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All Points West Festival Review |
People have been looking upon Lady Liberty for generations, coming into our country, passing through immigration and then boarding trains bound for ALL POINTS WEST.
Now the people of New Jersey have given us all a new reason to head to All Points West. It is in the form of a 3 day music festival, just across a river from New York City.
When you head to this festival, you immediately realize this is not Bonnaroo, this is not Vegoose, this is not Rothbury, nor is it 10,000 Lakes or even is it Coachella, definitely not anything -palooza. This festival belongs to the East Coast. You are a few hundred meters from the fallen Twin Towers and you’re going to have to pass through a thorough security check. Getting into this festival takes eons, the lines coming in are monsterous. Your journey begins at home and most people choose mass transit to get here, I did that the first day, the second day I rode my bicycle from my home in Brooklyn, and the third day I drove the car I purchased in the Motor City.
On Day 1, I didn’t really know how long it would take. I was going to take the ferry over the Hudson River, but the line was enormous, so I headed to the World Trade Center and took the PATH train across. Once you get to New Jersey, there’s a light rail that takes you about a mile from the festival, held at Liberty State Park.
The New Pornographers were already playing when I approached, I breezed by the CSS set on the way. There’s just something about the New Pornographers that makes you want to celebrate indie rock, they have a spirit that many bands lack these days.
Soon thereafter, Underworld took the Blue Comet stage. These guys fill everyone within earshot with energy and the motivation to dance dance dance! Sleeky, sultry electronica that burrows into your soul and makes you want to move and groove, no matter what may have plagued your mind before. It’s all clear now, it’s just good times and great tunes.
Andrew Bird headlined the Queen of the Valley stage. Andrew is a rare gem of a good time. Rocking the violin, guitar and of course, his mouth, whether it’s his voice or his whistle, he grabs you into the music and you don’t want him to let you go.
The main headliner for Friday night was Radiohead. Opening with In Rainbows “15 Step,” they made sure everyone realized why they are THE sought after headline act. The band was spot on, putting in a set over 2 hours long. The encore included a track from just about every album from The Bends to today.
On Day 2 I decided to bike it. I arrived to see K’naan captivating a small crowd. Soon thereafter it was The Virgins, The Black Angels, Animal Collective, Kings of Leon and The Roots. Everyone of them, kicking it up a notch. New Yorkers would not be regretting spending the night away from the city, everyone was into the music, smiling, dancing and trying to get a buzz on.
The buzz on part is a bit difficult. APW has what I call the Beer Corral. This fenced in area is the only place you can have an adult beverage. This may sound good on paper to the suits but it’s just not practical for a festival. It apparently stems from a New Jersey law. This inconvenience upset alcoholics across the board… no one I saw was happy about it that day. One of my friends called it The Beer Jail, and it certainly felt like it. A special effects artist I work with at PSYOP left the festival early because of it, his British mind could not deal with the laws of New Jersey.
Radiohead headlined the second night as well. I love Radiohead, and I’ve seen them more than a few times, but this second set just didn’t do it for me. Maybe it’s all the jazz and jam bands I see on a regular basic, but just watching them play almost-the-same set was a let down. I wanted to see them outdo Friday night, but that just didn’t happen.
Saturday night was a busy night, I was glad to be able to bypass the light rail by riding my bike up to the PATH train. A ride over the river back to the WTC and I was on my bike and home in 10 minutes. Had I waited for the light rail, I’d probably still be waiting today... OK not really.
Day 3: I wanted an early start to see Neil Halstead. I didn’t make it THAT early but I did get there in time to see Rogue Wave and Matt Costa. Both sets were amazing. The crowd ate them both up, as they should. Matt is such an inspiring songwriter, everyone should be checking this guy out. Rogue Wave was my favorite newfound band, I had not heard them before the APW set and I will sure be checking them out whenever they return to the Manhattan island. Trey Anastasio and Classit TAB did not dissapoint. Trey hasn’t played many solo shows recently so it was nice that he was a late sign on for this festival. It was interesting to see a typical headline act squeezed into a smaller stage, Trey would be comfortable anywhere, so long as that rug is under him, he always plays on that, it must put him in the zone he needs to be in. Ben Harper led in to Jack Johnson, the festival closer.
All in all, it was a great first year for APW, although I’d like to see them address the beer situation a little better and make the entrance go smoother. Being in New York you understand the need for tightened security, but make it less obtrusive, APW! I missed a lot of good music just waiting to be groped by the security guards at the entrance.
-Dan Boujoulian
Lives in New York City (and believes we all live in a Wide- Eyed nation.)
Click here to see photos of Rock the Bells in the Wide-Eyed photo gallery
