Credit: All tomorrow parties

19-21st May 2006 Pontins,
Camber Sands

ATP Weekend Two was rocked by three artist cancellations as well as by winds and rain from some Shipping Forecast nightmare. Collars were turned up and umbrellas turned out. Only the foolhardy admired the sand dunes in the sandstorms and not a one braved the miniature golf. All eyes were on the line-up.
The recent trend continues at ATP with American curators curating a very North American programme, though no one can beat Shellac at that game when they booked only 5 non-Americans acts (2 British, 2 Japanese and 1 Canadian and the latter chosen by the festival’s organiser Barry!) This year, both weekends were dubbed the United Sounds of ATP. Weekend Two saw Dinosaur Jr curating Friday, Sleater Kinney with dibs on Saturday and The Shins programming Sunday.

Friday’s offering felt a little pedestrian on the whole, with blokes of a certain age dominating. Boston’s Mission Of Burma kicked ass as you would hope a bunch of old post-punk mavericks still could. Toronto’s Broken Social Scene were unassuming and undemanding; an Arcade Fire with the rough edges worn away. Teenage Fanclub’s set was pleasant but curiously unengaging. The daddies of the evening, Dinosaur Jr rawked loudly; harking back to their early hardcore days. The combination of the reconciled J Mascis and Lou Barlow worked well with J as a guitar-wielding Gandalf swishing his long locks while Lou rocked out like a teenager. Both seemed happy to shed their cosier, grown up personas of recent times. Although a fiercely energetic performance, Dinosaur Jr began to sound a wee bit monotone until their two encores lifted everyone with classics ‘Freak Scene’, ‘Mountain Man’ and ‘Chunks’ and probably their favourite ever cover; The Cure’s ‘Just Like Heaven’.

But Friday’s highlight had to be Brian Jonestown Massacre headlining stage 2. With their signature swirling psychedelic sound they captured the hearts and minds of many who had only ever seen them on Ondi Timoner’s award-winning but inflammatory film ‘Dig!’. BJM’s mastermind Anton Newcombe, dressed in his Sherlock Holmes deerstalker and cape, led the six-piece through some great renditions of their best tunes. Next to him centre stage was the long lost and much missed Joel Gion. He was back! Shaking his tambourine and staring into the crowd through his bug-eye glasses, he was as mesmerising as ever, leaving Anton time to craft the songs. Lengthy gaps between tracks made the crowd a little restive at times but it wasn’t long before they were hooked and reeled back in again with the irresistible ‘Who?’ ‘Oh Lord’ ‘Before I Am Gone’ and ‘Whoever You Are’.