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People, people, PEOPLE! Thank you one and thank
you all for a most memorable day and night. Both the bands and the fans
were all part of making VC6 the best one ever. We have no way of
measuring how many was there but we estimate that during the whole day
about 5000 people must have visited Bastionen. Some hung out all day
and some just drifted to and from and checked their favourites out. All
seemed to enjoy the good weather and the excellent cast of bands. Here
is a report for all of you poor sods that missed out.
A central hang out between the two stages was the
merchandise booth. Here it is manned by Thomas and Soren from the
Crunchy Frog staff. Thomas, by the way, is talking to Kale, the mother
of Yebo and Nalna - two of the founding fathers of Crunchy Frog. During
the day several of the band members were present and met with friends
and fans. One of the good things about VibraCrunch: the back stage area
is so small that it is usual for the bands to actually come out and see
each others' shows and get drunk off their asses with all us other
music lovers.
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First
band on was the totally terrific trio Talking To Teapots. They are
Swedish last we checked, but entered the stage saying "Hello, we are
from Poland". MAD hatters alright. But not as mad as their special
brand of music. Some sort of mix between The Beatles and The Residents.
Reminiscent of the Copenhagen band TWANG you could say.
Talking To Teapots was the perfect band to kick off the
whole thing, and they did a remarkable job before packing their stuff
and going right to the Emmaboda Festival where they were to play later
the same day.
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As
first band on the indoor stage the growing audience experienced Moon
Gringo. The lead singer Mette and her boy-toy Anders (guitar+voc) had
flown in from Berlin especially for their VC6 show. We were most
grateful for this as was the rest of the band, who without the singers
of the band would have had to do 40 minutes of instrumental euro-dance
along the lines of, say, Eiffel 65. Thankfully this did not happen, and
the MGs did a cool show. Great sound, strong performances and lotsa
fine tunes from their latest album "Ingrid Superstar".
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After
Moon Gringo left the stage it was time for a small set from Learning
from Las Vegas' lead singer and songwriter. Klaus Mandal Hansen is
hands down one of the most talented songwriters in Denmark. Today he
did a small acoustic set which really brought out the fine lyrics in
the songs, and actually suited his voice really well. An intimate and
poetic little concert for a seated audience enjoying the sun and cold
beers. What more could you ask for?
Next band up was Sandy Mouche - local heroes from Malmö.
The beautiful singer Helena in front made a great impression on the
many Danes, that probably had never witnessed SM's sweet sweet brand of
pop music. Several songs were in French, which was a nice touch. For
some reason girls singing in French is just, well, a really nice touch.
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Sterling's
lead singer Mads took full advantage of the nice weather and sported a
white badminton suit and red maracas. Apparently he's trying to put
some distance between himself and his moniker "The fat boy from
Sterling" - and what can you say: there's not one ounce of fat on that
hunky body of his. He is indeed good enough to eat. Mmmmm.
Sterling had a really good show with great sound and lots
of energy that beamed into the receptive crowd. Danish lyrics, indie
pop and analog synthesizers is the mark of honour for the 4 piece band
- at this occation joined by a keyboard player by the name of "He Who
Rock!"
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You
can aaaalways count on an entertaining show from the skinny brothers
and chickenman. The threepiece tour de force from Club Crisp. Yes! We
are talking about the Power of Solo. The Soul of Powwow. The band you
hate to hate. The band you love to love. That's POWERSOLO! Yeah!
Kim Kix, Atomic Child and Jens Benz (and Fzattebassen
stroking a gentle Moog bass off stage) blasted the crowd to oblivion
with hits such as "Juanito", "Oak Tree Girl" and "Kat Nazer", plus old
favourites such as "Stupid Little Bitch" (always dedicated to Grandma)
and "Asshole". If you haven't witnessed the hillbilly genius of their
spring album "It's Raceday" then go out and buy it NOW!
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All
the way from Stockholm came Radio LXMBRG. A band we discovered recently
at Crunchy Frog when their 3 track demo came our way. At once we tried
to book them for VibraCrunch6 and luckily they agreed to take the
journey for the benefit of the VC6 visitors. Sweet melodies and
interesting soundscapes. Easy to listen to and easy to love. The Radio
LXMBRG proved a most enjoyable relaxing experience between the
actionpacked hi-energy shows from PowerSolo and Tiger Tunes.
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Why
is it always such a treat to watch a Tiger Tunes show? Apart from the
actual music, which is great of course, it must be the fact that these
guys seem to actually LOVE LOVE LOVE to play. Smiling faces all around.
The sheer pleasure of making loud noises and making people dance and
clap their hands seems to be the energy that gets Tiger Tunes going.
Well, it is something of a treat isn't it? Kaare - always the
dandy - was wearing a Hawaii flower necklace and stirring up a frenzied
crowd. The songs are a wee bit crazy and - between us - so is the band,
but their melodies are sheer pop power. You gottta love them.
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Bob
Log III is something of a phenomenon. A one man band in an Evil Knievel
suit and a pilots helmet with a telephone melted into the plastic
shield. Performing rustling slide guitar sitting down playing a kick
drum and cymbal with his feet + operating a prehistoric drummachine as
well. All of this resulting in a most entertaining mayhem of screething
almost inaudible vocals, fast pounding beats and deft fingerpickin'. At
one point Bob got up and proclamed his 16$ spare guitar the cheapest
piece of shit being played on VibraCrunch. He might be right about that
even though Jon Spencer's legendary Korean guitar he uses in Blues
Explosion is supposed to have been purchased for a similar amount
(sounding way better). Another of Bob's great party tricks is to get
two girls to sit on his lap while he plays a song. At this picture he
is in Boob Scotch Heaven strumming along with a couple of chicks
bouncing up and down in front of him.
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Local
boys Niccokick proved to be a huge draw for the Malmö crowd. When it
was time for their show the tent was packed, and stayed that way the
rest of the night. With their blend of indie rock they had the fans
going from start to finish.
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As
the night started to fall the newest addition to the Crunchy family
entered the out door stage. The summer night was a perfect setting for
the eclectic pop sounds from epo-555.
This band is quickly gathering a good fan base - and with
good cause. Their show at Roskilde festival received 6 out of 6 stars
and the show at VC6 was in many peoples opinion way better. Intimate,
poetic but also powerful and noisy at times. A magical sonic universe
that continues to please and surprise you.
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epo-555's
debut-album "Dexter Fox" is going to be released next month, and this
night they gave several samples of the rich and varied flavours it
contains. Here at Crunchy Frog we can only recommend that you buy at
least 10 copies when it is out on September 13th.
Here is the lady of the beat Camilla "I was young and
needed the money" Florentz in a focused moment playing her miniature
keyboards during the highly addictive "Pre-Emptive Stroke", which is
the first single from the album.
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As
a symbol not only of the brotherhood of the Danes and the Swedes but
also of the two soul mate record labels Crunchy Frog and Vibrafon
Records (the two labels that started VibraCrunch 6 years ago) The
Tremolo Beer Gut took over the main stage at 10.30 pm. Featuring The
Great Nalna on lead guitar and Bas Morgansen on organ and percussion,
two of the owners of each label was present on the stage at the same
time to give the audience all the old school surf & western they
could just about take without bursting in ecstacy. At this point the
festival site was getting so crowded that the security guards had to
close the entrance. A lot of people had to see the last shows from the
outside the fence turning the adjoining closed street into one big
block party.
As an added bonus the king of suave, the secret son of
Elvis, the very cool Mr. Jon Spencer joined TBG for two songs: "Tahonga
Lounge Babe" and the Beer Guts rendition of Blues Explosion's "She
Said". The stuff of legend, kids! So damned cool! for the very last
song Dr. Neuss even laid down a mean theremin adding the last touch of
hysteria... and then everybody burst in ecstacy. And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is how it's done!
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You
love Money Your Love and they love you. That is the way of the world
and there ain't no two ways about it. Money Your Love was last band on
the outdoor stage. The crowd at this point was ready to get down to the
danceable beats and melodic songs. The 3 hipsters in MYL did their best
to give the crowd no good reason not to dance, and all the beer
everybody had been drinking all day didn't hurt either. All in all a
hot show, that unfortunately was cut short by the stage manager. The
thing was that due to some misunderstanding the last band on the other
stage started a couple of minutes early. This shouldn't have meant that
MYL couldn't finish their set, but - alas - it did. Apologies for that,
but just all the more reason for y'all to get on out there and see the
next Money show anywhere near you! (this picture by Signe Pedersen)
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Last
band of head liner of VibraCrunch6 was of course the Blues Explosion.
Even though the band was on a promotion tour (and not doing shows) they
agreed to come to VibraCrunch and give it hell as a special favour.
What a goddamned TREAT people! The BX hasn't played in Malmö for ages,
and it's been even longer since their last legendary show at Loppen in
Copenhagen. And they came back in style. Fit, bold and mean. Classic
tracks and loads of tunes from the forthcoming "Damage" album. Action,
danger and pure rock'n'roll poured from the stage and into the grateful
crowd.
What an incredible end to a wonderful day. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Crunchy love goes out to all the participants. See you next year we hope!
CRUNCHY FROG
Photos by Jessica Tolf Vulpius
PS:
If any of you have some cool digi pix of the bands (especially Klaus
Mandal, Money Your Love and Niccokick) or just the audience, please
send the best one(s) in 72 dpi to info@crunchy.dk - we'll post the best
one's here!
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