For those of you who don’t know, All Tomorrow’s Parties is a festival. For each ATP festival, a band get the honor of creating their own line-up of bands they would like to see play along with them at the festival. Then the festival takes over a small village and the festival-goers all live like a big, happy family in a hotel or in apartments. Since all the bands playing get to live and eat for free most of them hang around for the entire festival as well.
This year ATP was curated by Explosions in the sky. It turns out they’re not only a great band, they also have great taste in music. They invited Okkervil river, …and you will know us by the trail of dead, Ghostface Killah and some other great bands to play. Of course I had to go.
I’ve heard and seen so much music it’s almost ridiculous. I even discovered some new, exciting bands (A hawk and a hacksaw, The National, Silver Jews).
Can’t get enough of Okkervil river live – obviously. Well, what can I say. It’s kicks, man! I wish I could live the rest of my life at the front row of a never-ending Okkervil river concert. I’m never as happy as I am when I’m faced with my dear friends and their great music. Can’t help but to smile, dance and sing along. I’ve never seen Okkervil at a festival before, nor such a weird-looking tent or such a big venue. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen this kind of energy from the guys. It indeed passed on to the audience, we were all happily clapping along. What we missed out on (being so close to Will that you can hear him whisper the lyrics ever so carefully) we instead got in the form of Will screaming “I wanna see all of your fucking hands!” – and I don’t complain. It was different and absolutely lovely. I wish I could turn the whole Okekrvil experience into words but I simply can’t. They’re too great. My words wouldn’t be enough and they’d only do harm.
Although, It ends with a fall was a huge surprise! And take it from me, it has never sounded so good. It was beautiful. It was heartbreaking. And I was trying my hardest not to cry. Thanks to Niklas, you can watch it all here (along with The president’s dead, Black and John Allyn Smith sails).
After the Okkervil river concert I had to run upstairs to see …and you will know us by the trail of dead. I’ve seen them live once before (Gothenburg last year) and I hate to say it but that was a disappointment. I’ve heard so many great things about how amazing Trail of dead are live. When I saw them they were indeed memorable, not because of how great they were but because of how drunk they were – so drunk they couldn’t play the instruments. This time around, though… Now I actually know what people mean when they say that they’re amazing live. Amazing! Brilliant!
When I met Jason the night before the show (at a party with Trav, Pat and some new friends), I told him I’d never forgiven them for not playing Mistakes & regrets (one of my all time, all genres, favorite song!) in Gothenburg despite the fact that they had it on the setlist. This time around, they did play it. With the introduction “memories, hopefully good ones”. Hell to the yeah. I have some fine memories of that one. Hey Jason! You’re forgiven. Big time.
Jason came up to me and Niklas after the show. Unfortunately he had to leave and so he just wanted to say bye. He left us with an invitation to come backstage for the next Trail of dead show in Stockholm. Can’t believe how sweet that man was!
Enough about the music. What I loved the most about the festival, and I warn you this might sound cheesy, was the atmosphere and the company. Comparing ATP to Swedish festivals comes natural and easy for me, and there’s really nothing like ATP. Everyone was so sweet and nice, polite and happy. It really did feel like we were all a part of a big family. Maybe it’s to blame for the drugs, this feeling of “if you don’t get me arrested, I won’t get you arrested” almost as if we were all sharing a big secret. To hell with the so called strict zero tolerance drug policy. I’m not too surprised about this massive weed party, I’m more shocked over the fact that people were so… nice.
Niklas and I (along with Agnes and Mike) showed up unannounced at a party hosted by some people Travis knew. They immediately offered us a place to sit, drinks, drugs (of course I didn’t do any ’cause I’m a living saint) and what not. We talked all night long and got along great. This wouldn’t happen in Sweden, instead you’d be thrown out with your head first.
Even though the festival was quite a big one (like I said, I tend to compare them to Swedish ones) it felt really intimate.
Getting to spend so much time with friends I rarely see was definitely the best part! I’m talking about Travis, Patrick, Agnes and Mike – first and foremost. Can’t think of a better company! Saying bye to Travis (Patrick was on another planet at that time) was difficult. I couldn’t bring myself to it. We hugged and kissed for a very long time, repeating the I love you’s over and over again.
Sorry I won’t tell you any of the details of our trip to Minehead. Like I said, it feels like it’s a secret I share with my big, happy family at ATP. I had the time of my life and I’ll keep the memories close to my heart.
I miss ATP like effing crazy. Tonight I’ll drown my sorrows at Morrissey’s birthday party.
