Big Day Out 2007

The following is a review of the Big Day Out done mostly from afar. I am 26 now (definitely "old" in Big Day Out terms as I discovered) and just can't get in there with the kids and suburb-dwellers as much as I used to. It's just all so full on!

First for the day was Lilly Allen… As cute on stage as she is on the videos, it is obvious that this young performer is confident beyond her years (what's with this age thing I've got going on??). Her music she was fun and bubbly with that cheeky twist and her sound is obviously well produced and professional and a little bit grimey… She knows what she is doing…

I like Sneaky Sound System! There I said it. A perfect summertime festival group between electro and rock and roll with a sexy lead singer with big hair… good for all involved! Not as good for me as it could have been though because I couldn't keep up with the kids who were dancing and a jumping like a bunch of disco kangaroos! At 4 in the afternoon on a hot summer's day! Astounding.

Now… PEACHES!! Awesome. Loved her. She would rip my privates off if we ever got in the sack together, but if her performance was anything like her live one, maybe the eunuch life wouldn't be so bad. She was elevated in the middle of the stage and preached her downright dirty brand of "electroclash" (is it still called that?) to an already converted mass. She was wearing a future amazon warrior one piece sex outfit and simulating accordingly with her bandmates. Their music was undeniably simple but intimidatingly cool. Nice. And pretty hilarious.

Also hilarious was The Streets. When I saw Mike Skinner at the BDO two years ago frankly, I was bored. But a geezer waxing solo has evolved over the years into a great band and awesome live show. The style was everywhere. At times new-new-Mike Skinner-invented-soul and at other times pumping garage or even hip hop it was a diverse performance indeed. At one point he commanded the whole front half of the crowd to sit down! And then stand up! And then sit down! And so on, depending on the seating status of his drummer. And they happily did it. I of course was at the back so didn't have to. Original and entertaining. Listening to the CD and watching him live are two completely different listening experiences.

This cannot of most of the other bands at the festival however. The Killers were going through the motions but they are very good at going through the motions. Jet seem to have moved from AC/DC to Oasis as the focus of their music larceny. They didn't blow me away at all either. But the 15 year olds loved them (So did our shitkicker-in-chief, Jade I bet.. Hi Jade!) John Butler was John Butler which don't impress me much but the 15 year old hippies loved him. Note: John Butler is the worst lyricist of all time… It's in the Guiness Book of Records! And I was basically too far away from Tool to enjoy them because there were too many bogans in the way. And no mater how many warm Jacks and Cokes I drank (8) I just couldn't get my festival legs and arms into the swing. But the guy next to us on his mate's shoulders fell backwards and landed on his head which was pretty cool.

In summary.. if you are over 19 and like the band, go to the side show.

The End.