I headed over to Soundwave festival at the Sydney Olympic Park yesterday, no ticket but hopeful. After a nice guy sold me his spare for $5 less than the original price I was in a good mood for some bands!
The arena is pretty huge, and pretty intimidating, the buildings are all huge and there's no signs anywhere. Luckily the free (yes free, UK fests take heed) program had a map, kinda hard to work out, but I got there, and I'm off to catch:
A Day To Remember
From way away in the stands there's really no atmosphere, and the sound quality is pretty low, lots of wind and the huge distance make it sound like listening to a iPhone on a cliff-top. Still, the crowd near the front seem to enjoy it, and the set is pretty tight. Predictable crowd favourites are the order of the day here, but a nice mix of the newer albums, missing out the heavier tracks for this audience. The most entertainment came from their props, while the band did the easy rocking out thing, stage hands first launched a load (heap!) of beachballs into the crowd, then a few songs later showered them with toilet rolls. Seeing the white strings in the air above their heads really made ADTR fun to watch. I skipped the end of their set for:
UnderOath
The stage these guys are on seems to be a cattleshed, it's a huge metal cave and as such there's way too much reverb in here, a lot of the sound getting lost in the mush of echoes. After a bit of a delay the band hit the stage hard, and it's clear to see why these guys are still going. A smaller crowd than they would've got in the UK, they still the heads are nodding. The hits are obviously the order of the day again, which suits this audience to the ground, the older songs going down much better with a surprisingly female crowd. It's a case of a band who's audience hasn't kept up them over the albums, with many looking like they should be in a sydney club rather than a dirty post-hardcore show.
Four Year Strong
Are playing the outdoor stage just outside, so giving them a listen seems too easy. Catching the end of the set, including many favourites including 'wasting time' and 'heroes get remembered' they're very tight and the vocal harmonies are as nice live as on album. Again, the crowd seems too small for a band this big back home. It's a fun set of great tunes, but the outdoor stage suffers from being too quiet to get into the music, and as such they come across a little weedy. With the dependance on two vocalists there's not too much action on stage, not to say that they were boring, just compared to others they lack the 'x' factor.
Bad Religion
Are surprisingly playing one of the main stages, clearly these guys are more popular here. There seems to a lot of love for bands of their generation, a love for punk that seems a little stuck in the 90s. As such BR pump out a set of oldies, pleasing the crowd, but for a newer fan (like me) I'm left wanting for more from 'The Empire Strikes First'. Still they play a decent amount from that album, and plenty of older classics as well. It's possible that they played 'you' after I left, but the song that accompanied many happy hour of video game skateboarding would have been welcome. Overall the sound is good closer to the stage, and the set is real tight, while the between song is honed to a friendly chat, no bullshit, and a few smart jokes. The size of the venue dampens the atmosphere a little though, so the effect is less impressive than other shows. I leave a little early to see a personal favourite of mine:
Circa Survive
It's another big shed for Circa, and as such a total lack of atmosphere. This doesn't stop Anthony Green doing a superb job though, his pitch perfect vocals soaring over the melodic guitar lines. The band play a stunning set, keeping things alove with a mix of their three albums. It's pretty clear that Anthony is high, probably on PCP or something similar, but this just makes him even more entertaining to watch, arms swinging all over the place and eyes like a crazy hitchhiker in the middle of the outback. The energy on stage smashes the passive audience to pieces, although the last song 'Get Out' sends the crowd crazy, finally showing the band the love they deserve. Again the differences between Aus and home become apparent, as the UK would have been more excited for early album 'Juturna' songs rather than the later efforts. That said, it was a spectacular set, if only more people realised, or the sound was less echoy.
Thursday
Are outside as well, the same stage as FYS, and suffering from the the same problems, lacking power mostly from the lack of volume. Their set is fast paced, as the power through the best of their albums. They're keen to let the gathered people know of their upcoming show in Sydney where they'll be playing the whole of 'Full Collapse' as a memorial to themselves, and as a farewell to Australia. The band put on a nicely tight set, but it's not enough to get people moving much, or to inspire much. It goes to show how even the longest lasting of the 'emo' bands from the early 2000's are beginning to fall. Then it's time to wander over for
The Dillinger Escape Plan
who are on one of the smallest stages, although it's still in a shed far too big. Perhaps this is the way of Australia, nearly every pub, bar and venue I've been has seemed far too big for it's occupancy, I crave a tiny intimate venue! Still, this set certainly had atmosphere, with plenty of people piling to see the crazed tech-metallers. It's a blistering set as well, deathly screams over quick double pedal, insane technical riffs and pounding bass lines. This is a band that don't do things by half, and within seconds the vocalist in the crowd screaming in the faces of the front row. This is just the start though, as the guitarist start throwing themselves around the stage, climbing amps is a regular occurrence, and even the lighting rig at the back of the stage. Guitars are spun around arms and bodies as they show their love for their music in the most visceral way possible. It's powerful stuff that really impresses, especially when combined with the technicality of their songs. All too quickly their set is over so it's back to the first shed, but on the way I happen across:
Strung Out
conveniently playing my favourite song. It's an amazing mix of punk-rock and technical ability that creates a real unique sound, although the lame stage does it no justice. All too soon it's time to hurry off for
LetLive.
My most anticipated band of the day and one I've been looking forward to since Reading festival last August. They hit the stage like a brick to the face, hard and heavy. It's a small crowd but every one there seems to be a huge fan, screaming and singing back to the band with passion. The pit is a little strange as the lack of people allows it to open too wide. Vocalist Jason Aaron Butler is a machine, throwing himself across the stage with a raw passion that is unmatched these days. It's pure emotion pouring out of his lungs as he bellows those words into the faces of those present. Again, the stage action is impressive, with guitars, drum parts and speakers all being used to climb, leap from or throw. The power behind this band is huge, and the audience is left with knowledge of how a good band really should be. Up close and personal. On the stage right beside
Your Demise
start up. Only staying for a couple songs, I find their style of 'party hardcore' idiotic and meaningless. The riffs are brutal and aggressive, but there's no depth to this band. Still they're a tight band, and they look the part. The action on stage is nothing compared to the insanity in the pit though. It seems that most of the audience have come down for the chance to two-step and swing fists more than actually listening, but that's fine as it gives the rest of something good to watch. Back in another shed though is
I Am The Avalanche
A band I don't know much about, and not one I've listened to much. It's quiet in here again, but that doesn't seem to bother the band, who pump through the last couple tunes of their set. It's clear that the Vocalist has taken of lot of his old band 'The Movielife' with him to this project. It's a similar mature punk-rock that works well. This would definitely work well in a smaller venue, as the somewhat apathetic audience doesn't help at all. Still, the last song 'Brooklyn Dodgers' is a perfect example of the great songwriting capable from this band.
Slipknot
Are about halfway through their set when I climb the stands to give them a chance. I've not been a fan of theirs for many years, and unsurprisingly I'm still not. From what I can tell, their super tight and their songs sure are heavy. But it's not for me, and the distance again weakens the impact hugely. Also, I'm shocked at how polite they are between songs, so much for the horrific and disgusting image they had, they're just some nice old guys in silly masks. As the drum-set lifted for the set finale I struggle to understand the purpose of such a showboat maneuver, it seems somewhat pompous and cliched now, but the crowd sure go wild for it! And it's back again to the shed for one last band although
Cro-Mags
are still playing when I arrive, a band that does not impress at all. It's like watching Comeback Kid play all those songs no-one liked. It's fast and hardcore, but most of the people in the room at that point are just waiting for
Enter Shikari
Who come on to a massive cheer. And play loads of new stuff that I really don't know, but everyone else seems to...
Bored of writing this now, will continue at another time, probably.
