Terrastock V: October 11-13 2003

This was my first "Terrastock", put on by the infinitely cool fanzine "Ptolemaic Terrascope". The Terrascope covers bands that cover a spectrum of sounds, but share "psychedelic" as part of their sound. The term psychedelic can cover a lot of ground, and "Terrastock" certainly did contain some serious variety!

"Terrastock" was a three day festival held October 11th, 12th, and 13th in Boston, MA. Unfortunately, we missed the first day (life gets BUSY you know), but there were so many good acts on days 2 & 3 that it was okay (although I would have loved to have seen Stone Breath & Charalambides, hell, I'm bumming I missed it!).

Day two was cool...we arrived as "Paik" was going on...they really floored me with their spatial sounds..."Paik" created these beautiful instrumental landscapes of sound...they were really good (I've since gotten a couple of their CD's, and they are indeed very good, not just a live band!). "6 Organs of Admittance" was next, some quiet acoustical psych which was very relaxing and pretty. Very enjoyable!!! 

One of my favorite finds of "Terrastock", the "Dipsomaniacs" from Norway were next, and really blew me away! They use the 60's psych/pop sound as a stepping stone then take the sound and make it their own...incredibly entertaining, cerebral pop noise...Loved it...and have been slowly collecting 7"'s & CD's by them since the show. 

Next was a break (gave us a chance to sample some yummy Indian food at a Cambridge restaurant), then back for the band "Landing". Quiet, introspective psych sounds with an 'out there' edge to the 
music. Very nice! Next were the incredibly 'heavy' sounds of Norway's "Motorpsycho"...I always thought they were a basic metal band, and yes, that's their launch point, but they psychedelically rocked the place REALLY WELL! Highly enjoyed their set, and theirs along with the "Dipsomaniacs" was my favorite set of the day. Norway must have a great music scene if these two bands are any indication!!!

Next was "Surface of Eceon" featuring members of the band "Landing" who had played earlier in the day. Nothing like "Landing", "Eceon" laid out some GREAT walls of noise, and just slammed me. Really liked their set!!! Picked up their CD "The King Beneath the Mountain" and that's awesome too...Damon & Naomi next played a good set of their quiet, introspective psych, and finally "Tom Rapp" (formerly of "Pearls Before Swine") finished up day two with a cool set.

Day three featured many amazing bands. The only problem was that since the venue had changed, "Terrastock" was shoved into one room that was mighty crowded for the day. I still thoroughly enjoyed myself and was right out in the middle of the melee so I could get the full effects.

Missed the first band ("The Hushdrops") due to sleeping in, but got in place for the second, Britain's "The Alchemysts". They rocked HARD, and were a super band. They take a groove and just hammer the hell out of it...tight, and LOVED their set! The next band I saw was "Barbara Manning" who was good, and put on a fun set. Next were "The Sunshine Fix" (an offshoot of "Olivia Tremor Control") who put on a weird psych-pop set that was enjoyable.

Next were "The Lothars"...three Theremins and a few other instruments. What a cool set! They had the sound swimming around the room. Very adventuresome wall of noise that tripped me out darn good! The final band before the break was "Sonic Youth". I hadn't seen them in over 10 years, so didn't know what to expect, but they certainly didn't disappoint! I liked their latest album "Murray street", and they played a lot of that, and a few 'classics'. I'll tell ya, they still have it, and played a tight, NOISY, fun set that thrilled us all. Once they were done, it was break time, and munchies.

We were late getting back, and missed a couple of bands (boo!), but "Bardo Pond" was next. Holy shit! They were great!!! A SERIOUS wall of psychedelic noise that just absolutely knocked me out!!! One of America's best current bands...they were SO good!!! Next was "Kinski" from Washington state. I hadn't heard them before, but they were probably my favorite band of "Terrastock". They would get these great grooves going, then take it as far as they could...sort of a cross between Faust, and Sonic Youth, with a healthy blast of AC/DC (yeah, I know, weird description, but what a wall of noise!!!). Amazing band whose records I've been picking up (their latest "Airs Above the Station" came out a coupla months back on Sub Pop & the LP is out on Strange Attractors records). If you ever get a chance to see these guys, check 'em out!!!

Next were "The Spacious Mind" from Sweden. The band live in a commune and rarely play outside of Sweden so this was a treat...and were they GREAT!!! They use the "Hawkwind" sound as a launching point, and take the noise into the stratosphere...an amazing set, that just pumped up EVERYBODY!!!  I've since picked up a couple of their CD's which are also VERY good (long 10 minute + songs for the most part that TAKE YOU).

Getting late (almost midnight) before "Subarachnoid Space" came on. At this point, everybody was on sensory overload due to the many amazing bands, but the "Space" delivered...a heavily STRANGE space set...they rocked the mind hard (and kept my ever tiring body up too...). Wonderful set that made me UNDERSTAND the band's sound (liked them on CD, but LOVED them live).

Finally, last band of the evening (and the most anticipated), "Acid Mother's Temple". They came on with "La Novia", chants and all...VERY cool...Makoto was like the flailing freak angel on guitar, and Cotton Casino on synths and vocals was just plain fun to watch (she smoked these LOOONNNG cigarettes one after another, and had that grin on her face that looked "experienced"). What a cool show. They delivered HARD! Their whole set was one of the heaviest, WEIRDEST, walls of noise I've ever heard.

So, that was it...an AMAZING festival I can remember like it just happened (writing this in June of 2003). I want to thank the Terrascope magazine for going through the trouble of putting this on, and can't wait for "Terrastock VI".

Originally Published 6/2003