the necks in now familiar territory on a large stage at a large festival
something they apparantly do a lot of in other parts of the world
clever chaps have established themselves thus as an in-demand outfit
this while maintaining their musical integrity and no compromise approach
the thing with the necks is that you always know what you are going to get
it will be one piece per set with improvisation and repetition dominating
but even knowing that it's always a pleasure to see them deliver it live
for me it's no small part due to the satisfaction felt knowing they have made it
meaning hopefully other such noise-makers will find it onto the big stage
though as in this case it may take 20 years to get there but that just proves one thing
perserverance pays when onto a unique, original, even essential sound
today's set is further proof of their confidence, skill and belief in their music
tony buck on drums stage left to me was a trailblazer in percussion-stretching
today again demonstrating that any piece of any piece of equipment is usable
similarly mixing in other various hand-held rattles, cymbals, and metallic objects
mostly used in conjunction with snare drums or cymbals to eek out some weird noises
he's still the master but now there's various others locally empowered with his style
which means as in this case it's the drummer who provides the visual focal point
lloyd swanton on his hybrid electric/standup bass rooted to his spot centre stage
eyes closed a lot of the time as he locks himself into loop-playing his chosen bass riff
the occasional backward flick of either leg to ward off the cramps it appears to me
a self-satisfied smile on his face indicating all is well in lloyd-land - at least at this time
mr chris abrahams on stage right similarly fixed in a single position
head barely moving as he stares constantly down at the keyboard
and similarly belts out a repeated motif sometimes staccato like in sound
so between them they produce a very hypnotic and rapid-fire sound
close the eyes and at times it sounds like full-on machine-generated electronica
observe those on stage again and there are 3 sets of hands hard at work
and a reminder of why they are so much in a sound world of their own
jazz no ambient no electronica no dance no trance no drumnbass no
a bit of all these and mixed in with excellent musicianship is the appeal
good to realise also that someone in the nick cave camp likes them
enough to put them on the list for all tomorrows parties
and another reason to be at that festival on this day
