Sunday morning is the worst moment of ATP for this girl. Waking up after two nights of mayhem with a manky chalet and a whole 24 hours left to go. Uggghhh. The major clean up after party got going in fits and starts. Poor Dr. Aileen was finally succumbing to her chest infection. But it was a beautiful day, so Clare and Queenie hauled the divan mattress out onto the grass in the square and sat on it for the day.
Well, Queenie did. Krossie and Clare went swimming, went to the record sale, signed up for the pub quiz and did various activities that only made Queenie feel even more tired. She tried to write in her journal but having to listen to Luke singing along to the Bangles Eternal Flame, playing on an mp3 player, proved a little distracting. More squawking than Jabba getting molested by the local Capo cat.
Finally made it upstairs to see Jayne County. As she walked upstairs, a man in front of her was making a video of his walk into the room. Very New York. Jayne, who used to be Wayne, was great – lots of ranting about rightwingers and finished off with a version of California Uber Alles a la Arnold Schwarzeneggar. Thank God somebody else is interested in having a pop at right wing Americans this weekend.
Then we went downstairs to see Ted Curson. The biggest man at ATP. Elderly too, his bursts of energy had to be followed by regular little sit downs, but he had a great backing band supporting him and a super double bass player. He oozed love for his great friend, Vincent.
What is it about him? Vincent Gallo seems to be a right a prick, but we are all drawn to him anyway. Why is that? Is it because he seems to need us? That’s why people perform isn’t it – to reveal something about themselves in order to get our attention? Attention-seeking is something that everyone engages in, particularly at ATP. It’s a weekend where you can be a celebrity for a nanosecond, acccording to one of Queenie's room-mates.
Some people use their moment in the spotlight to say wise/ important things, but in some way, Queenie reckons they’re almost worse than mememememe pure attention seekers, because she’s never quite sure to what extent they believe their own agenda. Or whether it just works for them.
And why are we drawn to performers, anyway? Is it their vulnerability? People aren’t drawn to vulnerability in the people around them, they are drawn to strength. So why are we drawn to vulnerability in the famous?
Too many big questions… the point is, we’re all nano-celebrities this weekend.
The rest of the day was spent upstairs. Queenie rocked out to James Chance and the Contortions with the dance troupe from the chalet across the square. They seemed to be the oldest rockers in town. Apart from The Zombies, who followed them with pride. A quick look at their line up provided an explanation for the oobit outbreak – Zombie fan basic equipment maybe.
The live acts for ATP 2005 ended with Yoko Ono, who was supported by Vincent Gallo and her son Sean Lennon. As we waited for the gig, a woman handed out Onochord torches and a poem. The poem gave us instructions as to how to click out I-Love-You on the Onochord torch.
Photoflashes were banned, but Queenie got three off before she was politely asked to stop. Sorry Yoko. Politely asked to stop is so much nicer than getting hauled out of the venue by her hair, which is what would probably have happened Queenie if she had risked it in Ireland. Yet another reason why ATP is the nicest little festival in the world.
Yoko said: “I’m so tired, a twelve hour flight and then two more hours to get here”. Yeah well, so are we, Yoko. Three days of music and beer and lord knows what else.
Clare and Queenie ended up in the bar with the Pauls and some randoms and danced the night away, until it all faded to black around 4.30am.
Great weekend. Thanks for the memories guys!
And thank you Mr. Gallo………………… for having loads of great female artists and three female headline acts. The ladies rock!!
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