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ATP was, of course, quite excellent. Indie. So very indie. Probably too much so, but I’m sure Thurston Moore will redress the balance in December. Sue and I joked that the biggest ruckus of the weekend would be an argument over the merits of various Belle & Sebastian albums.
Quite a few bands worthy of note, particularly The Black Heart Procession, Herman Dune, Magik Markers and The Decemberists. Also quite a few worthy of scorn (I really wasn’t impressed by The Shins’ lineup), but the beauty of the festival is of course that there’s always plenty to see. Step forward R Kelly’s Trapped In The Closet, shown repeatedly on ATP TV and quoted a-cappella by pretty much the entire chalet throughout the weekend. Hard to describe the ambivalence I feel to such a funny work by such a loathsome person. Watch it if you ever get the chance.
Lightning Bolt played four times, but had elected to allow only 500 people into the room. Having been at their insane ATP show 18 months ago, I can see why. Of course, to be one of the lucky 500 you had to queue. And so it was that I left Sleater-Kinney’s sloppily enjoyable set early to sit cross-legged downstairs talking about Ex Models to London strangers. On came Lightning Bolt, to a flurry of video cameras and Radio 1 press passes. It took maybe two minutes for people to break ranks and stand up. It then took maybe two more minutes for Gibson’s amp to break, and that was that. Bugger. I suppose you can’t really ask for spares with a patched-up system like theirs.
Earlier that day I’d been lucky enough to see Joanna Newsom play one of the best solo sets I’ve ever seen. The ATP audience mix made for an unusual atmosphere devoted fanboys hanging on her every note and noisy passers-by chattering in the corners, but she played so well that by the end I think everyone found it impossible not to listen. Lots of new songs, and very epic affairs they were too, clocking in at around 15 minutes each. We’re told there will be full orchestral backing on the next album which should be well worth the wait.
I’m feeling quite positive about music recently. Granted, Gnarls Berkeley is still number 1 (the longest stint since Wet Wet Wet), but The Darkness’s new single has sold precisely sod all, and it’s Dot to Dot on Sunday. Hard Rock Hallelujah indeed.
Categories: atp, alltomorrowsparties, joannanewsom, lightningbolt
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