Virgin Festival pulls it off

Festival concerts can be a dodgy affair. Everything from technical difficulties and scheduling nightmares to uppity musicians and mismatching of genres can render even the best-laid plans a debacle.

Somehow, in its fourth year on Hogtown soil, the Virgin Festival has pulled off the impossible: Amalgamating endlessly changing variables into a cohesive, enjoyable affair. It pleases with just the right ratio of talent to timing and music to distractions. Packed with everything from singer-songwriters and hip-hop to indie gods and blues freaks, the 2009 edition of Virgin Festival was an endless onslaught of sensory overload. Yet despite a stream of diversions such as Thai massage, autograph tents and burlesque pole dancing, music was still the focus.

Starting off modestly, the first day was a slow burner. Not until early-evening did the ample audience show enthusiasm as Scottish outfit Franz Ferdinand revved ’em up. Garnering the most praise, no doubt due to their influencing virtually every other band on the bill, The Pixies nailed a set full of favourites. Still, while Ben Harper was no slouch, even his blues-rock was no match for the indie heroes.

A decidedly more showy feel overtook the Amphitheatre for Day 2. ’80s throwbacks Datarock amused via matching tracksuits and generous synth samples, Mutemath performed a three-man, one-kit drum solo, and rock/funk/hip-hoppers N.E.R.D. brought the party (and concertgoers) onstage. Still, it was the double finale of 25-year-old electronic duo Pet Shop Boys and sinister cult hero(es) Nine Inch Nails that ensured the festival was a raucous success. With PSB boasting the only full-fledged multimedia extravaganza via video, lights, iconic ’80s imagery and, er, shoulder pads, their spirited commingling of past and present was as engaging as it was fun.

As for Nine Inch Nails’ reportedly final Canadian show, it was a shocking shot of stellar rage delivered with professionalism and gusto, especially when main man Trent Reznor started smashing instruments a mere three songs into the set. While Reznor shows no signs of slowing down, it was still sad to think that such a spotless gig could be the last time we catch him.