Atari Teenage Riot @ Foufounes Electrique (Pop Montreal)

Let me set the scene: it is Saturday, the fourth night of POP Montreal. The past three nights have been populated with at least one highly-entertaining show each. I roll out of bed at the civilized hour of 2:30 in the afternoon. Atari Teenage Riot is playing Foufounes Electrique at 10 p.m., one of the more hyped shows of the festival. With a passing knowledge of their music and reputation, I expect to be subjected to an intense experience.

Now, I understand that 'intense' can be an entirely subjective term. The show, however, most certainly delvered on my preconceptions by anyone's standards; if not on all levels, at least on several. The band played for almost ninety minutes straight, delivering their trademark buzz-saw guitar samples and drum and bass beats. Members Alec Empire, Nic Endo, and CX KiDTRONIk took turns assailing the audience with distorted howls, screams, and rapping. It was loud as hell, as Endo prompted the sound tech to 'TURN UP THE FUCKING MUSIC' not even all the way through the first number. The lights were set up to include the audience in the performance, never putting a spot on any of the people on-stage. It was basically all strobe lights coming from all angles with little reprieve, matching the relentlessness of the music.

The were only two breaks in the set: first when Alec Empire stopped to inform the crowd that the German government has censored one of their records (not that we could understand him, as his mic was still running through a distortion processor), and before the encore. Needless to say, it was a lot of Atari Teenage Riot to take in one sitting, but the crowd appreciated the effort.

Some other notes: fellow CJLOers Mobs Goodness of Hooked On Sonics, Brian Hastie of Countdown to Armageddon, and Andrew W from Grade A Explosives were all in attendance as well. They noticed, among other things, the band really needed to remind themselves and the audience that their name is 'Atari Teenage Riot' and the year is 2010, that sweaty, shirtless guys aren't too careful where they rub their sweaty torsos, that for some reason almost everyone in the audience had to tie their shoes at some point, and that when white people with dreads gather it tends to get exponentially sillier (in an endearing and totally non-condescending way, of course). Also, Alec Empire should really make an effort to keep that shirt on (especially if he's going crowd surfing).

Atari Teenage Riot did not disappoint. I went for the spectacle and I got one. If a band's live performance helps appreciation of their records, it can most certainly be considered a success. So go get your hands a copy of Delete Yourself and a ticket for next time the Riot comes through town. You'll see me there with my shirt off rubbing on people while tying my shoes. START THE RIOT 2010!!!1!!one.