By: Alex Pulec

The Midway State photo: Andy Ryan

The Midway State was the first band I checked out at this year’s Virgin Festival. They started off powerful with tons of energy although quickly lost it as their songs didn’t have any originality and became weaker and weaker as the set went on. The band was extremely tight, but I feel that The Midway State would be better enjoyed in your bedroom or car. On the upside, the band displayed a decent amount of showmanship and conviction. Unfortunately, it still didn’t stop from turning your head and looking into the distance wondering if the Centerville rides were open.  Best described as tight and longwinded. To cut them some slack it was quite early and it might have been hard to entertain a crowd that was still yawning.
http://www.themidwaystate.com

Spiritualized

I treaded my way to the TD stage to check out the critically beloved Spiritualized. As soon as they played their popular favorite “Ladies and Gentleman We Are Floating In Space” it was hard to come to the realization that that you were indeed stuck on this planet and not in space. When Jason Pierce’s melancholic, gravely croon and a surging wave of violas, violins and evangelical backing burst in, you now knew he could bring any Teflon skinned man or woman to tears. Seldom speaking, the dark figure graced us all a little too early in the daylight in my opinion (4pm) with songs off his new album Songs In A&E and running back into his beloved catalogue.
http://www.spiritualized.com/

MGMT

Easily one of the highlights of the day, they have been getting endless amounts of buzz and hype and today MGMT (pronounced management) proved that they deserve it. After starting off a little bit shaky and talking about how “wierd” Toronto was they eased the set in with “the Youth”. I was very impressed with his voice and was surprised to see that they were quite the goofballs on stage. I noticed that their bass drum had the letters “TMNT” written on it. Many people probably just assumed it was “MGMT” I thought this was hilarious. “Electric Feel” was arguably the best groover of the festival, as the ever so smug media people, turned the wooden raised stand into a giant trampoline. Trying to take my mind off what would happen if the stands broke, I noticed the sun as it peaked out though key moments of their songs, as if they themselves were controlling it. When they ended the set, the entire crowd was swaying back and forth to “Kids” and jumping with glee. MGMT was the first band of the day to actually get people going. I wonder who their favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle is?
http://www.whoismgmt.com

Foo Fighters

At last, the grandacious Foo Fighters started off their set with some of their biggest singles “One By One”, “Times Like These” and “Learn to fly”. Pumping up the crowd to embrace a new track or two that came shortly after. It’s amazing how Dave Grohl can pretty much scream for two hours and not give up. Replacing many of the empty vocal spaces with “COME ON!” and “YEAHHH” or “ARE YOU READY, AH, YEAH!!”  After a little break and some Tenacious-D esque jokes about playing to a toddler near the front row, they blasted into more hits off the new album and most of the old hits. Being mostly fathers now, the Foo Fighters haven’t shown any sign of slowing down in the near future, even if the lyrics of their songs focus on fatherhood. The lightshow wasn’t crazy and distracting like most arena bands use. Even if you’re not a fan of the music you can’t deny that they’re a band fit for a gigantic stage with a crowd full of fist-pumping 90’s nostalgia rockers. Bring it on Day 2.
http://www.foofighters.com/

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 at 10:44 am.