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Big Day Out '03 Review
I once again headed to Big Day Out for my second consecutive visit with huge expectations as the set list had arguably its greatest line-up yet. Unlike last year, hot weather wasn't expected, but like last year, the heat seemed ten times what it was meant to be at the actual event.
With a friend, I started off at the main stage where Waikiki was opening. While few would argue that Waikiki don't have musical talent, their place on the Big Day Out bill has to be questioned, as they don't have the rocking sound that every other main stage band had. Cruising through a solid set, which included their hit songs New Technology and Here Comes September, Waikiki had a battle with the waiting Frenzal Rhomb fans, who let their feelings known with "Frenzal"chants and gestures to Waikiki. Eventually the set was done with some by-play between the band and the fans, before everyone rushed over to the Blue Stage to see Australian punkers Frenzal Rhomb.
A comedian walked out on stage, and proceeded to tell so many bad jokes that it was actually funny. Targets included the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blink 182, and McDonalds. Perhaps the best of the lot was: "Why did Blink 182 cross the road? Because there was three mirrors on the other side and they needed to jack off!" Classic stuff. As the comedian reached the McDonald's jokes, Ronald McDonald came out with a tray of burgers and threw them out to the crowd, who by this stage were whipped up in a laughing frenzy. The comedian, who had carried out a glass of beer, smashed that glass on Ronald's head, before Frenzal Rhomb guitarist Lindsay came out and started beating up the comedian. When Jay came out with a television raised above his head, the place went nuts, and he ended up smashing the screen on top of Ronald, before the lads hit the stage and started thrashing out punk tunes from past and present, including old favourites Punch In The Face, We're Going Out Tonight, and Get ****ed You ****ing ****wit. They also showed off some songs of the upcoming album, including a rendition of At Least We Know That Russell Crowe's Band's A ****ing Pile Of ****, which prompted a guy dressed up as Crowe to come out and abuse both the crowd and Frenzal Rhomb, before Jay smashed him over the head with a guitar and the entire band layed into the impersonator. Undoubtedly the funniest set of the day, which also showcased why Frenzal Rhomb have been around so long and have such a large fanbase both here and abroad.
Deciding to miss Augie March and stay in front of the main stages, I saw Frankston boys 28 Days 'rip it up', and boy, can they put on a live show! While I like their albums, their live set is something else, and the mosh pit was enjoying every tune. Playing tunes from their hit albums Upstyle Down and Stealing Chairs, these Aussie hip hop/punkers really add a new dimension live, with What's The Deal? particularly good. A tribute song to deceased drummer Scott Murray was well received, and it seems the tragic loss will be influencing the music of Jay and the boys for a long, long time. However, their third drummer (Vinnie, Scott Murray's replacement, left the band before the Big Day Out) seemed right at home with the sticks.
Along with many other folks, I set up in front of the Orange Stage to right in front of the stage for Swedish rockers Millencolin, but in the meantime New Zealand rock band Pacifier hit the Blue Stage. If ever a lead singer was trying to hype up the rock star role, it was that pretentious tosspot in Jon Toogood. It's a shame, because I liked this band under it's previous name, Shihad. However, changing your name to suit American audiences is a massive sell out, and I'll give a tip to Mr. Toogood: asking the crowd before every song to go off doesn't make you a good hard rock band. Maybe if your attitude on stage wasn't so self-indulgent and matched the level of your music, they would jump around anyway. With the Millencolin fans begging Pacifier to stop so the Swedish punk heroes could get on stage, the tension and expectation on the quartet was building.
Exploding onto the stage amongst huge cheers, Millencolin played songs off all their albums, and while the set made the mosh pit move (so much so that I was almost crushed and decided to make my way more towards the back of the pit, but still close enough to get into it), the place went off when the opening chords of Penguins & Polar Bears were heard for the penultimate song. They finished off with Kemp off their last album, Home From Home. Easily the set of the day to that stage.
Needing water and food, I headed to the food stalls outside the RRR Stage. First of all, I've never payed so much for a chicken burger and bottle of lemonade. I handed over a tenner and got back a dollar coin and some silver; ridiculous pricing.
Over at the JJJ Stage, I saw Texan rockers Sparta. Going in knowing only a few of their songs off their newly released album, Wiretap Scars, this fourpiece (with three members of the now defunct At The Drive In) put out a powerful set with pounding drums, twisting guitar sounds and wailing vocals which worked perfectly in the dark, intimate surrounds of the barn-like JJJ Stage. The surprise packet of the day for mine, Sparta raced though an electrifying set that left the crowd amazed and wanting more. When Cut Your Ribbon began, a huge roar erupted, and the band and punters alike ripped through the bands hit song. If these guys can hang around for awhile, they should release some killer rock albums, and pick up more plaudits and fans; they have the sound that could catapult them into the upper echelon of bands in the genre.
Grabbing a few bottles of water, I went to line up to get in the D-Barrier for the last half of the day. I wasn't the only one. The line was huge to get in after the so-called D-Barrier evacuation, and listening to The Vines was almost torturous. While I believe their album Highly Evolved is a great album, if you can't cut it live, what's the point? Glad I wasn't in there for that set - it would have been dead.
Last year I went on a rant about the D-Barrier, and I shall again this year. There is no point have a D-Barrier if people are going to get crushed trying to get in. I can honestly say that I felt more fear lining up to get into the D-Barrier than I did inside of it. Last year I was almost crushed getting into Grinspoon, and this year it was to see the Living End and Queens of the Stone Age. Same problem, but worse this time around, because the line was on the verge of collapse. At least last year security were communicating with the people, telling us when we'd get in or if we wouldn't. This year they just blockaded the entrance. No communication, just threw a few drops of water on us. I was lucky enough to get in after the entire Living End set and half way through Queens of the Stone Age, and I always felt that if QOTSA played No One Knows before I got in, something would go horribly wrong.
Having got in for some of QOTSA, I managed to enjoy the latter part of their set, which included some jamming between Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri and the hit song that I just can't get sick of, No One Knows. Missing most of their set was the biggest disappointment of the day for me, because they were one of the main reasons I went. It seemed there was little moshing, just admiring, and while I thought the few songs I saw were great, I still think I walked over to the P.J. Harvey set a tad disappointed - I probably built my expectations from their album to unrealistic proportions, when their live set is still really good.
P.J. Harvey put in a solid set, playing classics from her earlier albums and a few from her last album, including Good Fortune and Big Exit, which received huge crowd reactions. The crowd were in a reflective mood, quite happy to stand, sing, and soak up the atmosphere. Polly Jean was her usual sexy self, donning very short shorts and groaning during her set. One of the very few women who can dress like a crack whore and get away with it.
While many, including myself, stayed at the Blue Stage to position themselves for the impending Foo Fighters set, over at the Orange Stage, Jane's Addicition were putting on a flamboyant show. I only know two of their songs, and while Dave Navarro is a champion guitarist (he played on my favourite Red Hot Chili Peppers album, One Hot Minute), their set wasn't worth sacrificing a prime spot to see the Foo Fighters. In fact, all I did was talk to the people around us, and made a few friends - one of the great things about Big Day Out is likewise minded music fans who can talk while waiting for the bands to start. However, the wait was long and the people waiting for the Fighters of Foo to hit the stage were growing restless, and thus the "you are a ****er" chants towards Jane's Addiction's ever-outfit changing frontman Perry Farrell. They finished with their signature hit Jane Says, before finally making way for the band everyone was there to see.
Dave and the boys exploded on stage to their latest hit All My Life, before playing Breakout and My Hero. At this stage there was a huge crush in the mosh pit, with people being trampled near me. I decided that if people were getting crushed during My Hero, when a song like Monkeywrench came along, I'd be dead. I decided to try my luck against the tide during the next song, which was The One - hardly their softest song - but eventually made my way from about three people in front of Dave Grohl to about halfway back, all in one song. From there I enjoyed the brilliance of Generator and raw intensity of Stacked Actors, before Dave Grohl got into his comedy routine for the night. As the people at the very front cried for water, Dave started to conduct them, before finally throwing some bottles into the crowd. The band then headed into Monkeywrench where Dave, Chris, and Nate left the stage during the song and Taylor had a full few minutes of flurry on drums. The crowd stood in total awe as he showcased the sheer talent he had in a solo that I will never forget. The crowd shouted for more water, and Dave only had one more bottle. He said how thirsty he was, took the bottle, and had a few gulps, before telling the crowd "I feel like I'm gonna puke", and "I'm too hydrated", just before throwing the bottle in the crowd. The Fooies followed this with songs off their new album Low and Disenchanted Lullabye before thanking the fans for getting them this far into their careers. The grand finale came in the form of my favourite Foo Fighters song, the beautiful Everlong, which sent the crowd into raptures and was the perfect ending to an almost perfect day. It came at the very end, and it was the Foo Fighters who took the gong of band of the day in my books. Their set of hits spanning four albums, and the ability to put those efforts live on stage with immense energy and make transition from ballad to raw rock seem effortless due to their tightness on stage made it the perfect Big Day Out set.
So it was with weary legs and a tired head that I left the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds, but a man whose senses had been fully satisfied after a bombardment of world class rock music. By far better than the 2002 Big Day Out, this years line up looked mighty formidable on paper, and it didn't disappoint.
The Hitman
I once again headed to Big Day Out for my second consecutive visit with huge expectations as the set list had arguably its greatest line-up yet. Unlike last year, hot weather wasn't expected, but like last year, the heat seemed ten times what it was meant to be at the actual event.
With a friend, I started off at the main stage where Waikiki was opening. While few would argue that Waikiki don't have musical talent, their place on the Big Day Out bill has to be questioned, as they don't have the rocking sound that every other main stage band had. Cruising through a solid set, which included their hit songs New Technology and Here Comes September, Waikiki had a battle with the waiting Frenzal Rhomb fans, who let their feelings known with "Frenzal"chants and gestures to Waikiki. Eventually the set was done with some by-play between the band and the fans, before everyone rushed over to the Blue Stage to see Australian punkers Frenzal Rhomb.
A comedian walked out on stage, and proceeded to tell so many bad jokes that it was actually funny. Targets included the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blink 182, and McDonalds. Perhaps the best of the lot was: "Why did Blink 182 cross the road? Because there was three mirrors on the other side and they needed to jack off!" Classic stuff. As the comedian reached the McDonald's jokes, Ronald McDonald came out with a tray of burgers and threw them out to the crowd, who by this stage were whipped up in a laughing frenzy. The comedian, who had carried out a glass of beer, smashed that glass on Ronald's head, before Frenzal Rhomb guitarist Lindsay came out and started beating up the comedian. When Jay came out with a television raised above his head, the place went nuts, and he ended up smashing the screen on top of Ronald, before the lads hit the stage and started thrashing out punk tunes from past and present, including old favourites Punch In The Face, We're Going Out Tonight, and Get ****ed You ****ing ****wit. They also showed off some songs of the upcoming album, including a rendition of At Least We Know That Russell Crowe's Band's A ****ing Pile Of ****, which prompted a guy dressed up as Crowe to come out and abuse both the crowd and Frenzal Rhomb, before Jay smashed him over the head with a guitar and the entire band layed into the impersonator. Undoubtedly the funniest set of the day, which also showcased why Frenzal Rhomb have been around so long and have such a large fanbase both here and abroad.
Deciding to miss Augie March and stay in front of the main stages, I saw Frankston boys 28 Days 'rip it up', and boy, can they put on a live show! While I like their albums, their live set is something else, and the mosh pit was enjoying every tune. Playing tunes from their hit albums Upstyle Down and Stealing Chairs, these Aussie hip hop/punkers really add a new dimension live, with What's The Deal? particularly good. A tribute song to deceased drummer Scott Murray was well received, and it seems the tragic loss will be influencing the music of Jay and the boys for a long, long time. However, their third drummer (Vinnie, Scott Murray's replacement, left the band before the Big Day Out) seemed right at home with the sticks.
Along with many other folks, I set up in front of the Orange Stage to right in front of the stage for Swedish rockers Millencolin, but in the meantime New Zealand rock band Pacifier hit the Blue Stage. If ever a lead singer was trying to hype up the rock star role, it was that pretentious tosspot in Jon Toogood. It's a shame, because I liked this band under it's previous name, Shihad. However, changing your name to suit American audiences is a massive sell out, and I'll give a tip to Mr. Toogood: asking the crowd before every song to go off doesn't make you a good hard rock band. Maybe if your attitude on stage wasn't so self-indulgent and matched the level of your music, they would jump around anyway. With the Millencolin fans begging Pacifier to stop so the Swedish punk heroes could get on stage, the tension and expectation on the quartet was building.
Exploding onto the stage amongst huge cheers, Millencolin played songs off all their albums, and while the set made the mosh pit move (so much so that I was almost crushed and decided to make my way more towards the back of the pit, but still close enough to get into it), the place went off when the opening chords of Penguins & Polar Bears were heard for the penultimate song. They finished off with Kemp off their last album, Home From Home. Easily the set of the day to that stage.
Needing water and food, I headed to the food stalls outside the RRR Stage. First of all, I've never payed so much for a chicken burger and bottle of lemonade. I handed over a tenner and got back a dollar coin and some silver; ridiculous pricing.
Over at the JJJ Stage, I saw Texan rockers Sparta. Going in knowing only a few of their songs off their newly released album, Wiretap Scars, this fourpiece (with three members of the now defunct At The Drive In) put out a powerful set with pounding drums, twisting guitar sounds and wailing vocals which worked perfectly in the dark, intimate surrounds of the barn-like JJJ Stage. The surprise packet of the day for mine, Sparta raced though an electrifying set that left the crowd amazed and wanting more. When Cut Your Ribbon began, a huge roar erupted, and the band and punters alike ripped through the bands hit song. If these guys can hang around for awhile, they should release some killer rock albums, and pick up more plaudits and fans; they have the sound that could catapult them into the upper echelon of bands in the genre.
Grabbing a few bottles of water, I went to line up to get in the D-Barrier for the last half of the day. I wasn't the only one. The line was huge to get in after the so-called D-Barrier evacuation, and listening to The Vines was almost torturous. While I believe their album Highly Evolved is a great album, if you can't cut it live, what's the point? Glad I wasn't in there for that set - it would have been dead.
Last year I went on a rant about the D-Barrier, and I shall again this year. There is no point have a D-Barrier if people are going to get crushed trying to get in. I can honestly say that I felt more fear lining up to get into the D-Barrier than I did inside of it. Last year I was almost crushed getting into Grinspoon, and this year it was to see the Living End and Queens of the Stone Age. Same problem, but worse this time around, because the line was on the verge of collapse. At least last year security were communicating with the people, telling us when we'd get in or if we wouldn't. This year they just blockaded the entrance. No communication, just threw a few drops of water on us. I was lucky enough to get in after the entire Living End set and half way through Queens of the Stone Age, and I always felt that if QOTSA played No One Knows before I got in, something would go horribly wrong.
Having got in for some of QOTSA, I managed to enjoy the latter part of their set, which included some jamming between Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri and the hit song that I just can't get sick of, No One Knows. Missing most of their set was the biggest disappointment of the day for me, because they were one of the main reasons I went. It seemed there was little moshing, just admiring, and while I thought the few songs I saw were great, I still think I walked over to the P.J. Harvey set a tad disappointed - I probably built my expectations from their album to unrealistic proportions, when their live set is still really good.
P.J. Harvey put in a solid set, playing classics from her earlier albums and a few from her last album, including Good Fortune and Big Exit, which received huge crowd reactions. The crowd were in a reflective mood, quite happy to stand, sing, and soak up the atmosphere. Polly Jean was her usual sexy self, donning very short shorts and groaning during her set. One of the very few women who can dress like a crack whore and get away with it.
While many, including myself, stayed at the Blue Stage to position themselves for the impending Foo Fighters set, over at the Orange Stage, Jane's Addicition were putting on a flamboyant show. I only know two of their songs, and while Dave Navarro is a champion guitarist (he played on my favourite Red Hot Chili Peppers album, One Hot Minute), their set wasn't worth sacrificing a prime spot to see the Foo Fighters. In fact, all I did was talk to the people around us, and made a few friends - one of the great things about Big Day Out is likewise minded music fans who can talk while waiting for the bands to start. However, the wait was long and the people waiting for the Fighters of Foo to hit the stage were growing restless, and thus the "you are a ****er" chants towards Jane's Addiction's ever-outfit changing frontman Perry Farrell. They finished with their signature hit Jane Says, before finally making way for the band everyone was there to see.
Dave and the boys exploded on stage to their latest hit All My Life, before playing Breakout and My Hero. At this stage there was a huge crush in the mosh pit, with people being trampled near me. I decided that if people were getting crushed during My Hero, when a song like Monkeywrench came along, I'd be dead. I decided to try my luck against the tide during the next song, which was The One - hardly their softest song - but eventually made my way from about three people in front of Dave Grohl to about halfway back, all in one song. From there I enjoyed the brilliance of Generator and raw intensity of Stacked Actors, before Dave Grohl got into his comedy routine for the night. As the people at the very front cried for water, Dave started to conduct them, before finally throwing some bottles into the crowd. The band then headed into Monkeywrench where Dave, Chris, and Nate left the stage during the song and Taylor had a full few minutes of flurry on drums. The crowd stood in total awe as he showcased the sheer talent he had in a solo that I will never forget. The crowd shouted for more water, and Dave only had one more bottle. He said how thirsty he was, took the bottle, and had a few gulps, before telling the crowd "I feel like I'm gonna puke", and "I'm too hydrated", just before throwing the bottle in the crowd. The Fooies followed this with songs off their new album Low and Disenchanted Lullabye before thanking the fans for getting them this far into their careers. The grand finale came in the form of my favourite Foo Fighters song, the beautiful Everlong, which sent the crowd into raptures and was the perfect ending to an almost perfect day. It came at the very end, and it was the Foo Fighters who took the gong of band of the day in my books. Their set of hits spanning four albums, and the ability to put those efforts live on stage with immense energy and make transition from ballad to raw rock seem effortless due to their tightness on stage made it the perfect Big Day Out set.
So it was with weary legs and a tired head that I left the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds, but a man whose senses had been fully satisfied after a bombardment of world class rock music. By far better than the 2002 Big Day Out, this years line up looked mighty formidable on paper, and it didn't disappoint.
The Hitman
