First Australian Festie Experience
Big Day Out, a one day festival that takes place in 5 cities over 2 different weekends that stopped in Melbourne on Australia Day aka their Independence Day. For some crazy reason I wasn’t scheduled on Saturday at the bar an decided to buy a ticket last minute to join a few gfs at the festival. Headliners included RHCP, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and the Killers. It was a great day of rockin’ out to live music, the third biggest thing I’ve missed since traveling (after family & friends), and I had a great group of people to enjoy it with. They sure do it different in Oz and I wasn’t a fan of a few things but this is one of the most strict countries when it comes down to it.
My day began with Kara picking me up at 830am and almost immediately the mimosas were flowing. I climbed in to bed from work around 640am but my excitement for live music proved to be my motivational caffeine. My festie outfit, which is my favorite thing to plan, was a little different then my usual bohemian hippie style. I rocked a Harley D American eagle cutoff, jorts, and black booties. Since I celebrated our Independence Day in an ashram with Oreos and orange soda I chose to support ‘Merica.
Upon arriving at the festival cops stand around with adorable beagles that look friendly to pet, but oh wait they’re sniffer dogs looking for drugs on you. It was laughable when a friend in our group got pulled to the side when one of the pups went for him. He had not a thing on him but had to remove his shoes, belt, empty his pockets, and get patted down.Moving on, once inside we grabbed drinking tickets for booze and here’s my least favorite part: there are drinking only areas aka you can’t drink while watching your favorite bands play but must stay in a fenced off area far away from the music (#reasonswhyiloveAmerica you can double fist tall boys all day long). So I downed a horrible can of vodka/pineapple mix in the drinking area and ran to Gary Clark Jr (oh and this country loves their premixed booze in cans, every kind of liquor comes mix with cola or lemon-lime. They taste disgusting and the Aussies blame it on their laziness). Though I watched him on my own, it didn’t matter I couldn’t take my eyes of that sexy Texan and his beautiful blues style playing. From there saw Band of Horses who sounded just like their albums, super chilled out show which I’d prefer to be laying on a blanket to enjoy. From there we ran to Morgan Page to get our dance on but he sadly finished a few minutes later.
The two main stages sat next to each other and would switch off through out the day so we moved over for Vampire Weekend and ended up super close for the show. They played great and I was so happy to finally sing and dance to them live. Ezra kept the crowd upbeat and involved as their bassist flirted with every girl in the front row. Passed the Shakes as we headed back in for drinks before wandering over near the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I would have loved to be closer for them but the crowds were massive and my group found a place right behind the fence within the drinking area to camp for the next few sets. Kara and I ran to see Pretty Lights to only f up again and realize that he had just finished. Back to the group in time for The Killers start. In line for the bathroom with Lucy and heard Mr. Brightside starting and immediately bailed the line to run to crowd for the performance. The Killers killed it, their show and Vamp were easily the best I saw.
My group was full of die hard RHCP fans and I was trying to get a hold of a friend to meet at Animal Collective but the service blew and I would have lost everyone. One thing Aus doesn’t know is totems. Not one singe totem pole in the air! This is key in festivals to find friends and if I do attend another in this country I’ll be sure to bring one. I should have just went off on my own, seen Crystal Castles and Animal Collective but I had a good time at Chili. I could care less for their new shit but their old stuff is always great to belt out with a group of friends. As soon as the show ended we sprinted to The Bloody Beetroots and danced till the end with their seizure-induced type light show. In all a good day of live music, nothing like a full 3 day festie on a beach with the duzis but it satisfied some of my cravings.The rest of the holiday weekend, I worked insane hours barely getting sleep but racking in that $50/hr holiday pay was worth it all. Hope ya all had a good weekend and if you want to learn more on STRAYA Day I recommend watching this hilarious video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4AchHTN-XQ&sns=em
Cheers!
Tor
