Lunedì 4 Feb 2008, 5:41
BIG DAY OUT
Monday 28th of January, 2008 – Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne.
The BIG DAY OUT (Melbourne) timetable: http://www.bigdayout.com/documents/File/BDO8timesheet_MEL.pdf
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My friend (Thomo) and I arrived at the venue at 10:00am (one hour prior to the opening of the Big Day Out gates). This was my first ever Big Day Out so I had not experienced Big Day Out being at the Melbourne Showgrounds or Princess Park so I will not be that critical. The only festival I had been to before Big Day Out 2008 was Splendour In The Grass 2007. Once I had entered the gates at Big Day Out I headed to the Green Stage to see upcoming indie-rock three piece, 'Die! Die! Die!'.
Die! Die! Die! : 11:00AM-11:40AM (Green Stage)
Watched: 11:00AM-11:25AM
I hadn't heard any music from New Zealanders Die! Die! Die!, but I was very impressed with their set. I easily managed to get a front row spot at the Green Stage. The highlight of the set was when the lead vocalist jumped down from the stage and over the barricade with the microphone continuing to sing in the crowd.
Rating: 7/10
As much as I would have liked to stay at the Green Stage to watch the ending of Die! Die! Die!'s set, I wanted to catch one of my favourite Australian bands of 2007…British India.
British India: 11:30AM-12:10PM (Converse Essential Stage)
Watched: ALL OF SET
When I arrived at the Converse Essential Stage I was shocked to see so many people waiting for Melbourne-based band, British India. I got a spot torwards the back of the crowd. The set contained most tracks from 2007 released album 'Guillotine' such as crowd-pleasers "Tie Up My Hands" and "Run The Red Light" (which were also my highlights of the set). They also played a new song from their next album which will be released this year…quick movers!
Rating: 7.5/10
Cut Off Your Hands: 12:30PM-1:10PM (Converse Essential Stage)
Watched: ALL OF SET
During the set of Cut Off Your Hands I managed to get a spot in the four or fifth row. They had a great live sound, and it was a great set which proves that they will be one of the big names in the indie circuit in Australia/New Zealand. The highlight of the set was when frontman Nick Johnston stage dived into the crowd. Other highlights of the set included the live performances of hit singles "Oh Girl" and "Still Fond"
Rating: 7.5/10
Kate Nash: 1:30PM-2:15PM (Converse Essential Stage)
Watched: ALL OF SET
Setlist: (not in 100% correct order)
Mariella / Shit Song / Stitching Leggings / Mouthwash / Birds / We Get On / Skeleton Song / A New England / Merry Happy / Foundations / Pumpkin Soup
One of the reasons of me going to the Big Day Out was to see British singer/songwriter, Kate Nash. The other reason was to catch Australian Band, Faker…although much to my frustration I had to choose which one I would go watch. Kate Nash was the victor due to the reason of her being an International act. Apart from the instruments being just about as loud as Kate Nash’s vocals it was a great set. Kate begun the set with ‘Mariella’, and it was amazing to see her say the word “never” so many times in a row. ‘Birds’ was a lovely live performance as Kate Nash stood up from the keyboard and grabbed her hands for an acoustic guitar. Her facial expressions during ‘Birds’ were quite enjoying to watch. During her 45 minute set, a person from the crowd asked her if there was boozer in her cup she was drinking out of. Kate Nash was quickly to respond that it was tea she was drinking…showing off her tea bag to the crowd. The highlight of the set was a great surprise when Billy Bragg was welcomed onto the stage by Kate Nash, the two british musicians played one of Bragg’s hit songs, ‘A New England’. Fan favourite, ‘Foundations’ got the rather quiet crowd moving, as did the final song of the set ‘Pumpkin Soup’.
Rating: 8.5/10
After Kate Nash’s set I went to find my friends…although I did not end up finding them so instead I grabbed a bite to eat, and hung out the back of crowd during Midnight Juggernauts set on the Orange Stage.
After about 5 minutes of watching Midnight Juggernauts set I ventured off to catch some of british post-hardcore band, Enter Shikari. Although walked past the Green Stage on the way to check out Gyroscope’s final song of their set ‘Snakeskin’…great song. For the 10 minutes I watched from Enter Shikari’s set I was extremely impressed. They worked the crowd well, and their sound was just as good as their album shows. The lead singer accused the crowd of only being able to reach “6” on the Rowdy Meter, as the crowd booed he explained that he didn’t make the rules and questioned himself that he actually does make the rules.
Spoon: 3:30PM-4:15PM (Green Stage)
Watched: 3:35pm-4ish
After meeting with my friends we made our way over to the Green Stage where Spoon had just started their 45 minute set beginning at 3:30. We hung out towards the back, in my opinion Spoon were very average and failed to strike my intention apart from the their tune ‘The Underdog’. Due to disappointment we then headed over to the Converse Essential Stage to catch a little bit of Billy Bragg.
Rating: 4/10
We spent about 10 minutes watching a decent set from Billy Bragg but left so we could get a decent spot for Arcade Fire and have food before Arcade Fire arrived on the Orange Stage. On the way to the main stages we passed a female dressed up as a Panda Bear….and Kate Nash…but by the time I realised it was Kate Nash it was too late to say hello. Before Arcade Fire I caught Grinspoon’s final few songs which included ‘Chemical Heart’, ‘Lost Control’, and ‘Champion’.
Arcade Fire: 5:30PM-6:30PM (Orange Stage)
Watched: ALL OF SET
Setlist: Wake Up / Keep The Car Running / No Cars Go / Haiti / Laika / Intervention / Ocean Of Noise / Tunnels / The Well and the Lighthouse / (Antichrist Television Blues) / Power Out / Rebellion (Lies).
We were a fair way back for Arcade Fire, as we were mostly relying on the big screens to catch a glimpse of the band. Although sound wise it was a awesome set, “Wake Up” was magical, as was “No Cars Go”.
Rating: 8.5/10
After catching the first three songs from Silverchair, I headed over to get a good spot for Dappled Cities.
Dappled Cities: 7:00PM-7:40PM (V Energy Local Produce Stage)
Watched: ALL OF SET
Sydney band Dappled Cities were the final act on the Local Produce Stage. There was not much of a crowd at the start of the set (as Silverchair were playing at the same time), but it did build up slowly. The set was great, the whole band have a positive energy and are enjoying to watch. Highlights of the set included my personal favourite tune “Holy Chord”. Dappled Cities ended the set from a song which will be on their upcoming 2008 released album.
Rating: 8/10
Brand New: 7:40PM-8:30PM (Green Stage)
Watched: 7:45PM-8:15PM
Setlist:
Sowing Season (Yeah) / The Archers Bows Have Broken / Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don't / Sic Transit Gloria… Glory Fades / Luca / Jesus Christ/ Degausser / You Won't Know
Prior to Big Day Out I had just discovered my liking towards Brand New’s “Jesus Christ” tune. I was expecting a lot more from Brand New, their set was good, but I had higher expectations. “Jesus Christ” was my highlight from the set.
Rating: 6/10
LCD Soundsystem: 8:30PM-9:30PM (Boiler Room)
Watched: ALL OF SET
Setlist:(not in 100% correct order):
Us v. Them / Daft Punk Is Playing At My House / Time To Get Away / North American Scum / All My Friends / Tribulations / Movement / Yeah / New York I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down
A consistent and enjoyable set came from LCD Soundsystem. The light show during the final song of the set, “New York I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down” was great, as well as “North American Scum” live. Frontman James Murphy was entertaining during the hour-long set.
Rating: 8/10
Rage Against The Machine: 8:50PM-10:10PM (Blue Stage)
Watched: 9:40PM-10:10PM
I’m not a fan of RATM, I was 100 miles away from the band it seemed. My enjoyment from the set came from the crazy crowd, in which they were climbing trees and branches that looked like they couldn’t support any weight. The band had to stop playing as the crowd were climbing on structures they shouldn’t of been which led to the crowd throwing items, bottles and even a flare at the people who climbed the structures.
As for the set, I wasn’t a fan of their political messages and it seemed to me every song sounded like “Killing in the Name Of”. As the band played “Killing in the Name Of” the ground felt like an earthquake was coming. Overall, RATM were not my cup of tea.
Rating: 5/10
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Overall, the lack of shade around the stages was disappointing. I was badly burnt, although I was to blame for not putting on enough sunscreen throughout the day. During Big Day Out there were no OUTSTANDING performances in my opinion. Arcade Fire may have been better enjoyed if I was closer, and I think if I saw Faker it would have been on the highlights for the day.
Top Highlights:
*Billy Bragg duets with Kate Nash
*Cut Off Your Hands frontman crowd surfs.
*Arcade Fire performing “Wake Up”.
*Dappled Cities performing “Holy Chord”.
*The crazy crowd during Rage Against The Machine.
Best Performer: Arcade Fire
Worst Performer: Spoon
Most Surprising: Die! Die! Die!
Most Disappointing: Brand New
Acts I Missed I would have liked to seen (or see more of):
Faker
Enter Shikari
Something With Numbers
The Galvatrons
Photos:
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Die! Die! Die!
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Cut Off Your Hands
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Kate Nash
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Kate Nash
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Billy Bragg duet with Kate Nash
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Billy Bragg duet with Kate Nash
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Billy Bragg performs on the Essential Stage
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Dappled Cities
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LCD Soundsystem
