January 21st was the day for New Zealand's biggest music festival Big Day Out. Held in Auckland and in major cities across Australia, this year they tended to side with a rock/metal heavy lineup, with some quality electronic acts thrown in.
The first band I saw was American blues/garage rock band "The Greenhornes", I'd never heard a song of theres and the only knowledge I had of them was a couple of them were in Jack White Projects The Raconteurs and the Dead Weather. They certainly were a good start to the day with a tight live performance, with some nice garage rock tracks and some cool bluesy tracks thrown in.
Rating: 6.5/10
Next band I saw was the Jim Jones Revue and this was only because I was waiting round making sure i got a good spot for another band on the stage next to it. Now the biggest problem I have with the Jim Jones Revue is that I'm unsure whether I should take them seriously as the tracks just seem stupid and that its harder to judge them on whether its just a gimmick or not.
Rating: N/A/10
Following this was Birds of Tokyo a band I saw at a club show the night before, unfortunately unlike the night before the sound almost ruined the bands performance, it was very muddy sound for the most part but this might be attributed to being right up the front which happens sometimes. Big ups to them though for playing a track of both the first two albums which are my favourites.
Rating: 5.5/10
My first trip to the Boiler Room was next and this was to see CSS. I've never been a big fan of CSS but it was definately worth it to check them out as I've heard they were great live and they sure were. A great show full of fun, dancy tracks that got the crowd going from start the finish, the song "Off the Hook" a personal favourite track of mine got played so I was pleased with that. Also big ups to the singer for playing some of the set without pance.
Rating: 7/10
Almost straight after this was Die Antwoord, now this is an example of a band that don't take themselves too seriously but you know this so you just go with the flow. The performance was amazing and a big surprise for me as I'd never taken the time to listen to their album. I never thought I'd have much fun but I definately did, but part of this may be attributed to the strong vodka and orange I was having down the back, good smuggle by the way!
Rating: 7/10
Now probably the second most anticipating live performance for me was Crystal Castles, little did I know the live performance I was expecting wasn't to be. Before they came on stage the tech read a message out, it was hard to hear all of it but what I did hear was that Alice was told not to perform due to injury but decided to do it anyway. Still broken ankle and all she killed it live, coming on with crutches, taking a big swig of bourbon and then using the mic stand as a crutch for most of the set she was still able to have a great stage presence throughout. Only dissapointments from it was the lack of the track "Celestica" and the set being cut short due to Die Antwoord going way overtime, but the playing of tracks such as "Baptism" and "Alice Practice" got the crowd getting into it in a big way.
Rating: Alice Glass is a babe/10
After leaving the boiler room the rain was coming down heavily and coincided with my first trek to the main stage area, purely to get a good spot for The Stooges later on in the day. I found a great spot but was then put through a painfully boring performance by the John Butler Trio and then a slightly more redeeming performance by local favourites Shihad.
Rating: 6.5/10
The rain continued to fall heavily but it didn't matter because it was time for The Stooges. Everything about the performance was great, starting the set with Raw Power then on to Search and Destroy showing quickly to anyone that doubted them that they've still got it cause they certainly still do. the biggest crowd favourite seemed to be "I Wanna Be Your Dog". Iggy's stage presence was as good as ever, dancing crazily around stage and down with the fans. The ultimate highlight for a small few must've been those that got onstage with The Stooges for a song.
Rating: 8/10
A quick trip back to the boiler room was needed because it was now time for the band that single handedly got me to Big Day Out this year, LCD Soundsystem. Knowing this could be my only chance to see them live I had to see them and they certainly made us wait just a little longer. The set was delayed by 15 minutes due to tecnical difficulties which was making some of us a little restless. But it in the end was all worth it once Dance Yrself Clean kicked in. The fanboy in me was definately obvious and they proceeded to run through some of my favourite tracks from the latest album, with those being Home, I Can Change, You Wanted a Hit and Dance Yrself Clean. The Dancing and singing along to every song continued throughout and the last 3 tracks of the set were my biggest highlights. Tribulation followed by Movement was amazing, but the one track I really wanted to see was All My Friends and the longer the set went on the more I worried about it not being played. Then the piano intro came in and the whole song was perfect, a great way to end the set.
Rating: <3/10
Now after such a high, it was time to catch some of the festivals headline act Tool. Now how do I review their performance...Well the minute or so it took me to walk from one end to the other was the extent of my listening, it sounded boring like a CD and wasn't anything interesting. The band is becoming meh to me now anyway, without a recent release it was going to happen after such highs after every release. Also the lack of showing them performing on the screen blew because it meant if you weren't in the D pit you had no chance of seeing any of them.
Rating: Blew mad dudes/10
Lastly M.I.A., which had the potential to be a great way to end the long and entertaining day, unfortunately it didn't do alot. Born Free, Meds and Feds, Paper Planes being the only highlights.
Rating:
Emotional Status: Underwhelmed
So this years Big Day Out was certainly a success for me, great bands, great songs, shitty weather. LCD killed it, The Stooges killed it, Crystal Castles killed it. Great Festival by the way!
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Awards:
The Christopher Fitzgerald Memorial award for best no pance: Singer from CSS
The Ali G "Big Ups" award: Alice Glass for performing on one leg
The least Hetero AKA Best dressed award:
Old guy dressed as a cowboy at CSS, I wonder what he thinks CSS means?
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