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Roadburn 2011 Adventure Pt. 5: Program the Brain and the Heartbeat

Posted in Features on April 15th, 2011 by JJ Koczan

5:45PM — Friday — Hotel Mercure, Tilburg

Well, there was some sleep to be had, but not much. I got to bed at around three and gave up trying at nine this morning, after nodding off and waking up, putting on headphones to try that, pillow over the head and the rest. I’m notoriously a light sleeper anyway, and Tilburg is short neither on hustle nor bustle. I slept for about 90 minutes solid this afternoon, and that in combination with the 20 minutes here, 20 minutes there, has been enough. I’m not at just this moment, but if I wanted to, I could still be standing.

Place of Skulls started their set with my favorite song of theirs: “Silver Chord Breaks” from With Vision. That felt good to hear. In a little while, Winter will be on in the main stage area, and I want to be there for that, so I don’t know if I’ll post this now or later on in the night like yesterday, but we’ll see how it goes. After missing them in Brooklyn, it’s definitely something I want to catch this time around.

Beyond that, the night has SunnO))) and Voivod on offer, along with Earth, who switched places with Circle with Pharaoh Overlord owing reportedly to a flat tire on the way in, putting the latter on the main stage now and the former in the Midi Theatre at 8:30PM. I’d like to catch some of that.

Funny story: I was headed the photo pit to shoot Circle with Pharaoh Overlord, and security stopped me and told me I needed a photo pass. I said I didn’t think that was the case, since I had a “working” wristband (the same thing happened to me at Metalliance at Irving Plaza a couple weeks ago). Security disagreed, and I said, “Really? You’re going to make me leave and get a photo pass and come back?” and he said, “Really.”

So I went back around to where I first checked in and asked for a photo pass. Walter, who runs this show literally and figuratively, was there, but it wasn’t something I wanted to bother him with, so I asked the girl behind the counter could I please have a photo pass, and she asked me how big was my camera. I took it out, and she scrutinized its size, and said okay. I felt like I was having my junk measured. Glad to have passed muster.

I’d also like a sit-down meal, though, which is something I haven’t had in a couple days. Probably I could hit up any number of the pubs in what I’ve come to (lovingly) refer to as Weirdo Canyon — stay tuned for more on that — but time, etc. Scheduling is an issue in more ways that just trying to see bands. I haven’t talked to The Patient Mrs. since Wednesday morning Jersey time, and I miss her.

Today is SunnO)))‘s curated day, and though I’m still disappointed they didn’t take my suggestion and call it SunnO)))burn, it’s been pretty good. I got to see the one-man drone/noise oddity of Keiji Haino — easy to see the influence he’s had on the day’s curators as he played through three full Marshall stacks and an Ampeg bass rig — and a couple minutes of Year of No Light‘s live soundtrack to the film Yampyr, which was cool in its way. You know how sometimes when you sing along to a song you don’t know that well, the words remind you of the different parts of the song as you go? You finish the line, and so forth? They were kind of finishing the line of the silent movie. Cool to watch, and it synched up to varying degrees, but a bunch of skinny French dudes droning out has its own appeal, at least judging by the crowd it drew.

I didn’t get to see Mamiffer or Trap Them, and I tried to catch a couple minutes of Aluk Todolo, but as usual, the Green Room was impenetrable. Hopefully I’ll have better luck and/or timing when Beaver starts up at 7:15.

Interesting mix so far. Right now it’s more allergy meds for me and then back over for Winter. More to come later.

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Roadburn 2011 Adventure: Here’s Some Live Acid King

Posted in Bootleg Theater, Features on April 15th, 2011 by JJ Koczan

I’ve “elected” not to shoot my own video this year, both to concentrate on live photos and because the camera I have with me can’t handle the volume. As such, mi amigo the Drunken Monkey has been handling video captures, and he posted this Acid King clip late last night. Live at Roadburn 2011. Hope you enjoy:

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Roadburn 2011 Adventure Pt. 4: The Digital Bitch

Posted in Features on April 14th, 2011 by JJ Koczan

2:00AM — Thursday night/Friday morning — Hotel Mercure, Tilburg

It’s late now. I did indeed get that much-needed cup of coffee, and it’s probably what let me make it to the end of Godflesh‘s epic set, which was a full hour and a half and featured the whole Streetcleaner album and then some — as promised. I felt in some way like I was missing out on something there, since I was never a huge Godflesh fan. I certainly appreciate Streetcleaner, but it’s not like I know the words. A lot of people did. Justin Broadrick certainly did. He sang them loudest.

It was just Broadrick and bassist GC Green on stage with a laptop handling drum sounds. Nothing strange there, that’s pretty much the heart of Godflesh anyway: the two players and the technology. They were so loud that I had to move back from the front of the main stage room where I was situated. They vibrated my earplugs in my ears. Very, very loud, if I haven’t made the point yet.

I got back to the 013 shortly before they went on and took my place amongst the hungry hordes in the photo pit. I’m not sure I like that kind of thing. People are pushy and rude and everyone seems to be trying to get in everyone else’s way. There’s a three-song limit for the photographers that was varyingly enforced throughout the day, but I only stayed for two, then went upstairs to get some other shots. I thought after a while I might pop over to the Green Room and catch The Atomic Bitchwax‘s set. They’re Jersey boys, and killer besides, so the choice made sense.

Apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought so, since the Green Room, yet again, was so packed I couldn’t get in the door. I stood in the doorway and caught the end of “So Come On” and some of the riff parade that is their new album, The Local Fuzz, but soon made my way back over to the band merch in the building next door for another look over. I didn’t buy anything (this time), but thought about it once or twice before heading back to the main stage for the feedback-saturated end of Godflesh‘s show.

I found a spot on one of the tiers in the back of the room and stood there for the duration, after previously moving around so much. Part of the appeal, I’ll admit, was that — Broadrick and Green being so loud — the floor where I was literally shook, and I thought of it as kind of being like a foot massage. It was and it wasn’t, I guess. Still a bit of fun, and as the coffee wore off and I started to fall asleep standing up, the additional entertainment went a long way.

Count Raven closed out the night in the Green Room, while Soilent Green prepared to take hold of the main stage, and I managed to catch a bit of the former before deciding to pack it in for my Thursday night. Like I said, with Roadburn, you’re just not going to see everything. Count Raven, it’s worth noting, also packed the Green Room to capacity, and people were singing along, throwing fists, generally enjoying themselves as people seem wont to do at European heavy shows. That hour of sleep had just caught up to me, and if I wouldn’t feel so terrible about making a running analogy given my slovenly ways, I’d say I “hit the wall.”

When I got my photo bag back from the coat-check, I found that I did indeed lose a lens cap for my camera (Go get ’em, chief. Heck of a first day!). I thought about grabbing some pommes frites, thought about waiting it out to see what the annual Metal Disco party is all about, but decided to do this instead. And now, having done this, I’m going to try and get some rest and be ready to pick it up again tomorrow for SunnO)))‘s curated day. Much to do.

Ditto the last post — more pics after the jump, click to enlarge, and so forth.

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Roadburn 2011 Adventure Pt. 3: All Day Long I Think of Things…

Posted in Features on April 14th, 2011 by JJ Koczan

8:41PM – Thursday – Hotel Mercure, Tilburg

A little bit ago, I watched Wovenhand lay waste to both the crowd and every other band I’ve seen today. Seriously. Heaviest Roadburn set so far was Wovenhand. David Eugene Edwards put more passion into the song “Your Russia” than I’ve put into anything in my entire life. I was embarrassed to be alive watching it.

He did this kind of combination Native American war whoop and toughguy posturing thing, and at several intervals told the audience – the main room of 013 – to “bring it.” Honestly, I think most people were afraid to. The folk dude in the skinnyjeans kicked everyone’s ass. Go figure.

Pentagram is on stage as I type this. It was excellent to see Victor Griffin on stage with Bobby Liebling playing those songs again, and the crown was eating it up, but I wanted to get out for a bit, to take a break, to unload pictures from the camera, and because I knew that I didn’t want to handle the task of completely writing up the day when the show was done tonight. Roadburn is like a really good museum: there’s just no way you’re going to see everything the day has to offer, and I knew if I tried to capture it all in one post, I’d either be up until five in the morning (less than preferable option number one) or suck at it (less than preferable option number two). Like Amorphis says, there’s too much to see.

I have my handy pocket schedule, and according to that, the day kicked off with Alcest in the main room, and though I vaguely recall breathy French post-black metal, it seems so long ago now I can hardly stand it. Niege’s vocals were flat. There, I said it. Other than that, the band sounded really good. It was an odd sequence of first bands – Alcest in the main room, Quest for Fire in the Bat Cave, and Year of No Light in the Green Room. Both the Green Room and the Bat Cave were packed, the latter so much so that I couldn’t even get in to see Quest for Fire, which I’d been very much looking forward to.  I stood on a bench outside the door and took a couple pictures, but basically had to keep moving. There wasn’t any room to stand.

Whether or not it was the right decision, I don’t know, but I sacrificed seeing Zoroaster in order to catch Acid King and retro-spookies Ghost, and I have no problem admitting that. Acid King were ultra-heavy, as you’d have to expect, and Ghost not only pulled off every move they make on their Opus Eponymous debut, but they did it while bringing to life a killer stage show. Not easily done. If it was, more people would do it.

I was in and out of the photo pit most of the afternoon. I took shots of everything I saw, and I did some shopping over at the merch area. There’s still Godflesh, The Atomic Bitchwax and Count Raven to go tonight, and since my eyes are starting to close as I type this – I slept for an hour on the plane here and that was it – that was also a day ago – I don’t know when I’ll get to posting again, either tonight or tomorrow. I also did the “fall asleep sitting up” thing upstairs waiting for Wovenhand to go on, and I’m dreaming every time I close my eyes, so I’m gonna wrap it up for now and head back over to the 013, see if I can get some caffeine in me. It’s the responsible decision.

More pics after the jump. Click to enlarge any of the images here.

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Roadburn 2011 Adventure Pt. 2: The Wizard

Posted in Features on April 14th, 2011 by JJ Koczan

10:54AM – Thursday – On Train Out of Schiphol Airport

Train full of weirdos headed to Eindhoven, I must be in the right place. I could walk car by car right now and tell you who’s going to transfer at Den Bosch. The doom uniform (doomiform? Nah) is easy to pick out of a crowd, especially among normal types, tourists and business commuters.

I more than a little bit want to make out with the European rail system. As the conductor punches my ticket and the Dutch highway runs parallel, I’m already glad I put up with the bullshit of last week and the start of this week to be here. My throat is raw and my sinuses are so pressurized they could cook a turkey in 22 minutes or your money back, and sleep is looking more and more like a pipedream, but damn it feels good to be here.

The aforementioned transfer, then on to Tilburg. Big Blue (pictured) is on the seat next to me because it’s too big to fit in any carriage hold on this train. If a thing’s worth doing, it’s worth doing with oversized baggage. I’m pretty sure Abe Lincoln said that.

Stop after next: Roadburn.

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Roadburn 2011 Adventure Pt. 1: Everything Comes and Goes

Posted in Features on April 14th, 2011 by JJ Koczan

11:08PM/4:08AM – Over the Atlantic – Wednesday into Thursday

I’m running on borrowed time, and by that I don’t mean the Boeing 777 in which I’m seated has depressurized and is about to crash into the ocean (the What About Bob? principal: if I say it, it won’t happen). I mean batteries. The laptop’s on battery saver, as always, and so I’m good on that front, but the CD player – fool that I am – has been blinking its warning ever since I put on Tempel, by Colour Haze, which I’m well into now. I figure any minute and it’ll just be me and the keyboard clackeys. Most everyone else is asleep, except for a woman in the next row reading. They’ve been pumping knockout gas on us for hours now, and if not for the weekend’s homework to occupy my mind and my steady vigil of keeping watch on the left-side wing of the aircraft to make sure it doesn’t come flying off – because if I stop looking, it will – I’m quite sure I’d have succumbed. Plenty to keep me busy.

But seriously, how do I not pack AA batteries in my carry-on? Oh, I’m stocked in long-since-checked Big Blue (my luggage, in case you missed it), but I’ve got a single AAA and two outlet converters on my person, one British and one European. Both are swiped from hotels last year, and neither are doing me any good at the moment. I mean, come on. I found (and chewed) year-old Rolaids in that bag, and not a single AA? Not like this is my first time making this trip.

Here are the records I’ve listened to so far:
Graveyard, Hisingen Blues
Black Sabbath, Mob Rules
Sungrazer, Sungrazer
Colour Haze, Tempel

If I make it through the latter, it’ll be a damned miracle.

Much to do when I land, and at some point, I do need to sleep. The truth is, I love traveling, and more than anything else, that’s probably what’s kept me up. I’m not so thrilled about the whole flying deathtrap thing, but if I could do one thing with the rest of my days in one of those money-and-obligation-don’t-exist scenarios, I’d just go places and sit and write and that would be my life. I mean that.

We’ve been in the air I guess about four hours now. Taxi’ed forever in Newark, of course, and finally took off a little after 7PM. When I land, it’ll be in London, then a quick flight to Amsterdam, a train to Tilburg, walk from the station, check in at the hotel, maybe crash out if I can, and check in on the work stuff I left behind in Jersey. This is going to be a much different trip this year.

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