THE HEAVY EYES
Freak Valley Festival 2014
AWO Gelaende, Netphen-Deuz, Germany
May - 29 - 2014
Day # 1/ Act # 3
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A SPACEBANDIT/MIRO/BLUESHACKS/LORD DIE taping cooperation
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Freak Valley Notes... by Spacebandit
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Once again the opening of the outdoor festival madness here in Germany started in an industrial area of tiny Netphen near Siegen. As in the two years before, the ROCKFREAKS put on a
fantastic lineup of stoner/doom/heavy 70's/bluesrock/spacerock, whatever your heart fills with joy. Some bands there did exclusive shows, with no further touring in Germany or even in
Europe, so the crowd gathering at Freak Valley consited of music lovers from all over the continent, sometimes even more far away. The sound was very good, and the lawn in front of the
stage as well (more later on that!). But somehow I feel that the spirit of Freak Valley has changed since last year. To be honest: To a more commercial festival. Though it might be good
for the event itself, there's a whole lotta more to make better next year. As me and my friends arrived in pouring rain on thursday noon, we could not get the usual parking lot in front
of the venue, but were forced to park our five station wagons (for comfortable old men's sleep) about a kilometer away. Well, that was nothing troubling, but the walk along a crowded
highspeed road on 50 centimeters (with cars almost NOT speeding down) was really life-risking. OH MY GOD! Even as they put out signs of 30 KM/H, some idiots cruised along me with 100+!
You wanna get killed by the roadside by an asshole who refuses to put the speed down on his car (only for about 500 meters)? I can think of a better way to die...Guess the drivers in that
Siegerland are all crazy. And the police had a chance to collect hundrets of licences...but where did I see our beloved HELPERS...? N.o.w.h.e.r.e !
Oh, hell yeah, that was the thing that I'm seriously PISSED. All other minor annoying things, like the rude kicking crowd during some shows are just "kindergarden"...Just KICK back...
All thanks to my "Psychedelik Stammtisch" crew of Michael, Wolli, Joerg and my dear brother Martin, and of course, to our good friend LORD DIE, who managed to get a secure parking lot
about 150 meters from stage, but for the price of a hip-surgery and a walking stick before...He deserved to get that!
A BIG BUNCH of THANKS to the whole Freak Valley workers for making this festival A REAL GOOD TIME. Thanks also for the well-behaved SECURITY boys and girls (but only from Friday on, where
were you on thursday? Day off?). Last not least, all thanks to the great ANNOUNCER Volker. Great to hear almost the same introduction to all bands!
So...well I need to write this...WEATHER REPORT...
May 29th - heavy rain on the drive/light rain all through the evening. night temperatures about 8+ C.
May 30th - no rain, clouded sky, broke up to the clear moonlight. night temperatures about 3/4+ C. Brrrr...
May 31st - fantastic sunshine all day long! night temperatures about 8/9+ C.
Admission fee: In advance, EARLY BIRD TICKETS, bought last November, 45 Euros.
Catering on Festival ground: Pizzabude (n�h!), a Veggiefood booth (naja...) and a Fritten/Currywurstbude (auch nicht �berragend!).
Two big sized Veltins Bier Booths, and a very crowded Cocktail-Bar...Oh, and of course, a much crowded Coffee-Bar.
Drain: Well, only four wagons to leave off your bladder and bowel remains. Sometimes an EMERGENCY, lifesaving procedere...2 more next year would be fine!
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Ok, Ladies and gentlemen...here's a bit of FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL 2014...
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Rec Info:
SONY ECM 717 -> ZOOM H2n (at WAV 16/44) -> SDcard -> HD -> Audacity (edit/remaster) -> WAV 16/44 -> TLH8 -> FLAC -> DIME -> YOUR EARS AND MIND...
Recorded by dear friend, "Psychedelik-Stammtisch-Bruder" and taping buddy BLUESHACKS at first row almost dead center. Luckily we decided to bring two different equipments to the Valley,
and as you know that mine jammed a lot due to an unknown cable break, it's sooooo goood to listen to a far superior source. Anyway, this recording sounds a bit muffled, due to the
stronger rainfall at their set. At one point you can even hear the taper's comment about this being a "strange" tape. But, hell yeah, you can blame all on the weather conditions on
that thursday evening, so please all thanks straight to the lovely town of Kevelaer, Lower Rhine Area for standing taping in the rain!
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We'll continue our taped journey through the ups and downs of the 3rd annual FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL 2014 with a young trio from Memphis, Tennessee. While they surely proove that there
is something beyond the horizon of lame commerical country music and the tomb of the King, I felt a bit of disappointed about their set. I think their songs sound a bit alike to each
other, with almost no surprising idea/change a few songs into the show. But that does not mean that I dismiss the potential of their talent. Also, there's a complete absence of jamming,
so nearly all the songs clock in at the 3 minute mark. Less could be sometimes more...
THE HEAVY EYES will serve you classic heavy 70's rock in the spirit of bands like CACTUS or BLUE CHEER or GRAND FUNK RAILROAD. Some blues based 70's hardrock with each a tiny bit of
psychedelic rock and stoner woven in. Time will tell the wiser if they succeed with their music.
A nice quote from them:
"Psychedelic blues rock from the delta that sounds similar to a skeleton driving a speed boat on a flaming Mississippi River headed back to 1969."
Oh, and by the way, this was the band's first show on european soil...and here it is... SB.
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ALMOST FULL SHOW (50:51 min.)
01. (/) 5% (3:09) *
02. One hand on the buffalo (3:07)
03. Supermoon -> (3:13)
04. Iron giants (3:49)
05. ... (3:15)
06. Goodnight (3:28)
07. These mean are wolves (2:40)
08. Abbe Faria (3:10)
09. Maggie (2:39)
10. ... (4:03)
11. Mind (2:48)
12. Wax apple (2:56)
13. Lately (3:19)
14. Maera (3:36)
15. ... (5:40)
* jumps in, unknown time is missing... some track titles are matter of suspect.
Setlist is in need of help...please help!
the usual facebook/bandcamp sites...
Support the band, go to their shows, buy all the merch your spaceship can carry!
Do not convert to lossy files, unless for personal use. No lossy net use. Flac rules!
If you spread, keep lineage/taper info intact. It's us tapers who give you this recording.
If you sell...you can make the KING's company!
THE HEAVY EYES are...
Tripp Shumake
Wally Anderson
Eric Garcia
Uploaded to DIME by Spacebandit 2014/06/07.
Images for all shows as well as full size images for this show.
Images for this show:
