Kill Ca[ssie]ustic

Big Day Out

Perth, Australia

Claremont Showgrounds

4^th of February 2007.

Flooding through the massive lines to reach the gates of the 2007 Big Day Out is an adventure in itself. Passing many younger participants than usual, a few guys that have already had ‘a bit too much’ (and the fact that its not even 11am yet give some inside) and of course the scalpers, I myself walking there was asked if I needed tickets at least twice.

Thousands and Thousands of people (40,000 infact), just like me, would be stepping through here shortly. Today, was a sell out affair. Now, im not sure if you follow Big Day Out history but the only ever sold out BDO in Perth was with Rage Against The Machine, Porno for Pyros, Elastica, The Prodigy, Rancid, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Regurgitator as headliners back in 1996. So, some years ago now… but that was then. This is now.

Returning to its home of the Claremont showgrounds and a reasonable day compared to the weather Perth has been getting lately, It was an almost perfect day. But as I found out later, you still needed to pile on that sunscreen.

The first act planned on my agenda to see was small hometown boys, Calerway. Their set was the first of the “rock” stages so, many people came to help fill in the green stages patch of grass. Starting off with an array of generally ‘new’ songs from their upcoming LP, this 4 piece still have defiantly got something. Their many “thankyou so much for coming this early to see us” was a cute touch. Finishing their half hour set with always crowd pleaser ‘Loaded’.

The next Perth rising talent to hit the green stage with The Dirty Secrets. Now, I hadn’t heard of these guys before Calerway’s frontman JP mentioned they were great, and the mumbles of a few crowd members also putting their 2 cents of how good they are. And now, I agree. A lot different from Calerway with a familiar yet different sound The Dirty Secrets put on a generally good live show, and throw in some keyboard for good measure. Catchy songs that could easily be radio singles if had the chance, this is a band to look out for.

After jetting and making my way around the stalls of different organizations or actual stalls, passing people dressed up as Batman, Superman and sperm and stopping for a $3 dollar bottle of water (“outrageous!”) settle down to catch a glimpse of The Butterfly Effect. They have never generally been ‘my thing’ but alls all they aren’t that half bad live, I give them that.

Next band on the list to see after another wondering around the showgrounds aimlessly, is New Jerseys own My Chemical Romance. Now, last time I saw these guys support Green Day back in Melbourne, 2005 they weren’t as energetic as I had first thought they would be. Today, they proved me wrong. In the sweltering 3:30pm sun, the sea of black shirts and caked on eyeliner stood bold and screaming continuously “MCR. MCR. MCR.” Over Scribes annoying set ‘next door’, the only applause he got from our side of the 2 mega stages was when he dedicated one of his songs to “My Chem”.

But that was nothing compared to the roar of when the 4 remaining members of My Chemical Romance hit the stage (guitarist Frank Iero is still off sick). Heading into songs off both their major label hit albums Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (Helena, Im Not Okay (I Promise), You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison for example) and 2006’s The Black Parade (Welcome To The Black Parade, Mama, Famous Last Words, Cancer, Teenagers), unfortunately for fans like myself, nothing off I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love was in sight but considering how the crowd were mostly there because MCR are the “it” band of the moment, this was no real surprise. The crowd surges were immense, nearly every other female around myself either fainted from heat exhaustion, dehydration or simply just couldn’t continually hold their ground during the surges. Sadly no one really seemed to care for Gerard Way’s many pleads for the crowd to “MOVE BACK” and “HELP THE ONES THAT FALL DOWN, UP”. Way’s speeches about “I see a lot of people with black shirts on out there. Don’t ever let anyone beat you up because you wear black” did get rounds of applause and arm waves from the ever building packed crowd though.

As soon as I got my breath back, reached oxygen and got some more H2O back into me and not over my face and shirt, made the way over to the Converse Essential stage to see Aussie heroes The Vines. Playing generally their hits for once again, a mostly adolescent crowd it was a memorable occasion to say the least. ‘Get Free’ of course getting the biggest screams.

Back to the main Orange and Blue stages, just catching Perths biggest import nowadays Eskimo Joe closing their set and The Killers make their entrance. Now myself not being the biggest Killers fan in the world, I didn’t expect all that much – and well, I was right. With a stage littered with flowers strung through pianos and other instruments to me it was a tad of a “What. The. Fuck?” and well honestly, their whole set was a little ‘what the fuck?’. The only real crowd pleasers seemed to have been Smile Like You Mean It, Somebody Told Me and All These Things That I've Done. Nothing of their newest (and quite disappointing even from someone who doesn’t consider themselves a ‘fan’) album ‘Sam’s Town’ got close to a real singalong. Finishing set with All These Things That I've Done as mentioned before, with Brandon Flower’s jumping on the piano with microphone stand in hand; urging the crowd to participate in “I GOT SOUL BUT IM NOT A SOLDIER” and for the most part, did.

Another quick jog to see Something For Kate (the person I was with likes them, me again – not so much). Hearing familiar songs off Channel [v], they sound pretty close to their recordings live, surprising myself quite a bit. After 3 or so songs, headed back to see Jet.

I have seen once more at Perth’s other big music festival ‘Rock-iT’ once more a few years ago and by god, they have gotten better. They seem to have a real grip and understanding of how to hold a massive crowd now. With many songs off Get Born the crowd was a feeding frenzy, so much so, Jet’s set halfway through had to paused. Seems us Perthians don’t understand “move back” too well. But alas, they still beamed with the Australian pride we all know and love, even as far as to do as many bands have done before them and incorporate the Australian flag into the banner of ‘JET’.

By now most Big Day Out attendees had swarmed into the area of the main stages to catch the headliners Muse and Tool.

Chants of ‘MUSE’ came from the orange stage surroundings and judging by the stage set up already – they were going to be worth it.

Astonishing all with Bellamy’s natural flair on guitar, Muse live up to their reputation of just being amazing live. With many songs as Bellamy said in earlier interviews that many of the songs would be played off 2006’s highly praised album Black Holes and Revelations which in turn, was correct. This being Muse’s second BDO performance obviously had some effect on their set as they knew how to control the crowd here; My Chemical Romance and Jet, take tips.

Ending the day of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll Australian style was headliners Tool. Now, from my “insiders” I already knew they were more suited to small venues where they had more control, not a set up as notoritious and frantic as a Big Day Out closing mainstage for example. Amist most of the gazing fans around me, I noticed that most only knew, if anything, songs off the late 10,000 Days, which I should add; did incredibly well for the genre of band they are in the Australian charts. If they ever come back again, I would like to see them in a club to compare myself because with this set up, I was not “impressed”.

Now, can’t wait to see what 2008 has to offer on our shores, its going to take a lot to beat My Chemical Romance and Muse’s sets that’s for sure….