Big Day Out 2008

There was something not-quite-right about the Big Day Out this year, and for the cynics among you, no, it wasn't just because it was my first ever Big Day Out without drugs.

A plague upon dealers who don't come through on such an important day!

Ahem.

Where was I?

Ah yes. Not quite right.

It was largely, I think, the fault of the venue. I have loved the last two years of BDO shenanigans at Princess Park, with its lush lawns underfoot and ample shade. This year, though, we were in the car park at Flemington Racecourse, which was essentially a gravel-strewn dustbowl upon which the sun baked, bounced back and glared. Footing was treacherous, and there was virtually no shade.

The conditions, as a consequence, took the edge of the bands I saw.

Arcade Fire, however, were superb - the highlight of the day; rich, orchestral, dramatic and inspiring. Spoon were good, but too mellow for the mood I was in. Local lads Little Red were an absolute delight: fun, focussed and passionate, and already much evolved since the last time I saw them during their 2007 residency at The Tote. Skip hop outfit Hilltop Hoods were also in fine form, and the Icelandic pixie Bjork was, as expected, also wonderful. At one point, complaining of her strained throat, she said in that adorable accent of hers, "I can't sing, but I can JUMP!" She made the whole crowd come to life.

But unless there's a drawcard like her on the bill next year I don't think I'll be attending. Especially not if it's at the same site, which kills the mood that should be generated at the prospect of seeing so many excellent local and international bands.

Bjork BDO blow

Sydney music fans must be feeling crap , with word released last night that Bjork had cancelled her Big Day Out appearance scheduled for today. She's the main reason I'm going to the BDO this year (well, her and Canada's Arcade Fire but she's definitely my main attraction) so I hope to all the gods of Iceland that she's well enough to perform on Monday!

Bjork @ the BDO

Just received a media release announcing that Bjork will be playing the Big Day Out @ Flemington Racecourse on MOnday January 28 next year, alongside Arcade Fire (woooot!) , Rage Against the Machine (yawn), Billy Bragg (hmm), Paul Kelly, LCD Soundsystem, and UK hip-hop artist Dizzee Rascal (yay!) among others. OMG OMG OMG I am so definitely there.

Tickets on sale Friday October 12.

Like, yay!!!!

Flag ban fury

Our Glorious Leader (who my late paternal grandmother referred to as 'that little cock-sparrow' on account of his resemblance to a diminutive bird with its chest puffed out) has weighed in to the debate over an attempt by Big Day Out organisers to discourage anti-social use of the Australian flag at the event this year, in an effort to curtail any Cronulla-like displays of racist national pride.

"Flags don't have legs and arms," Mr Howard wisely opined.

Give the man an elephant stamp - he's clearly a genius!

Personally, I'm much more surprised that the media haven't caught on to the wicked, pro-drug message that is plainly being promoted on the front page of the BDO site, which requires the viewer to take several bites of a no doubt psilocybin-rich mushroom before they are transferred via a shimmering, psychadelic vortex to the main section of the website. For shame, Lees and West, for shame!

*removes tongue firmly from cheek and skips happily away after the White Rabbit*

UPDATE: The always-lovely Clem Bastow has written an excellent piece on this issue for her blog over at The Age - highly recommended indeed. Thanks also to Urban Creature who pointed me towards it.