Wow, another year and this day is finally here… that was the feeling amongst the hordes of music fans boarding the train right up to the moment they walked through the gates and had their tickets torn. Thankfully, the weather was quite pleasant, with a refreshing breeze, unlike the blistering heat of other festivals in years past. The first thing you notice when you move through the gates is the carnival atmosphere; people dressed in all sorts, rides, stages, sideshows, food pavilions and so forth. Smiling people having a jolly good time; it’s like you check in on another dimension after you get off the train. Its a nice change from the hustle and bustle of the railroads at rush hour on a working day.
First stop, Institut Polaire, who won a spot on the V Energy Local Produce Stage thanks to Triple J Unearthed. On a lazy Sunday afternoon the folksy collective – girls in sundresses and guys in aviator shades – was just what the doctor ordered. You could smell the beginning of a cracker Big Day Out for 07. Just a little way around from Institut Polaire one of the showground’s pavilions – previously the Boiler Room- had been transformed into a massive indoor auditorium for rock and roll. Techies were busily tweaking instruments and amplifiers in preparation for the next band on what was the Converse Essential Stage.
As punters started to crack open their first beers for the day, loading up on tickets, drinks and stubby holders, Streetlight hit the stage. The local lads heard they were to get a gig at this year’s BDO way back in July when they won the Next Big Thing competition and haven’t they come a long way since then? Able to command a sizable crowd filling the front half of the pavilion the likely lads and lass dazzled with their stylised blend of post-punk and hardcore. Songs like The Poet’s Paper Boat and single Attack That Gentleman got their home crowd going under the air conditioning, while the sub blazed down on the crowds outside.
Over on the Blue Stage, the masses had gathered to see Evermore. The buzz in the crowd was how most punters were disappointed at how their favourite TV show had recently been cancelled. Back to real life, the show must go on, and so Evermore did. They played hits like It’s Too Late, For One Day and a bunch of other songs that sounded similar but weren’t quite as good. They even played a cover of Ben E King’s Stand by Me, made famous in the 1980s by Mickey Gilley. And then nevermore, not for today anyway.
A quick side-step across to the Orange Stage and Scribe was entertaining the punters, as ‘not many, if any’ others could. Singles like Not Many and Stand Up were big winners and had the mid-afternoon crowd bouncing and flew the NZ flag loud and proud.
Next up in the afternoon, emo band My Chemical Romance had garnered one of the biggest crowds of the day, full of impressible tight-black-jeaned and swept-fringed youths. Beginning with I’m Not Okay, their fans screamed along in unison with Gerard Way ’s wailing vocal melodies. Welcome to the Black Parade was a big hit with fans as the New Jersey band proved they had what it takes to translate their recorded sound to huge outdoor stages.
Back on the Orange Stage, hometown heroes Eskimo Joe had gathered a huge crowd. With their latest album Black Fingernails, Red Wine they have created a sound that fits large stages and festival crowds perfectly. New York and Black Fingernails, Red Wine were impressive, and punters cheered jubilantly as the boys put on a great show. Eskimo Joe are now right up there with Australia’s festival elite. Midway through their set vocalist Kav Temperley remarked at how there was a record number of West Australian bands at this year’s BDO. No wonder the event was a sell-out, with 40,000 punters turning up to show their support.
Back to the Converse Essential Stage and its relief from the sun for our eyes – its time for The Vines. This is one band who can be brilliant one day but utterly disappointing the next. Quite frankly this depends on singer and guitarist Craig Nicholls ’ sobriety. Thankfully he was in good form and The Vines put on a good show for the buzzing crowd. Trademark raspy vocals from the man once labelled as the sexiest in rock and roll were laid on the line with the band’s angular guitars and rumbling rhythm section. Outtathaway and the sing-along Autumn Shade were crowd favourites.
Outside, back at the Local Produce Stage, locals Sugar Army were entertaining quite an entourage of interested onlookers. In line for this year’s Favourite Newcomer WAMi Award, the boys delivered their trademark punchy indie-rock, clad in iconic rock and roll outfits and shades as the sun progressed lower and lower into the auburn sky. Greed is Good had their fans cheering and won over a few new ones as well.
On the Green Stage, Kasabian were making their Perth debut and the UK band certainly proved their worth. Opening with current single Shoot the Runner, the band alternated between songs from UK number one album _Empire_and their 2004 self-titled debut ( Reason is Treason, Sun Rise Light Flies, Processed Beats ). They saved the best for last though, as they invited Jet singer Nic Cester on stage to help out with backing vocals on LSF at the end of their set.
Back to the main stage for The Killers, and the four-piece from Las Vegas had already started their set. As hundreds of fans pressed toward the entrance to the D-Area in front of the stage, the band kept the surging punters entertained. Somebody Told Me, Smile Like You Mean it, Mr Brightside and When You Were Young from latest album Sam’s Town had the crowds singing along as the sun started to sink. The Killers played a very polished set and, with twice as many songs in their catalogue, were far better than on their previous visit. But the best was still to come.
After The Killers, over on the Blue Stage, Melbourne band and 2004’s flavour of the month Jet were playing to what was shaping as a very strong crowd. They played a good portion of their hits from debut album Get Born and from 2006’s Shine On. Towards the end of their set, event organisers halted the band as fans were surging in, hoping to get to the front to see headliners Tool, who were up next on the Blue Stage. After a short delay the band got back to it and rounded out their set. Songs like Are You Gonna Be My Girl? and Take it or Leave it are always going to be a hit on a balmy summer afternoon even if we have all heard them a million times before.
The sun was starting to descend on the massive crowd gathered to see co-headliners Muse and the band weren’t going to disappoint them – even if they didn’t really care which city they were playing to – thanking Adelaide. Matt Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard started out with Knights of Cydonia, the latest single from 2006’s Black Holes and Revelations, and progressed through a huge chunk of hits from their decade-long career. All the while, an array of lights and lasers dazzled fans and band members alike, as evidenced by the band’s geographic faux pas. Still, jokes aside, the boys from Devon captivated the audience, with Starlight rousing the biggest cheer and classics like Stockholm Syndrome, Hysteria, New Born and Plug in Baby proving their set was all thriller and no filler.
Tool had the most fans in T-shirts baring their name all day long so it was no surprise that they would draw such a massive crowd. What felt like most of the 40,000 punters all stood and faced the Blue Stage to watch the second of the co-headliners. Nightfall had now totally descended, fitting for this outfit’s dark and progressive heavy rock. Maynard James Keenan was in full voice belting out classics like Stinkfist, Forty-Six & 2 and a selection of tracks from Tool’s latest album 10,000 Days. What was a relieving breeze during the warm day became an icy breath at night time chilling sweat drenched punters. With ringing ears, empty wallets and grins on their faces, it was time for the masses to leave the showgrounds for another year, with memories the only thing to keep them going until the next Big Day Out. Sure there are other festivals and other gigs but nothing really compares to a 50 band, 40,000 fan extravaganza, does it?
