Review – Big Day Out – Perth 2008
Big Day Out. For some, the day of the year, for others, it was an exercise in “what the hell am I doing here again?” – but this years had more than a few moments, nonetheless.
Sweating to the extreme, the sun didn’t stop anyone from checking out Dizzee Rascal. To be honest, English and gangster never quite gels together for some reason, but he seemed to pull it of – amusingly, however. There’s no denying that the man is talented, but hearing that a British accent and such maybe-gangster-ass lyrics was a hilarity that had to be enjoyed. Wait. He wasn’t serious … was he? Regardless, it was a fun performance – fun being the word.
Then – a forty five minute trek with a sea of sheep-people trying to get out of only one exit from the Boiler Room area. Imagine the fun. Baa.
Alas, the Hilltop Hoods were disappointing – but not because of their performance. From what could be heard, they really ripped it up – but the sound was so shocking that it didn’t penetrate to the licensed area. Every so often the gain shifted enough to hear a few words and a few beats, but by and large, what the hell? Muddy, low levels – there were strings (and oh how gorgeous were those strings?) seen on the stage but not a note reached the ears. Something went disastrously wrong, because when Grinspoon came on at the other stage, the sound was as clear as a bell – all the way from the other side of the field. Did they not know how to mix Hip Hop or something?
After the Hilltop debacle, it was time to check out UNKLE – and they were not disappointing. Such a great combination of sounds and talents, and as a live act it was pulled off brilliantly – at times it was quite different to what those who weren’t all that familiar with UNKLE expected, but to the fans it was pure wonderment.
A confusing moment of the day was the somewhat under-sized crowd at LCD Soundsystem. Why this wasn’t packed is unfathomable, as they easily put on one of the best shows of the entire day. Covering all shades of music from both their albums, James Murphy and his crew really contributed something different and eclectic to the day. Not surprisingly, the crowd swelled up and by the time their set ended, the boiler room grass was packed, and many a new fan created.
Krafty Kuts performance was like watching a conductor play a crowd of instruments, and his impeccable mixing traversed an energetic set-list that included everything from electro all the way up to a bit of drum and bass. If that set was anything to go by, everyone is in for another treat at his gig this weekend – as festival DJ sets go, it was bang on the money, so let’s hope it was recorded for release!
Carl Cox was … well, Carl Cox played a decidedly un-Cox set. Completely across the board, and no pure 4/4 to be found, he was able to take the entire crowd by surprise and show them why it is that he has the name that he does. I’m not sure if he really needed to stop playing to get the people off the cargo containers, but whatever. He played brilliantly and in a way that Perth hasn’t seen for some time, of which this reviewer was grateful. It’s nice to be surprised and have old conceptions shattered.
The Big Day Out was exactly what it always is – big, messy, loud and full of issues and like it or leave it – you have to admit that it’s always memorable.
Tags: big day out, carl cox, dizzee rascal, hilltop hoods, Krafty Kuts, LCD Soundsystem, Perth, UNKLE