Petting Party

A while ago, after a failed attempt to see Metronomy in Kentish Town, my friend and I made a life rule not to go out in North London (it’s life rule #2, don’t ask what #1 is). Tuesday night’s Atari Teenage Riot gig at the Electric Ballroom further enforced this. I’m not saying that ATR was bad; in fact I have no idea whether they were any good or not because the sound was SO FUCKING SHIT all I could really hear was the backing tracks and occasional shouting from Alec, Nic and CX. The lighting was abysmal as well as it was just flashing out on the crowd and just added insult to injury as not only could you not hear what was going on, neither could you see. Bands like Atari Teenage Riot need to have some level of clarity otherwise it simply becomes a mess of noise. Frankly, it sounded like what I imagine non-fans probably hear when they listen to it on record!

I actually really like ATR and have been a fan since I was about 17. I saw Alec Empire perform CD1 of Intelligence & Sacrifice at the ICA in London in 2002 and it was completely amazing. Tuesday night, was not. The Electric Ballroom leaves a lot to be desired as a venue. The closed off the smoking patio at some point during the gig so no-one was allowed a cigarette throughout the entireity of ATR. Luckily it was open whilst the support act was on as I’m not particularly keen on emo-drone.

What we found quite interesting at the gig was how confused a lot of people looked. The average age of the crowd was somewhere in their 30′s and they’d clearly come for nostalgia reasons. BUT, it was a Tuesday night, which is obvs a school night, meaning all these kids were grown-ups and y’know fairly sensible, and, mostly sober. I have never been stood around so many bewildered ex-drug addicts in my life.

One thing I couldn’t work out at the time was whether Hanin Elias was with them. I could only make out Nic Endo jumping about, Alec Empire strutting around bare-chested and CX Kidtronix (who I actually thought was great) getting huge height in his jumps at points. I did a bit of research and came up with this Art Rocker interview with Alec concerning the reunion. Read the interview for sure, but the really juicy bits are in the comments section where Hanin lays into Alec quite viciously. So nastily in fact that quite a few German musicians chuck in their tuppence as well! Fucking drama!

Edit: listen to their new single Activate for free on Soundcloud (or watch the YouTube vids below for their best songs from back in the day)

Filed under: music, night life