Original video located here. Accessed 10 November 2014
Song title: Corduroy
Artist: Pearl Jam
Year: 1994
Why I like this song:
Last weekend I had the pleasure of travelling to Melbourne to attend the Big Day Out.
I expect anyone of my generation would've gone to a Big Day Out at least once in their life. And this is the second time for me having previously gone in 2002. So I knew what to expect.
Of course in recent years there has been some debate as to whether or not the Big Day Out still have relevance the further it gets from the 1990s and whether it can keep with the times. After all, music festivals can't last forever right?
But no matter: here's what I took away from going to the 2014 Big Day Out:
- I went in expecting a swarm of people but that didn't seem to be the case. It was concerning...
- I did buy a BDO t-shirt just to declare that I went there. At the stand I noticed some Manic Street Preacher t-shirts - aren't they the same from 2002? (and from earlier in 1999?)
- Violent Soho were the first band I saw. They were great but my brother, who I went with, didn't seem too impressed
- Next up were the Jungle Giants. Not bad but, in a reverse from Violent Soho, my brother liked them better.
- Kingswood were an early highlight, rocking the stage like their lives depended on it. Of particular note, the singer mentioned they had come from Sydney on motorbikes with a bikie gang.
- Loon Lake came next. Not a bad effort from them.
- Then came a move to the main stage to see Portugal. The Man on my brother's insistence. I never heard of them but they put up a decent show.
- Then I made my way to the other main stage to see Primus - and in particular Les Claypool's virtuosity on the bass. They delivered a great show although I am disappointed they didn't play Wynona's Big Brown Beaver.
- Next up was Tame Impala. Psychedelic rock all around. Of note was hearing Feel Like We Only Go Backwards, Jay Watson (the other guy in Tame Impala who isn't Kevin Parker) having some banter with the crowd, and some really favourable reaction to the older stuff.
- I caught a portion of Algorithm's set. Bizarre but oddly compelling.
- I also managed to get to the boiler room to see Rufus. Pretty good they were too.
- I saw Beady Eye: Liam Gallagher's new band he formed with the remnants of Oasis. Funny thing: there were three songs I recognised - two were Oasis songs (Rock and Roll Star & Morning Glory) and one was a Rolling Stones cover (Gimme Shelter) - and it was these three that got the biggest cheers from the crowd.
- Arcade Fire was next. Now I have previously tried to get into Arcade Fire but to no success. However to see the crowd go crazy for these songs made me reconsider my previous stance and wonder if there may be something of value. And that's the purpose of a music festival: to become acquainted with music you wouldn't previously be aware of right?
Other than that, Arcade Fire delivered a great show: coming out with imposters wearing fake heads and switching instruments to make for a fun game of Where's Wally. - And finally there was the mighty Pearl Jam. Now THIS was what I wanted to see most of all. I have no doubt that, inside me, there was a ten-year old boy jumping for joy.
So did Pearl Jam deliver? Did they ever: Rocking hard like true professionals and putting a lot of the younger acts to shame. They played a lot of their hits and got the crowd engaged from the word go. They truly were the big drawcard of the 2014 Big day Out and, it seemed, money well spent.
All in all, the Big Day Out 2014 was a solid effort. I have since heard rumours that this Big Day Out will be the last one But if that is the case, it certainly was a grand way to bow out.