Mad Cool becomes an adult and gains muscle on its first day of the 2023 edition. The seventh edition and the first in the new location, in Villaverde, owned by the festival, deployed eight stages and 185,000 square meters that began to give of themselves in the day of this Thursday. A kaleidoscope of proposals that came with a marked urban accent (Lil Nas X, Machine Gun Kelly, Lizzo…) and the dip in the decade of the dosmiles (Robbie Williams) who returns to generate trends in an initial day, traditionally that of trial and error in the organizational field, musically satisfying.
He crashed the early programming of The Offspringin the middle of the afternoon and below 30 degrees, and it was even more shocking to see Dexter Holland in a black long-sleeved shirt. A short set (an hour and five minutes, including his version in the encore of the Ramones’ ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’) but an energetic opening to the festival despite the fact that the huge crowd of fans had not yet finished filling the Madrid Is Life area. They began by escorting people towards the entrance to the festival, and ended with their theme ‘You’re Gonna Go Far, Kids’ y ‘Self Esteem’hymn among hymns of that Californian punk revival of the nineties.
The public began to spread out to browse the new venue, with stands such as Johnnie Walker’s where it is possible, pay attention, to throw some baskets between concerts. The Region of Madrid stage was the refuge from the intense heat with the calmest sounds, with Paolo Nutini y The 1975 generating good vibes, because the adrenaline pumped again with Machine Gun Kelly.
A stage with industrial overtones close to the Marconi polygon with a pyramidal staircase practically up to the roof, elevated the artist enough to be seen by those who had to see him very close to the food trucksfarther than near.
The American artist gave it his all, singing each of his great songs, such as ‘My ex’s best friends’well seconded by the guitarist Sophie Lloyd (with which the concert director suffered a crush instantaneous, because he offered it to us in a thousand and one takes), although the most curious thing was when he started to follow in the wake of Metallica and offer a version related to the country where they perform. Another thing is the choice. MGK opted… for the ‘Kuduro Dance’. Indescribable.
Con Lizzo taking over from the rhythms closest to the street, the weight of these styles was assumed in the final stretch Lil Nas X. Already entered the midnight, appeared and descerrajó ‘Industry Baby’, ‘That’s What I Want’, ‘Old Town Road’… the rapper pulled out his entire repertoire of hits so as not to leave anyone unsatisfied.
Robbie, you are worth it
There was also land for proposals more for a fine palate and less for a festival-goer. the icelanders Sigur Ros they merged with the public in a less philharmonic version of the one they have been exhibiting in shows on this tour in which they command the main slot. Barely an hour and a quarter of Jónsi and his band, almost half of their ‘long’ set, but with pieces like ‘Saeglopur’ that sound huge without the need for the privacy of a closed venue. It was time to jump Robbie Williams, the great unknown. See how his 25-year career suits him. And even gray hair suits him “The first rule of entertainment is to love your audience, let it entertain you,” the Englishman proclaimed as soon as he began his hour and a half set wrapped in you shine you shine dorado and a flashy pendant with a FUCK OFF set with diamonds. A whirlwind in which he confirmed that he is still a showman no brakes. He had by and for all. For himself (“I’m screwed, but it’s because of a long Covid, not because I’m old, bastards,” he said at a break) and especially for his fans. The / as of his solo stage and also offered moments of his years of boyband. They played ‘The Flood’ and ‘Do What U Like’ by Take That and even a very own interpretation, a nod to Liam Gallagher who will also perform this Saturday at Mad Cool, of the famous ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ by Oasis.
Pure fun for a first day in which the organization punctured both wheels in the design of the toilets (located in a unique area, in the center of the venue, for thousands of people that caused collapses and private security interventions to prevent avalanches ) but where improvements were appreciated in the spaciousness and comfort of the main stages. Also in the methods of arrival and departure of the festival. Looking at the recent example of Madrid’s first Primavera Sound, this is no small feat.
