronicling the activities of stylish master-criminal Diabolik, played by John Phillip Law. Diabolik is based on an Italian comic book character, and producer Dino De Laurentiis brought the same wild approach to it as he brought to Barbarella (also with John Phillip Law as the blind angel Pygar).

I was struck by the appearance of Michel Piccoli as Inspector Ginko, because I’d just got used to him as a regular in the films of Luis Buñuel - talk about from the sublime to the ridiculous! Terry Thomas also appears as a government minister who takes the threat of Diabolik very seriously, despite being reduced to hysterics by laughing gas at a press conference to discuss the danger.

Despite the fairly random use of ultra-violence, Diabolik is actually delicious to watch, with fantastic black and white e-type jags, amazing villain’s lair, and outfits to die for. It also has a cool story line as the Inspector puts the pinch on the mobster villains to enlist their help tracking down Diabolik. What’s more it also has wonderful music by Ennio Morricone. The film is a classic piece of sixties-style that anyone with an interest in the era will enjoy.

That night in town the wonderful Savoy club, exuding vivid rock and roll style, was host to the final event in the EuroYeYé calendar. It began with video footage of several of the acts that had appeared over previous days, and then launched into a blistering gig by new rhythm & blues phenomenon, The Shoestrung. It was wild, because I had been reading of the early Zombies beginning their career with this style, only to see these 4 youngsters play similar standards like ‘I Got My Mojo Working’ and ‘You Really Got A Hold On Me’ with suitable raunchy gusto. They also really came alive with their encore of ‘Do You Love Me?’ After that it was time for even more EuroYeYé all night dancing magic.

Gijón itself is an amazing and enjoyable place with its own surprises. You’re never far away from a sideria (cider-drinking pub, where the cider is poured at arm’s length to achieve a particular taste). There is also a splendid local ice-cream, complete with fifties-style thick silver packaging. In the old Roman part of the town, friendly local shops and bars spring up amongst the long stone walls. The afternoon siesta shuts shops between around 12 and 3, and the action bizarrely livens up later in the evening when in London it would all be coming to a halt.

In the days after the festival Jorge Explosion introduced me to the Gijón aquarium, with its global collection of the most weird and wonderful fish and marine life, and an option to come back and eat some of them in the evening! Having gorged myself on octopus (‘pulpos’ in Spanish) by accidentally ordering far too much at a local restaurant, I didn’t take up the option. Instead we took a ride out of town to experience the botanical gardens. These were a little bit low on excitement although they have appeared in several international film productions.

Across the road though was the amazing and bizarre University campus – an incredible collection of architecture and decadence dating back to General Franco, with a roof top bar and sun beds that make you feel like you’re on Mount Olympus. The eighties ‘classics’ playing on speakers attached to the pillars somehow implied the Gods were running a kitsch disco, but it was still a stunning place to hang out for a while.

All in all it had been an extremely enjoyable festival week, with a good cross section of legendary artists and bands that are currently on top form.

parsley@gardenrecords.com [www.gardenrecords.com]