V. muddy, v. good
Well
it was in the hot, hot heat that early V Fest revelers found themselves
as they discovered a delay to gates open, was necessary to give
organisers a bit more time to prepare some very wet grounds for
the onslaught of heavy trampling.
This delay transferred to the band set times and
after a good half hour of anticipation the Canadian (British Columbia)
act, Hot Hot Heat finally took to the stage, seemingly as annoyed
as the crowd who had gathered to hear them. Well fear not lead
singer Steve Bays said, the band were ready even if the stage
was not, but alas he opened with no sound on his mic.
Despite these early teething problems, the band
delivered a set rich with enthusiasm and energy which is probably
what was required to allay V Fest punters that they had invested
in a good day out despite the muddy quagmire they stood in.
Dirty Mouth, and 5 times out of 100 were the two
songs that registered with me, and I would have liked to stay
for the entire set to hear some of their older hits but due to
the delays my crew and I were anxious not to miss Cut
Copy.
Unfortunately though the timing didn’t compute
and we found we’d cut off a great set from the Heat to stand
about and wait for the stage crew to get organized for Cut Copy.
When they did finally appear, it was straight into the new material
from In Ghost Colours
opening with Standing out on the ice, then So Haunted, into Lights
and Music, and Far away – basically their entire album.
Capping it off with a rousing crowd, pumping version of Hearts
on Fire - still a clear anthem.
I’d
like to say I enjoyed Modest Mouse, but after I’d lost my
ankle into the depths of mud I was somewhat pre-occupied in how
gross I felt. Dashboard and Float on for me were highlights and
off I ran to catch up with Roisin Murphy, someone I was very keen
to see.
Roisin Murphy,
definitely an unknown quantity for some of the crowd, but this
saucy minx put on quite a performance. Six costume changes and
as many hats gave way to many different moods and personas, Primitive
stood out as did her title album track Overpowered as well as
the new single Let me know which was wonderful to dance under
a twilight sky too. Roisin was most apologetic for keeping us
waiting too, which added to her support from the crowd.
Not a lot happened then between her finish and Air
beginning. I did brace the port-a-loo queues along with a thousand
other desperate types and to the ten pottys we all waited. Eek,
it was a bit of a let down and that was the sentiment from everyone
I was standing near. Apart from having bursting bladders, where
was the logic in so few toilets?
The French suave DJs Air took to the stage in crisp
genteel white suits and disguising their voices under robotic
distortion they opened with a very mellow first half, not entirely
unexpected and of course it was very good, but for those who were
getting amped up for Queens of the Stone Age next door it wasn’t
really the mood needed. I did hear though as I’d thought
that the set built with layered intensity and an emotional journey
was had by those who stayed when Sexy boy and a finale of La Femme
D’Argent were brought down, truly something special.
Queens of the Stone Age though held my gaze and
it was a good time to head on over though watch out you didn’t
fall into the pit of mud now underfoot. They cultivated some awesome
crowd enthusiasm with oldy but goody Feel Good hit of the Summer
and then straight into Sick Sick Sick I could feel head banging
coming on. Go with the Flow and Make it wit chu as well left you
with the knowledge these guys are truly polished performers and
skilled rock musicians and entertainers.
CSS – my only sprint to the dance stage -
which I have to say was well worth it. This band is quite reminiscent
in their live presence of New Young Pony Club, only all girls
and from Brazil not Britain.
Trudging
through the mud again, another eagerly anticipated act Duran Duran
took to the far stage. From 1978 – 2008 a thirty year career
and these guys are still going strong. Opening with the cheesy
smaltz of Sunrise, we were reaching for the sunshine, then We
were Hungry like the wolves and following on to Planet Earth left
the mature looking crowd satisfied this band still got what it
takes. As I danced off to the final act of the evening I’m
sure I heard a very Timbaland sounding track, hmm could it have
been Skin Divers? The modern day Duran Duran demonstrating they
understand how to stay current jus add a little flavour flav.
Off I trundled then to the Smashing Pumpkins. Since
I was exposed to this band when I was 16 I had been eagerly anticipating
Billy Corgan and his pumpkins. It was well worth it. I even sacrificed
the dancey end to the evening to see them in almost their entirety.
Some gems of very early material made up the opening half (pumpkins
had the longest set of the evening over an hour) Today and I’m
pretty certain I heard Silverfuck, making up the Siamese Dream
album contingent Tonight Tonight, plus an acoustic version of
1979 the ‘infinite sadness album. These tracks were interspersed
amongst some quality hard core rock delivered by Corgan himself
and his merry or not so merry pumpkins. The overall sentiment
of the Pumpkins set was clear to me: death to disco and hail rock!
“In the beginning god gave us drums, in the beginning god
gave us bass, and in the beginning god gave us guitar, Corgan
espoused from his stage spot wearing his warrior style silver
skirt and rashy vest. A lot of distortion followed and then he
went into Bullets with Butterfly wings. Wowsers the mini- mosh
that developed near my observation post was indicative of how
much the crowd wanted to hear that one.
An encore of sorts, and Billy chose then to ram
home his thoughts on disco. Next door The Presets were thumping
away so much so he couldn’t hear himself think due to the
kick drum. So he chose to compose on the spot a little ditty about
‘discoland’ and what happens there. Very funny, but
quite clearly taking the piss at electro fans. Not to mention
the disclaimer which followed that the pumpkins could not be held
for responsible for any violence that might ensue towards the
crowd next door.
Aside from the muddy quagmire the entire crowd find
ourselves in rapture. Overall the day was spent witnessing some
high quality performances. The only trouble now is for the greenkeepers
of Avica Resort. What will become of their beloved pristine greens
– they are a trampled and sullied swampland.
You can catch these acts for the remaining V Festivals
in Melbourne and Perth early April. Visit: www.vfestival.com.au
for more information.
Ruth Bailey
