Another year, another Splendour in the Grass – though this year we seem to have gone back in time, with the festival returning to its Byron Bay home for the first time since 2009. This brief trip down memory lane will forever be remembered as a muddy affair, with today’s 30 minute downpour – hail, brimstone and all – destroying the festival site and making those who brought gumboots truly thankful – none more so than the ones selling them on site for $50+ a pop!
When we arrived at Belongil Fields POND were just wrapping up their set on the main stage; as always it was an entertaining, psychedelic affair that would serve as a apt precursor to Tame Impala’s appearance later in the week. Ben Howard would be the first artist it seemed many were running to see, with the British up-and-comer packing out the GW tent as the rain started to fall. Tracks like “Keep Your Head Up” were a huge hit with the crowd, warranting huge cheers and great singalongs. When did this popularity come from? I feel like I’ve been out of the loop here…
With a two piece being him, he was multitasking like a boss, producing a full sound that would have done a 6 piece proud. “Black Flies” was another hit with the crowd, while “The Fear” closed things up, and we left to experience the rain and hail drenched site for the first time. Making our way to Alison Wonderland next, it was clear that few had let the weather keep them down; in fact the sun had already returned by this point. There was an amazing vibe in this tent, with the whole tent singing along to just about everything Alison whipped out – From Ray Charles and Kanye, to the Lion King theme.
Big Scary had themselves an impressive crowd, though the two piece felt dwarfed on the main stage. Nonetheless they were worthy of the spot, as always producing a huge sound and surpassing all expectations. Their new song was a bit Tea Party / Cure-ish, with “Falling Away” and “Autumn” proving natural hits with the crowd, thanks in part to some worthy triple j play.
In their banter, Howler are nothing if not snarky. In their music, they are playing unapologetic, droney rock and roll – the sort of music kids play to piss off their parents – sometimes pretty damn loud, and always holding a great amount of energy. They embraced audience participation, even getting someone up from the crowd in the process, and they whipped out a cover of Hüsker Dü‘s “Don’t Want to Know If You Are Lonely” in the midst of action from their debut album America Give Up. Their hit single “Back of Your Neck” closed up proceedings.
Spiderbait were next and rocked the house, with the crowd at their most energetic yet. “Pack It Up” and “Shazam!” were both well received, with Kram reminding us why he’s so often touted as one of Australia’s best drummers. Honestly I don’t think I’ve ever seen him rock quite as hard as today. “Fucken Awesome” naturally went down a treat, while the Pixies-esque “Calypso” brought back from memories of our youths. Kram did a ballsy cover of “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, solo, that paid off big time and “Black Betty” closed out the night.
The Shins kept the good times going, delivering what would be one of my favourite sets of the whole weekend. Performing as a six piece, the group opened with “Caring is Creepy” and the set went a little something like this:
Caring Is Creepy
Australia
Simple Song
Bait and Switch
Know Your Onion!
Pam Berry
Phantom Limb
The Rifle’s Spiral
Saint Simon
It’s Only Life
So Says I
No Way Down
Mine’s Not a High Horse
New Slang
Sleeping Lessons
There was little crowd interaction from James Mercer and company, but when you’re playing music this good, do you really need it? Besides, it leaves more time for more music! And they certainly delivered in that respect, churning out 15 songs that served out an even splattering of new and old. A phenomenal set.
Heading to Splendour for an exclusive Australian performance, At The Drive-In played their first show in Australia since their Big Day Out stint in 2001, where, famously, they stopped playing after three songs due to the dangerous moshing they were witnessing in Sydney. They broke up just two months later. They made up for lost time by “playing some old songs from the time that no one used to see us”. They seemed genuinely happy to be on the stage, more so than what the YouTube feed seemed to suggest of their Coachella performance, but they sounded just as good, if not better. It was a loud, killer set that for many was the reason they came. The set went like this:
Arcarsenal
Pattern Against User
Chanbara
Lopsided
Sleepwalk Capsules
Napoleon Solo
Quarantined
Enfilade
Pickpocket
Metronome Arthritis
Catacombs
One Armed Scissor
Just before Jack White hit the stage, I managed to fit in a visit to another band who broke up in 2001 – The Afghan Whigs – who were playing to an undeservedly small crowd. The vibe was electric though as for many, this was a once in a lifetime chance to see one of their favourite bands. The six piece were in good spirits as they ran through a reflective set. The highlight of the night for me was “Miles Iz Ded” – but unfortunately I didn’t get to see all that much of their performance. Here’s hoping there’s a next time!
The headliner of opening night, Jack White, was one of the most anticipated for many, with the acclaimed artist putting on a set that included both an all male six piece band (the Los Buzzardos) and an all female six piece band (The Peacocks). There was a good mix of tracks from his solo record and many other projects, with “Seven Nation Army” closing out the set, leaving the crowd chanting the track’s famous chords long after the band left the stage. Incredibly cool, incredibly tight, this was a wonderful way to end the opening night of Splendour in the Grass 2012. Jack White’s full setlist is below…
With Los Buzzardos
Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground (The White Stripes song)
Freedom At 21
Missing Pieces
Hello Operator (The White Stripes song)
Cannon (The White Stripes song)
Weep Themselves to Sleep
Two Against One (Danger Mouse cover)
With The Peacocks
Love Interruption
Hotel Yorba (The White Stripes song)
Top Yourself (The Raconteurs song)
Blue Blood Blues (The Dead Weather song)
I’m Slowly Turning Into You (The White Stripes song)
The Same Boy You’ve Always Known (The White Stripes song)
Take Me With You When You Go
Sixteen Saltines
Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes song)
