Festival concerts just aren’t the same as “real” concerts. That’s why I didn’t really expect anything when going down to Pstereo festival tonight. On the program: Stein Torleif Bjella, Skambankt, St. Vincent, and Biffy Clyro. A very … hmm, let’s call it interesting mixture. =;-)

Skambankt’s last club show in Trondheim was absolutely awesome, but then, this was a festival. And even though the festival grounds were filled pretty nicely when Skambankt started, it didn’t seem like there were so many people in the audience that knew Skambankt and were looking forward to their show.

Except for a few guys in the front that were starting a mosh pit during the first couple of songs already! =:-o Wow, didn’t expect that. And neither did the security, obviously. One security guy actually jumped over the railing, made his way to the mosh pit, and told people to calm down. SERIOUSLY! I mean, I’m used to German festivals, which are a LOT wilder than Norwegian ones. And then, when someone actually moves a little, the security stops it?!

Well, they only managed to stop it until “Me sa nei” – as always, Skambankt wanted to see a Wall of Death during that song, and they got it. And after that, the security did not try to stop the mosh pit anymore. =;-) And it got wilder and wilder throughout the show, just calming down a bit for the slower songs, culminating with the last song “Stormkast #1”.

I know I’ve been criticizing the Wall of Death – and I still hate it, but that’s based on German festivals. I can see now why Skambankt are doing that … it really helps get the crowd into the concert, and it seems to work perfectly well. So thumbs up!

And as the crowd got more and more into it without much more initiative from stage, there was no “hey” part in “Dynasti” this time. But we got to sing the “Mantra” chorus! And at the very end, there was a bit of back and forth between band and audience again. Really nice. And I was very amused when Ted came back on stage after the drum solo, back to the crowd, leaned back and spat water into the air. Not sure if he stole that from Hellraizer or HHH. =;-)

Some time during the concert, Skambankt announced they would be back in Trondheim in October, then at Byscenen – where it is actually dark, so that the lighting guy can do his magic and doesn’t have to sit there with sunglasses on. *g* Yay!
Looking forward to that already. ‘Cause even though this festival show was really great, the next club show will be even better, I’m sure!

Here’s the setlist:

• Anonyme hatere
• Skambankt
• O dessverre
• Vår bør
• Som en sirene
• Me sa nei
• Dynasti
• Min eliksir
• Tanker som mareritt
• Voodoo
• Mantra
• Stormkast #1