We were first treated to a half hour advertisement about the ATP festival. I overheard a lady who was standing behind the projector screen ask "Is it showing the same film on the back as on the front?" The film finished and workmen dismantled the projector screen and I drank. Some time died and then and Les Savy Fav came on with no support act.
Looking back at the crumpled, shabby and still moist piece of paper I made notes on, there was mostly nonsense. I had called Tim Harrington, Fav's front man an 'Effeminate Beardo'. The man did wear a beard and makeup. I'll describe him as a lumpy bearded version of Dwight Schultz in the television series 'The A-Team' (1983) complete with a bald head; except that Harrington's charisma doesn't have cancer. It's a wonderful phenomenon of our age that such people can front rock bands on the exclusive merit of their abilities and creativity (I'm claiming too much, I know, but its still nice). He struts around with panache and authority, sings his lines or misses them and we were happy to have all or nothing. He in fact scaled various staging and strutted around up and down along the girders holding the venue's roof up. The impact force of one hundred kilograms from that height on some gangly indie girl's malnourished frame would have been astonishing. I will apologise to the readers or more likely the editor for being morbid and obsessed with frames and lumps. I'll move on.
I often wonder at gigs about how I fit in. Do I belong to a relevant enough demographic or clique not to stand out or seem self conscious? How can I dance when people look at me like an idiot (or worse, don't look at me at all)? Well, Les Savy Fav really made everyone dance. I danced which will astound anyone who knows me. There was even a mosh pit towards the end, which is always funny when spontaneous and not obligatory. Fav were of solid musicianship and eager to play. Everything was just efficient. It was an efficient and lovely party.
For the closing song. the singer stage dived atop a single mattress and flew around asleep. He was REALLY asleep and this was relevant to the song I expect. Somehow he departed and I found myself stood alone inside a circle of people clutching the discarded sweaty rectangle. I was being looked at and their eyes to me were what the headlights are to the Deer. Suddenly, I thrust the mattress up into the air caught it at the bottom and launched it over the room with so much adept. I was sweating adept. Les Savy Fav had (without any hyperbole) enabled this latent, fearsome force within me. If you think this is stupid and benile and tedious then you better not let me catch you alone somewhere at night because I'll give you the fucking step.
Go and see Les Savy Fav because they are an efficient and lovely party.
www.lessavyfav.com
Words: Duncan Parker
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1 comments:
I was at this gig and I agree with your assessment.
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