Big Day Out 2004

First published in the Wentworth Courier, Jan ‘04

Back in it’s usual “bigger than the biggest thing you can think” of style, Australia’s annual rock behemoth the Big Day Out returned like never before, as the Sydney show expanded for the first time in it’s history to a two day event. Twice the bands, twice the crowds, twice the shitty weather. Much like the Friday show Saturday’s conditions ranged from extreme heat to extreme rain all the way back to extreme heat again, yet before the snarling face of the gods of rock ‘n roll, devil signs in the air and Marshall stacks on eleven, Mother Nature cowered like a frightened school girl as every sunburnt and rain drenched punter lapped up every single minute.

For any discerning rock snob, THE band NOT to miss was The Darkness, Britain’s glam rock throwbacks currently enjoying a wave of adulation around the globe. Why Britain’s biggest band was buried way down the pecking order in the 1pm slot I have no idea, but arriving at 3pm didn’t really help my cause. Best show I’ve never seen, and you can quote me on that.

Storm clouds drew as the Black Eyed Peas ruined a brilliant set by playing their atrocious number one smash “Where is the love?”, and making my way under cover I thought I’d been kidnapped and taken to the Rumba festival. This blasphemy obviously angered the big guy as the heavens then opened up and drenched the three or so people welcoming Something For Kate to the orange stage. Don’t get me wrong I think front man Paul Dempsey writes some fantastic songs, but in the big arena they just didn’t cut it. It was raining, it was pouring, and Something For Kate were boring.

The Dandy Warhols did their best to appease the rain gods, trucking through hits such as “Get off”, and “Bohemian Like You”, but it was left to opera rockers Muse to bring the sun out of hiding. Tiny Matt Bellamy is the text book example of “walk softly and wield a massive axe”, as the UK three piece didn’t so much play songs as contain explosions. While at times the self-indulgence became a little too much to bear, big power pop hits such as “Plug In Baby” and “Time is Running Out” clearly mark them as unique talent.

Then it was up to prog-punk rockers The Mars Volta to keep the vibe alive. Risen from the ashes of political power punks At The Drive-In, the crowd was anxious to see if The Mars Volta could make amends for At The Drive-In’s 2001 Big Day Out hissy fit when they stormed off stage after only four songs. My jury on their new direction was out… until this show. At The Drive-In were wankers who played great music, The Mars Volta are wankers who play wank music. I’ve never seen such self-indulgent crap in my life. Each of the six members was playing “whatever man”, and if you didn’t get it it’s because “well you just don’t get art man”. But just to be certain that I wasn’t being too knee-jerk I made my way down to the front and caught a glimpse of their set list. It read: “Come out on stage, do whatever, act like tossers”. Case closed.

And then it was The Strokes, riding on the back of a difficult second album that no one really want to admit is mostly crap. Still the remarkable genius of their debut “Is This It” and their trademark sound made certain the lads were met with thunderous applause (from the stands not the skies). Front man Julian Casablancas seemed to struggle with the concept of “singing” and “talking”, and also seemed to not particularly master the act of “remembering words” either, three very important factors in being a lead singer. It seems the efforts made around the grounds by the NSW Police and their sniffer dogs were mostly in vain; perhaps next year the “taskforce” might want to turn their attention to more pressing policing such as making sure that bands rather than punters aren’t getting up to any illicit mischief, or that people wearing trucker hats are taken into full custody. Still, Julian managed to get on top of whatever he was on long enough to turn the show around and really kick some ass. The entire showground became a dance floor as thousands got down to Strokes classics such as “The Modern Age”, “Last Night”, and “The End Has No End”.

The night then divided into two equal halves – those who like Metallica, and those that don’t. Arguably one of the most well known bands in the world, Lars and the lads ate up the main arena. With one of the most hardened and loyal fan bases on the planet, Metallica could do no wrong. Not being my cup of rock, underdogs Magic Dirt were the choice of the latter half. Adalita was looking HOT, the band was on fire, the crowd was in heaven. And sacrilegious as it may seem, it was great to be at just one Big Day Out where the Aussie headline wasn’t You Am bloody I. Saucer of milk, table two.

The Flaming Lips and Basement Jaxx capped off the night in their vastly different yet similarly eclectic styles, and for another year Elvis promptly left the building. Though reportedly only half as full as Friday’s event, be assured that the rock juggernaut ain’t anywhere close to letting up, and I wouldn’t be surprised if next year two days will be barely enough.