Terrastock 5 announced -- Boston!

And the *very* tentative band listing:

6 Organs of Admittance
Acid Mothers Temple
Bardo Pond
The Bevis Frond
Charalambides
client/server
Damon & Naomi
Delicate AWOL
Dipsomaniacs
Ethereal Counterbalance
Ghost
Hopewell
The Hushdrops
The Iditarod
Kinski
Landing
Lily's
Lockgroove
The Lothars
The Lucky Bishops
Barbara Manning & the Go-Luckys!
Motorpsycho
Paik
Sonic Youth
ST37
Stone Breath
Subarachnoid Space
The Sunshine Fix
Greg Weeks
Windy & Carl

Gee, why*ever* would I want to go?

Awesome... now how to get from New Orleans to Boston...

(Note to self: put aside $70.)

(And prepare to deal with all of us invading Boston. We expect you to lead all the parties. Or something.)

Are these bands like playing at different clubs at the same time, or can you get to see most of them? If it's gonna be a big ILM pile-up maybe I'll go too...

Way it normally works based on past experience is that one venue with two stages is booked -- as one band plays, another one is setting up, and so everything trades off. No need to dash from club to club or worry about conflicting performances. Fly out for it, Sean! Based on past ones it should be very fun, and what has happened every time I've gone is that at some point during the weekend we discover a Spanish tapas place and have a wonderful three-hour meal. That's how I discovered Esperpento in the Mission district some years back.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I walked past Bardo Pond in the corridor when Terrastock was held in London.

It's going to be at The Middle East, which has a smaller stage upstairs and a larger stage downstairs. It's also in a very cool part of Cambridge that's packed with Indian, Vietnamese, and Ethiopian restaurants, lots of cool bars, and there's a gothy club just down the street.

Space-wise, I'm not sure how this is going to work out unless they co-opt T.T. The Bear's as well.

It's going to be at The Middle East, which has a smaller stage upstairs and a larger stage downstairs.

This could well be all they need, really. But how much does the club hold on its own?

Maybe 100 upstairs, about 200-300 downstairs - and that's at FULL capacity, I think. If you're looking for wiggle room, you're SOL.

Hm! Yeah, that's significantly lower than past Terrastocks. Looks like it will be multiple venue time indeed.

Damn it! No In Gowan Ring?!!? Crap.

Christ that sounds amazing--I'll definitely try to make it!

Just to let you all know (not like I won't post about it nearer to the date), but ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE and SURFACE OF ECEON are playing at my school in early March--in the same week!

I'll definitely try to make it!

What is this 'try' nonsense? YOU WILL BE THERE. And your girlfriend as well, young disciple. We will teach you in The Ways of Food Appreciation, among other things.

No In Gowan Ring?!!?

Stone Breath are cool, go for that. And remember, this is all TENTATIVE.

man, what a crap lineup. if damon and naomi whore ghost to their slack, flaccid music this year, i'm going to shoot them. you heard it here first. and there are far too many dull lite-psych/space rock bands. far, far too many. but i'm going anyway.

right - who's going to be spending the next 8 months growing a beard for this?

man, what a crap lineup.

It's like Otis got an evil twin or something. ;-)

if damon and naomi whore ghost to their slack, flaccid music this year, i'm going to shoot them. you heard it here first.

Probably not this time based on T4. Not the bands hate each other -- what happened was that D/N played a set backed by Ghost, and then the plan was that Ghost would play their own set. Unfortunately nobody realized exactly how seriously Seattle takes the 2 am curfew -- 2 am rolls around, that's IT, and the club was strict on this point. Everyone had genially gone over time in the usual way without realizing this -- this was the first night -- and as a result, everybody got squashed up at the other end.

So after D/N/Ghost had done a fair bit of stuff, they were pulled aside and the situation explained. So Ghost took the stage on their own with literally only ten minutes left. The result was this monster ten- minute fuck-you, fuck-me, fuck-EVERYBODY live improv jam/smash rampage, just letting all the frustrations out over not being able to do anything any more. It was great!

Anyway, I suspect that with that in mind, the organizers are 1) going to verify when they have to shut down each night, 2) keep everyone on schedule this time around from the start and 3) make sure Ghost don't play at the end of the evening!

and there are far too many dull lite-psych/space rock bands. far, far too many.

I think of it this way -- Acid Mothers Temple. Reason enough to go. And Six Organs of Admittance blew my mind and then some last time. Other folks I'm looking forward to -- Bardo Pond, Charalambides, Kinski, Landing, the Lothars, Barbara Manning, ST37, Stone Breath, Windy and Carl, Ghost. The others I don't really know or am slightly indifferent to -- Sonic Youth is the big question mark for the whole thing in my mind.

i'd like to see Bardo Pond again, but the rest of the line up hasn't exactly got me saving for a plane ticket. would have liked grimble grumble and (maybe, and its a big maybe) cerberus shoal, to have been on the line up

ned - i agree with you on the "good bands". as for sonic youth, when i told my girlfriend they were playing, she said "what the hell?!" but hey, it'll be the first time seeing them for me...

A lot of these bands, it seems like playing at Terrastock every year is their only claim to fame. Does anyone actually like Damon and Naomi? If so, why?

I mean, so much hippie shit! You're in fucking Boston, why not call up some of the Fort Thunder bands or something?

A lot of these bands, it seems like playing at Terrastock every year is their only claim to fame.

There are definitely regulars. I'm sorta surprised to not see Abunai! on the line-up. I mean, it's *in* Boston and normally they don't like to go anywhere unless there's drugs involved, so this time the mountain came to Muhammad. Presumably they'll be named later.

Does anyone actually like Damon and Naomi?

I don't know if I would get along with them well one to one, but I've not minded the music. Don't worship it, though.

My only disappointment here, not being able to afford to go to the show anyhow, is that the title of this thread didn't refer to the band Boston pulling down a prominent spot in this year's lineup.

If Tom Scholz ends up in this thing as a special guest, I'll be duly bemused.

Yo, Nedward - whilst I am A-OK w/ Stone Breath, the In Gowan Ring (as part of the Poor Minstrels & Somesuch Tour sometime last year) were superb. Of course, Stone Breath were there as well (along w/ the Iditarod) - good times indeed.

Fort Thunder bands are cool, too! Who wants to get the ball rolling on a big fat ol' Noyze Festivus?

The capacity of the Middle East Downstairs is about 600, actually.

/j

Hey, an Abunai! person! So are you actually going to be on the bill or what? ;-) 600 -- that'd be plenty sufficient, I'd think.

Middle East Downstairs can hold 600? Really? It didn't strike me as being that big.

For the record, the deal with the Damon & Naomi and Ghost sets at Terrastock 4 in Seattle was that, having been told by the venue that the curfew was going to be strictly observed, I sat down with both bands, with Damon translating, and explained they had 1 hour maximum available to them. Damon and Naomi immediately offered to cut their set to 20 minutes to allow Ghost time to set up and play a full set, but the guys in Ghost wouldn't hear of it. They *insisted* D&N (who were their hosts, which is absolutely sacred to the Japanese) performed a full set. Like I said to anyone who complained afterwards (as several did), how did they think *I* felt, having paid several thousand dollars in travel costs just to witness a ten minute set? In a word, exultant. It was worth every penny and every ounce of sweat just to be there and witness those few moments of sublime freak-out...

Hope to see a few of you in Boston, anyway. And rest assured, we'll make damn sure Ghost have enough time to do a full set this time.

P.

Why do I have the feeling that Chris Barrus forwarded along this URL to drone-on? ;-)

Anyway, thanks for the clarification there, Phil! No question about the set being wonderful, I just hadn't realized that everything had already been worked out before D&N took the stage with them.

SIX HUNDRED? Oh, lordy - is that from stem to stern?

It is a lot bigger than the Upstairs - I underestimated up there - but, damn, I never thought it could hold that much.

I love Damon and Naomi's music. Perhaps it's the fact that Galaxie 500 made such an impression, but their post-Galaxie brand of "parlor psyche" can be very intoxicating too, playing a good mix of originals (e.g. "This Car Climbed Mt. Washington") and inspired cover versions (e.g. C.O.B.'s "Spirit of Love" - practically their theme song!). Their collaborations (with Ghost, but also with Kramer on the first post-G500 album MORE SAD HITS) have also yielded some surprising and wonderful treasures.

And in non-D&N news, rumor has it that at least one Fort Thunder band, the inimitable LIGHTNING BOLT might put in an appearance between sets.

Heh heh heh. Lightning Bolt would be brilliant, bring it on.

The Outskirts Of Infinity have offered and would love to play at Terrastock this year! How about it.....!!

Just to remind everyone -- tickets should be on sale at some point today, March 1. I'll post info here once I know more; keep checking the page I linked at the top as well!

God damn it...this all happens only three weeks after I leave the Cambridge area for good!

Orders are now being taken; follow this link for a rundown of info.

i'm GOING!!!

yeah!!

Hurrah! We'll see you there, we will. :-)

Yup. Just bought tickets, too. Now I need to buy comfortable shoes.

Did I mention I'm going? Well, yes, I'm going.

ILX MEET-UP! It must and shall occur.

I is Minor character but baring new workplace resitictions this shall be my first holiday if I have a choice.

Uhhmm, like I know this is the answer page, but man....is it sold out yet? I wanna be there, dude! Thanks

They just set up phone order recently I gather and as of today they're were still tickets.

i've just realised that i'm going to be living in boston/cambridge when this is on!! hurrah!!! i take it i should buy tickets soon??

i'll be down for a meet, but of course only if I am invited. I'm not sure about the shows themselves, seeing as I'm dirt poor, but I can always put some money aside for a drink.

but if Tom Scholz shows up and maybe Barry Goudreau and Sib Hashian then I'll pay more than $70.

Boston was part of the triangular trade , in which "slaves in the Caribbean grew sugar cane to be shipped to Boston to be made into rum to be sent to West Africa to buy more slaves to send to the West Indies." Confusing, isn't it? Because of this trade, the area was chock-full of molasses, and beans baked in the gooey syrup became very popular in Boston, thereby earning the city the nickname "Beantown."

I refuse to believe that CHEERS could be useless after all it is where everybody knows your name and they are always glad you came!

I are now haffing the idea of RUM BAKED BEANS and I are thinking it is rather a good idea...

And don't forget about the great Boston Molasses Disasaster of 1919! How many were killed by that wave of molasses? 21!

Incidentally, the aforementioned band Abunai! recorded a song under the fictional band name "North End Molasses Disaster" (I think...)

yeah they're always glad you came because all the tourists will spend $25 for a hat.

Well I missed Bardo Pond and I missed Beef Terminal but I will not miss Picastro tonight. Anyone stuck in the city found a relatively nonstinky area? Bay street is nearly clean but nothing to do after work. I hear King, Queen, Dundas and Shaw are utter bizasters.

noodles- What are picastro like. Where are they playing? How much is it? and what time does it start?

Its at C'est What which is just off of Front a bit east of Young but west of St Lawrence market. Laura Borealis is playing as well and shes pretty low key, depressing, singer songwriter who made some hilarious videos for other bands and is a good photographer too boot, like Julie Doiron or maybe (and I do stress the maybe) Lou Barlow if you haven't heard Julie.
Picastro were described fairly well by Sean in his AMG piece

The band is an expansion of an original solo project from Toronto guitarist/vocalist Liz Hysen. Virtually everything revolves around Hysen's fragile vocal parts, and when you listen carefully it becomes pretty apparent that, despite possible comparisons with post-rock darlings like Godspeed You Black Emperor! or Mogwai, Picastro is a much more restrained project, with string accompaniment adding anchor rather than bombast... It's a beautiful car crash of an album, simultaneously pretty and dissonant, and utterly compelling no matter how jarring it gets. The beautiful minimalist handmade packaging included only adds to the feeling of intimacy.
Or the short version my friend used to use was "GYBE as a four piece minus the attichude."
How much? ummm not much, time is around 9-9:30. Yahoo just cleared my trash that had all those details, but they are all Toronto area artists (I think) so its priced accordingly.
Can you tell Im avoiding work?

Junetile are the headliners, I have yet to hear them. Includes Michael Wojewoda on drums, the producer for some great albums from bands like Rheostatics or Change of Heart. I wonder how late the nearby Beir Market is open.

I'll try and make it. I might see you there noodles.

so - is this going to sell out in advance? i do really want to go *but* i may have a friend visiting from england that weekend who really won't be up for it. so, do i buy a ticket now + sell it if i can't go, or leave buying one until nearer the time?

Last I heard about a quarter of the tickets remained unsold. But I would contact the organizers or the ticket reps directly to find out -- there might be one day passes or the like, so you could look into that too.

Are we going to get drunk at this thing or what?

Is this like a Dead show for smart people?

not necessarily smart, just they wear shoes.

So whats this about a venue change to Axis from The Middle East?? Bigger? smaller?? why???

MUCH bigger. Less obstructed view. Right outside Fenway Park! (Not that it has dick to do w/ squat, of course.) (Or am I thinking of the Avalon?)

noodles-just got an email on drone on mailing list. The reason is that the original was 19+ years old allowed whereas the new one is 18+ (I deleted the email but I'm sure thats what it said).

Daver, Axis and Avalon are right next door to each other.

Its the other way around I thought, Middle East was 18+, this place is 19+.

But the big question, is it near any good Indian food places?

It isn't too far from Central Square, which has a ton of Indian places. Actually, there are a couple on Mass Ave between Commonwealth and Huntington that you might want to check out (and there's a very good one on Huntington, but that might be stretching the common definition of "near"; it's probably a 20 minute walk away from Landsdowne St).

Dan, I KNEW that, you goof. I'm just trying to recall if there's a substantial difference between the two that would make my confusion worth worrying about.

BTW, there's a Howard Johnson's about 10 minutes away from the Axis, in case you're looking for temporary residence. Just don't take MY room.

We'll see about that, punk. ;-)

Axis has the smaller main dance floor but has another club upstairs.

Capacity is around what?

Went ahead and booked at that Hojo to be on the safe side -- if anyone else is interested, you can do it online, won't cost you anything and you can cancel up to 6 pm on the day you start there.

Capacity at Axis is 1100.

Hm...wonder if they'll sell more tickets? Then again they hadn't sold out yet anyway.

hmmm...friends in Boston/Cambridge area...keep asking me to come visit them...haven't seen a few in three years...ilx meetup...

nah. I'll skip it.

[snicker]

! ;-)

it looks like i'll be over in boston on that w/e, although i dount i'll be going to the thing itself (i don't really like any of the bands, apart from bardo pond).

There's apparently going to be a separate Saturday show featuring some of the Terrastock bands -- perhaps Bardo Pond might be on that bill? But we'll see -- I'll probably start up a Boston ILX meet thread soon with more general details so vague plans can be hashed out.

what!?!?! they switched to axis!?!?

barf.

You're the first person I know who's complained about that! What's yer beef with it?

I lurve Axis. It's scummy and dingy!

I am nu-ILX. If I come, will everyone pretend to not know me? ;-(

You are part of the collective and will be made welcome. :-)

Ah good. For a moment last night I was affected by my nu-ILX insecurity, even though it has never stopped me from writing bad posts.
Due to a complex financial situation, I cannot buy tickets until next week, but assuming they will still be available, I am going. I just found out last night that an a friend of mine was going. He had wrongly assumed that I didn't like psychedelic music, so he didn't mention the show to me, but now he is giving me a ride. Yay!

I have an idea, related to the Sept. 11 2002 thread on ILE. Lets start the "I am coming to Boston and/or going to Terrastock" thread on Sept. 11 so we will all have a good reason not to watch TV.

As for Axis V. Middle East... If I remember correctly, there are more obstructed views at the Middle East. It has been a while since I have been though. If I am wrong, correct me oh denziens of Baaahstun.

I know a bunch of Bostonites who said "Oh, it moved to the Axis? Be prepared for bad sound" or "Moving it to the Axis isnt the way to convince me to go"... what gives? (Besides the fact that its on Landsdowne St....)

I dunno about the sound... when I saw Deep Dish there it was good. Maybe it is different for bands. Also, Deep Dish was downstairs so I can't speak for the upstairs club...

Thread for ILX meet-ups or whatever for Terrastock now started here, so please register yer interest and thoughts!

Oh, and word went around that the Hyatt Regency is now pretty much booked, though they're trying to squeeze in a couple of rooms here and there. Beyond that they recommended the Hojo referred to above, along with some other local spots.

What were the other spots, Ned? I might know something about them and can advise/warn away/properly set expectations.

Hm, I'll have to dig up the message now, might have already deleted it...

we wound up moving to a holiday inn because they ran out of the 'special' rooms and the remaining ones were $250 a night. a bit _PRICEY_.

Revive! I'll be staying at the HoJo near the venue, hope to see a fair amount of you at the shows if you're going!

Here's the current band schedule:

BAND SCHEDULE (subject to change!)
FRIDAY
TIME STAGE BAND
12:00 - 12:30 1 nonloc (RI)
12:35 - 1:20 2 Pat Orchard (UK)
1:25 - 2:10 1 ST37 (TX)
2:15 - 3:00 2 Stone Breath (MD)
3:05 - 3:50 2 The Iditarod (RI)
3:55 - 4:40 1 Hopewell (NY)
4:40 - 5:40   BREAK
5:40 - 6:25 1 The Essex Green (NY)
6:30 - 7:15 2 Charalambides (TX)
7:20 - 8:05 1 Major Stars (MA)
8:10 - 8:55 2 Windy & Carl (MI)
9:00 - 9:45 1 Ghost (Japan)
 
SATURDAY
TIME STAGE BAND
12:00 - 12:30 2 Ethereal Counterbalance (UK)
12:35 - 1:20 1 Greg Weeks (NY)
1:25 - 2:10 2 The Lucky Bishops (UK)
2:15 - 3:00 1 Paik (MI)
3:05 - 3:50 2 6 Organs of Admittance (CA)
3:55 - 4:40 1 Dipsomaniacs (Norway)
4:40 - 5:40   BREAK
5:40 - 6:25 2 Landing (CT)
6:30 - 7:15 1 Motorpsycho (Norway)
7:20 - 8:05 2 Surface of Eceon (CT)
8:10 - 8:55 1 Damon & Naomi (MA)
9:00 - 9:45 1 Tom Rapp (FL)
 
SUNDAY
TIME STAGE BAND
12:00 - 12:45 1 The Hushdrops (IL)
12:50 - 1:35 2 The Alchemysts (UK)
1:40 - 2:25 1 Lilys (PA)
2:30 - 3:15 2 Barbara Manning & the Go-Luckys! (CA)
3:20 - 4:05 1 The Sunshine Fix (GA)
4:10 - 4:55 2 Lothars (MA)
5:00 - 5:45 1 Sonic Youth (NY)
5:45 - 6:45   BREAK
6:45 - 7:30 2 Delicate AWOL (UK)
7:35 - 8:20 1 The Bevis Frond (UK)
8:25 - 9:10 2 Lockgroove (MA)
9:15 - 10:00 1 Bardo Pond (PA)
10:05 - 10:50 2 Kinski (WA)
10:55 - 11:40 1 The Spacious Mind (Sweden)
11:45 - 12:30 2 Subarachnoid Space (CA)
12:45 - 1:30 1 Acid Mothers Temple (Japan)

More up-to-date info here!

TERRASTOCK 6 RUMBLINGS!

No place/lineup yet, but April 4-6, 2006 is the latest rumor.

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

Took 'em long enough. We should start a new thread.

And indeed thus:

Terrastock 6 rumors, gossip, etc.

There already was a Terrastock in Providence! But if they had it again there, that would rule--how could I miss it? J