ATP NY '09

Everything worked out. Tickets arrived by the time I got home after the festival but it didn't matter, they just needed proof of purchase and I was in. The best weekend of the year commenced.

Instead of writing out every little thing that happened I'm just going to list who I saw in order and give a little blurb about them. But mostly I'm just lazy.

The Dirty Three (performing Ocean Songs)
Arriving friday afternoon I decided to start my musical indulgence at Stage 1, and for the majority of the weekend I pretty much gravitated there.
I wasn't familiar with the Three at all, and I give them many props for what they do, but what they do didn't totally do it for me.

Suicicde (performing first LP)
Now Suicide I had actually heard before. One song, but that still counts for something right? Well, against my better judgement I didn't eat much that morning, and despite being just one dude on keyboard/electronics and one dude at the mic I felt like they were trying to tear me a new one. They sounded fantastic, but I just couldn't take it, and I left after 'Cheree'.

Panda Bear
After getting something to eat (just-made fries and too much caesar salad in a flooding outdoor food court) I hurried back to Stage 1 to see Panda Bear, who I anticipated greatly since finding out he had joined the lineup. Originally he was set for day 2 but I think PB as well as Animal Collective in one day might've been a bit jarring. Anyways, Mr. Lennox was brilliant. From start to finish his set was thumpy and jingly and just exhilarating. He even performed a few AC tracks, of course with some liberties taken with them.

Iron And Wine
By now my head was pounding, and not just from the earthquake bass that few bands were without. I wasn't too familiar with IaW but I vaguely remembered him being pretty folky and soft, so I stayed in hopes of something to soothe my aching cranium. Luckily it was just what I needed. Sam Beam was friendly and talkative, and his delightful strumming was a perfect way to end the night.

Sufjan Stevens (performing Seven Swans)
Someone I've been dying to see for some time, I was eager to head over on Day 2 to see Mr. Stevens and his tie-dyed (courtesy of Jam Baggages) ensemble in action. They exceeded expectations and Sufjan's soft voice was even more touching live. I can't stress how fucking adorable and sweet he is also, just throwing that out there.

Grouper
Next up was Liz Harris, whose 'Heavy Water/I'd Rather Be Sleeping' has been a personal favourite since the release of her latest album, so of course I stayed. She was dark but serene, lonely but surrounding, enwrapped in noise and guitar and the glimmering moon shine on water behind her. She was a good balance to Sufjan, at least I think so.

Black Dice
I don't mean this negatively at all, but BD were a surprise. I expected loud, disjointed rhythyms and noise but got loud, disjointed rhythyms and noise with such intensity and pounding danceability that I found myself inching my feet around and jumping excitedly. Absolutely an A+ performance, definitely not passing up another chance to see them again.

Atlas Sound
Finally making a stage switch I decided to venture across the building and check out Bradford Cox's solo project. To my surprise (and others I'm sure) he was suited up with a humble acoustic guitar instead of his usual setup. It was pleasant though, and did not sound like Dave Matthew's (hohohohoho). I wish I had caught the beginning, but everything from where I stepped in was great.

Sleepy Sun
I didn't need to go back to my home stage for a while, so I relaxed a bit in the kinda squashed (at least in comparison) Stage 2 and listened to probably the first half of Sleepy Sun, who were great, just not beyond thrilling. For me at least.

Autolux
Back to Stage 1! Now, I'm having a bit of a block trying to describe this next group. They were great, let's get that out there. They were intense and quite loud and almost dizzying. I have no complaints other than that I wish they had played 'Sugarless'.

Animal Collective
I took a break in the car and went out to get a quick bite, I wanted to be full and ready for the next and final act of the night.
For all the time I spent in Stage 1 I saw these lights strung up on the ceilings that sorta looked like colourful, clear jellyfish. It only made sense that they were part of the AC experience.
Out came three of the Collective, armed and ready at their sheeted stations that lit-up in rhythym with the music that poured out of the speakers. They were everything I hoped they'd be and then some, they got me dancing and singing along like I was at home blasting 'Brother Sport'; which was by far one of those moment you wished would never end, and almost seemed like it wouldn't. Along with a gorgeous and lengthy 'Fireworks', sunny romp 'Summertime Clothes' and fan-favourite 'My Girls' Animal Collective not only put on an incredible show, but one of the weekends best by far.

Boredoms (performing 9 drummer BOADRUM)
Lucky for me I got to witness the strange genius of the Boredoms and the nine drummers accompanying them. It was brutal, tribal, exciting, and demanding, even when they exceeded their time limit and people were taking their equipment apart they never stopped. Also, was that a seven neck guitar? Badassssssssssssssss.

I think this was about the time I decided to check out the cinema they had set up. I saw Jim Jarmusch's 'Mystery Train' which was delightful as expected. Jim came into the room afterwords and had a Q&A with the attendee's. It was a great opportunity I'm glad I didn't miss.

Boris (performing Feedbacker)
Back to the music! And what a band I decided to return to. Boris, who I had little to no knowledge of before, were spectacular. And spectaculerly loud as well. People take walls of pure noise and sound differently, I think if pulled off well it can be one of the most gorgeous things, and Boris can definitely pull it off. Their ear-piercing feedback wave echoed last years holocaust of My Bloody Valentine's 'You Made Me Realise'.

Crystal Castles
Though I had missed the first half of their set, I was instantly sucked into the frenzy of CC's pounding tunes. It was a nice change that made me move alot more than I'd like to admit. Also I need to confess I officially want to BE Alice Glass. She was so animated and furious and thrilling you couldn't help but grin when she dissappeared into the audience, or kicked her strobe light around. She and they were fantastic beyond belief.

The Flaming Lips
The big finale, and by big I mean the biggest.
Now, I liked the Flaming Lips, they weren't necessarily one of my top faves or anything, but I enjoyed them every now and then. However now I'm a little obsessed. It's hard to put into words how insanely incredible they were. Not only was the music good, and they played every song I need them to, but they were chatty and inviting and sweet. There wasn't a second that I wasn't in absolute smiles, leaning up on my toes anxious for the next big wave of melody to hit me.
I shouldn't have to explain why 'Do You Realize' is one of the most heart-aching songs of all time, but live? Straight from the Wayne's mouth? I nearly died. You knew it was coming, and he even mentioned it before playing it, but as soon as that gasping countdown began you just knew this was it. This is it.
They ended with an encore, a cover of 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' which on anybody else might sound sorta wanky, but it so fit, it just felt right.

And that was it. The greatest weekend of this year was over. I couldn't call this year better or worse as last years, they are so wildly different despite having so many similarities that it's impossible to decide. All I know is if ATP keeps coming up with incredible lineups I'll keep buying tickets.