pound 2 (pound)
v. pound·ed, pound·ing, pounds
v.intr.
1. To strike vigorous, repeated blows
2. To move along heavily and noisily
3. To pulsate rapidly and heavily; throb

Some will say I’m crazy, but it was my first time @ Lokerse Feesten. Maybe it’s because I’m from Ghent and when you’re from Ghent, there is only one real festival: Gentse Feesten! But this year, I had to go. Orbital (GB) came. After been away for quite some time (BBC Maida Vale Studios 2004), they came to Belgium, and so close, this I had to see.

Etienne de Crecy
The ticket I had was valid for the whole evening so I also saw Etienne de Crecy, a Frenchman I had never heard of before but who turned out to be rather good. Electro, a bit sterile and “programmed”, but with a light show I had never seen before. He was standing in the middle of some kind of “Tron-infied” giant cube, lined with LEDs and covered in fabric. (People who don’t know what I’m talking about, forget it, Tron is a film). The multi-coloured 3D effect was extraordinary spectacular (see YouTube)

Orbital
And then: Orbital. I’m surprised how little people have ever heard of them in Belgium, although they were among the biggest names in the business in England. Their show was simple phenomenal. The LEDs on the side of their heads have become a trade mark, but apart from that, the light show was brilliant. The loops were perfect, standing still was an impossibility. All classics were played: Chime, Satan, Halcyon, The box, etc… The end of the show was unforgettable, the Orbital version of the Ron Grainer’s Dr. Who theme song. Rave on!

Lokerse Feesten
Over-all, the Lokerse Feesten were nothing like I had expected. The concert area was just like a real summer festival and although the name resembles the name of the Gentse Feesten it’s something completely different. The noise-level was above normal. For readers of the Hitch Hicker’s Guide to the Galaxy: it was Hotblack Desiato-loud. Unfortunately I had no well built bunker in the vicinity. No human ear can handle this kind of noise. I had to back up (away from the stage) and if I would have had ear-buds I would have used them. Organizers, learn from Ghent, this is too much guys! (Or otherwise, I’m getting old)

But apart from the noise (and from the rather disturbing news I received during the concert): I had a nice evening!