Recensie | Review Hurts | Positivus Festival 2011 #positivus

Topped as the best performance at this year’s Glastonbury festival the Manchester based synth-pop duo Hurts were the first headliners to be received at Positivus festival in Salacgrīva, Latvia by thousands of listeners from all Baltic and other countries.

The long awaited indie electronic band comes on a stage accompanied by screaming girls, shouts and applause. The cheering becomes louder as the audience faces vocalist Theo Hutchcraft and keyboardist/guitarist Adam Anderson. Especially, Theo, dressed in his classical black suit and white shirt with his charming gentleman personality is exactly what the screaming girls in the front rows can’t resist to.

The same goes for their debut album „Happiness” released in 2010 and played in sold out gigs and shows in many cities during the last two years...perhaps they even perform the same way with white roses intriguingly rolled in Theo’s hands before throwing them to the audience...the lead singer’s natural and genuine emotions, smiles, whispers and hand touching his heart...however, it feels, this band cares to make every single gig special and unique. They strive for professionality, as they have said it in interviews. They care to get on the same line with the audience thus catching synergy and mutual heartbeats between the band and the audience throughout the whole show. So, they did at Positivus festival where every song was perceived with a special aura.

Their debut album „Happiness” could be perceived as a well known story, however each venue seems to make it so different. In the evening of July, 15th it started with the magical sounds of „Silver Lining”. It’s followed by their debut single „Wonderful Life” and Theo’s first roses to the audience. The story continues with „Happiness”, then followed by „Blood, Tears & Gold”. „They say Latvian girls are the most beautiful,” the lead singer keeps spoiling the girls not only with roses but also his words. „So stay with me Evelyn, don’t leave me with a medicine” Hurts perform the powerful song „Evelyn”. Theo beats his micropone stand as he sings it and it seems so right to do it. The show goes on with „Sunday”, „Verona”, „Unspoken”, „Devotion”, „Confide in Me”. The atmosphere gets even more emotional as Theo beats his hand on his heart. He screams. He leans his forehead thoughtfully on the stand of the microphone. He is real. And then the man in his black suit invites the audience to „try something very special” – turn on the lights of the mobile phones and wave the devices in the dark as „Illuminated” is being perfomed. „We are all illuminated,” the choire sings and requests the next song. „Stay! Stay! Stay!” They yell. The band gladly follows the request and before singing the last song, they thank the audience. Moreover, they thank Latvia by taking a Latvian flag and waving it on the rhythm of „Better than Love”. Theo promises to take it with him to the airport as the audience keeps clapping and clapping. Then he kisses the flag with his full respect and empathy. Indeed, this is better than love...

The band leaves the stage and we can just agree with the voters of the poll at Glastonbury festival. Hurts is a band to be seen and heard live! They are worth screaming out your voice and sympathizing with their emotional story...

< Agnija Kazuša >