ATP weekend
Apr. 8th, 2003 02:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
julietStarted weekend on Thursday night, by going to Green Park with ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
wintrmute for a picnic then taking ourselves off for the london.pm meet. Both of which were fun things.
Then off to ATP Friday morning, hurrah hurrah.
Running round in packing frenzy, then trains & bus. Arrived to be handed ridiculous form requiring names & addresses of all people in our chalets (tickets ordered by me, & I was first there, so I was collecting keys & wristbands for everyone). This was, apparently, for fire safety reasons. What are they going to do, write to you saying "sorry you got burnt to death?". Obviously, did not know all of this information, but judicious mobile-phone-usage sorted things out. Pete & I being safely settled, the others (Dave, Stevie, Nick & a mate of Richard's called Mike in our chalet, Richard, Alison, & Faye in the other) arrived in patches. Except for Nick's brother, who failed to show up at all. Was a shame he didn't decide this rather further in advance as we could have got another taker for the ticket, but there we go. At least it solved the "who should share a room with Faye" problem (uneven boy/girl numbers).
First disappointment of the weekend, though: no free CDs this year! Last year we all got a 3-CD set of tracks by the bands that were on. Humph. Maybe it'll be back next year. Nor did they have descriptions of any of the bands (again, unlike last year, where there was a programme thingy), which was probably intended to make you have to go see stuff, but in fact was just a nuisance. Ah well. We wandered band-wards in the early evening, to discover the second disappointment of the weekend: they'd taken the steps at the back of the main room away. Last year we spent most of the weekend sitting on those steps - they were comfier than just sitting on the floor, and you could see over the heads of the standing-up people. They were, of course, still actually there, there was just a big curtain stopping you from getting at them. Bah.
I had a vague recollection that Julian Cope was supposed to be playing with a band beginning with S, so watched [oh god, have forgotten names, will fill in later] neither of which were particularly memorable, nor featured Copey. Then we had the Fall, who were, well, they were the Fall. Unlike last year, Mark E Smith didn't actually smile, but he did look very nearly cheerful. Goodness. And they played Mr Pharmacist & several others that I know, & it was very fine. Then there were more bands, but I have forgotten their names so will have to check when I'm next at home with my little credit-card sized listing thingy, which was the useful freebie they did provide. Anyway, there was fun, with drinks & suchlike, but we were sensible & went to bed around 1 or 2, so as not to be too knackered for the rest of the weekend.
Saturday brought the final disappointment of the weekend - the 5-a-side football tournament was not to occur. And after we'd all got ourselves white ties and black shirts in order to dress up as the Hives, as well. Curses. So, we saw bands, & sat around in the chalet for a bit, & other similar [again, will fill in band-stuff later, when I am reminded of names & thus of sets].
Russell Haswell was playing at midnight. Pete said he had been described as "Extreme Noise Terror", which caused me to be highly dubious about whether or not I'd like it. But, in fact, it wasn't really extreme noise terror at all, it was lovely big crashing noises. Which I liked. As did everyone else, so it wasn't just me being in a suggestible state :-) Sunn 0))) were on after him. 2 blokes in white robes with hoods, banging very loud & rather droning guitar chords at a rate of about 1 every 15secs. After a bit, Julian Cope (see, we finally tracked him down) appeared in the middle of the stage wearing a purple robe, with lots of pink hair, & sang "OM" even louder over the top. We observed this for a while, somewhat bemused, before I decided that 4bpm was clearly not enough & wandered downstairs for a bit with Pete to have a little dance. This was music to which I would not normally give house room, but it was quite fun at the time. Back up for the end of Sunn 0))) (found Alison hiding outside saying "The scary men are stealing my soul!), & more importantly, for Aphex's set. Which was absolutely fucking brilliant, hurrah. Very impressed indeed, & thoroughly enjoyed myself. Have even told Pete that I might consider going to an Aphex gig with him, next time one occurs. Everyone apart from Pete, me, & Dave vanished off to bed over the course of the 2 hrs (wusses), after which we went downstairs to where there were DJs for another hour or so, till 6. Was getting a bit worn out by the last half hour or so (especially as the DJs clearly weren't as good as Aphex). But generally a top night.
Woke up very late indeed, when everyone else came round to our chalet & woke us up. Went to try gokarting, but the queue was too long & it was too cold, so we fell back on the secondary plan of drinking in the chalet. Hurrah. Saw a bit of Strictly Kev DJing downstairs, but not very much, sadly - he was good. The Magic Band (as in Captain Beefheart And, but without Captain Beefheart) played upstairs. I didn't like them much initially (bit too freeform-jazz-y), but they moved onto some blues later & I did enjoy that. Except then there was a fire alarm & we all had to clear out for half an hour (so wandered the 30secs back to the chalet, where there was warmth) before returning for the rest of the set. It did get steadily better, which was cool. We hung around until 1 or so, to catch Mira Calix (who has a second-hand record shop & plays all her records at once, apparently) & Andrea someone (who makes bloopy underwater music), but they appeared to be playing together by playing Andrea's bloopy underwater music all at once. Which was kind of fun, in a lying-down listening sort of way; and if I hadn't been fucking freezing, I would have stayed. Next year: must bring blanket.
So a bloody good weekend all round, in short. I didn't have a hangover once, either, go me. And it was really nice to spend time with Pete - time where neither of us were supposed to be working, or doing household-type things, or any of the dull stuff. Must try to arrange this more often (at least we're off to New York for a week in June). ATP is, in general, very fine indeed because it's a holiday combined with music & bands, in a way that Glastonbury or similar by their nature can't be. Being in a chalet instead of a tent means that if you don't fancy watching bands right now, you can instead sit round on sofa/chairs having a drink & a chat. Whereas at yer standard festivals, you have to either squish into someone's tent, or sit on the mud (even when it's dry it's still uncomfortable), or make plastic-bag-sitting-on attempts. All of which are not nearly so comfortable. Plus at ATP both stages are indoors, & the chalets are waterproof, so weather's not a problem (though am glad it has been dry this year & last). And this year especially, because none of us were as keen on the bands as last year, & because things were running much later (later finish each night) we spent more time sitting around & chatting. Which was cool. Hurrah for holidays!
Yesterday was taken up with returning, taking Storm to the vet (vet thinks Storm is some kind of super-rat, being as how she is really very nearly recovered now. Another nasty lump has appeared near the wound, though :-( We're hoping it's another abcess & thus will respond to the antibiotics, rather than a tumour), sitting around a bit, & going to the PUB which is obviously a sensible thing to do after you've spent the entire weekend abusing your body & really just need to have a nice hot bath & some detoxing herbal tea or something. Still, I did manage to stick to orange juice (not even Coke!), & we left around 10 to get an early night. Was good to see Cathy, Mike S, Mike R, Pete S, & Steve - not to mention Dave & Stevie who we'd only parted from mere hours before!
Bit tired this morning. But still surprisingly cheerful, considering I'm back at work & holiday is over & so forth. I expect a Dark Cloud of Doom to descend at any moment.
wintrmute for a picnic then taking ourselves off for the london.pm meet. Both of which were fun things. Then off to ATP Friday morning, hurrah hurrah.
Running round in packing frenzy, then trains & bus. Arrived to be handed ridiculous form requiring names & addresses of all people in our chalets (tickets ordered by me, & I was first there, so I was collecting keys & wristbands for everyone). This was, apparently, for fire safety reasons. What are they going to do, write to you saying "sorry you got burnt to death?". Obviously, did not know all of this information, but judicious mobile-phone-usage sorted things out. Pete & I being safely settled, the others (Dave, Stevie, Nick & a mate of Richard's called Mike in our chalet, Richard, Alison, & Faye in the other) arrived in patches. Except for Nick's brother, who failed to show up at all. Was a shame he didn't decide this rather further in advance as we could have got another taker for the ticket, but there we go. At least it solved the "who should share a room with Faye" problem (uneven boy/girl numbers).
First disappointment of the weekend, though: no free CDs this year! Last year we all got a 3-CD set of tracks by the bands that were on. Humph. Maybe it'll be back next year. Nor did they have descriptions of any of the bands (again, unlike last year, where there was a programme thingy), which was probably intended to make you have to go see stuff, but in fact was just a nuisance. Ah well. We wandered band-wards in the early evening, to discover the second disappointment of the weekend: they'd taken the steps at the back of the main room away. Last year we spent most of the weekend sitting on those steps - they were comfier than just sitting on the floor, and you could see over the heads of the standing-up people. They were, of course, still actually there, there was just a big curtain stopping you from getting at them. Bah.
I had a vague recollection that Julian Cope was supposed to be playing with a band beginning with S, so watched [oh god, have forgotten names, will fill in later] neither of which were particularly memorable, nor featured Copey. Then we had the Fall, who were, well, they were the Fall. Unlike last year, Mark E Smith didn't actually smile, but he did look very nearly cheerful. Goodness. And they played Mr Pharmacist & several others that I know, & it was very fine. Then there were more bands, but I have forgotten their names so will have to check when I'm next at home with my little credit-card sized listing thingy, which was the useful freebie they did provide. Anyway, there was fun, with drinks & suchlike, but we were sensible & went to bed around 1 or 2, so as not to be too knackered for the rest of the weekend.
Saturday brought the final disappointment of the weekend - the 5-a-side football tournament was not to occur. And after we'd all got ourselves white ties and black shirts in order to dress up as the Hives, as well. Curses. So, we saw bands, & sat around in the chalet for a bit, & other similar [again, will fill in band-stuff later, when I am reminded of names & thus of sets].
Russell Haswell was playing at midnight. Pete said he had been described as "Extreme Noise Terror", which caused me to be highly dubious about whether or not I'd like it. But, in fact, it wasn't really extreme noise terror at all, it was lovely big crashing noises. Which I liked. As did everyone else, so it wasn't just me being in a suggestible state :-) Sunn 0))) were on after him. 2 blokes in white robes with hoods, banging very loud & rather droning guitar chords at a rate of about 1 every 15secs. After a bit, Julian Cope (see, we finally tracked him down) appeared in the middle of the stage wearing a purple robe, with lots of pink hair, & sang "OM" even louder over the top. We observed this for a while, somewhat bemused, before I decided that 4bpm was clearly not enough & wandered downstairs for a bit with Pete to have a little dance. This was music to which I would not normally give house room, but it was quite fun at the time. Back up for the end of Sunn 0))) (found Alison hiding outside saying "The scary men are stealing my soul!), & more importantly, for Aphex's set. Which was absolutely fucking brilliant, hurrah. Very impressed indeed, & thoroughly enjoyed myself. Have even told Pete that I might consider going to an Aphex gig with him, next time one occurs. Everyone apart from Pete, me, & Dave vanished off to bed over the course of the 2 hrs (wusses), after which we went downstairs to where there were DJs for another hour or so, till 6. Was getting a bit worn out by the last half hour or so (especially as the DJs clearly weren't as good as Aphex). But generally a top night.
Woke up very late indeed, when everyone else came round to our chalet & woke us up. Went to try gokarting, but the queue was too long & it was too cold, so we fell back on the secondary plan of drinking in the chalet. Hurrah. Saw a bit of Strictly Kev DJing downstairs, but not very much, sadly - he was good. The Magic Band (as in Captain Beefheart And, but without Captain Beefheart) played upstairs. I didn't like them much initially (bit too freeform-jazz-y), but they moved onto some blues later & I did enjoy that. Except then there was a fire alarm & we all had to clear out for half an hour (so wandered the 30secs back to the chalet, where there was warmth) before returning for the rest of the set. It did get steadily better, which was cool. We hung around until 1 or so, to catch Mira Calix (who has a second-hand record shop & plays all her records at once, apparently) & Andrea someone (who makes bloopy underwater music), but they appeared to be playing together by playing Andrea's bloopy underwater music all at once. Which was kind of fun, in a lying-down listening sort of way; and if I hadn't been fucking freezing, I would have stayed. Next year: must bring blanket.
So a bloody good weekend all round, in short. I didn't have a hangover once, either, go me. And it was really nice to spend time with Pete - time where neither of us were supposed to be working, or doing household-type things, or any of the dull stuff. Must try to arrange this more often (at least we're off to New York for a week in June). ATP is, in general, very fine indeed because it's a holiday combined with music & bands, in a way that Glastonbury or similar by their nature can't be. Being in a chalet instead of a tent means that if you don't fancy watching bands right now, you can instead sit round on sofa/chairs having a drink & a chat. Whereas at yer standard festivals, you have to either squish into someone's tent, or sit on the mud (even when it's dry it's still uncomfortable), or make plastic-bag-sitting-on attempts. All of which are not nearly so comfortable. Plus at ATP both stages are indoors, & the chalets are waterproof, so weather's not a problem (though am glad it has been dry this year & last). And this year especially, because none of us were as keen on the bands as last year, & because things were running much later (later finish each night) we spent more time sitting around & chatting. Which was cool. Hurrah for holidays!
Yesterday was taken up with returning, taking Storm to the vet (vet thinks Storm is some kind of super-rat, being as how she is really very nearly recovered now. Another nasty lump has appeared near the wound, though :-( We're hoping it's another abcess & thus will respond to the antibiotics, rather than a tumour), sitting around a bit, & going to the PUB which is obviously a sensible thing to do after you've spent the entire weekend abusing your body & really just need to have a nice hot bath & some detoxing herbal tea or something. Still, I did manage to stick to orange juice (not even Coke!), & we left around 10 to get an early night. Was good to see Cathy, Mike S, Mike R, Pete S, & Steve - not to mention Dave & Stevie who we'd only parted from mere hours before!
Bit tired this morning. But still surprisingly cheerful, considering I'm back at work & holiday is over & so forth. I expect a Dark Cloud of Doom to descend at any moment.
