In true Ibiza style we have five events to get round on the very night that my favourite band of the last few years, Friendly Fires, and Metronomy, a band I very much want to see, are playing Ibiza Rocks. If there is any criticism to be levelled at this amazing island it’s that there is always far too much going on at the same time! It’s a hard life! Trying to find a parking spot in San An is problematic at the best of times, when you are in a hurry, it’s mission impossible. Car abandoned, and still not retrieved 2 days later when writing this, we hurriedly make our way to the hotel.
Kissy Sell Out is just finishing his set and by the looks of the capacity crowd, he smashed it. Technical wizardry and monster mash ups have the Ibiza Rockers in a frenzy, and with the Fires still to appear, its clear that the Hotel has delivered yet again! Only downside of the night is that we missed Metronomy, who, by all accounts, were awesome. If the powers that be are reading this, please invite them back soon.
Friendly Fires has played Ibiza Rocks before with many of the crowd taking their ‘Jump In The Pool’ track literally and with some extra fencing around the swimming pool, it looks like the hotel are keen to avoid a repeat performance. The lights are dimmed and the band takes to the stage, the distinctive bassline of Lovesick kicks in, Ed McFarlane gyrates in the way only he can and the crowd bursts into life. Friendly Fires are well versed in playing to this type of crowd and they proceed to deliver a flawless performance of old and new songs, mixing them up perfectly and keeping the crowd on its toes.
The decibel level rises dramatically for monster hits Skeleton Boy, Paris and Jump In The Pool, which, for once, sees the swimming pool remain empty! Ed goes crowd surfing during Climb On Board, much to the delight of everyone crammed in front of the stage, not so happy are the security detail that lose him momentarily as he joins the moshers, jumping up and down with the full front section of the crowd, while maintaining his singing duties. Eventually retrieved, he climbs back on stage to a huge roar of appreciation; this crowd likes its artists to be interactive!
As is typical when we are enjoying ourselves, it’s over far too quickly! The lights on the stage go out, the band soaks up the adulation of the crowd for a minute and then disappears. The ‘one more tune’ chant starts immediately, the front corner of the crowd has spotted Kissy Sell Out and demand he climbs down from his elevated position in the DJ booth, which he duly does and poses for pictures, well played we think. After five minutes of chanting we get our wish and the band are back. Two or three songs later, the gig culminates with latest single Hawaiian Air. Just before the end of the song, while the band carry on without him, Ed runs from the front of the stage, around the side of the arena, climbs on to the fencing surrounding the pool and delivers a dive that Tom Daley would have been proud of, swims the length of the pool underwater, climbs out the other end and runs back to the front of the stage where he presents himself to the crowd, drenched from head to toe. 9.9 is the score from the interactive judges! Yet another eruption from the huge crowd before Friendly Fires say their good byes for the final time. It may have been like an episode of Challenge Anneka getting there but it was well worth it!
