Photo: Emma Viola Lilja
Longtime Strokes producer Gordon Raphael writes up his thoughts of The Strokes' Hyde Park show - slamming many of their support acts.
Raphael has been known as the sixth Stroke as a result of his heavy contribution to the first three records. He penned his account of his London experience over at The Zine.
The Strokes played Hyde Park on June 18 as a part of the British Summer Time Festival shows and featured support from Beck, Future Islands, Temples, Public Service Broadcasting, The Wytches, Gengahr, Yak, Hinds and Kieran Leonard.
The producer was not a fan of one of the support acts, writing: "[I] quickly went to a big stage and watched a band come on, within 15 seconds I felt that familiar feeling of nauseous resentment which historically 99.9% of all music that I have heard in the world inspires within my soul and body."
He continued the lashing: "All it takes is a non-interesting drumbeat, a limpid guitar figure, and 'go-along with the guitar' bass line, and a smarmy guy with a showbiz vocal singing lyrics of an uninteresting non-poetic nature, and I feel that queasy 'run for the hills' vibration in my solar plexus."
The unnamed band were not totally singled out, Raphael stumbled upon another artist he didn't take a liking to as his account describes: "I ran as fast as I could to get as far away from the sonic stench of what I considered pointless physically weakening music (as the crowd sang along and danced of course!) and wound up in front of a stage full of modern electronic Midi-equipment"
The outrage continues: "Oh, NO! I could not escape the tones, lyrics, choruses and instrumental bits wafting off the stage into my ears. YES, I had toilet paper jammed in my ears, lots of it to reduce the harm and harmonies! But still, I could that music stinging my flesh, nonetheless."
Things weren't all terrible for Gordon, he wrote some great things about headline act: "I always get a profound rush of exilhilaration when they play a song from a record I produced - of course, naturally! Starting the historic set with 'Is This It' put me in a great mood (and believe me, the crowd too!) immediately.
He continued: "The Strokes played brilliantly. Albert looked like a pillar of strength and fitness in his magenta flight-suit. Holding his guitar effortlessly and generating power rhythms and searing leads at the top of his game."
"They did 3 great encore songs, ending with my always favourite (especially at live gigs) 'Take It Or Leave It!"
He concluded dramatically with: "No, I sincerely don't like a lot of bands in the world, but happily The Strokes are one of many that make committed, every day, to the powerful majesty contained in song and lyrics."
While Gordon was getting over his gripes with modern music, Miles Kane and Alex Turner were having a whale of a time.
- Read our full review of the show here
