July 16, 2014
Part one of a planned five-part photo-essay, covering five days at OEF Europe 2014. Events were recorded in the moment (gonzo-lite). Transcribed directly from my notes, with after-the-fact (mainly day 5) recollections in italics. Some days were more comprehensive and professionally journalistic than others...
Gutslit inspect the lineup for Brutal Assault
Dumpster derby
Eating spicy things
Getting dizzy
If the world knew that the most extreme music festival on the planet was rabidly anti-fascist, served mainly vegan food and had rainbow flags and anti-homophobe stickers all over the place, metal's image would be cleansed overnight. Obscene Extreme is a small pocket of reality that ought not to exist. Two years running for me, one vegan burger down and several Kozels with it. Grown men are painting each other's nails blindfolded, dudes in drag dragged around the festival in dumpsters. We have crossed beyond tolerance completely, this is a post-civilizational new world order where all that matters is that you enjoy heavy music and you don't give a fuck what anybody thinks. "Freak friendly" and a little slice of heaven, a lone North American in a sea of Euro madness. The only rules are don't fight, drink constantly and don't say no to anybody.
Early victims
We are still hours away from the first of 60+ bands to play, and casualties of the party lay passed out on the periphery. People had drunk themselves unconscious before you could buy an official festival t-shirt. A majority-white crowd ready to attack any racist at the slightest provocation. Most anticipated beyond the headliners (Brutal Truth saying goodbye to Europe, Possessed, Immolation, Morgoth, Eyehategod, Nunslaughter) for me are The Kill, ACxDC, that Thai band (not Blood Soaked Street of Social Decay unfortunately) and Turbokreig. Also Master!
The stage is getting the finishing touches without a sign of PPE or a safety inspector. Likely these concepts have yet to be introduced in the CZ, allowing the festival to thrive here where America has shut them out (California, even). Not that Canada would be any more hospitable. They say Japan went well, and so I dream of a day when I can attend OEF Bangkok (if ever an Asian nation needed grind, now is the tumultuous time over in the land of a thousand smiles). A last grasp at freedom. If I don't bring my children here, I don't deserve to breed 'em.
I wonder at the demographics. Certainly a large portion of Czechs, but a majority? Most likely, but it's difficult to determine. Extra-continentals are a rarity. There is me and the Indian band, and I may have overheard an American accent. But there are substantial Germans and a contingent of French to be sure. Czechs are anywhere from 30%-70% depending where you stand. English is regularly spoken in this multinational gathering, but guessing at accents is a fool's game. Maybe I can dispense better sentences in the booze tent? With minimal attention to minimal safety standards, who will succumb to these electrocution hazards...
Freak Fest has waned and the beer tent fills. Night falls before the Italians take over. £10 = seven beers, 1 cup for said beers and a vegan burger. Not enough to last the day, evidently. A £3 bottle of vodka at Billa is tempting, but the deliberate pace of the Kozel is probably for the best. Sun is still up, surviving for three bands (tonight is Ed, E.U.'s Arse and Raw Power) seems optimistic, I should go for food before my next round but won't. A beer, a second vegan burger and a ciggy seem the order of the day. Still no weed since Ghostface but I'm not complaining. Waka Flocka keeping me cool, definitely a question mark gangsta over here. Tonight I don't want to write, I want to drink, mosh and survive. Some photos if realistic but it's not a requirement - the press box is filling at the front already. OEF knows how to document their shit. This is only about one man's stressed disposition attempting to make sense of his life through one blurry weekend. It's not your fault that I'm a pussy. I need the darkness and I need more Kozel.
Moshing with Ed
Italian hardcore night? I really like the idea of ethnic/national/genre themed nights. For 3 bands, it's easy to do, though to extend this theme across the weekend could be even more interesting. It's like an focused study into one corner of the extreme world, rather than the usual random sampling of introductory courses. I think the organizers go for pacing as a general philosophy, but with the small venue it's easy to gain/lose crowds from set to set so it could be worth the risk to experiment more. Friday was practically USA night anyway, take advantage.
Raw Power
Ed seemed like this was one of the bigger shows they've played. E.U.'s Arse seemed like this was one of the bigger shows they've played in a while, and was led by one of the most seemingly appreciative frontmen of the weekend. Raw Power were intense and lived up to their name, but my vote goes to E.U.'s Arse for stealing the evening. I was so into their set I didn't even manage to take a half-decent photo. More of this, please.
