Neurosis steal the show, Oneida define stamina

All Tomorrows Parties - Nightmare Before Christmas 2010 review

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ATP - Nightmare Before Christmas 2010

Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th December 2010
Butlins Resort, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 5SH, England MAP
£175 per person (room or chalet bookings) - SOLD OUT

There did seem to be more band performances this time round, though the real bonus was an epic 10 hour jam performance ('the Acropolis') by Oneida on the Crazy Horse Stage. Oneida are a 5 piece Psych. Rock band from Brooklyn, NY. They're driving rhythms incorporating noise, krautrock and electronica meant that this performance was no mean feat, a demonstration of some endurance anyway.

They were joined at various times by the likes of The Sadies, Dead C, HalloGallo, and Deerhoof. It was a great show to drop in and out of during the day, though something told me it would have been good to have stayed for the long-haul. As usual there was just too much to tempt and distract elsewhere however.

Post-metallists (is that a word? Metallurgists then. . . ) Neurosis were many people's headliner and deservedly so. Their apocalyptic blend of doom/thrash metal, mixed with elements of psychedelic and ambience brought back the queues and packed the Centre Stage. Two full-on performances, the second on Sunday, were put on. Most of the set was at a ferocious pace, but was also interspaced with some calmer melodies on guitar. 'No Flash Photography' posters were posted everywhere it seemed . . . bordering on the neurotic.

On Saturday I also managed to catch Mike Watt & The Missing the (now) Stooges bassist provided a lively, more punk set to anything we'd seen before. Scout Niblett is an acquired taste perhaps, but she has that minimalist style of crunching guitar and drums that I like anyway.

The raw noise rock sound prevalent over the weekend reached its peak with a performance by Dunedin (NZ) band The Dead C. Centre Stage has the best sound at ATP, and coped well with their bass-end 747-at-take-off sound. Having lived in New Zealand I know the place has a vibrant alternative/indie band scene, so few of which ever seem to make it over to Europe.

Bardo Pond on Centre was another highlight of the weekend, performing their dense psychedelic noise rock that appeared out of the 90's Shoegaze scene.

Escape from the generally downbeat, and at times downright gloomy nature of the line-up so far, properly arrived in the form of The Ex and Thee Oh Sees in the early hours. The Ex are a class of '79 punk band out of Holland. Over the years they're repertoire has broadened to include folk and Middle Eastern influences, and this was reflected in a lively set.

Thee Oh Sees raw performance on Reds Stage was livelier still, psychedelic garage noise rock banged out with high energy. I was reminded of the Cramps shows, never a bad thing, particularly with frontman John Dwyer's mic swallowing antics. People began to have a little merriment, and start to dance and jump a bit, a welcome change of direction for many of us. It was also good to see two bands that were clearly enjoying themselves onstage too.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor Setlist 2: Albanian – Gathering Storm – Moya – Gamelan – Rockets Fall on Rocket Falls – The Cowboy – The Sad Mafioso.

review by: Jason Wood

photos by: Jason Wood