But its a much different band now. Do they have something to prove touring with a new album, “Glasgow Eyes,” which is more uptempo, colorful, and, how do we say it, more accessible to mainstream audiences? The band played from this album, which drew a good response from the audience.

Then the band veered to the old classics, the ones that seesaw between loudness and quiet, seminal records in the early 80’s pantheon such as “Psychocandy” and “Darklands.” Classic cuts from these LPs really got the crowd swaying, such as “Some Candy” and “Head On.”

And then there was “Just Like Honey,” a beautiful crooning number almost devoid of feedback and buzz, just plain simple melody and harmonizing.

Those early enough to enter were treated to a special preview show put on by Fuji Rock’s first-time performer, a 25-year-old guitar virtuoso from Clarksdale, Mississippi. His prodigious talent has even won him a Grammy Award, making him the next apparent heir apparent in the world of blues.

He began by saying, “It’s Kingfish time!” emerging with other members on keyboard, drums, and bass taking the stage. I wore ripped jeans and an oversized t-shirt. The opening song, “Hard Times,” featured a guitar lick reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child,” and with that, he demonstrated his guitar mastery, ripping off lengthy, difficult solos! 

The guitar roared and screamed in his hands, set to an ear-blasting volume, reverberating on the floorboards of the Crystal Palace. Furthermore, the venue’s Function 1 speaker system delivers a lot of volume, helping intensify his amazing guitar work. 

From the first song, Kingfish has enthralled the audience, eliciting claps, screams, and yells in unison with the music. Each moment is punctuated with his squealing guitar, which at times is silent while other times rips into a fiery wail. 

Kingfish even entered the audience with this guitar, soon engulfed with fans and disappearing from view. He proudly displayed his guitar and ripped through numbers such as “Outside of This Town,” which was the lead track from his debut album, “Kingfish,” which he released when he was 20 years old. 

This floor was a roiling ocean of bodies, with many rollicking and rolling to the blues. At the end, he set down his guitar with the volume still turned up high, allowing the feedback to continue as other band members filled in. And then it was a “thank you very much!” and “see you tomorrow!” as he threw a bag of guitar picks into the audience.

Those wanting to catch another Kingfish performance should head down to Field of Heaven at 7 p.m. There’s no way Blues fans should miss this show.

Next Stage
July 27 (Sat) 19:00-20:10 @ FIELD OF HEAVEN

The U.K. national, Patrick Latter, has manned the grill for many years. A self-professed ski bum, he moved to the area to be as close to world-class skiing and powder as he could. He’s also familiar with the local ecology and streams in the area. 

Latter says the fish they grill are “Ayu,” or sweet fish, which are caught locally in the rivers near Naeba. They feed on algae during their relatively short lives, which means that little preparation is needed to prepare them for eating. Each one is slathered in salt and then spends about 45 minutes on a grill, which softens their bones and fins.

One German festivalgoer, Andreas, estimates he eats about one fish a day during Fuji Rock. It’s a great source of protein, and the salt replenishes your body. He’s mostly vegetarian anyway, so it’s his go-to protein snack. 

The festival’s opening pre-party brought an estimated 8,000 people to Oasis, and the crowds were good for business as Latter quickly sold out of fish—about 800. It’s one of the best opening nights he has experienced, and with good weather expected this weekend, he’s expecting to do good business selling sweet fish.