Budapest Essentials: Katy B

Upon my arrival at the Margitsziget main stage, I was greeted by two slightly traumatic events: the intense smell of onion and a loud group of slightly drunkish and obviously sunburned Brits. The two sensory attacks then united with said Brits consuming the source of the onion stench, namely the kenyérlángos which later proved to be the only meagre source of possible sustenance in the festival area. (For those not familiar with kenyérlángos, I suggest to keep away from it, but otherwise it might be described as a pointless Hungarian version of pizza, where the classic Italian topping is replaced with local delicacies such as bacon, sour cream and, yep, onion. With the accidental touch of garlic sauce, to spice things up a bit more.)

While I was trying to figure out whether a can of popular Dutch beer with a star on it would kill me (the answer is it almost did), I was also delving deep into the matter of why almost everyone around me is British. And then, totally sobered up by the ghastly taste of the above (not) mentioned beer, I realized that they’re there for Katy B. For Katy B always struck me as a totally British acquired taste. I am generally weak minded enough to adore NME’s much hyped bands, and Katy B constantly gets rave reviews from them. But although listening pretty carefully to both her albums, I could never really grow to like them. I guess the menacing mists of the channel stops Brits from really enjoying eurodisco and us from getting overboard about the island’s dance music.

This being said, I can’t really complain about the concert itself. I can even go as far as saying that I got to appreciate some of her tunes and must admit that they work very well live. It always helps when the artist seems genuinely delighted about the whole thing and Katy tried hard to get the crowd into the mood as well, which she mostly succeeded, though the time slot was a bit early-ish for partying. Okay, I know, to some no time slot is early/late for partying, so that’s not  a completely valid reason, nor is the rain, which must have reminded the Brits of one of the lovelier days at Glasto. But when I finally made it home that night, I felt the definite urge to play those Katy B records that were gathering virtual dust in the virtual back of my music library. Which can only be a good sign, and not only virtually.

Budapest Essentials: Blahalouisiana and Austra

Last weekend Budapest Essentials turned two, kind of the festival version of ’that difficult second album’, and well, it was difficult. For a still small-ish and unestablished festival it’s bad enough if one headliner cancels, but Essentials had the misfortune of seeing both La Roux and Duke Dumont pull out in the last hours before their scheduled shows. La Roux was apparently hit on the head by a hotel window, the physics of which still eludes my imagination.

The luck of Essentials is that it’s not only about the music, or, better said, it’s mostly about other things, beyond the music. The idea is to have an urban festival, with different events staged in unusual locations (the Main Market Hall, the Zwack factory, Palatinus and Széchényi spa) combined with discounts to bars, restaurants and cultural institutions.  So for those complaining about the slightly chaotic nature of this second edition, I suggest the mental exercise of imagining the logistics behind organizing all that. And then the pesky hotel window also comes into the picture.

I confess to a tendency of skipping everything but the concerts- but not because the other events are not worth it, it’s just that throughout the years I have gotten to know pretty much all the places already. Yes, I am ancient yet curious. So I would say that for someone new(er) to the city, usually less adventurous, or for tourists who enjoy things other than beer bikes, it’s the perfect crash course into some sort of essence of the city, and by that, with glitches and all, Essentials can be called a success.

Now to my slice of the excitement, namely The Main Stage next to the Palatinus spa. My first thought as I saw it was that I’ve fallen into a black hole and been transported to one of the lesser Sziget stages circa 2000. The refreshment offer consisted of one type of beer and the food options were scarce, to say the least. Some revelers were hiding in corners with brands of beer that must have been smuggled in, and the afternoon act (Saverne?!) was met with generalized apathy.  While this might sound as criticism, it isn’t. Much as I love Sziget, I do sometimes feel it has grown into a behemoth, and I miss those innocent days when life was about idling about the stage with a beer in hand and waiting for whoever comes next, instead of perusing the programme to find which 5+ acts will be clashing tonight and where’s that cocktail bar that has the hypest drinks.

First up after Saverne were Blahaouisiana, who sounded pretty alright, but for some non apparent reason insisted that their relaxing sort of indie was to be danced to. It isn’t, and the moment they realize that might actually bring some sort of a breakthrough. 

Austra came next, and whenever I see them play I can’t help but bow down to the entertaining randomness of their dress- the lead singer gingerly mixed peach, pink and a rather electric green, the guitarist donned a slightly crumpled white onesie that might have served him well as protective attire in an ice cream factory and the keyboard player showed up in a transparent netted cardigan. Their music is however the total opposite of random- while not as widely popular as they could be, their sound is probably pretty familiar and easy to identify to those into electronic/indie music. And it can also be danced to, occasionally, and dreamed to, on other occasions, so the more Austra in our our lives, the better.

Party with the Potatoes: Gorillaz Sound System @ Budapest Essentials Urban Festival

There was a bit of apprehension on people’s faces as they walked onto the main aisle of the Great Market Hall on Saturday evening, and quite a lot of it on the faces of the few grocers who had their stands open throughout the Gorillaz Sound System DJ set. So technically it was more than possible to purchase your lettuce and turnips and then join the party- the resident Brits went for some tomatoes, which they mercifully consumed on the spot and did not use to express dissatisfaction with whatever was happening onstage.

For the idea of the show in the Market Hall was genuinely innovative, but the final result fell a bit flat, as Gorrillaz Sound System did not particularly deliver whatever was expected of them. There were some thumping beats and a light show, but not enough monkey business to make it truly special. 

One could not help but imagine that Damon Albarn crooning away at a piano behind the carrots would have been more entertaining, which is of course normal, since he is more entertaining than your average mortal by default. And the feathered headdress of the main DJ would have been oh-so amazing on Jarvis Cocker lazily cruising down the aisles in a shopping cart- now that is something to be planned for next year in some downtown supermarket.

George Ezra @ Budapest Essentials Urban Festival

So this is what happens to you when you sit in Bristol and decide to write a song about a random European city, ostensibly because it sounds good. Well yes, Budapest does sound good.And luckily so does the song, therefore the people of the city immediately take to you as an unsung hero of their hometown, to which you've never been to. 

The above scenario made George Ezra hurtle in a train (why not?) over much of the continent, to end up in Budapest's Hello Baby, out of all places. The decision to have him play in that location might be questionable and he does sound a bit raw still, but there is much promise in young George, and the already scheduled November date in Akvárium should prove more suitable to both his style and his fans. 

Of course the idea of the Budapest Essentials Urban festival (to which he was invited as an alternative to a Sziget show, as, quite inexplicably, he is unavailable in August)is to make surprising mixes- such as indie youngster with guitar in fancy club. With screaming Dutch scenesters. Right, that actually does sound a bit like Sziget all over, so, maybe in the end all the pieces of the puzzle will fall into place.