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Okay, here’s my take on ATP 2004. There are a few omissions, but you'll get the idea.
Got there okay, met up with Rizla and chums just fine. Pleasant chaps, not an arsehole between them. Settled into the chalet then went to see
Trad Gras Och Stenar. Didn’t know anything about them until I got there and realised I’d heard them before. They used to record in big spaces so as to get that natural reverb. Great drummer. Nice to see the older generation doing their thing. Older musicians seen to hold themselves differently on stage; facing the audience, moving around, pointing guitar necks at people and smiling at them. Pleasant enough musically.
Deerhoof were next. I love Deerhoof. I love that their music is so angular but still catchy. Three David Byrnes and a little tiny Japanese lady is my kind of line up. Great on stage, utilising little dances and props. Only bad thing about the set was the guy who appeared next to me and decided to sing along right next to my ear. A twentysomething man trying to emulate the cute squeeks of the singer/bass player lady did not add anithing to the music. At least he was moving around and enjoying himself. The lack of party atmosphere was a bit of a problem throughout the weekend with a couple of notable exceptions, I’ll come to them later.
Met up with some friends and started drinking and smoking. Went to the beach for a bit. Started feeling guilty about not seeing any music for an hour or so so I went to check out The Shins. The Shins sounded like Travis to me. I don’t like Travis.
Saw bits of other stuff then ESG were on. Good stuff. None of them really doing much musically but it didn’t matter because their enthusiasm was infectuous. They were clearly having a great time and were really happy to be in London. Crowd still not moving enough though.
Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks upstairs after that. Not my thing really. Too ordinary. Fucked off to drink and smoke.
Saturday started with Fuck. I like Fuck. Music ain’t all that but it’s inoffensive enough and they put on an entertaining show with dancing and a magic show. Perfect for Pontins.
Double Leopards did their cosmic drone thing better than they had done in Brighton a few weeks before but their music is better suited to more intimate venues.
Dream 1 Action Unit provided a shit storm of free improvisation. Fantastic drumming (Chris Corsano) with sax and two electric guitars. The old guy on the sax looked like an urangutan. I love this sort of busy improv, especially when performed live and loud. It’s like a brain enema.
Erase Errata were great dancing music, but there wasn’t much dancing. The crowd started to become a bit of an issue at this point, especially for my mate Elsie who started trying to dance and jump and do a bit of shoving, (y’know, good time at a gig type behaviour) but was met with complaints and serious heads. From that point on I heared almost constant complaining from Elsie about “all these fucking pussies”.
Saw a bit of Black Dice but their drummer has left and their new album, Creature Comforts ain’t all that so I left.
Wolf Eyes rocked. They could’ve rocked more, for my liking. They had a great bass drum pulse which heralded the ruckus when it was introduced but it wasn’t there enough. I told the vocalist guy that I wanted it to come back before the end of the set. He said he was going to but the drum machine wasn’t coming through the PA for some reason. Booo!
Sonic Youth were dreary but I noticed Lightning Bolt setting up in the far corner of the room so I thought I’d go and make sure I was near the front for when they started playing. Me and my mate Maxwell Pleasuredome were there for about an hour before it kicked off. It certainly kicked off. The most physical musical experience for me, ever. Real danger from the crush combined with the most exciting music of the day and a few mushrooms made for one of those experiences that leaves you thinking about how humans are fucking great. Shirt ripped open in the sweaty riot made me feel like a real man. I punched the air and other people a lot and got gloriously punched, shoved and kicked a lot. Bit of a revelation for me, having had it right off in more dance orientated gatherings in the past. This intensity of rocking good time was a new pleasure for me. My glasses became a sacrifice at the altar of Lightning Bolt and I didn’t really mind. I want more.
Sunday started with a bit of Fursaxa. Very pleasant morning music.
Vibra Cathedral Orchestra were pretty good. Great tones, but uninspired drumming.
Jackie-O Motherfucker and Bardo pond were dull, sorry.
Love with Artur Lee was pretty ace, but I was tired and needed something to pick me up.
LCD Soundsystem managed to rock the party. Just before they started, one guy behind me commented, “I suppose I’ll stick around and listen to these pretentious wankers for a bit”. Halfway through, even he was dancing. Perhaps it was my convincingly accidental elbows in his ribs or just the fun and exciting music moving him. I suspect he just felt like a dick, not dancing when everyone else was. My body finished, I went to the chalet and missed Dizzee Rascal.
Saw a little of Har Mar Superstar but it was too crowded for dancing, so I left. I spend enough time with Spallirunce ,(I even seem to be sharing my fiction suit with him) so I don’t need to go and see him half naked and prancing like a tit on a stage.
For those of you who didn’t know, Spallirunce is Har Mar Superstar IRL.
Lastly, a special thanks to Rizla for making my weekend possible. |
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