Another edition of Primavera Sound Porto, and actually one of the strongest editions ever. It was, somehow, a comeback to more rock/guitar-oriented acts — a comeback to form, let's say.
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DAY 1
The day started with Momma, and they perfectly embody the notion of being too cool for school. A lot of Momma's songs feel like a throwback to a '90s noise rock/shoegaze sound, with scuffed guitar leads and charming dual lead vocals from Allegra Weingarten and Etta Freeman. It was the first big surprise of the festival.
Dehd was our next pick; the Chicago-based garage rock trio never allows a tune to wear out its welcome, employing a minimalist approach and attitude that evokes more of a Velvet Underground-esque NYC cool than anything else.
One of the most important acts of the day was Fontaines D.C. Sometimes you should believe the hype, even when their punk ethos never leaves their more accessible Romance album. It was a solid performance from a band that seems comfortable fighting the enemy night after night. Free Palestine is forever!
High Vis was next on the bill for us — one of the most exciting bands in the world right now. Unfiltered, with a sense of energy and hunger often missing in the punk and hardcore scene, High Vis’s punchy sound encapsulates the very best of new noise right now. They are all punk energy, grit, and bounce, melded with indie guitar tones and a talent for colossal vocal hooks that bands like The Stone Roses or The Happy Mondays might have had at their peak — if they were a Dischord Records band.
To end the night: the almighty The Jesus Lizard. And let’s just say that seeing David Yow, at a whopping 64 years old, launch himself into the audience — with apparently no regard for his physical well-being — is truly awe-inspiring. They showed just how monumental and exciting the entity known as The Jesus Lizard still is, 36 years into their existence.
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DAY 2
For this day, Deftones as the main attraction of the day, and oh boy, they fucking delivered. But our day started with TV on the Radio, and the NYC art-rockers remain as remarkable, thrilling, and unique as they’ve always been. Unfortunately, not everyone knows or even understands the angular and complex gem that they are.
Beach House arrived on stage, effectively setting a tone that complemented their spacey and dreamy music. Just another solid yet somewhat forgettable night with Beach House at Primavera Sound.
After a warm and somewhat tedious day so far, everything changed when Chat Pile took the stage. They actually exist — and we need them more than ever. Another Chat Pile show in the books, and never a dull moment. They aren’t flashy and don’t take themselves too seriously; they’re just all about putting on a good show. As usual, the vocalist and cinephile Raygun mixed in some commentary about his favorite Portuguese films between songs. Probably the best concert of the whole festival.
Next came the perfect ending to the night: the return of Deftones to Portugal. It can be said that they weren’t there to mess about. Featuring the biggest hits for those new aboard the bus and the deepest cuts for longtime fans, the band hardly paused for air, diving into diverse eras and moods of contemplation.
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DAY 3
Everything started with Kim Deal, and when an artist has been in the public eye for nearly four decades, her audience brings a bundle of memories to her shows. Honestly, it was a boring and unremarkable performance.
For a performer with a 30-year tenure releasing music as Destroyer, Dan Bejar seems to have an unresponsive — if not confrontational — relationship with the spotlight. Overall, many songs started in one place and ended somewhere radically different. It wasn’t surprising, but it takes time to digest this kind of show.
Wet Leg was next, and they failed to match the hype. Their set was devoid of most of its dynamics. They arrived with so much smoke and rapid flashes of light that it was hard to even see the quintet as they rolled through their sharp, catchy hooks. Another strange case of a few hit songs not living up to their hype, leading to a crowd’s somewhat forced hysteria.
Cap'n Jazz, a homegrown Chicago band, is truly everything we love about the Chicago music scene. Seeing them was everything I hoped for and more. For those unfamiliar, Cap'n Jazz is a highly influential emo band. They were key figures in the second wave of emo in the '90s, and members went on to form other important bands such as American Football, Mineral, Owls, Joan of Arc, The Promise Ring, and Owen. They started the show with pure emotion, genuine crowd engagement, and the spirit of emo music blooming throughout the performance.
As Turnstile continues to ascend to new heights, they will keep bringing hardcore’s sincere and welcoming community to a whole new audience. They’ve done this while making hardcore more prevalent than ever, serving as a gateway for listeners to discover up-and-coming bands. From their visually striking stage design and dynamic camera work to their undeniable presence and performance prowess, Turnstile proved why they are a standout act in the scene.
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Photos: André Henriques / Words: Fausto Casais