I was seriously considering getting tickets for this event for the Saturday August 1 st date but ultimately decided, as I always do, that going to NJ is just not worth my time.
And then VIP passes, for free, to the Music Festival All Points West at Liberty State Park in NJ kinda fell into my lap on Thursday afternoon.
While not the Saturday show I wanted to go to, Free! (did I mention "free"?) VIP Passes, a free round trip on the Ferry and a chance to see Yeah Yeah Yeahs after wanting to for a while and not having luck with that, the choice really was clear.
I'd have to trek to Assland for the greater good.
Plus, TD5 would get to see Vampire Weekend - a band he loves, as well as Yeah Yeah Yeahs and I'd get to show him that The National are pretty damned good and he should be more appreciative of their music that I tried to throw at him at some point last year.
Oh, and I'd get to finally see what the big deal about Fleet Foxes was all about.
All Points West 2009 @ Liberty State Park on 7/31/2009:
The Low-Lamps:
1. Fleet Foxes.
To think I could have slept at the hotel for a bit instead of rushing to NJ sooner and for longer than necessary. TD5 and I both agree that this was pure shart. We don't know what was up with this band but they are horrendous!
The hippiness really got to me.
The 'harmonious sound' really got to TD5.
I really wanted to pass out from boredom and they just seemed to go on forever, and ever. And ever.
It was so bad, that as soon as they took the stage, they summoned rain clouds and thunderstorms threatened us although it was really muggy before, so the cool wind was very welcome at the time.
The only redeeming thing about Fleet Foxes was that they had personality but honestly, it wasn't enough to save our ears from bleeding.
Memorable Quotes:
"I feel like we're wizards on stage here." - lead singer, Fleet Foxes.
"Yeah, I'm going to ride off the stage on a white horse." - drummer, Fleet Foxes
Nerds.
2. New Jersey. Liberty State Park was as expected. Smelly. After it torrential down poured on us, it was even worse. It was smelly AND muddy. Never before have I been witness to so much ugly and mud before in one area. Gross.
Here's a shot of the main stage -
3. Mud People. Ugly mud people. Ugly mud people who insisted they get all hippy with their bad dancing. Ugly mud people who insisted they get all hippy with their bad dancing right next to where TD5 and I stood.
TD5 half wished they would fall into it but I really don't think they would have cared if they did.
4. That nasty feeling one gets after being in NJ. It's almost as if nothing you do will wash away that stench and grime. And sometimes, nothing can. My poor shoes are proof of that.
5. Getting booted from the VIP Bleachers. Everyone knows that there are certain places you do not want to be near during a lightning storm and unfortunately, the VIP Bleachers was one of those places. What sucked even more was that we got stormed out right after The National performed, before Vampire Weekend and during most of their set. So, at least we know they sound really good but we did not really get a chance to see them very well from the Beer Tent where TD5 and I found shelter from the storm.
Sorry TD5...
Vampire Weekend from the Beer Tent -
6. TD5 and his inability to tell me things of importance. For instance, the debacle that went down involving our being able to come back to All Points West on Saturday for free. Due to the horrendous rain, Friday Ticket Holders were allowed to come back for free on any of the other two days. TD5 heard the announcement by Vampire Weekend and I did not. So, thanks to him, H1 and I missed our chance to see Tool, Arctic Monkeys and Tokyo Police Club. WTF! WTF, TD5! Thanks. I'm still a little bit bitter, as you can tell.
7. Q-Tip. On our long trek back to civilization, ie the ferry back to NYC, we heard Q-Tip at another tent. He sounded horrid.
8. If not for having had enough of NJ, and being way tired, I think I would have stayed for Jay-Z. He's probably one of the few rappers I respect somewhat and I heard he brought his orchestra. So I missed seeing him perform and it was a bit of a lowlamp because I heard him on my way out and he sounded pretty decent. Ah well. See how quickly I got over that?
9. Once again, The National managed to butcher performing my favourite song by them, "Mistaken For Strangers". Again, The National? What's up with that?
10. I'm fairly certain I saw that smelly kid from way back when I went to I think, Muse at Hammerstein on the ferry ride to APW. That was not cute for my nose.
11. Not having H1 there as well. And also, not being BACK at All Points West for Arctic Monkeys and Tool with H1. Thanks again, TD5! That's right, you will not hear the end of this.
12. Being so close to NYC but not being able to escape, nooooooooooooo....! Freedom! So close!
13. The Statue of Liberty showing me its ass. Not only animals do this to me, but the Statue of Liberty too?! It's not right!
The Highlights:
1. Getting off the ferry back in NYC was awesome. Even the rain puddles were different and everything just seemed so less scary, even if it was Crooklyn. Har Har.
2. The National. It was fun seeing them a second time, even if this time I barely saw them from the side line thanks to the rain. I did like that the lead singer jumped into the crowd and rolled with the punches the rain was throwing at them. That was cool of him and not something I expected. He didn't sound too fabulous but the rest of the band sounded truly great. They also performed a new song which was really good and I'm kinda looking forward to their next album, whenever that may be.
Also, the fact that TD5 likes them now makes me happy.
3. Vampire Weekend. I can't say I'm a fan nor have I listened to their album to have a real opinion but they sounded really great live. I can see the appeal and I'm glad I got to hear them live instead of a studio album. Though, that might just make me not want to listen to a studio album now knowing just how great they sound live. Uh oh.
4. My gross dry sausage sandwich and my cheesey fries. I enjoyed it but mostly because I was really starvin' marvin.
5. The VIP Bleachers were good while they lasted. I also did not understand the NinjAnts.
6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs
6.1 Making sure TD5 was completely cured of his vertigo and that the swirly eyeball would not bring back his Lucille 2 Persona. It was only a highlight because it was funny and turned out he'd be okay.
6.2 Where's waldo? Rather, where's the eyeball? Floating over someone's head? Scary!
Karen O. was crazy as expected. I'm not sure what she was wearing... but her performance was classic.
Brian Chase was cool and I rather enjoyed that he never stopped beating those drums and that Yeah Yeah Yeahs continued each song in their set on his playing. All songs rolled one after the other with Chase's drumming as the connecting factor.
Then there's my Nick Zinner, who I love but curse him for not wanting to show his face so that I could get a picture, not to mention that stupid giant mounted crane camera kept getting in my way...
They performed lots of the good stuff - many songs from the new album, although not "Hysteric" which saddened me nor did they do "Rockers to Swallow". They also did an acoustic, stripped down version of "Maps", which while not the best was still cool.
7. The "destruction" of the microphone. Karen O. tried very hard to destroy that mic but it just wasn't happening but it was just not quite in league with her plans. It showed her!
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs 7/31/2009 @ All Points West Setlist:
1. Heads Will Roll
2. Cheated Hearts
3. Black Tongue
4. Zero
5. Human Fly (The Cramps cover)
6. Gold Lion
7. Honeybear
8. Turn Into
9. Skeletons
10. Soft Shock
11. Maps (Acoustic)
12. Y Control
13. Date With The Night
Best Song Performance from YYY: "Black Tongue".
Probably one of the best things to end the night was knowing I didn't have to rush to catch the bloody train back home and could actually stay in midtown that night. Phew, that was a relief and cool.
When we got back to midtown, I took TD5 to Sapporo for ramen, discovered they had a new menu of little eats such as kare-age which I had, and in need of a drink, I got a sapporo. Sorry, Beetchie! I'll try to not drink without you again because I know it's random I do and decided to do it when you were not there.
I know, I'm awful.
Currently listening to: "For Your Life" by Led Zeppelin.
