On Web Culture

Talking about the Big Day Out 2007 with my hairdresser this afternoon I wondered what had added to feeling of “up” the event resonated. Was I just feeling it and some of the folk caged in the drinking areas were feeling differently? The NZ Herald team thought it might be because music is important again. I did like the way like they separated the main thoroughfare points between the top and bottom fields into one way passages. And creating the inner ellipse at the front of the main stages to cap numbers was a good call too.

The Vines were a good way to start the day but as everyone one I was with noted, Craig Nicholls’ throwing his guitar into various bits of equipment after their last song seemed a tad put on. Following The Vines a couple of guys called The Presets scared us away with their bad music. Ugh. Down to the main stages where My Chemical Romance were earnestly singing songs like one called ‘Cancer’. Soon they finished and Evermore took to the orange stage to sing tracks off their two albums. They were polished and enthusiastic and wholesome. ‘Into The Ocean (Calling You)’ sounded good.

I bailed to find food & drink and after a wait demolished a chicken burger. It become one of the mysteries of the day that the lines moved so slow when the food was being served so fast. I got back in time for the second half of Jet’s set. One of the Herald bloggers, Joanna, thought they sounded so 2004 but at least they knew how to rock a festival with a big rock sound. Especially compared with Scribe who followed after. Scribe sounded stretched and tired and he remarked his voice was going towards the end of his set. As it finished I was none the wiser as to why he had been scheduled between Jet and The Killers. Something to appease hip hop fans? His sound was thought suited to the main stage?

After a short wait The Killers took the stage. Frontman Brandon Flowers looked sharp and his band delivered punchy versions of ‘Somebody Told Me’, ‘Bones’ and ‘All These Things That I’ve Done’. DB arrived after making his way through crush trying to get into the ellipse. The Killers had a good crowd which probably translates from their most recent album Sam’s Town going #1 and platinum in New Zealand following its release last year.

Muse were next and they were cracking. Playing songs from Origins Of Symmetry, Absolution and Black Holes and Revelations. I moshed even when it wasn’t a big chorus which might have annoyed the folk behind me. Songs off Black Holes… were received well, ‘Hysteria’ and ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ sounded awesome. I was really just starting to really peak when they thanked us all and left the stage. I could have listened to them for another hour. A BDO guy got up to remind us all the ellipse was at capacity and everyone should “find a spot and chill”. Good words.

Darkness had finally arrived and inevitably we awaited Tool. I could only recognise ‘Vicarious’ off their latest album 10,000 Days but it all sounded clean and full. Maynard James Keenan gyrated in the shadows and their epic sounds reverberated around Ericsson Stadium. I was amazed at some of the sounds the bassist was creating, effectively a second electric guitar at times. There was a lot to enjoy about the set from Tool and the appreciative crowd was one of them. Their set finished with ‘Aenima’, a classic tune to wrap up with and a great way to end the day. We were fortunate to grab half an hour of Shapeshifter to warm up to before heading off. Sure could use a vacation from this…three ring circus sideshow…