So where was I… Monday, 19th July 2009. Killing hot and a long way to take untill the festival area which is known as F1 Istanbul Park. Yes, that F1 where racecars gun it up to the very loudest bit. Crossing the sea from European side to Anatolia and then taking the bus that is filled up with sticky people. Well, air conditioners can’t accomplish their missions if you fill the bus to triple capacity. Oh yeah, I said I was not gonna moan, right? Go on then… Busses, shuttles and bottles of water later; there we were eventually. In the festival area. The tired looking crowd at the entrance; those took shelter under some tunnel type of thing gave us a clue about the heat rolling over the area. But I still kept walking further in the most heroic way. Me vs. Heat! Heat was hitting under the belt using the asphalt-concrete advantage though. Not so cool. But hey, I was only a few minutes away from seeing my beloved Cold War Kids. I could deal with it. I did. I suppose.

Cold War Kids: 15.20. The sun edging in like an awfully glowing sword. A lady holding a hosepipe near the front; sprouting the water all around to see the miserable crowd wooing for more… Although some couldn’t help counting their blessings (!) to her that she was losing herself in the game of single-sided-water-fighting. Me on the other hand waiting with a divine patience for the Californian quartet that have made me a devoted fan from about 4 years ago. (we love la-underground!) Memories of me begging on forums for them to come and play Istanbul one day which seemed to be a distant dream at the time. Years of stalking any review on them, turning that amazing Robbers & Cowards CD to one “worn out from overplay” state… Putting them in my untouchables list of bands no matter what else they release afterwards. There they were at last! Nathan and Jonnie and Matt and Matt. The men who blessed my rock’n roll spraying the prudent blues on it.  Because the weather was torturing and I was disorganized and got numb to find a pen to write down the tunes played; I don’t remember the whole setlist in the correct order. But I do remember the upbeat opening with Mexican Dogs. It was a balanced set between Robbers & Cowards and Loyalty to Loyalty.  In no particular order it went like – Something Is Not Right With Me, I’ve Seen Enough, Relief, Dreams Old Men Dream, Hang Me Up To Dry, Tell Me In The Morning, Rubidoux, We Used To Vacation and Hospital Beds. Feel free to fill in the blanks if I have forgot any. They definitely didn’t do Passing the Hat and Saint John though. No matter how hard I screamed “Passing the Hat please” from down the front, it didn’t work. Yes I even said “please” and got ignored. Or even unheard. Oh well…

I will pass the bit for complaining about the sound problems as we Istanbulers are so used to this thing for years now and these years have tought me no matter how much you complain nothing will change. I am just saying it would have been so much greater if the guitar in I’ve Seen Enough could be heard rather clearly. Jonnie’s super awesome participation and Nathan’s top vocals covered it all though. Fulfillingly. Dreams Old Men Dream is one of my favorites from Loyalty to Loyalty and is apparently a top tune! But still wasn’t expecting this good of a live performance for such a lowdown tune!  The highlight of the show was Rubidoux with no confusion though.  The noise and harmony coming out of those four guys on the stage got me hypnotized. Jonnie was incredibly cool all along. He was standing very close to where I was watching so I could observe him better than the rest. It is like he plays and sings with his heart and soul jumping around with his guitar in his hands. Especially the tunes from Robbers & Cowards and Something Is Not Right With Me were heard to be the most fueling performances. Matt’s rhytmic bass beats clinging to the cantabile melodies of guitar in Hang Me Up To Dry was when the band got the best reaction from the almost-literally melted crowd. With the final couple tracks the contentment reached to the climax: We Used To Vacation – Hospital Beds. It was not only my voice I lost over singing aloud there but my senses too. As the Hospital Beds began rearing up through Nathans’s fingers on the keyboard I wondered if it was any possible to appreciate them more for writing such a beautiful beautiful song. Kept on singing aloud: Vietnam - Fishing Trips – Italian Operaaaaa…..

So despite early hours of the day, awfully high heat, partly numb crowd (it wasn’t crowded at all actually) and the relatively short set; Kids made their best. Some might see this as a subjective judgement but hell yes; Cold War Kids were the best act of the day; following me.

After CWK‘s line, there was two hours until We Have Band shows up in the alternative stage. So two hours long eating, drinking, fooling around and a bit of nostalgia thanks to Cartel. Never been a fan of them but it was really exciting. There shouldn’t be a single peep from my generation who don’t know their hit’s lyrics by heart. They had some impressive entrance and the reaction of the crowd (this time it was much more crowded yeah) was impeccable. Except the younger kids staying confused to see big bros rapping out all along to that distantly familiar melody. Yeah it was fun but rap has its limits in my life. So couldn’t stay for more than two songs. Got our drinks and found some place to sit under shadows until the time for We Have Band.

We Have Band: 18.10. Before all else, isn’t that a cool name for a band? Inviting, attracting, energetic… And this is also what you get once you start digging this jolie trio. They smell fun, moving and British. Well, they are. I have heard the story about this three coming together (getting sacked from EMI and forming a band…etc. Still unsigned…etc. etc. etc.) and had listened couple of their tunes in the near past but getting into them seriously was leaded by a precious recommendation from a precious precious friend Mr AndyWOS.  He urged me to get around to catch them live right after he saw them live in Glastobury this year. Apparently they were one of the best acts of the festival and the word seems to be have spreaded already. Further proof is that these peeps have won the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition for 2009. They wouldn’t have let this award go anyone else if we had some similar type of competition in Rock’n Coke as well. I mean it. Performing at the alternative stage was a good start already. Nicely decorated background and shades! Keeping us away from boiling sun (which put a big fat block to CWK live pleasure!). Darren Bancroft, Dede WP and Thomas WP all dressed in white shining through the stage, playing and singing in the most harmonious way. Darren’s neverending energy was worth to see. He would dance, sing,  jump, drum, let the show go on no matter what. With naked feet and smiling face he looked like a born-to-perform. I caught some of the vocals coming from Dede were recorded samples but won’t have a go at that. Naturally I won’t. As that would be asking too much from a three piece that won’t stop moving even for a second. Plus she sounded great all along! Critics have a point introducing her as the new Nico! I can tell Istanbul loved these guys and I suppose we all expect to see them with a longer set in a smaller venue in the following months. Here here!…

After about one hour gambolful playing in the lead of We Have Band, we felt thirsty and tired. You only know how tired you feel once you sit on the grass and have a cold sip from your beer. There left about 20 minutes before Razorlight come up to the main stage. And we decided to wait untill just on time. Lucky thing we had a great spot on the grass where we also could see the stage and the giant screens on the side of the main stage.

Razorlight: 19.20 Actually I wasn’t all excited for Razorlight. And eventually we didn’t even bother to get up to find a closer spot in the crowd. All in peace, sitting on the grass with beers I watched their performance from afar. I was expecting some joyful acts so that we wouldn’t help ourselves but jump in the crowd to enjoy. But nothing was special about them. Nothing was inviting there. It was ok. Just ok.

Giant drink cue and even a gianter food cue later, it was time for Kaiser Chiefs on the main stage.

Kaiser Chiefs: 20.50 We were still feeling lazy to leave our comfy pillows, getting up and waiting in the crowd. This is something I never do at festivals. I always wait afoot no matter how long it takes. This time I was feeling lazy. Maybe because I am getting old. Or it was simply the sun effect crashed on our brains all day long. I am not considered to be a Kaiser Chiefs fan. I even barely listen to them. And let’s be honest, aren’t most of us have had a mock on them all these years? Haven’t we all made a little joke  using the words “I predict a riot” since the time it hit the charts? Me and my friends have at least. Why? Dunno. Just did. There was something not sincere about them. But, a huge but I want to insert here… with their non-stop energy and enthusiasm I have to tell Kaiser Chiefs have been one of the best acts of this music day. Their full throttle opening and reaction to the crowd eventually made us move our arses to join in the gang. I even sang along!!! Ricky Wilson is such a showman! He was full of action all along the show. Running side to side, climbing up the stage columns, making the big crowd participate oftenly. I was impressed. I have a different vision for Kaiser Chiefs from now on. I surrender!

Sticky, tired with pain on our legs searching for a place to rest; we were all content with the show Kaiser Chiefs performed. The headliner Linkin Park was on the line. So the crowd got even huger with mostly younger kids all wearing Linkin Park t-shirts and stuff. I don’t think I should have a say on Linkin Park performance as I am totally stranger to them. Hardcore fans around me seemed to be happy so I will pass annoying them. I mean I barely have heard a few tunes of theirs and to me all sounding the same. Good thing – if there has to be – kids seemed to be enjoying. Yeah. Another one haour and half to spend on the comfy pillows. I was content too.

Santigold: 00.10 Around midnight  it was time for the last artist for the day and festival: Santigold (yeah, she apparently changed her stage name playing with one letter. She is not called Santogold anymore. Tipsy moods, relaxed bodies and the festival ambiance took us to the alternative stage to call it day with Santigold. It was fun! Decent closing for a day full of music and joy. With robotoic dancers – back vocals ans shiny costumes it was nice piece of show. She said something about being ill at some point so maybe that explains why the set was shorter than usual. Or maybe that is what I though because it was so fun and fun things finish quick you know. Don’t really know Santigold songs in detail so I just enjoyed the moment. We were in a cheerful group of people from all around the world. All dancing off their feet. Even watching that merry crowd was something to enjoy.

So that’s it. I won’t again get into the details about way back home. The long cues…etc. Just hope it gets better each year. And because I couldn’t make it to the festival on Saturday I have nothing to say. But the word on the street is that The Twelves couldn’t make it either. So hallelujah as they were the main reason for me to go on Saturday. Coincidences are sometimes nice!