Portishead say goodbye at Primavera

Spain | | 30 May 2008

Sandwiched between hip-hop legends Public Enemy and De La Soul, the trip-hop pioneers proved the outstanding highlight on the opening day of the Spanish festival.

Kicking off with the first two songs from latest album Third, 'Silence' and 'Hunter', Portishead tore through a greatest hits set which included old favourite 'Glory Box' and 'Nobody Loves Me'. 

New single 'The Rip' received one of the biggest ovations, before fellow album track 'We Carry On' closed the set in the red-lit amphitheatre of the Parc Des Forum.

The Bristol collective even had time to joke at Chuck D, who forgot about the band's appearance when he told the audience of thousands to big up De La Soul as the next act.

At the end of Portishead's lorn-torn performance singer Beth Gibbon raised a rare smile, joking: "That's for Chuck D".

Public Enemy earlier performed their classic album 'It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back', ruling the stage with a trio of dancers dressed as US military as rappers Chuck D and Flava Flav rolled back the years (and a certain time piece) with hits like 'Don't Believe The Hype'. 

Earlier in the day, MGMT kicked off proceedings with some prog-pranging teething problems, despite their flowery dresses and a new five-man outfit.

German stone rockers The Notwist fared little better but HEALTH proved themselves as the next math mentalists to watch, following in the footsteps of festival faves Battles.

Vampire Weekend played a hit heavy set despite fellow New Yorkers MGMT earlier holding up a banner asking, 'Who Deserves Bad Karma? Vampire Weekend', before coyly suggesting it was "a joke".

Primavera Sound continues through the weekend and we'll bring it with.

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