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Around this time next week, I'll be submerged in fuzz, riffs, drums and probably one or a few of those delicious Johnny Cash burgers. It'll be the third incarnation of the travelling stoner circus, and it will be the third time Merchants Of Air covers the whole thing, not bad since we're only two years old. Over forty bands will battle for a place in our top-10-of-2016 (although they don't know that yet). And in this Songs With Stories spin-off, I'll try to predict the 15 best gigs, five for each day. Of course, we'll compare this list with the eventual result next week.
I deliberately left out some of the bands that everybody wants to go see at Desertfest. I mean, there will already be a ton of people in front of Pentagram, Goat, Elder Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats and Belgian noise rock heroes La Muerte. And I'm sure each and every one of them will deliver a massive performance. But if you only come for these bands, you could be a bit more loyal to a hard working scene and come early. There's so much to discover, and I think these fifteen bands will stun, awe and surprise you.
I deliberately left out some of the bands that everybody wants to go see at Desertfest. I mean, there will already be a ton of people in front of Pentagram, Goat, Elder Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats and Belgian noise rock heroes La Muerte. And I'm sure each and every one of them will deliver a massive performance. But if you only come for these bands, you could be a bit more loyal to a hard working scene and come early. There's so much to discover, and I think these fifteen bands will stun, awe and surprise you.
Friday
Alkerdeel
To some people, Alkerdeel will forever be known as 'the band with the farting demon on the album cover', but for me, this just might become a 'finally'. Somehow, I've never gotten the opportunity to see them live. I heard their album, 'Lede' (read our review) but that's about it. Their concerts have always slipped through my fingers for some reason At Desertfest, I'll finally get the chance to undergo their filthy mix of black metal and doom. Chances are big that I'm going to return home with a farting-demon-t-shirt. I mean, just check out their appearance at Roadburn in the video below and try to tell me that this is not going to be a blast.
Yob
Of course, Yob is going to be the absolute highlight on Friday. For starters, they have been here before and second, I can't remember any Yob gig that hasn't completely mesmerized me. Since I saw them at Incubate a few years ago, this trio has been my ultimate standard for today's doom metal scene, much like My Dying Bride was the standard in the nineties. I know, both bands have little in common musically, but they have both been on top of their scene in their respective decade or so. Without Yob, no Desertfest, no Roadburn. Well, that might be a bit exaggerated but still, they're one of the most important band in this scene.
Your Highness
Here comes another band that returns to the Trix-desert ànd one that definitely has a home-advantage. They can come to the festival on foot, or by bicycle, roll over the stage like a freight train and quickly return to their safe havens in the city of Antwerp. Your Highness has a reputation for being a wild live act and they have been proving that quite a few times already. Raunchy bluesy stoner metal at high volume and enough energy to light up the entire venue, what else could you possibly want on this edition of Desertfest. I see a lot of familiar faces and bandshirts in the awesome video below and I'm sure I'll be seeing a lot of familiar faces on front of the stage as well.
Subrosa
Not long ago, after a lot of deliberation, I decided to check out Subrosa's new album (read review). The album had been waiting in my inbox for a while. In fact, there was a chance that is was going to be left behind in the massive puddle of releases I still had to go through and which might simply not make it. However, very soon, the unique sound of Subrosa completely overwhelmed me. The bewitching vocals, the deep, hypnotic riffs and the epic sound of the violins, the whole thing easily became an intense experience instead of just another listening session. Now I noticed that Subrosa is coming to Desertfest, I can't wait to see them.
Joy
If my memory is correct, I missed Joy at Incubate a few years ago because I wanted to go see No Joy. So I'll get another chance on this year's edition of the mighty Desertfest. Their psychedelic rock reminds me a bit of some of the things I used to listen to when I was just a kid, way back in the late seventies. With my ears firmly focused on the radio I absorbed the sounds of Hendrix and co. I hope they bring the same kaleidoscopic projection to the festival as well. We might be in for some psychedelic magic...
Saturday
Monkey 3
Ever since I've seen these Swiss psychedelic rockers in an unspecified bar in Antwerp, I've been a big fan of their music. With their new album, they keep on exploring the outer limits of their sound and evolving as a band and I can't wait to experience what that's gonna give on stage. Their latest appearance at Desertfest was one of my personal highlights on that year and I'm quite positive that this Saturday will be pretty much the same. Nothing can go wrong with a Monkey 3 gig, I assure you... Well, actually, a lot can go wrong, but none of it will be their fault.
Wolvennest
This mysterious band suddenly popped up on the Desertfest line-up, making me wonder who they were exactly. So I clicked the play button on the video you can find below and all of a sudden found myself making facial gestures like the Magikarp boy. Their blend of atmospheric black metal and krautrock is so damn infectious that I have to see Wolvennest perform. I suggest you do the same and buy me a beer afterwards. This just might become one of this year's revelations.
Mother's Cake
A late surprise addition from the friendly people at Desertfest and a damn interesting one. Austrian psychedelic rockers Mother's Cake describe their music as a mix of The Mars Volta and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. I like to call it infectious groovy rock with brilliant psychedelic keyboard and a heap of raw energy. I don't know the band yet, as I only heard the song in the video below, but I'm damn sure that will chance very, very, very soon.
1000Mods
Well, as I mentioned in my recent review: Well, it's about time I start preparing for the upcoming edition of Desertfest, and what better way to do that than with a decent blast of stoner rock. Greek stoner rockers 1000Mods will be playing this year's edition in support of their third album 'Repeated Exposure To...' and, judging from the songs on this full-length, their gig will be a party you shouldn't miss. In short: this is 1000Mods most mature and attuned album, showing a band that has been growing and evolving in the past eleven years.
You don't wanna miss out on this one.
You don't wanna miss out on this one.
Ahab
It's been awhile since I heard from this German doom band. They were recommended to me by a friend a few years ago and I immediately liked their music, but gradually Ahab slipped out of my attention span. That is until they suddenly appeared in the line-up for Desertfest. Now, again, I can't wait to see them live, purchase some merchandise and start writing about how awesome their performance at this festival really was.
Sunday
Black Swarm
"Hey, it's that guy from the Rodeofest poster". Yes, that's true. His name is Sam De Roeck and he fronts Antwerp's own Black Swarm. Their appearance on this year's Desertfest will be a smasher. After all, they have the home-advantage and their music is as energetic as nuclear powered dildo up your ass. How that feels? Well, you come tell me after their gig. Oh man, this Desertfest is going to be so much fun...
Tau
A few years ago, German duo Tau impressed me at that year's edition of Incubate. Their exotic psychedelic music is certainly worthy of a decent meditation session and I can't wait to see them again. According to the biography, the collective project by Shaun Mulrooney (Dead Skeletons) and the Venezuelan multi instrumentalist Gerald Pasqualin was inspired by Shaun's shamanic experiences in the magical desert of Real De Catorce. I'm sure this will be a hypnotic and ritual experience as well.
Duel
While writing my review for their 'Fears Of The Dead' album, American doomers Duel provided me with an awesome trip back in time. And if you doubt my predictions, check this one: I hope that Duel will come over to Europe and play a few festivals here, namely the Up In Smoke and Desertfest events. They would be a solid addition to the line-up and possibly one of the most convincing acts on stage. So, my fellow ancient rockers, get this album now. You know you want it...
Dorre
I don't know a lot about these guys from the Belgian city of Leuven, but my expectations for their gig at Desertfest are pretty high. They play a blend of psychedelic rock, doom and noise and recently recorded a split with Bethmoora which I will be reviewing shortly after Desertfest. Yet, it was the video below that aroused my interest. As far as doom metal is concerned, I feel like these guys can make a serious impression in the Trix venue. Perhaps that'll be another t-shirt I take home with me...
Josefin Öhrn and The Liberation
Another act I only know from the one video provided on the Desertfest website is Josefin Öhrn and The Liberation. With their blend of sixties pop and krautrock, I feel they pretty much guarantee an immersive experience and a lot of dancing people. Chances are big that I myself try a little dance but I guess nobody wants to see that. But hey, for me, this music is a journey back into my childhood and the discovery of that little thing we call 'music'. So every opportunity I get to check out some delicious vintage songwriting with psychedelic touches, I'll damn well be there.
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