The first of this summer's ATPs at Minehead was a pretty quiet one. If you looked, you found empty chalets, so it was never really that rammed and the line up was a decidedly broad.
Maybe everyone decided to plump for the Pavement ATP. More fool them. In my opinion, this was one of the best ATPs I've been to. Almost every band was interesting, there were few disappointments and I found loads of new music. Anyway, less people equals relaxed vibe, no queues for anything and happy, polite security.
Matt Groening didn't waste time getting out and enjoying the acts, which was a pretty smart move on his part. Sure, it's unnerving the first gig you realise you're standing next to the guy, but after the fourth encounter it becomes no big deal. Until he asks you what you thought of an act. But even that becomes normal, so when you do see him you just say 'Hey, don't eat the hotdogs.' I think he had a good time. I did, here's who I saw:
Amadou & Mariam
Headliners for the main stage on Saturday and one of the two bands from Mali. Very popular and they've sold records by the bucket load, so pretty much everyone came to see them. Good music – sort of an African version of rock music. So it's good for dancing, but I found everything started to sound the same after a bit.
Boredoms (performing Boadrum)
I only have Pop Tatari, and if I'm honest, I've managed my way through it once. It's also hard to imagine that the Boredoms were once signed to Warners. I didn't know what to expect. Well, this was an experience – just as SunnO))) was at Christmas. The stage was crammed with drummers and EYE stood behind his rack of boxes conducting them while smashing out ringing chords on his crucifix of guitars. Yes crucifix of guitars. And if that wasn't compelling enough, one drummer was held aloft by ten hands and delivered to the stage by sedan. You either love this sort of thing or hate it. But you'll only watch it once. Loud.
Built to Spill
A mate of mine reckoned if all bands hang around long enough they begin to sound like Built to Spill. And Built to Spill just sound like a really polished rock band. They also played the main stage on a Friday, so it was one for the fans.
Danielson
I didn't like them. It sounded pretty twee from Burger King.
Daniel Johnston
I just don't get the cult of Johnston. Not my sort of thing.
Deerhunter
Took on the main stage and won, even though they sounded as if they're still trying to figure out how to play such a big venue. Everyone happy – best t-shirt of ATP too..
The Fresh and Onlys
After so many bands, The Fresh and Onlys sounded just a bit too indie for my liking. But I have a sneaky suspicion that if I listen to more of their stuff, I'd really like it.
Hello Saferide
Swedish Indie singer songwriter, Annika Norlin delivered polished personal songs of love and introspection. It was okay.
Iggy and the Stooges
Nobody heckled Iggy, not that he gave them a chance. He just ran out and started screaming Raw Power. Great! I have to be honest, I only went to hear Search and Destroy, I Wanna Be Your Dog and catch Mike Watt play bass. All three things were ace. The only awkward moment was when Iggy started inviting people on stage. Then it got a bit GAP ad. Personally, I don't mind the insurance ads – look at the credits for his songs. Bowie gets the lion's share. It's time the man got paid. Does anyone else think Iggy looks a little bit like Jennifer Aniston?
James Blackshaw
First act I saw – introspective picking. We watched, we zoned out. James was great, if a little bit miserable. They should have put him on Sunday afternoon.
Joanna Newsom
Apart from waiting over an hour and the too short 40 minute set, this was a great end to ATP. I was tired and had no patience to jog to the front, so I sat at the back with a beer and thought of stuff.
Juana Molina
The curse of the loop pedal strikes again. The first song is good: 'Oh yeah she's looping up vocals, guitar parts, sounds interesting.' But by the third number you're falling asleep. However, she did play the graveyard Sunday afternoon slot.
Konono No 1.
Scrap metal Congolese trance played on home made thumb pianos, percussion and kit. Good for dancing, repetitive and each song was at least double digits in length. Awesome.
Panda Bear
I first saw Panda Bear two years ago and it was amazing. On Saturday night, right when everyone wanted to dance and lose it to tunes like Good Girl/Carrots and Bros, Noah Lennox opened his set with droney introspection. After 45 minutes and no beats, I left for hours of fun at the indie disco. And the balance was rubbish too. Fail.
Ponytail
Band of the festival! Just crazy, amazing pop music that goes all over the place, played by an incredibly tight band. I didn't know what to expect, except that for every minute, they'd just go for it. Man they were young and hungry. Molly Siegel threw herself into dishing out yelping vocals. The only recognisable lyric was 'Oh no I'm late for school!' My new favourite band.
She & Him
That would be Zooey Deschanel and M Ward and about as close as I'll ever get to see a Rumours era Fleetwood Mac. For all the cynicism one could level at the band for being at ATP because of Zooey, she has written some really sweet music. The whole thing was a class act. I bet the album's a grower. I must say Zooey did come across a bit stoned with the onstage banter. But then hey, she was confronted with five rows of wide-eyed bearded indie boys. Christ, what would you think about that – except don't fall off the stage whatever you do.
Ruins (solo)
I stood outside Reds and this sounded like a whole box of wrong. I know he's a big deal, just not my kind of big deal.
Shonen Knife
Bubblegum punk for a Friday night. They were awesome, playing 45 minutes of power pop with not a dropped smile or nbeat. It's hard to believe they've been going since the eighties. There can't be much difference in age between them and the Raincoats. Except Shone Knife don't look a day over 26. It's uncanny. But they came with husbands and daughters in tow. 'Let's Go to the Sushi Bar' and a fantastic cover of 'Jet', by Wings were the set highlights. 'Banana Chips' was also great, except the sound, accents – whatever – made it sound like they were singing something else.
Spiritualized performing Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
There were loads of them! A string section, horns, choir dressed in white, two guitarists, a bassist, a drummer, another drummer with even bigger drums, a keyboard player behind a space shuttle of keyboards and then little Jason Pierce hunched over his Telecaster in big shades. This was all about power and everything was thrown into the mix, so in the end the mix was just too much. And God, the songs went on and on. The first three were great, but then you realise they all sound the same and you end up wondering what all the fuss is about.
Toumani Diabate
The second Mali act. Man, I want to got to The Festival of the Desert if this is the quality of the acts that play – even if it is in the middle of the desert and you have to carry everything with you – including your water. Toumani is the latest in a long line of kora players that stretches back some 71 generations. He's the Hendrix of kora and his live band were spot on too. Often I find African music tends to just get locked into a groove (which is no bad thing sometimes), but Toumani's music was highly structured. One of the best acts of the festival. I wonder what they thought of people like Iggy Pop and the Boredoms?
The Tiger Lillies
Dark tales of freak shows and other macabre characters. Matt Groening introduced this one and you can see why he likes them. The Tiger Lillies fuse a whole load of musical styles with the attitude of punk (read edgy) and dish it up in a theatrical manner. And one of them looks like Krusty. They're a cult band, which means if you like them you'll have seen them five times already and if you haven't, you'll just about make it through their set without wanting to see something else first. I liked it tho.
The XX
Yeah, put an emo band on Saturday night just when everyone is peaking. Hmm, I know the XX are supposed to be the band of the moment, but their music just seems so dry, morose and basic. Not my cup of tea.
Bad things:
That hotdog
Everything seemed to shut early
Less people meant less bands to see
Rubbish cinema
It was cold!
No comments:
Post a Comment