Fujirockers: The official fansite of the Fuji Rock Festival

Thom Yorke

What I do like, of course, is Thom Yorke, a genius whom I had never seen live, and Flea, also quite great, so I don’t fault myself for making the mistake of requesting to cover this set. But still, The Eraser? This was a dull, dull record. Not a bad record, mind you, just a niche record, a bedroom record, to be greatly beloved by a few, and certainly not meant for the Green Stage on any night of the weekend.

So, you know where I’m coming from here, and consider yourself warned that you might prefer reading Clay’s excellent preview if you liked the show (or if you just like bagging on Gene Simmons). (And you are not a good human being if you don’t like bagging on Gene Simmons.)

My first time to see him live, it is clear that Yorke must have long since been welcomed by Dylan and Springsteen into the pantheon of unlikely superstars. Looking like a hobo John McEnroe (unshaven, unkempt, headband, etc.), his movements are not graceful, but hunched and greasy, almost golem-like. He struts about a bit like a slutty 1970’s secretary who knows she is too smart for the glass ceiling (a.k.a., Rod Stewart). Except, again, he looks like a hobo John McEnroe golem, which makes it a little creepy. Good thing talent still counts for something in this world. And shame on you all for thinking about such low matters.
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Spencer drew a sparse and tired crowd at the intimate Gypsy Avalon

Everybody and his uncle was watching LCD Soundsystem a hundred meters away at the White Stage, but I reckon they were missing out. And I’m not just saying that because I need a hook for a story. I’m saying that because I don’t really like LCD Soundsystem. I thought with a name like “Spencer” it would just be some dude with an acoustic guitar warbling bedroom love songs in a language I don’t understand (that would be Japanese), but I heard the post-rock drumming and twittery electronics and I was like, damn, now I’ma have to get up out my hammock to see what’s going on over there.

Reverb heavy, Sigur Ros slow, repetitive simple acoustic arpeggios, and moody like 2010, I was feeling well relaxed when I had to get up and go to Atoms For Peace after only ten minutes. And I’ll let you in on a secret: the hammock was a little better than Spencer (sorry guys, but I’m sure you understand: it was a hammock), and Spencer was a lot better than Atoms. Seems I did everything backwards. Le sigh…

-Kern

photo by kouji. more here

(And you know you want to see a picture of me in that hammock: Continue Reading…

Thom Yorke's back

I’ve just been down at LCD Soundsystem, and now I’m at Atoms For Peace. One thing that’s been bugging me all weekend, and that’s the complete inability for Japanese video operators to get it right.

Extreme closeups. I don’t need to know how long it is since Thom Yorke cleaned out his ears. I don’t need to see the back half of his head occupying a quarter of the shot and the backdrop behind him taking up the rest. I don’t want to see James Murphy bounce in and out of shot as you try in vain to follow him. Zoom out for fucks sake! Continue Reading…

Atoms For Peace: Thom Yorke can't catch a break

Seems like everyone is slagging Thom Yorke lately. I was watching the current BBC series I’m in a Rock n Roll Band last night, and Gene Simmons of KISS went out of his way to specifically name Yorke as a bland performer, a singer who disrespected the hard-earned money his fans spend on a show by just standing around—at which time the program dissolved into a cartoon-based motion graphic sequence depicting sullen Radiohead members slowly rocking back and forth on stage like starving, scurvy infected sailors. Yet, follow that up with a review of any of the new Atoms for Peace shows, and the first sentence in some way jabs Yorke’s “new” incessant and spastic dance style. This guy just can’t catch a break.

And these people just don’t get it.
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It's not easy being Goth...

Alright this is my first post, I’m stateside and can’t wait can’t wait. My name is Clay and I live in Atlanta, GA. Jason Jenkins (aka Jinki) is one of my oldest and dearest friends and we experienced some monumental shows together back in the day including the first Lollapalooza, B Boys “Check Your Head” with Henry Rollins, D’Angelo’s “Voodoo”, Soundgarden’s “Badmotorfinger” and that unforgettable Digable Planets show in Athens. Unfortunately, there are many more that I don’t remember…oh well. (Maybe Fishbone, Bad Brains, Pavement, Meat Puppets, Pharcyde…kinda foggy)

Anyway, I’ve been subjected to his incessant ravings about FRF over the years, and I, like all of his stateside friends, have been quietly envious. He’s always offered a tatami at his place but as you all know a Japan adventure is a fairly rich mission. Well I’m through with envy and decided to cash in my chips this year. The lineup didn’t hurt either.

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Yesterday, Massive Attack put a poster for this summer’s Fuji Rock Festival on their official site.

The poster lists what day each act will perform on and also has some new artist additions.  The most notable of these is Atoms For Peace, the side project from Radiohead’s Thom Yorke that also includes Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Nigel Godrich (Radiohead producer), Joey Waronker (R.E.M., Smashing Pumpkins, Beck), and Mauro Refosco.

Although no announcement has been made by Fuji Rock promoter Smash yet, the poster looks official (and bears a strong resemblance to past FRF adverts) so I imagine all the info is legit and will be properly revealed soon.

The Fuji Rock Festival poster from Massive Attack is here.

A review of Atoms For Peace’s recent Coachella performance is here and their setlist from said concert is here.

*Photo of Thom Yorke by Roxanne and used with permission from Smashing Mag.