As I entered the Splendour grounds for the final day – exhausted, aching, sunburnt – I couldn’t help but feel quite at a loss as to what my life would be like without sleeping in an overheated van, experiencing such amazing music in the middle of nowhere. It has truly been an outstanding weekend I wished would never end… but alas, just like the frozen margaritas at the Guzman and Gomez tent, if things are awesome, they don’t last nearly long enough. But today we would be sent home in style, with a lineup of V Festival proportions.
It all kicked off with our favourite Scottish sons, Frightened Rabbit (above and below). Since they last hit our shores for the Laneway Festival in Jan/Feb of this year, they released a new album – the brilliant The Winter of Mixed Drinks. For many of us, it was the first time we’d been given a taste of the new album live. Singles “Nothing Like You” and “Swim Until You Can’t See Land” were amongst the newbies to inhabit the setlist, as was the brilliant “The Lonliness and the Scream” and “The Wrestle”. But the highlights of the set remained the old favourites – “The Twist” and “My Backwards Walk” were given new life, as the Scotsman gazed into the hot winter sun.
I hung around the main stage to catch The Mess Hall (below) next, who felt like they’d gotten a buzz back I felt had gone missing in some performances over the last year. Maybe it was the venue, maybe they were just in a good mood, maybe they’ve found new energy in their craft – or maybe it was just me. But for the few songs I caught, primarily off their most recent album, they were killing it.
I couldn’t help but go and catch one of my favourite bands over at the GW McLennan stage next – Blue Mountain kids, Cloud Control. Throwing a one-two-punch towards the end of their set with “Gold Canary” and “Death Cloud”, the tent was absolutely packed for the awesome foursome, most of whom were singing along to a good majority of the songs. If you can get that sort of reception at one of the biggest festivals in Australia – well, you know you’re doing something right. And Cloud Control sure as hell are!
Cloud Control Setlist: Meditation Song 2, There’s Nothing In The Water We Can’t Fight, This Is What I Said, The Rolling Stone, Beast of Love, Gold Canary, Death Cloud, Ghost Story, Buffalo Country
I made my way through the sunburnt, sweaty crowds to get a spot in the Mix Up tent for Miike Snow. Of course, “Animal” was a borderline spiritual dancing experience for everyone who had made it in front of the stage – I took the below picture during it – but it was a genuinely impressive set from start to finish. The duo who spent so much time producing tracks for others, becoming a trio and forming a live band – they certainly know how to get the job done. “Sylvia” was favourite of the set, as was “Burial”. They didn’t quite have the impact that Delphic did the day before, but Miike Snow definitely impressed.
Unfortunately, enjoying Miike Snow meant that I missed all but the last 3 minutes of Surfer Blood. But the 3 minutes I saw were downright fun – I’ll be sure to catch them next time they’re in town. Having walked all that way back to the main Amphitheatre stage, I hung around for We Are Scientists, who opened with tsingle “Nice Guys”, off their new album Barbara. The album namesake of course made an appearance, as did old favourites including “Inaction”, which got a decent reception.
I’m always a bit surprised people aren’t more familiar with this band – I feel I know their early songs so well, that I just assume everyone else is in the same boat! On stage, their hilarious banter and punk sensibilities make for a truly enjoyable set.
My next clash was between Ash and Fanfarlo (above, looking quite like Howard Moon). Criminally unfamiliar with the former, I chose Fanfarlo, and was provided with a truly inspiring set. The London based quintet have been thrilling audiences around the world with their debut LP Reservoir, which was finally released in Australia a couple of months back. Tracks like “Ghosts”, “I’m a Pilot”, “Fire Escape” and “Atlas” are personally favourites, and live, they take them to another world. The instrumentation of this band is tight, well rehearsed, yet fluid enough to give the impression of improvisation. In other words: this is a fucking talented band, and I was thrilled to hear them rip through pretty much the whole album.
Fanfarlo Setlist: Atlas, Finish Line, Harold T. Wilkins, or How to Wait for a Very Long Time, Lake, The Walls Are Coming Down, I’m A Pilot, Drowning , Fire Escape, Wings, Comets, Luna, Ghosts
After a brief interlude to enjoy some snacks, meet the frogs as above, and charge my phone, I spent the following 3 hours running around like a crazy person, catching partial sets of K-OS, The Vines, Broken Social Scene and Jonsi, before making it back to the main stage a couple of tracks into Passion Pit’s set.
The lone representative of the international Hip Hop community was Canada’s K-OS (above)who ripped out the harmonica and set the mix up tent alive, mixing well known tracks like “O.P.P.” into his own favourites, which of course included “I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman” and “CatDiesel”. A great set from what little I saw!
I ran back to the Ampitheatre next, catching The Vines (drummer Hamish Rosser pictured below) ripping it up. After taking much of the year off touring (you may remember they pulled out of the Big Day Out last Summer), they look well rested, rocking out for a crowd who gave them a surprisingly fantastic response.
Tracks included “Ms Jackson”, “Mary Jane”, “Outtathaway”, “Rock With Me” and a few new songs. A great mix of tracks from their already impressive career – which seems to be ready to pick up once again!
Broken Social Scene had packed out the GW McLennan stage, and were fantastic. I’m not too familiar with their music, especially their most recent material, so I didn’t hear anything I recognised, but it was a joy to listen to a band of a million side projects. Let’s face it: Broken Social Scene IS the Canadian Indie music scene, and they are damn talented. There were plenty of devotees in the crowd, hanging on every word, and every note, of a lineup which no only changes on paper between albums, but seemed to be changing before our very eyes, too!
I made it in time for a few spellbinding tracks from the incomparable voice of Sigur Ros, Jonsi. Making my way to the front of the tent, where the bass was very much cranked up to 11, I was able to catch a few of my favourite tracks off the album Go: The beautiful “Tornado”, single “Go Do”, and the energetic “Boy Lilikoi”.
The first of theses tracks saw Jonsi on the piano, with the rest on the acoustic guitar. If I have one big regret of the festival, it’s not seeing more of Jonsi’s set. He’s truly a magician on the stage, providing you with pure euphoric moments.
After the hectic crowd rush for Florence and The Strokes the day before, I opted to miss the remainder of Jonsi’s set to get a spot for Passion Pit, Mumford and Sons and Pixies. For the first, a naked man was jumping around on someone’s shoulders, of which the band approved, so long as he wasn’t offending anyone. Until he decided to bend over, I don’t think he was.
“Let Your Love Grow Tall” was a highlight of the set, their now famous cover of “Dreams” by The Cranberries was a joy, and seeing the crowd lose their shit during “Little Secrets” and “Sleepyhead” was one of those truly great festival moments. People can complain all they like about “festivals have too many people!” etc. etc. but at the end of the day, that’s why we’re there – to share some great music with complete strangers. For some, perhaps it’s also to share drugs, but that’s between them and their drugs, and not for me to judge!
Looking incredibly nervous backstage, Mumford and Sons were given the reception of kings, as they opened with “Sigh No More”, gradually shaking off their nerves. They would later admit “we’ve been nervous about this show for so long!” – I guess when you play your biggest ever show in a country that has given you more support than any other, you’d be worried that you had too much to live you to! It’s clear these guys are truly blown away by their success. Not adhering to any norms of the popular genres, I think the entire music industry is surprised by their success – it turns out that sometimes good music does resonate!
During “Roll Away Your Stone”, they invited Julia Stone, Boy & Bear and Passion Pit on stage to dance and provide backing vocals. A great festival moment that I would have loved to have seen more of. When Julian Casablancas was singing the praises of Florence the night before, for instance, I would have loved a spontaneous duet. She was side of stage and everything! But maybe I’m just greedy.
While “Little Lion Man” was a special moment, I think “The Cave” won out the set for me. Much like with Florence the night before, I think a lot of naysayers were shown what the fuss was all about tonight – once again hearing murmurings of “I totally get them now!”
I think for many, too, this will be the set they tell all their friends about. There’s something about the mass singalongs that makes for a special experience. Meanwhile, I think a lot of American bands will be thinking to themselves “I can’t believe how big this band are down here!”
Of course, this wasn’t the only time Mumford and Sons hit the stage at Splendour – they joined The Temper Trap on the first day, and Laura Marling the second, so they were one of the few bands to enjoy the full festival. So when, on stage, they called Splendour the best lineup of any festival in the world this year, you somehow knew they weren’t lying. And not including something like SXSW, I’d have to agree. This was truly amazing. Exhausting. But amazing.
PIXIES.
It’s a band so many never thought they’d get to see. Let alone in Australia. And now, since 2007, they’ve made 3 trips to our shores – 2 of which have taken place this year! The setlist, which is below, was so epic. Everyone would have gotten a good chunk of their favourite songs, and the band seemed a bit more energetic than what I experienced back in 2007 a V Festival. And Kim Deal, the coolest Mum in the world, had this to say: “don’t you all have school tomorrow!?” – “Are you all camping here? You’re keeping warm I hope!” – Seriously – Coolest. Mum. Ever.
It goes without saying that there’s nothing about Pixies which makes them a groundbreaking live act – it’s all about the songs you know and love. For me, “Debaser”, “Wave of Mutilation”, “Tame”, “Hey” and “Where Is My Mind” were easily highlights – but for the next person it would be a different list. You love what you love, and it’s simply a thrill and an honour to get to see them play live. And for this to be the last band I saw at Splendour in the Grass 2010 – well that’s a bit of all right as well. Much better than Richard Ashcroft or Empire of the Sun… Even Richard agrees! *walks off stage*
I’m not a camper, but I loved camping at this festival. With something happening 24 hours a day, the fact I was able to spend my last hours, post Pixies, sitting and watching a bunch of drugged out people dance at the Pyramid stage (below), after catching Miike Snow perform a DJ set at the Jagercube (above), without having to worry about getting the last bus home, and missing anything as a result, was a true joy. And as I ate a Byron Bay Organic Donut (They came! They came!), hypnotised by the crazy people in front of me, I couldn’t help but pinch myself. This was pretty damn cool.
Splendour in the Grass 2010 was not only the best lineup Australia has seen in a very long time, perhaps ever depending on who you ask, but it was also the best festival Australia has seen in a very long time, too. In spite of the hiccups entering and leaving the festival for some people, it was truly well organised, with plenty on offer for everyone – there was never a dull moment, and I can safely say it was one of the best weekends of my life. At times, pure euphoria, at others, pure aural pleasure, and at other times, just damn good company making for an atmosphere unlike any other.
I left Splendour in the Grass 2009 unsure if I’d return in 2010 – but I’m so glad I did.
This was a weekend I’ll never forget.
PIXIES EPIC SETLIST:
Cecilia Ann
Rock Music
Bone Machine
Monkey Gone to Heaven
Gouge Away
Hey
Velouria
Dig for Fire
Allison
Debaser
Planet Of Sound
Alec Eiffel
Caribou
River Euphrates
Cactus
Break My Body
Wave Of Mutilation
Tame
Isla De Encanta
Broken Face
Nimrod’s Son
Gigantic
—
Where is my Mind
Here Comes Your Man
