Afrirampo, Dead Meadow and Fuck Buttons @ All Tomorrow's Parties, Brisbane

It was back to the Powerhouse for the final night of Brisbane’s disjointed version of the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival and as a whole, this was to be my favourite evening.

I was lucky enough to be at the very front and centre for most of the performances, except when a very rude and insisted Fuck Buttons fan kept squeezing in before their set started, after which she stood transfixed, seemingly unmoved by the power of their music – surely it should be about the music, not some idol-esque, blind adulation?

Afrirampo started off the proceedings with a quick jog through the sparse crowd and then up to the stage where they unleashed their noise rock ‘n’ roll to the slowly growing audience.

Afrirampo formed in 2002, evolving from the avante-garde music scene in Osaka, and consist of two young Japanese women playing guitar and drums and sharing vocal and between song banter duties. They are cute and noisy in equal parts and managed to convey both during their very energetic and joyous set of psychedelic noise rock at the Powerhouse.

They ended the show carried through the now much larger audience on the shoulders of two guys from the crowd, encouraging the audience to participate in the chorus of their final song.

Mayhem and mischief abounded throughout this fun set but they left too early for me to buy their home made CD (maybe next time?).

Afrirampo - Nakimushikemushi Goodbye!




Next up were Dead Meadow who played a very strong set of seventies rock with a few long, very groovy jams and some relatively short rockers. My head was shaking and my body swaying for the entire set of tunes which took me back to the music of my youth. Rockin' fun indeed!

Dead Meadow formed in Washington in 1998 and have experienced a few minor line up changes in their time. Their sound has also alternated between heavy seventies rock and psychedelic stoner rock.

But tonight it was the heavy end of the rock spectrum the audience was entertained with and the band received a very good reception, including a few gifts bestowed upon them (a bottle of soju and a hippy pouch which, if all is right in the world, contained some wicked pot).

Dead Meadow were my find of the festival, thanks guys! (but why no CDs on sale?)

Dead Meadow - Indian Bones




Finally ATP favourites Fuck Buttons dragged their suitcase of electronic goodies on to the stage and set to destroy the hearing of all within earshot with their experimental noise (although there is melody hidden beneath) tracks.

Fuck Buttons formed in late 2004 and in 2008 released their debut, and my album of the year for last year, Street Horrrsing. Hearing this played live was a most amazing experience.

The band were very well received by the enthusiastic audience, especially a small group of lads a few rows back who were jumping around and hollering in support.



They ended with a track I didn’t recognise and which bodes well for future quality output from Fuck Buttons. I for one can't wait! I had so much fun I bought the t-shirt.

Fuck Buttons – Sweet Love For Planet Earth


Huge thanks go out to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds for curating such a great fun festival and to all of the bands (with one obvious, local exception) for putting on such quality performances. All Tomorrow's Parties is now my favourite oz music festival and next year I may have to travel to Sydney or Melbourne to enjoy the full festival experience.


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