August Saturday 1st 2009 at the Jean-Drapeau park (Montreal)
We could not wish for a better first day at the Osheaga festival. The sun and then the moon, all that without a cloud, it was warm, and the fireworks from la round were in plain view and, of course, plenty of good concerts.
The show was closed with a flawless performance of Coldplay, the first half of Osheaga’s as proven to be a great success.
The British group has done a hell of show within its 90 minutes of delivery, with almost all their entire hits from their latest album Viva La Vida or Death and all his friends, not forgetting the classics The Scientist, Clocks and Yellow.
Chris Martin and his band had a contagious energy, offering an electrifying performance that will not be forgotten this early.
Their short visit in the middle of the crowd (which we had prepared a mini-stage for them) for a few acoustic versions which helped punctuate the concert, offering time for a little more "intimacy" despite the large crowd gathering.
(Complete review of the of Coldplay concert coming Monday)
The Roots on fire, Elbow always as dazzling
It must be said that the table had been set as required by the hip-hop group with a little mix of funk and jazz accents The Roots. MC Black Thought and its valiant musicians (who, remember, used as house band for Jimmy Fallon on Late Night Show) took the crowd in a wild session of virtually without a break for more than 80 minutes. This was a real marathon concert.
The Roots served several tracks from their latest album Rising Down, a few unfamiliar titles (a preview of their new upcoming album without forgetting their success The Seed 2.0 as well as a medley of diverse songs such as Iron Man (Black Sabbath), Heartbreaker (Led Zeppelin) and Sweet Child of Mine, with a guitar solo divine from Captain Kirk Douglas.
The drummer Questlove and the percussionist F. Knuckles are also several duets rhythms, while Damon "Tuba Gooding Jr." Bryson added a presence and a unique sound to the whole thing with his soubassophone (a huge tuba) and a few dance steps!
Earlier in the evening, the group Elbow also amazed thousands of followers and the curious with their sublime compositions. Accompanied by brass and a few violins, the band created an atmosphere of universal music with brilliance.
The charismatic singer Guy Garvey really took the crowd in the palm of his hand.
Jason Mraz has also served many of his songs tenderly playing to the delight of the ladies. His success, I’m Yours, has not failed to crack the ladies, like his friendly version of Three Little Birds Bob Marley.
On a more rock & Roll note, the group Eagles of Death Metal shook many eardrums, just after successful Caracol has a charm (bilingual) not obvious, because of the many technical glitches.
It was a very nice day for a first day for many music lovers who were at the Jean-Drapeau Park on this beautiful summer day.
The second day of Osheaga will have the group the Beast, The Ting Tings, Vampire Weekend, Rufus Wainwright, The Decemberists, ArcticMonkeys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and many others under the rain!
