Afghan Whigs, Frank Ocean, the Roots Rock ATP NYC Fest

FUSE TV - Afghan Whigs, Frank Ocean, the Roots Rock ATP NYC Fest

What brings a wildly eclectic lineup, from hot-topic R&B crooner Frank Ocean to alt-rock vets Afghan Whigs and many more, to a makeshift stage in an industrial warehouse on Manhattan's Lower East Side along the desolate edges of the East River? All Tomorrow's Parties, aka the inaugural ATP NYC.

Founded in 1999 as a fiercely non-corporate alternative to big festivals like Glastonbury, All Tomorrow's Parties is an intimate concert series based at a summer camp in England. It's long been a bastion of indie nerd-dom, hosting a lineup of noise and experimental bands, often curated by a guest musician.

Its stateside counterpart, ATP NY, launched in 2008 at Kutsher’s Country Club in Monticello, NY, a dilapidated summer camp two hours drive from New York City that was the inspiration for Dirty Dancing. But because of the crumbling facilities, ATP NY was forced to move to Asbury Park, NJ, last year. This year, however, ATP NY found a new new home: Manhattan's Pier 36, and hosted a bill over the weekend curated by Afghan Whigs' Greg Dulli, including Frank Ocean, the Roots, the Antlers, Mark Lanegan, Jose Gonzalez, the Make-Up, Hot Snakes, Charles Bradley, Dirty Three, Hannibal Buress, Janeane Garofalo and many others.

What's the verdict on the inaugural ATP NYC? Well... 

Here's the thing: ATP NYC has a lot to live up to. As a hardcore ATP fan who attended every east coast installment since its '08 launch, I have great memories of the fest's years upstate at Kutsher’s Country Club, where I'm sure it would still be held if the facilities were not a danger to concertgoers (no, really, the place was falling apart). It was a playground for indie nerds deep in the woods. It was an escape; it was an experience. And so was the one year in Asbury Park, NJ, where you could stroll the boardwalk or drink around a massive beach bonfire in addition to seeing bands in the gorgeous old oceanside venue. 

New York's LES was decidedly less impressive, but, still, producers did their best to offer fans the full, immersive experience ATP is known for, including movies, comedy and other non-musical activities. They dressed up a boat as a bar, put together a makeshift movie theatre playing classics like Dazed and Confused and This Is Spinal Tap and had good food and drink. Most importantly, thought, the musical acts delivered, big time, making ATP NYC a musical success.

Friday night featured arguably the fest's biggest draw, Frank Ocean. And here ATP's upside was most evident; festival producers sell only a limited number of tickets, providing fans with an intimate, comfortable experience, and the crowd was very, very small for Ocean. I walked directly up to the stage and watched as one of the most hyped performers of 2012 turned in a spot-on performance of tracks from his new album, Channel Orange.

Frank Ocean, "Forrest Gump" 

Rock the Bells

21m

Rock the Bells

Bob Marley: Roots of the Man

42m

Bob Marley: Roots of the Man

Color Guard Simulates The Ocean

2m

Color Guard Simulates The Ocean

Rock the Runway - Pt 2

46m

Rock the Runway - Pt 2

Rock the Runway - Pt 1

44m

Rock the Runway - Pt 1

The Women of Standing Rock - Trailer

2m

The Women of Standing Rock - Trailer

Rockness Festival

21m

Rockness Festival

NYC Winter Games

23m

NYC Winter Games

On Call NYC

44m

On Call NYC

End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock

1h 27m

End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock

The Luxurious NYC Housing Authority AirBnB

5m

The Luxurious NYC Housing Authority AirBnB

Frank Lucero, A.J. Jamal

45m

Frank Lucero, A.J. Jamal

Rock Steady Row

1h 3m

Rock Steady Row

Up NYC and Reebok Freebanz

11m

Up NYC and Reebok Freebanz

Rock Steady Row - Trailer

1m

Rock Steady Row - Trailer

Rolling Stones: Rock Royalty

59m

Rolling Stones: Rock Royalty

Everybody Loves Chris Rock

40m

Everybody Loves Chris Rock

Bruce Springsteen: Born to Rock

41m

Bruce Springsteen: Born to Rock

Visit NYC's Nostalgia-tastic Mr. Throwback Shop

5m

Visit NYC's Nostalgia-tastic Mr. Throwback Shop

G Fella and Suits Back to Their Roots: G-Thing

2m

G Fella and Suits Back to Their Roots: G-Thing

Take It. Own It. ROCK IT!

20m

Take It. Own It. ROCK IT!

Go Inside Fat Joe and Scotty Kickz's Up NYC Store

5m

Go Inside Fat Joe and Scotty Kickz's Up NYC Store

The Beatles: In the Life

1h 2m

The Beatles: In the Life

The River and the Wall

1h 45m

The River and the Wall

The Blue Devils Bring The Parade

1m

The Blue Devils Bring The Parade

The Best of The Best Clash

2m

The Best of The Best Clash

The FP

1h 20m

The FP

The Canvas

The Canvas

The Exchange

1h 27m

The Exchange

The 212

The 212

The Feels

1h 21m

The Feels

The Reunion

45m

The Reunion

The Decision

44m

The Decision

The Pilot

21m

The Pilot

The Hustle

20m

The Hustle

The Motorcycle

23m

The Motorcycle

The Citizen

1h 34m

The Citizen

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

21m

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

The Ladies Play "Fill In The Blanks"

1m

The Ladies Play "Fill In The Blanks"

The Hilarious Reality of the American Rat Race

2m

The Hilarious Reality of the American Rat Race

Out With The Old, In With The New

20m

Out With The Old, In With The New

Into The Woods

21m

Into The Woods

Enter the Metaverse

21m

Enter the Metaverse

The Vest Guest

20m

The Vest Guest

Making The Retrograde

20m

Making The Retrograde

The Revolution Generation

1h 17m

The Revolution Generation

Between the Shades

1h 22m

Between the Shades

Crossed the Line

1h 30m

Crossed the Line

Rich The Kid

20m

Rich The Kid

The Daphne Project

1h 7m

The Daphne Project

Pink: The Truth

57m

Pink: The Truth

Facing The Truth

20m

Facing The Truth

Who's the Boss?

24m

Who's the Boss?

Making the Cut

46m

Making the Cut

The Feels - Trailer

1m

The Feels - Trailer

Meet The Family

21m

Meet The Family

The Prison Within

1h 23m

The Prison Within

Missy: The Icon

20m

Missy: The Icon

The 212 - Trailer

59s

The 212 - Trailer

The Winner Is…

44m

The Winner Is…

The Great Director

23m

The Great Director

Meet The Jets

48m

Meet The Jets

The Right Girls

1h 22m

The Right Girls

The All-Americans

1h 36m

The All-Americans

Behind The Snow

22m

Behind The Snow

The Third Strike

1h 3m

The Third Strike

The North Shore

22m

The North Shore

The Glow Up

20m

The Glow Up

Mind the Mints

21m

Mind the Mints

The Read - Trailer

57s

The Read - Trailer

Surfing the Skies

22m

Surfing the Skies

The Sex Clinic

The Sex Clinic

Cassandro, The Exotico!

1h 15m

Cassandro, The Exotico!

Free The Robots

9m

Free The Robots

Create The Future

20m

Create The Future

Behind the Scenes: The Making of "Made From Scratch"

2m

Behind the Scenes: The Making of "Made From Scratch"

The Grind Never Stops When for the Queen Diva

2m

The Grind Never Stops When for the Queen Diva

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

12m

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

Pepe Aguilar

22m

Pepe Aguilar

The Clash of the Corps Cast Plays Would You Rather?

3m

The Clash of the Corps Cast Plays Would You Rather?

Buku or Bust

20m

Buku or Bust

Cast Photoshoot: The 212

1m

Cast Photoshoot: The 212

Down to the Wire

45m

Down to the Wire

Fire On The Floor

22m

Fire On The Floor

War of the Wills

44m

War of the Wills

The X-Dance Factor

22m

The X-Dance Factor

The Big Break-Up

21m

The Big Break-Up

Crossed the Line - Trailer

2m

Crossed the Line - Trailer

Clash of the Corps

Clash of the Corps

Chaos In The Cage

44m

Chaos In The Cage

The Gig Is Up

1h 25m

The Gig Is Up

Suits: Meet the Cast

2m

Suits: Meet the Cast

Who's Guarding the Angel?

21m

Who's Guarding the Angel?

The Power of Weed

41m

The Power of Weed

The Hollywood Puppet Show

The Hollywood Puppet Show

Flesh and the City

45m

Flesh and the City

The Trap House Slide

10m

The Trap House Slide

The Out100 TV Special

47m

The Out100 TV Special

Melissa: Meet the Cast

2m

Melissa: Meet the Cast

Freaky On The Floor

22m

Freaky On The Floor