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Big Day Out '08 - the verdict?

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bells:
I went to the Sydney show yesterday and was disappointed. I must have blocked it out of my memory previously how much of an awful day it really is...and because I had a free ticket I got a bit lazy about exploring and seeing bands, preferring to sit backstage amongst the relative safety of the rider and plastic chairs. The crowd was sort of terrifying. Arcade Fire's sound in the mainstage was washed out and fairly incomprehensible, Rage Against the Machine reverted to stadium rock, Bjork f***ing cancelled, and I generally felt that the vibe of alot of the bands I wanted to see was lost in translation. Paul Kelly and Spoon were really the only redeeming factors of the day for me, but in the end I saw way too many matching fluoro couples to feel comfortable about doing that event ever again!

Edible:
Well I went too the auckland BDO and it was pretty good, Battles were fucking awsome, As was LCD soundsystem, and some random band that basically consisted of a dude with a keytar and a drummer. Bjork was kinda average but the show was quite entertaining. Most of the main acts (Rage, Arcade etc.) Kinda sucked due too the main stage having absoulute shit sound quality.

It was also entertaining to watch the guy from antagonist abuse the "hardcore kiddies" in the audiance and get stuff throwen at them.

Overall: Worth it for battles

Inlander:
Good to see you back again, bells!

I'm going to the Melbourne show on Monday. Basically the only reason I'm going is to see the Arcade Fire, and I'm disappointed that they've put them on in a daytime slot. Looking through the running order there doesn't really seem to be much reason to get there before mid-afternoon at the latest. I'll be avoiding Rage altogether (too many memories of 17-year-olds shouting "Fuck you I won't do what you tell me!" in the high-school canteen from way back when . . .) and going to see Paul Kelly, who's on at roughly the same time.

Oh, and I'm looking forward to seeing Billy Bragg, too. Bjork also if she shows up, though I can take it or leave it.

Spluff:
I decided not to go, because I would have only gone to see Rage and Battles. The rest of the lineup was nothing special.

ViolentDove:
I'd actually stopped going to BDOs because of how much I hate the day. Possibly one of the worst festivals ever. That said, I went this year because I rather liked the lineup.

Billy Bragg followed by Battles was pretty much the highlight of my day.

Although Bragg was playing fairly soon after another politicised acoustic/folk act, the Nightwatchman (Tom Morello from RATM), Billy Bragg upstaged him. Parts of the crowd were openly hostile towards Bragg. I never thought I'd see someone abused for giving an anti-war, pro-union speech at BDO, considering it used to be the festival for "alternative" music and people in Australia. I suppose it's a different kind of thing these days.

Battles were great, and I danced my arse off. They had the best sound I'd heard all day. The drums were right up in the mix, showing off some of the tightest beats I've heard in a while.

I wasn't fussed about missing Bjork, as I saw her play the Opera House- it was easily one of the best gigs I've ever seen.

Dizzee Rascal wasn't as good as I was hoping- not enough emphasis on the beats, IMO.

I probably won't go next year.

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