Music, Bands, etc.

Lanskroun's most famous rock band, nationally known in the Czech Republic, is probably Dragon, with members seen here (from left to right) Jindra Helekal, Radim Kuka, and Jirka Hurych (if I've got these names wrong please correct me). Some of my friends know Jirka, and he seems to know who I am, so this show was just as much a reason to go to Lanskroun as the bonfire, and perhaps more so.

Here's the second decent shot I took of Dragon, although I took a lot of others, actually.

The second day of the festival I was sick, so I didn't stay long, but on the third day of the festival, the 20th of June, I at least stayed for the afternoon. This was the gazebo on Zofin, where Framus Five, one of the oldest bands in the Czech Republic, were doing a set. I only stayed for a few minutes, as their music isn't my style, but it should be noted that their historic significance is quite significant. For one thing, they began their career even earlier than the Plastic People of the Universe, playing shows during the Prague Spring, as opposed to after the Soviet invasion.

When Oi Polloi played Klub 007 in Strahov, I took some cameraphone shots of the sound check, but I didn't want to bother taking shots of the show. The pit was too wild anyway. I did get this shot of the stage setup, though. It was a great show, obviously.

The United Islands of Prague International Music Festival was the first music festival that I attended in Prague, and at that time it was the first large festival that I had attended anywhere. However, that was in 2005, and by 2012 it was much less interesting. However, there were still a few good bands. This was a funk/fusion band from Ostrava called Bitumen Beat.

Beyond Pink went on second, but were basically headlining.

Again, getting clear photos was very difficult, but I got this one.

This was the Enough set. Enough told me that this was their first European tour, or large tour of any kind. They were from Nashville, and we agreed that they might be the only hardcore band from there. Obviously, that probably won't be true forever.

Death by Stereo were only one of the many bands at Pod Parou, but they were one of the few hardcore bands. They were also one of the American bands who made it. Most of the bands who played were unknown Czech punk bands who were barely worthy of the label.

Yes, this was really a Misfits show. In spite of the boring Czech bands who made up the majority of those who played, the foreign bands were a who's-who of the most famous punk bands of all time. The Sex Pistols, the Damned, and the X weren't there, and of course the Clash and the Ramones weren't still around, but the Misfits, the Dead Kennedys, and the Exploited were all there. As a bonus, as many punk fans are also Ska fans, the Skatalites (the oldest ska band in the world) also played.

The Dead Kennedys (minus Jello Biafra) were probably the most famous punk band at the festival, although obviously the Misfits and the Exploited are very close, so who knows, really? Punk bands are famous by accident, if they're famous at all. This was a great show, obviously, and was immediately after the Misfits. It was predictably very crowded (and dirty, as there was too little rain, too much heat, and too much dust, even at night), but worth it.

After the Dead Kennedys set, it was after midnight (if memory serves), and I was exhausted. I assumed the festival was over for the night, or at least that the remaining bands would be the local Czech bands. I was wrong, as I walked into the Skatalites' set as I was walking to my tent.

Hannibal Lector were one of the heavier Czech hardcore bands at the festival, but I took this photo more to illustrate the tremendous amount of dust at the festival. This was maybe the most unpleasant thing about the festival, even if it looks cool in a photo. The food was also limited, as only one tent was serving vegetarian food, only one tent had water (if memory serves), and many of the (fake punk, BMW-driving) fans taunted anyone going to them. Of course, walking was difficult, as so many people were unconscious on the ground that I had to zig zag at all hours of the day and night.

In my opinion, Czech ska bands are usually better than Czech punk bands, hardcore bands excepted. This was Ska N' Dal.

The Exploited were the last big name to play at the festival, and I made a point of going to bed afterward, leaving the next day. It was a great set, but very hard to get close to. The crowd was probably the largest of the festival.

I got lucky on this shot, at least getting Wattie Buchan's Mohawk. To be fair, he's a 56-year-old (then 55-year-old) punk rocker so it isn't as cheesy a haircut if he has one. :-)

This band were unknown to me, and I've had trouble finding information about them online, although they already had T-shirts made (I don't remember if they were selling their demo). They were on a triple bill with Think Twice and Abolition. All I was able to find out was that they were from Germany.

This was the only decent photo that I got of Think Twice, who were from Britain. They've already got several releases on vinyl.