Big Day Out 2013 - Sydney, 18th January 2013
Words: Todd Lockley
On such a majorly hot day, the only sold out Big Day Out of the tour was an epic celebration of Love, Music and Life. It was insane to try and navigate, but still organized well, with plenty of water flowing, shade a plenty and even a Dr (Lyndsay McDougall) on hand if anything really went wrong.
On the early stages Chance Waters had an enthusiastic crowd bouncing around to Young and Dumb. Deep Sea Arcarde sounded amazing and Against Me! looked like the retarded children of The Darkness and a much heavier metal band with shorts and scattered tattoos.
It was fantastic to see the D-barrier start to flood as the closest act to an aussie headliner, Grinspoon strolled to stage front and blasted through Hard Act To Follow. After all these years, they still have the power and such a swagof great songs to still be relevant and exciting no matter how many times you've seen them live. Phil Jamieson looked in good health as he poured through Ready 1 and Rock Show before showering the front row in champagne, albeit for, and during, No Reason. The guitars were as crisp and loud as ever with Pat Davern setting the circle pits alight with More Than You Are, set highlight Champion and the finishing ferocity of Post Enebriated Anxiety.
Major late minute highlight to to the line up was Sydney Sider Urthboy who bounced through an awesome set on the smaller red stage, bursting through We Get Around and OZ Hip Hop's finest The Signal, before proclaiming "If I can make it rain during this song, you can buy me a beer" before launching into feel good anthem Hell Song - and wouldnt you know it, by the first chorus it started to bucket down. On a more sombre note it was announced that it would be the last show for long time partner El Gusto who was leaving for the "so hot right now" Hermitude, but it didnt stop the 3 punch combo of Urthboy, El Gusto and the beautiful Jane Tyrell delivering a stand out performance, rounding things up with Shruggin and a Blur Song 2 remix of Knee Lengh Socks - pure awesome.
On the early stages Chance Waters had an enthusiastic crowd bouncing around to Young and Dumb. Deep Sea Arcarde sounded amazing and Against Me! looked like the retarded children of The Darkness and a much heavier metal band with shorts and scattered tattoos.
It was fantastic to see the D-barrier start to flood as the closest act to an aussie headliner, Grinspoon strolled to stage front and blasted through Hard Act To Follow. After all these years, they still have the power and such a swagof great songs to still be relevant and exciting no matter how many times you've seen them live. Phil Jamieson looked in good health as he poured through Ready 1 and Rock Show before showering the front row in champagne, albeit for, and during, No Reason. The guitars were as crisp and loud as ever with Pat Davern setting the circle pits alight with More Than You Are, set highlight Champion and the finishing ferocity of Post Enebriated Anxiety.
Major late minute highlight to to the line up was Sydney Sider Urthboy who bounced through an awesome set on the smaller red stage, bursting through We Get Around and OZ Hip Hop's finest The Signal, before proclaiming "If I can make it rain during this song, you can buy me a beer" before launching into feel good anthem Hell Song - and wouldnt you know it, by the first chorus it started to bucket down. On a more sombre note it was announced that it would be the last show for long time partner El Gusto who was leaving for the "so hot right now" Hermitude, but it didnt stop the 3 punch combo of Urthboy, El Gusto and the beautiful Jane Tyrell delivering a stand out performance, rounding things up with Shruggin and a Blur Song 2 remix of Knee Lengh Socks - pure awesome.
Rumours circulated that Vampire Weekend had been wandering around, still drunk from the night before, but they made a solid effort of it when they appeared on the mainstage as the sun began to set. Crunching through Cousins to begin and building the pace as the set gotta near to completion.
The only real disapointment of the day were the Yeah Yeah Yeah's, the song selections were great with Heads Will Roll, Gold Lion and rounding off with a more polished performance of Zero, but for the most party Karen O spent her time on stage floor looking very worse for wear in her yellow jump suit.
Las Vegas lads, The Killers had the opertune spot of entree to the main course, quickly establishing their pulling power with Mr Brightside and Smile Like You Mean It, before their massive back screen took on the effect off flying through an asteroid field as set highlight Spaceman took the energy up to the level singer Brendon Flowers kept the rest of the performance. They wandered through Human, Somebody Told Me and a quick nod to Crowded House's Dont Dream Its finishing under a cascade of golden sparks to Runaways and the heavy hitting When You Were Young.
Then it was time. Every seat in the stadium filled and all the standing room on the giant stadium floor was taken. It was time for the Red Hot Chili Peppers to deliver something special. And deliver they did! Now after seeing this band several times previously they had left this reviewer disapointed, but on this night they blew away all expectations.
The only real disapointment of the day were the Yeah Yeah Yeah's, the song selections were great with Heads Will Roll, Gold Lion and rounding off with a more polished performance of Zero, but for the most party Karen O spent her time on stage floor looking very worse for wear in her yellow jump suit.
Las Vegas lads, The Killers had the opertune spot of entree to the main course, quickly establishing their pulling power with Mr Brightside and Smile Like You Mean It, before their massive back screen took on the effect off flying through an asteroid field as set highlight Spaceman took the energy up to the level singer Brendon Flowers kept the rest of the performance. They wandered through Human, Somebody Told Me and a quick nod to Crowded House's Dont Dream Its finishing under a cascade of golden sparks to Runaways and the heavy hitting When You Were Young.
Then it was time. Every seat in the stadium filled and all the standing room on the giant stadium floor was taken. It was time for the Red Hot Chili Peppers to deliver something special. And deliver they did! Now after seeing this band several times previously they had left this reviewer disapointed, but on this night they blew away all expectations.
Opening with Monarchy Of Roses it seemed the low expectations were to going to be delivered. But then the crowd were recieved a sonic assault of hits stretching the entirety of the Chili's career. Scar Tissue, Cant Stop and David Bowie cover What In The World had everyone dancing and singing. The "return to form" anthem The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie showed Flea and Anthony Kiedis in their element.
The biggest reaction was saved for Under The Bridge, while Californication and By The Way rounded out the first set. The encore was out of a Chili Pepper fans wishlist, Kicking off with their Stevie Wonder cover Higher Ground, then onto extreme rarirty Soul To Squeeze before the Big Day Out ended for most with the funk rock classic Give It Away. The Peppers delivered on all fronts and re-instated the Big Day Out as the behemoth it is.
The biggest reaction was saved for Under The Bridge, while Californication and By The Way rounded out the first set. The encore was out of a Chili Pepper fans wishlist, Kicking off with their Stevie Wonder cover Higher Ground, then onto extreme rarirty Soul To Squeeze before the Big Day Out ended for most with the funk rock classic Give It Away. The Peppers delivered on all fronts and re-instated the Big Day Out as the behemoth it is.