Spunk Rock @ A & I Hall, Bangalow, NSW (21/01/08)

Spunk Rock was a 10th birthday celebration for Spunk Records. Spunk Records is an Australian Label that looks after the releases of some independent artists (and distributed through EMI). Well, Spunk Rock was a very different and memorable experience all round. Tickets were only available though the Love Police website, there was very limited advertising (if any). The venue was a small country town hall in the little town of Bangalow in northern NSW (about 2 hours south of Brisbane). The event was BYO and had a strange vibe that brought back memories of the end of year concerts from primary school. When I arrived there was a fair amount of disorganisation, they were running a bit late with opening the doors, but no one seemed to mind. The even was a community group (something like the rural fire-fighters) were there selling curry and soft drinks. The concert had an overall birthday vibe with the crowd singing happy birthday once to Spunk Records. And later in the night all the artists came out and sung happy birthday to Spunk Records one more time. I was quite impressed with the sound quality given the venue, but it’s amazing what a qualified sound technician can achieve. (I assume Spunk Records used one of there own guys and possible their own gear, so it should have been good.)

Jack Ladder

I wasn’t particularly drawn into Jack Ladder’s set. I didn’t find the music bad in the same way I didn’t find it great. Mostly a matter of personal taste I think. Jack Ladder’s performance came across nervous and awkward. My lack of enthusiasm for these earlier acts on might have had something to do with how excited I was about the international acts.

Performance 5.5
Technical 7.5


Holly Throsby

I thought I would have really enjoyed Holly Throsby live. I quite like her music and I have started too really like this style of female vocally drive soft-folk. But once again I had trouble getting into her set. I would like to see Holly Throsby live again before I make up my mind about her live performances, but I do like some of her recorded stuff.

Performance 6
Technical 8


Joanna Newsom

I was so excited to finally see Joanna Newsom live. I had only heard great things about her live performances. Joanna Newsom lived up to all those expectations. What a truly talented musician, and its not everyday you get to see a harpist. The great technical skill that Joanna Newsom exhibits on this beautiful instrument is absolutely mesmerising. I will grant that her music didn’t particularly fit-in all that well with the other artists in this line up, but I was still blown away. I will definitely be seeing Joanna Newsom next time she is in the country.

Performance 8
Technical 8


Jens Lekman

I don’t know how anyone couldn’t be left smiling after seeing Jens Lekman live. Jens was so charismatic and funny that even the toughest bloke would have be left swaying to his music with a great big girly smile. This is music that just makes you feel happy. Jens was working as a solo act at this show so he was doing some looping and the like to add a bit more depth and commented that he is no Andrew Bird. The totally combination of Jens Lekman’s feel good songs, dreamy eyes, warm vocals and charisma is more than enough to melt anyone heart. A truly remarkable musician, I hope to see him again very soon.

Performance 8.5
Technical 9


Andrew Bird

I hadn’t really had much exposure to Andrew Bird’s music prior to this concert. However I was aware about the rather large amount of rapidly growing hype around him and his new album. What an interesting live performer. His music is quite remarkable and performing as a solo act he shows off his talent of mastering his own looping with great ease. If I had to pick one word to describe Andrew Bird’s live performance I would say have to say eccentric. Very entertaining to watch and amazing what you can do just with a violin. I look forward to seeing him again when he returns.

Performance 9
Technical 9


Spoon

Even though I was very excited about seeing these guys I skipped seeing them at the Big Day Out (to get in the D for Arcade Fire). Well I was very impressed with their set (even if it was a bit too loud, but the mixing was still superb). I like it when bands can live up to and exceed your expectations at a live show. My love for Spoon’s music has only grown even more since seeing them live. Yet again I can’t wait for these guys to return.

Performance 9
Technical 8.5

Big Day Out @ Parklands, Gold Coast (20/01/08)

Well a year had past and I had forgotten about the badly aching legs from the last Big Day Out. This was yet another line up not to be missed. (Not quite as good as the 2007 line up but then Muse-Tool headline is near impossible to top.) My plans at this year Big Day Out changed quite a bit since I decided kind of last minute to go to Spunk Rock.

The John Steel Singers (V Energy Stage)
The John Steel Singers attracted a decent size crowd for 11am. All members performed well and were well received by the crowd. With their catchy songs and recent air time on triple j, things are really starting to move along for The John Steel Singers. And, I know the bass player. How cool am I? I know someone who played at Big Day Out. Yeah. Jealous?

Performance 6.5
Technical 7


The Gin Club (Green Stage)
The Gin Club are another great Brisbane band churning out some of the most entertaining acoustic folk rock that you will ever hear. These guys always look like they are having the best time on stage. Only saw the last 15mins of their set but what I did see was quite good. You will be hearing more from The Gin Club in the near future I am sure.

Performance 6.5
Technical 7


British India (Green Stage)
British India gets the award for the loudest band. Not that surprising with a sound that combines hard to heavy rock with punk influences. The crowd got right into this set, and there was a sudden influx of people as the rain started to come down. The atmosphere was good and I quite enjoyed their set.

Performance 7
Technical 7


Josh Pyke (Green Stage)
Josh Pyke has had one of the quickest rises of any Australian artist in recent time; starting in mid 2006 with his first Brisbane headlining show at The Troubadour, only to return later that year to play The Zoo, then again in mid 2007 to play The Tivoli, finishing 2007 in the Concert Hall at QPAC, and in front of sold-out crowds. And now playing to a packed Green Stage at the Big Day Out, a truly talented singer/songwriter. I can’t wait to see what he does for his next album. I only caught the first 15 minutes of Josh Pyke’s set, but what I did see was good, sound was bit screwed (too loud really for Josh Pyke’s acoustically driven music).

Performance 7
Technical 6.5


Kate Nash (Essential Stage)
This was another one of those unfortunate events where the technical side of things was so bad that is was hard to really enjoy the performance. The mixing was just woeful. The vocals were lost, instrumentation wasn’t balanced. Surely it isn’t that complicated music to mix. I mean The Gin Club had 10 musicians on stage and the sound techs coped with that, likewise with the 11 strong Arcade Fire. It wouldn’t be fair to judge Kate Nash solely on this performance as I am sure with a competent sound tech this would have been a much more enjoyable set. The sound did get marginally better as the set progressed, but it still wasn’t good.

Performance 6.5
Technical 5


Then there was some lunch before we headed to the main stage to make sure we were in the D for Arcade Fire which was some 3 hours in advance. We got in without too much problem this year, and unlike last year there was a lot of movement in and out of the D (which is good). Yet again the Big Day Out organisers stuffed up the big video screens set up at the main stage. They still think that you can have an outdoor screen without a black surround that provides the contrast so it’s easier to see the picture.


Midnight Juggernauts (Orange Stage)
I had actually wanted to see Midnight Juggernauts for a while but never really was keen enough to pay for a gig. Well I enjoyed their set and they have some pretty eager and excitable fans, which added to a great atmosphere. I was pleasantly surprised by their live performance. However I still don’t know if I am keen enough to go out of my way to see them again, they just didn’t quite win me over. Road to Recovery and Shadows were the two main highlights of the set.

Performance 7
Technical 7


Regurgitator (Blue Stage)
I haven’t really been all that impressed with Regurgitator’s last few releases. The last album of theirs that I really liked was …art. They did perform well and where looking pretty stylish all dressed in white. The crowd was up and dancing. Naturally the highlight for most of the crowd was Polyester Girl.

Performance 7
Technical 7


Hilltop Hoods (Orange Stage)
I was quite impressed with the Hilltop Hoods. The only draw back to seeing the Hilltop Hoods live is the type of people this type of music attracts. We have stereotypes for a reason people, because they exist. A great example was when one of these “fans” tried to converse with me. “Oh look man they are doing it with an orchestra”, she said pointing to the string quartet. Naturally I said nothing. With intelligence like that one can’t help but think that this fantastic music is wasted on people who simply don’t have the capacity to comprehend it.

Performance 8
Technical 8


Grinspoon (Blue Stage)
Grinspoon were better than I was anticipating and crowd just went off. I have seen Grinspoon a number of times before so I was quite impressed with how well they got the crowd going. Most likely had lot to do with their new album Alibis and Other Lies which has given Grinspoon a newer and slightly more upbeat sound.

Performance 8
Technical 8


Arcade Fire (Orange Stage)
Now the main reason for me coming to this year’s Big Day Out. Arcade Fire did not disappoint. All 11 band members that were on stage are all individually and extraordinarily talented, with most members changing/rotating instruments for each song and each joining in with the vocals. And I have nothing but respect for a band who tours with a pipe organ. The set list was as follows:

Wake Up
Keep The Car Running (Antichrist Television Blues)
Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)
No Cars Go
Haiti
Black Wave/Bad Vibrations
Intervention
Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels)
Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out)
Rebellion (Lies)

Intervention and Wake Up, Keep The Car Running were my personal highlights, although the whole set was astounding. Towards the end of the set the percussionist (at the time) ran out into the crowd beating his drum and running around the D which really got the crowd going and some security guards left wondering what the hell was going on. Truly remarkable performance, they get a 10 and it was only a festival performance. I think if I see them on their own headlining tour I might explode … or something.

Performance 10
Technical 9


Silverchair (Blue Stage)
Now for the biggest mistake of my 2008 Big Day Out, being close enough to the main stage to still hear Silverchair’s pitiful set. I should have left the D and seen Unkle in the Boiler Room. Daniel Johns just seemed out of it, drunk most likely. He was constantly trying to get the crowd to cheer. That kind of shit just doesn’t work at a festival … unless you are doing an exceptional job, which Silverchair most certainly were not. Paul Mac was accompanying Silverchair on stage I would have much preferred to here Paul Mac play some solo stuff than listen to Silverchair. The crowd really wanted to hear something from Frogstomp (Silverchair’s first album) but they didn’t deliver. Now I know they must get sick of playing the stuff they wrote when they were only 14, but that is what got them to where they are today, it’s a part of who they are. The only reprieve we got was when they closed with Freak.

Performance 5
Technical 7.5


Björk (Orange Stage)
Only Björk could get away with being lead onto the stage by a marching band without it coming across totally pretentious. OK maybe it was pretentious but Björk can totally pull it off. This whole stage show was stimulating, with the full brass band, the costumes and the awesome laser show. If you have the chance to see Björk, you must. Even if you don’t particularly like her music, the randomness and purely questionable art (isn’t that true art, ok too deep a discussion for here) will surely entertain you.

Performance 9
Technical 9.5


The Lord of Lightning
The link above is the best thing I could find on the interwebs about these guys that shows what they do. This is cool for anyone, but way cooler for the physicists, electrical engineers, nerds and geeks alike. Essentially you have two guys wearing metallic mesh suits (that acts as a faraday cage) that climb on top of Tesla coils and put on a show with huge arcs of electricity and have a “fight” with said arcs.


LCD Soundsystem (Boiler Room)
I caught the last 40 minutes of LCD Soundsystem, which was great. The Boiler Room was practically empty for this time of night, you could casually walk right up to the stage or hang back a bit about a third of the way back in the marquee and have heaps of room to dance. The lack of people had something to do with some band that got back together called “Rage Against The Machine”. Anyway LCD Soundsystem put everything into their very energetic performance. I was glad I didn’t miss them.

Performance 9
Technical 8.5


Rage Against The Machine (Blue Stage)
After LCD Soundsystem I did pop around to the check out the crowd in front of the main stage for Rage Against The Machine. It was insane and I was glad that I didn’t bother. For those of you who know how the Big Day Out main stage is set up the mosh-pit extended beyond the D barrier all the way back to the entrance to the D. Insane!


Top three bands from this year’s Big Day Out (in my opinion) in order were:
Arcade Fire
Björk
LCD Soundsystem

Sufjan Stevens with Pikelet @ The Tivoli, Fortitude Valley (10/01/08)

Pikelet

I found it difficult to get into Pikelet’s set and when she describes her own music as both ambient and psychedelic it’s no wonder I was having trouble. The sound is very different verging on the experimental and I found it all a bit intrusive (probably not the word I am really after), definitely not easy listening. It was a peculiar choice of support for someone like Sufjan Stevens.

Performance 6
Technical 7


Sufjan Stevens

It was always going to be hard for Sufjan Stevens to live up to the hype and my expectations. I was excited to be seeing him accompanied with a full band including a brass section. However the songs I enjoyed the most throughout the set were the stripped back acoustic/solo songs. Sufjan seemed to struggle with his vocals when he was backed by the full band, seemed to lose that softness which just makes everyone go all gooey inside. Don’t get me wrong Sufjan Stevens is a wonderful performer. My expectations were just set ridiculously high. Sufjan Stevens was captivating in a similar way to José González. Then there was the cake, someone baked a cake for Sufjan Stevens and after receiving the cake Sufjan expressed his thanks with a “I love you guys”. The set just flew by in what felt like about half the time. I would love to see Sufjan Stevens perform a solo/acoustic set (to a seated Tivoli).

Performance 8
Technical 9

José González with Emily Barker @ The Tivoli, Fortitude Valley (03/01/08)

Emily Barker

Emily Barker warmed the crowd up with a big plate of alt-country with a side of folk for good measure. I didn’t find Emily all that captivating, but that probably had a lot to do with the fact that I was pretty pumped to see José González. Personally I think Emily Barker’s music would serve as a good soundtrack as background music to quiet Sunday session (at the pub) in the mid-afternoon. The music is there to allow everyone to relax and reflect with friends on the week past.

Performance 6
Technical 7


José González

It was simply astonishing to see the raw talent of this amazing musician in person. His technique with the guitar was so refined that it looked RSI inducing. I probably have never been so captivated by one musician before. What was a 75 minute set felt like only 30 minutes the time just flew by. This is a bittersweet thing. Good, as it is proof that it was indeed a captivating and highly enjoyable set to witness. Bad, as it seemed to be all over way too soon. If you want to see an absolutely captivating and thoroughly entertaining acoustic musician, you must see José González.

Performance 9
Technical 8

Nevereverland: Daft Punk, SebastiAn & Kavinsky, The Presets, and Cut Copy @ Riverstage, Brisbane (20/12/07)

Cut Copy

I was pretty keen to see Cut Copy, given all the hype. Cut Copy performed a pretty tight set with major highlights were So Haunted and Hearts on Fire (which incidentally is a song I really like). I am not typically a huge fan of DJ/Dance music, but I can appreciate what these guys are doing. I wouldn’t say they lived up to the hype but most DJ/Dance acts don’t tend to be that entertaining as a stage act.

Performance 6.5
Technical 8.5


The Presets

The Preset delivered a set that was high energy and entertaining to watch. The Preset put a lot into their live performances which is refreshing in Psychedelic / Techno scene. They aren’t tied down to their sound gear and move around the stage which adds to the overall energy of their set. Current single My People was well received, but the biggest highlight was the song that really started it all for these guys Are You The One.

Performance 8.5
Technical 9


SebastiAn & Kavinsky

I didn’t really know much about either of these guys before I saw them on the support list. They have been supporting Daft Punk on this worldwide Alive tour. The only one that I can say got a big reaction from the crowd was their remix Rage Against the Machine’s Killing in the Name. I was a pretty good lead in set for the main act, Daft Punk. They finished their set by playing LCD Soundsystem’s Daft Punk is playing at my House.

Performance 6.5
Technical 9


Daft Punk

The two wondrous robots appear on stage in their giant pyramid, the electro noise slowly starts to make sense. Human. Robot. The crowd is going absolutely nuts in anticipation of what is ahead, slowly it builds and before too long the sounds of Robot Rock are being belted out across a hyped up Riverstage crowd. And the music just doesn’t stop it’s over 30 minutes in before we even get a short break, one track just morphing into the next. This experience is hard to put into words. Firstly you have the music (obviously), they there is the lights, the lasers, the lights, the screens, the lights, the pyramid, the lights, the robot suits. Did I mention the lights? During Television Rules the Nation they drop in the chorus from Around the World as a teaser of what is still to come. Daft Punk did not disappoint, this show was astonishing, life changing even. These guys are up with Muse as a live act (dare I say maybe even better) and I wanted to give them an 11. I really hope that Daft Punk release a DVD of their pyramid shows. When Daft Punk got to Around the World it morphs into Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger with the lyrics flashing up on the massive screens when the track get to the glitch loop section saying “fuck it”, FUCK is flashing on the screen in time with the music. The same thing with the lyrics flashing on the screen in time with music also happened earlier during Technologic. One More Time was simply amazing and the crowd was going ballistic likewise for Da Funk. Wait, who am I trying to kid? The whole show was just one colossal high. Just when you thought the stimulation had reached its highest point the robots come back out for an encore but this time there isn’t a heap of flashing lights, instead total darkness and the robots suits light up (as per picture above). They play about a 10 minute track which includes Human After All, Together, One More Time (Reprise), Music Sounds Better With You. I was buzzing so much after this concert that I only got about 4 hours sleep, and I was still smiling like a git for days afterwards. I will definitely be seeing these guys again if I have the chance. Come back soon.

Performance 10
Technical 10

Amanda Palmer with The Danger Ensemble, The Red Paintings, Emma Dean, and The Follow @ The Zoo, Fortitude Valley (19/12/07)

The Follow

Amanda Palmer liked The Follow that much that she dragged them up to Brisbane to support her at The Zoo and gave them a personal introduction. The Follow’s music is best described simply as alternative rock. I can see why Amanda Palmer likes them, and they deliver a very energetic performance. Highlight song was the slightly more poppy Happy Now which is featured on their EP “Hope You’re Happy”.

Performance 6.5
Technical 5


Emma Dean

Emma Dean has been building quite the fan base during 2006 and 2007 since departing from Kate Miller-Heidke’s band. Emma Dean has an alternative pop folk sound, similar to Kate Miller-Heidke but with her own uniqueness. 3 Meals is very similar to some of Kate Miller-Heidke’s more recent songs like Words. Her performance style is similar to Kate in the way that she comes across a bit cheeky between songs and enchanting during the songs. This combined with her immense confidence on stage, this all adds up to a greatly entertaining set. Surprisingly the sound was pretty good (very good if you compare it to The Zoo’s usual subpar sound).

Performance 7.5
Technical 7


The Red Paintings

I need to more of The Red Painting in my life. I always say that after seeing The Red Paintings, but I very rarely do anything about it. The Red Paintings combine classically driven stings with psychedelic rock and Trash Mcsweeney’s haunting vocals that are similar to Placebo’s Brian Molko earlier releases. When you see The Red Paintings’ live performance there is much more to experience than just their music. There are elaborate costumes, artists creating their art works (David Hooper from CBD Gallery on this occasion), and usually something else special and tonight that was burlesque performer Miss Bertie who performed throughout the set. The Red Paintings are real treat to see live. Sound was still surprisingly good. The strings ended up a bit buried on a couple of tracks under all the heavier rock. I was shocked that they didn’t play Mad World during their set but I wasn’t disappointed as Trash Mcsweeney and Amanda Palmer performed it at the end of the night as a lovely haunting duet.

Performance 8.5
Technical 6.5


Amanda Palmer with The Danger Ensemble

Amanda Palmer (of The Dresden Dolls) was in Australia to promote her soon to be release debut solo album “Who Killed Amanda Palmer” produced by Ben Folds after he sent her some fan mail. In keeping with the theme of this release, a dead Amanda Palmer was carried out onto the stage and propped up in front of the microphone that slowly came to life as the music built up around her. Amanda Palmer is an excellent stage performer her performance was full of attitude and theatrical to watch. Amanda has a natural openness that makes her live performances feel so relaxed. The set was filled with songs from the upcoming solo release as well as The Dresden Doll’s classics and a few covers. Coin Operated Boy was probably the crowd highlight. Amanda was joined on stage throughout the set by The Danger Ensemble who provided the performance art, dance and mime. The crowd went absolutely crazy when Amanda Palmer performed a hilarious cover of Rihanna’s “hit” Umbrella, complete with umbrella dancers. Amanda got a huge response to her sing-along ukulele cover of Radiohead’s Creep. But if I had to pick one song of the night, it would have to be the very last song of which was the evocative cover of Roland Orzabal’s Mad World. This show was amazing and Amanda Palmer put everything she had into it.

Performance 9.5
Technical 7.5

Kate Miller-Heidke with Dead Letter Chorus, and Tjupurra @ The Tivoli, Fortitude Valley (09/12/07)

Ah reserved seating upstairs at The Tivoli, well worth the extra money.

Tjupurra
Couldn’t find a website, Indigenous musician Tjupurra is best described as the David Ford of didgeridoos. Well its sort of a didgeridoo, but its length was adjustable (a didgeribone, or a trombidoo maybe). Using loops and playbacks he managed to create some amazing sounds at one point you could have sworn he was playing a guitar. Anyway he was quite entertaining to watch and made good use of humour between songs, although it did take me a little while to get into it. Only one word can be used to describe Tjupurra, “deadly”.

Performance 6.5
Technical 6


Dead Letter Chorus

I was excited to finally see Dead Letter Chorus. Unfortunately I was murderously let down by the sheer incompetence of the sound technician. I can’t express how disappointed I was. The Tivoli renowned as one of the best live music venues in Brisbane and one that I rave about technical sound quality. Dead Letter Chorus did put on a good performance. The mixing wasn’t all bad except we were getting blasted by and over amped drum kit. I was mainly to do with the fact that the volume was just far too loud. Also I am sad to report that there were feedback issues and the sound technician did nothing to try and rectify the situation. I hate it when the technical work is this bad because it takes away from the band’s overall performance. I do want to see these guys again, as long as it’s not the sound technicians goal to make everyone’s ears bleed.

Performance 6.5
Technical 4


Kate Miller-Heidke

The 4 months (or so) of solid on the road constant touring has obviously taken its toll on Kate Miller-Heidke and her voice. Her performance was still outstanding and full of energy, which is a huge testament in its own. Kate just wasn’t at her best. Kate’s set was what has become pretty standard opening with Little Adam and closing with Space They Cannot Touch. I am going to steal a quote from the Kate Miller-Heidke forum.

“After Little Adam she said that when she was in NSW a girl came up to he after the show and asked what the song was about. Kate told her it was God writing a letter to Adam. The girl looked blank.
Kate: "You know, Adam and Eve from the Bible." The girl still looked totally blank and confused.
Kate: "Actually it's about a little retarded boy called Adam who is downstairs playing with himself."
Girl: "That's EXACTLY what I thought it was about!!"”

You’re the voice was fantastic, as well at Kier and Sally’s Speed of Red Intermission as always. Thank god it was a different sound technician on for Kate, although I suspect that lighting technician might have still been in training it was only a bit off but still good.

Performance 8
Technical 8