We caught up with the Bristolians’ head honcho and now permanent fixture in noise ridden legends mclusky, Damien Sayell, to discuss the history and importance of ArcTanGent and the ‘normal weirdos’ that tread its sacred ground.
As ArcTanGent officially hits 10 years in 2024 and sister festival 2000 Trees just turning that voice-breaking 15th year this summer (excluding those two festival-less years) a band that has certainly been helped by the growth of such excellent spaces is The St. Pierre Snake Invasion. Even with multiple changes in line ups, huge delays between records and a self-professed curse, Damien and Co. have continued to plough on and step up in regards to quality of song writing and performances.
When you thought they could not top Caprice Enchanté, the quintet crafted Galore, now arguably a contender for some Album of the Year lists. With an electronic injection and an earnest view on love, family, and the world around us, it has brought a new edge to the band most did not expect. In recent months the band have intensely readjusted their live set up to fit in new material accordingly, with addition of more samples, vocal effects and some garish suits (most notably worn by bass wielding Sanjay Patel). We ask Damien how the new material went down at their ‘hometown’ festival.
‘It was very nice. We have basically played here every year and there’s only so many times you can play the same set and get away with it…I feel like [the new songs] got a better reception than the old ones which was unexpected. Apart from Rock ‘n’ Roll Workshops of course which is, for some reason, everyone’s favourite.’ A humoured grimace here backed by the continued onstage joke about how it is very much their ‘worst song’; and maybe Damien is right here. Their evolution from formulaic post hardcore to more complex rhythms and textures developed over the years is evident.
On the history of ArcTanGent and its close relation 2000 Trees, Damien reflects on the growth of the communal scene he and so many friends have become cornerstones of, ‘…you’ve got IDLES who’ve gone mainstream, but like the other bands have established their audiences because of playing these festivals. I think we wouldn’t have reached as many people. Look at Mother Vulture today, they’ve only been around a few years now playing to a couple thousand people and they’re smashing it. It’s like Mario Kart going over a little boost and the beautiful thing it that’s part of the identity of these festivals. They’re giving you a leg up to an audience, that band perhaps are just starting out and we have absolutely benefited from that!’ Not only that but the sense of community and personal friendships built over the years, he later expands. A flag bearer, a bastion and walking advert of the Mendip Hills site Damien certainly is.
Being given so many opportunities like playing a mainstage at both festivals and headlining the PX3 stage right after Explosions In The Sky finished in the Arc tent in 2017, you can see why Damien would promote the festivals so fervently. Just skimming over the history of both festivals and seeing the likes of SCALER (fka SCALPING), Bossk, Delta Sleep, Devil Sold His Soul and Sugar Horse amongst many more not only become staples here but gaining traction beyond is credit to the forward thinking and passion of the team behind the weekenders. A personal highlight for Damien and notable influence on his own writing style was Meshuggah headlining the mudfest of 2019.
‘I’d seen them before but that time it was beautiful…I think we opened the main stage. I remember saying ‘Meshuggah are playing later on and you do not talk to me whilst they play’. You know they are such an institution of a band; they have created their own genre and to see them immaculately headline a festival I love it was just incredible.’
Another genre defying gem that ArcTanGent has brought to our shores is a band named after a toxic gravel-heap, Chat Pile, an apt name for their uneasy sound. The St. Pierre Snake Invasion were also lucky enough to share the stage with them in the lead up to this year’s festival, at The Dome in London. ‘They were lovely guys and it was a privilege to be there. The show was already sold out and we got asked to do it. And you know those types of [gigs] where once we got to ask to support Biohazard and it had only sold 30 tickets…the beautiful thing about [Chat Pile] is they are making weirdo music.’ When talking to their guitarist Griffin Sansone, Damien adds that he said they had ‘started the band as a laugh and couldn’t believe that they were in the UK doing this.’ He continues ‘it’s amazing a band like that can play two sold out shows in a row to 500 people, but they were still wide eyed and giddy about it. There was no pretence or ego, and it was great to be there to be part of that.’
ArcTanGent and its surrounding scene is a ‘place to discover new bands especially those off the beaten path he adds. I consider myself a normal weirdo. We talk about mclusky and they are normal weirdos, they are authentic. That’s my people.’ Touching on this finally it is ever exciting to see mclusky recorded in its new form with Damien in tow on bass and vocals for new tracks released recently. With their return to the stage again this year and plans to play abroad once more this may be the focus for Damien for the new few months into 2024. ‘If it all goes well, we might record with Steve Albini, King of the normal weirdos, fingers crossed.’