Consequence of Sound » APW Live Coverage 2008

Interview: Matt Costa

Elizabeth Grobel — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:49:14 +0000

When I go to meet Matt Costa, the California-born singer-songwriter whose latest full-length album, Unfamiliar Faces, is a pop mix of guitar, piano, and harmonica, everyone along the press line is saying good things. A reporter for the environmentally-conscious, green-chic website Sprig (“Your Daily Green Style Guide”) tells me what a nice guy he is. She looks fondly in his direction and says he used to play her college back in California on a weekly basis. L’Uomo Vogue (Italian Men’s Vogue) is photographing Costa for their upcoming music issue and everyone from the stylist to the photographer to the assistants seem taken with his look, which is tousled and pensive.

Wearing tortoise shell Buddy Holly glasses and a quiet expression, Costa is tall and lanky, and from a distance I make the false assumption that he’ll be standoffish. It turns out he’s sweet and soft spoken, and pleased as ever to be on the festival scene as part of Jack Johnson’s much publicized “eco-tour”. “I’m holding onto my water bottle. I recycle. Just the little things, they add up,” he says. Pointing to the cup of tea he’s been sipping on this unusually cold August afternoon, he jokes, “And I have to some tea. That’s kind of earthy, right?” All transport on the tour is biodiesel fuel-powered. Everybody is urged to use recyclable materials. Additionally, Jack’s label, Brushfire Records, is a member of 1% For the Planet, a network of businesses worldwide that donate 1% of all revenues to environmental organizations.

The tour has taken Costa across Europe, where the fan response has been overwhelmingly positive. “We went to Holland and to Germany. I love the crowds over there. It’s really exciting. I’ve always had a good time in Germany. I’d like when I have time off to go over there and hang out. I’m gonna make a green submarine and travel across that way.”

Today at All Points West, if he has the time, he says he’d most like to see Cat Power. Festivals being mostly daytime events, often it turns out they don’t really suit those music lovers and performers who are used to being in dark enclosed spaces well after dinnertime. “I’d say I’m a night person. Playing music turns you into a night person,” says Costa, “but I actually like doing the daytime stuff, especially in really great settings like [Liberty State Park].” He nods towards the Statue of Liberty, who we’re looking at from behind. “I’ve never seen her from this side.” It’s like she’s deserting us.

Though Liberty State Park is in New Jersey, its skyline views continually inspire thoughts of New York. Costa spent some time in the city visiting friends recently. “I was [there] two weeks ago. I was out on the Lower East Side. I went to the Met Museum of Art.” To the Superheroes exhibit? “Yes. I saw Yoko Ono there.” On display? (She is kind of a superhero.) I ask him if he’s got a favorite comic book figure and the conversation comes full circle, “Is the Statue of Liberty a superhero?”

Check Out:

Matt Costa & Jack Johnson – “Fall Line-Sunshine (Live at APW 2008)”

APW Main Event: Radiohead (8/9)

Elizabeth Grobel — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:14:58 +0000

Radiohead returned to All Points West on Saturday night for the conclusion of their epic two night headlining stint at the inaugural edition of the Jersey City based music festival. Going into the night, the question certainly on everybody’s mind was, simply put, what would Radiohead do? How would Thom Yorke and company follow up on day one’s fun, which included a rousing rendition of “Just” and “Idioteque”? Would the set be more ruckus, more rare, or simply, the same as before?

Our questions were soon answered as the first sounds of “Reckoner” brilliant filled Liberty State Park.

Radiohead’s second and final show this evening at All Points West was a mellow, ballad-heavy set, delighting front-row die-hards as usual, and seeming to please more or less everyone else.

The band worked through classics like “The National Anthem” and “Kid A,” professional to a fault. Perhaps with news of yesterday’s setlist, tonight’s crowd expected more dancing, because it seemed to throb at every suggestion of a techno beat.

Once again, the hypnotic lighting was half the show’s punch, especially from the back half of a 20 000 strong crowd.

My nostalgic hopes for “Creep” went unsatisfied, but I can’t really blame a band for not playing their maiden hit from 26 years ago. The show closer was “Idioteque,” leading people straight from the Blue Comet Stage over to the dance tent.

While perhaps not as surprise-heavy as some of us hoped, but then again, Radiohead never does anything by the book, the diversity and quality of the evening’s set provided another vivid example of what just makes these English natives so compelling. As a packed house of people looked on, Radiohead delivered a performance exhibiting the definition of perfection. Between the sound, stimulating visuals and even transition from “Planet Telex” into “Idioteque” last night would be considered a concert of the ages for most. But for Radiohead, it’s just part of the job.

Setlist:
01. Reckoner
02. 15 Step
03. National Anthem
04. Kid A
05. All I Need
06. Nude
07. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
08. Where I End and You Begin
09. The Gloaming
10. Faust Arp
11. No Surprises
12. The Bends
13. Jigsaw Falling Into Place
14. Bangers and Mash
15. Everything In Its Right Place
16. Exit Music (for a film)
17. Bodysnatchers
Encore 1
18. Pyramid Song
19. Videotape
20. Airbag
21. Fake Plastic Trees
22. There There
Encore 2
23. House of Cards
24. Planet Telex
25. Idioteque

Additional photographs via WNEW.com and Associated Press...

APW Main Event: Radiohead (8/8)

Elizabeth Grobel — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 19:03:00 +0000

Radiohead wowed the crowds gathered at Liberty State Park in New Jersey last night with a two-hour set to toast the end of Day 1 of All Points West.

The band put on a stunning, quite possibly seizure-inducing light show that seemed the perfect complement to the New York-New Jersey skyline across the Hudson River. A checkered arrangement of LED screens ran live footage of the band performing through a variety of color and effects filters, while a row of tall and extremely narrow vertical screens alternated flashing color patterns. Now we know: the climax scene of Close Encounters would be better if the aliens played Radiohead.

The best vibes of the night were felt as Thom Yorke, with his newborn-baby’s wail, sang old favorites including “Just” and “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” from The Bends, “How To Disappear Completely” and “Idioteque” from Kid A, and “Paranoid Android” from OK Computer. Playing the opening tones of “Everything In Its Right Place,” he said “This song is dedicated to Underworld. They were a big influence on us.”

The band also played numerous tracks from In Rainbows, the standout of the performance being the delicate and lulling “Nude.”

This was one of those tell-your-grandkids brag-to-your-friends I-was-there shows. It makes one wonder what could possibly be in store for Saturday. Even a rerun would be worth it.

Setlist:
01. 15 Step
02. There There
03. Morning Bell
04. All I Need
05. Lucky
06. Nude
07. Arpeggi
08. The Gloaming
09. Optimistic
10. Videotape
11. Reckoner
12. Jigsaw Falling Into Place
13. You And Whose Army
14. Idioteque
15. Climbing Up The Walls
16. Bodysnatchers
17. How to Disappear Completely
Encore 1
18. House of Cards
19. Pyramid Song
20. Paranoid Android
21. Dollars & Cents
22. Street Spirit
Encore 2
23. Cymbal Rush
24. Just
25. Everything In Its Right Place

…Added by Alex…

For more, check out our friends at Brooklyn Vegan and WNEW, who both have quite a few pics of last night’s performance. Also, a lot of the set has surfaced on youtube, 10 related videos to be specific. Check out part 1 below…