NAMASTE The day started with a bit of a cloud hanging over the skies. Namaste took the stage and the sun came out ... Was it a sign? The band started with a funky number, it was truly a “happy tune”. Mixing jazzy keyboards with a cello and a saxophone, this 7 piece had the energy and got the audience pumped up. Soulful vocals and great technical skills... A terrific start to the day. Great! DIZASTRO A Quiet start for this 4 piece band from Chicago. It began with a bit of a “Disastro” (excuse the pun), the keybord did not work and they went as a 3 piece while the problem was being fixed ... but let’s get to the gig: enough energy to call it rock, enough melodie to call it pop. While some rap “beats” were thrown in there it was very effective and “completed” the tunes. This great concotion worked well even withouth the keyboards. A good set from a band that flew from the other side of the planet and just got here ... good gig from theses Chicago natives. THE MAD TRIST 4 boys from the Netherlands ... super cool and visually very captivating. They sound like a great pop band on speed.....with a "heavy tone" influence that reminded us of queens of the stone age. Telecaster guitars to give that “pop edge” to their songs but still enough bass to kick you in the balls. Good tunes and great communicators from the stage. They managed to captivate me from beginning to end with their coolness and tunes. Great Band. At this point all I can say is: Thank you Holland! DROWNING FATE Solid and very tight. Heavy Rock with technical skills. A 7 string guitarist and a 6 string bass player were working their fingers very effectively across the frets. These guys had more strings than George Bush (doh!... puppet?). Reminiscent of Tool with some screams that are more common in emo sounding bands, these 4 boys tore through the set like a tornado. A special mention to the singer who has fine lungs and can really sing. F%$**** Solid! CROSSED KEYS Female fronted rock''n''roll band with more balls than most men we’ve seen. Did I mention they had a tinge of country too? This is rock, California style. This girl was blessed with a voice to match her stunning looks. A tight unit that looked super confident on stage. Solo riffs, strong bass playing and solid drumming topped with looks that complimented their songs ... simply great. Thanks for the songs Los Angeles, thanks for theshow... thanks for the eye candy for the boys and girls ... 3 cheers for L.A. ... hip hip hurrah! THE NOVELESTILO Historical Moment for Emergenza. For the very first time we have a band from Japan. These boys did not disappoint. Looking very dapper like well dressed gangsters from the 1930’s they mixed jazz and hip hop but their main element was funk. The double bass player was also a “first” ... and the beautiful instrument was a century old! These 4 tokyomen impressed and got the crowd very, very involved. Crowd involvement was the rule: Are shaking for the Japanese boys ... what ever they asked: They got. Funky, funky, funky. A blinding set! AERIAL VIEW The only indie band today. The last for an eclectic Friday. All the way from Nancy, France, Aerial View were a bit “raw” still, but had the goods to prove that the lads will go a long way. They were very interesting to say the least ... Apocaliptic indie with tunes that Radiohead would have been proud of. An interesting mix from this young 4 piece. I was glued watching the stage. Very impressive indeed... as were the people staring at the stage in amazement. A great way to close the day ... Come on Saturday!!