:: Splendour In The Grass 2008By: Mark RasmussenThis would be my first Splendour and while I have been to many festivals before, strapping into a plane and flying up rather than buckling up in the old Kingswood and driving there, was a totally difference experience. Having secured media accreditation, we (my girlfriend and I) could afford to live it up a little rather than slumming it with the rest in tent city. So we opted to stay out of the hustle and bustle that is Byron Bay and chose instead a beautiful retreat in Bangalow - about a ten minute drive from the festival site. As soon we walked through the door we knew we had made the right choice. Our festival didn't start for two days so we had plenty of time to kick back, drive around in the little rental car and observe the converging masses. It certainly made for a spectacle. 17,500 people walk through the Splendour gates and while all of them can't stay on site, the rest being picked up by the overpriced s**t holes in Byron during festival time, it totally reinforced our decision of the surrounds we chose. Besides, I've done enough camping and going without hot showers at other festivals, so I'd paid my dues. SATURDAY: DAY 1 The music had well and truly started by the time we trundled our way around the grounds. So after taking in the various tents, delights and props decided to pay our first visit to one of the three tents showcasing the music. The band inside, Operator Please, one of this country's hottest properties at the moment. It's fair to say they were good without really igniting the place. So after tiring of them we moved over to the more “mellower” orientated tent (GW McLennan tent) and saw Lightspeed Champion, a mix of sounds and ideas and highly entertaining as their front man wore Russian styled clad fur hat despite the temperature actually being quite warm for that time of year. After their performance we sat and chilled at the community tent and watched the belly dancing upon the Temple Stage. This little piece of serenity was a good escape from the busier sections of the grounds. From there it was over to the Supertop tent to take in band I have loved for a few years now, The Music. Even though they have been off the radar for a while this UK band rocked the tent and everyone inside was glad they were back as the masses danced and jumped in unison to old favourites and new songs. They were great and would remain a highlight throughout. As we had secured media passes, we thought it timely to catch our breath and go suss out what the other half do. It took forever to wade through the crowd as the organisers had thought it a great idea to heard everyone into a small corral like boardwalk. Eventually we made it inside away from the crowd for a quiet ale and respite where we could then sit on the side of the stage in a grandstand and watch Gyroscope hit their straps. It was certainly different to say the least, seeing a band from the side, and I have to admit it's not actually that good. But this space would become hot property throughout the course of the festival. We'd had enough of the “high” life and joined the throng back out on the main arena. The evening coolness was coming and we figured this the best point throughout the Saturday line-up to duck back to the car and prepare for the night. And boy are we glad we did. Even though Byron Bay sits at the top of New South Wales, it still gets cold, as cold as Melbourne even. So the beanies and scarfs we thought we probably would have no need for were more than a handy last minute pack job. Pity the fools who thought it would be balmy. Idiots! It wasn't. Far from it. Yet these stupid young things strolled about in shorts, skirts, singlets and t-shirts and thongs while their legs turned blue oblivious to the apparent cold. It must have been the drugs working, which kept them warm. I'm not sure how St.John's handled them but I am sure there were many hyperthermia cases that night. Anyway, stiff s**t; that's their own stupid fault for being so clueless, fools. Back to the festival. Day gave way to night and we took in The Fratellis for a little bit but they were actually quite boring so opted instead for a dinner break. Now if it's food you're after and lots of it, Splendour was the place to be. And the quality and selection was awesome. From everything like Mongolian, African, Hare Krishna, Organic Homemade Byron Bay specialty donuts and more, the tastebuds had their own little festival in my mouth. This was all followed by a delightful cup of hot chocolate, which warmed the insides and had me ready to tackle the second part of Saturday. It kicked off with the Cold War Kids who were late starting with sound check problems and then sounded very ordinary, which was really disappointing because we had wanted to see them for a while. But it made our decision that much easier to ditch them in favour of Band of Horses, who were playing at the much smaller tent. Our decision was vindicated as they proceeded to play arguably the set of the festival. Their front man was in full voice and even brought a lot of personality to stage, and you know a band has made it when a group of four guys can hug each other throughout an entire band's set. Put simply, Band of Horses were the stellar highlight in a festival that to be honest delivered few. From there we continued to wander the grounds and caught some of Pnau who I had seen at this year's Big Day Out and was totally impressed. But that Mix Up tent just kept filling up so it was over to see The Polyphonic Spree, who in all had 26 members and were very unique and somewhat peculiar. while their music was fairly fun, they were more novelty than stand in awe act. On our way back towards the main tent, we decided to check out the Tipi Forest, which was the doof doof section. It was interesting and slightly better music would have kept us there among the forest and the teepees. Although I had never been a big fan in my youth, Devo were this year's headliner. When I heard the announcement I thought it odd. Then I saw Devo and I thought it was even odder. Seeing 50-60 year-old men in boiler suits with plastic pots on their heads was hardly the stuff to inspire. Especially considering the average age of the crowd was somewhere between 22-25. They moved like dinosaurs and while they may have inspired a whole new wave of bands since, their music was tired, outdated and honestly lame. So we didn't stay long at that tent and moved across to see Tricky, who I thought would lift the tempo somewhat. Wrong! Standing on an under-lit stage (must be in his contract for minimal light), Tricky stood and softly sounded out a very mediocre show. I was disappointed. But I wasn't the only one, with many in the thinning crowd making their way out of the tent. I stayed on hoping the lights and his stage show would ramp it up but it never came. And so we followed the crowd back to the boggy car park, again thankful it hadn't rained as the damp, dewey ground squelched underfoot. As we bedded down for the night in our warm, comfy bed I thought about the day and festival so far. But before I could get too far sleep took over. SUNDAY: DAY 2 We missed Little Red and Even, two bands at the very opposite end of their careers but I have seen one and will no doubt see the other very soon, as Little Red's star continues to shine bright. So, instead our Sunday started with Vampire Weekend, an American act I hadn't paid much attention to previously. But after standing in amazement at their set, that was all about to change. This band kicked the second and last day off in style. The whole tent was jumping as one as they sang and danced their arses off. I left impressed. We passed back through the grounds and as we did saw Sacred Earth, a hippy, folk two piece who offered respite from the heavier rock antics on other bigger stages. Again, a lovely little break from the hustle and bustle. It was back over to the main tent for The Wombats, who had to follow on from Vampire Weekend, and they did it in style. While not as energetic as the previous band they put in a great live show as the kids lapped it up. I thought they were good as we sipped our beers from the confines of the media area, where Sid of the Vasco Era proceeded to get drunk and do forward rolls in the dirt. Day soon gave way to evening again and if last night was anything to go by we decided to make our way back a little earlier this time to avoid the biting night chill air. Only when we got back to the car I found out my girlfriend had locked the keys insides. Great! But we turned what would normally be a bad time into good as we embraced a fellow stranger who gave us the use of his mobile phone for us to ring the NRMA (the NSW equivalent of the RACV). And thank God he was so kind because 20 minutes later we assured they were on their way. As the sky filled up with glorious sunset colours our saviour in a van came and in seconds (and $100 later) had the doors opened. Hallelujah! A quick change later and we were back in the Splendour precinct. Having missed The Grates (though I could hear them) and Lyrics Born, we had to make up ground. We passed by the Gyuto Monks, who seem to make more appearance at festivals than the bands themselves. We started with The Vines who were brilliant at this year's Golden Plains (the best festival in Australia). Tonight however, they were a little flat but Craig tried hard. They are certainly back on everyone's radar after a few years of many problems. Next it was over to Mix Up to see why Van She had secured three spots on the bill?!? One as Van She, rock band, two as Van She Tech, the dance act. Straight up they were terrible. Whoever thought it was a good idea to have them play twice needs to be shot. They should have stuck around to see The Presets to see how a real dance-rock band plays, they might have learned a thing or two. After that anomaly, we moved across to see The Panics, who I had already seen earlier this year at Australia's best little music festival, Golden Plains. They were in fine form and made me quickly forget the bulls**t that was Van She Tech. Adorned in Advance Australia circa 1980 knitted jumper, lead singer Jae Laffer, and his band of merry men delivered the goods. Why they weren't on the bigger stage baffled me. But then when I saw Sigur Ros, I realised why. This Icelandic act brought arguably the best props along as they sang, chanted and delivered a memorable show. If not for Band of Horses, quite possibly the day two's highlight. I, and many in the crowd were equally enchanted by what we witnessed. A truly breathtaking, moving performance. It was hard to leave, but leave we did as we tried gallantly to make our way over to see The Presets, who are arguably this country's hottest act. But with the tent jammed to capacity and the outside 10 deep, I didn't fancy listening to the crowd around me sing off key as we were too far away from the speakers to ever hear them properly. Besides, I've seen this act enough times to know how good they are. After battling back through the crowd I wanted to see Ben Lee, just because I never have but we didn't get any further than Wolfmother and the media side stage, which was still weird for me. The word on the street was that they were out of shape, on the verge of splitting up and had issues. From the moment they walked out on stage as one, you would never have known. Frontman Andrew Stockdale jumped and bounced around the stage and taking his cue we left the docile VIP grandstand for the side stage, where not only were we able to get close but had room to move and dance and jump around. Me not so much, however, as I had a dodgy back but Colette lapped it up. I just stood and marvelled at a band I had followed pre-hype. Even though they did announce that two members of the band were leaving shortly after, I was glad to have witnessed their last ever performance as this line up in this guise. A few scribes criticised their performance but from where I stood, they put on a great show. Maybe not their best, but far from their worst. Shame on those reviewers who sharpened their knives in readiness to stab them in the back. They were a great way for us to finish up our first ever Splendour. Even though it had been talked up, it was still a pretty reasonable festival and although I rate it lower down the scale as far as festivals are concerned - you just can't beat Meredith and its one stage, b.y.o alcohol - we both had a pretty good time and I was happy with a lot of the acts I would not have normally had the chance to see. And to me, that's what a festival is all about. So as we jumped back into our rent-a-car and back to paradise at the Green Mango Hideway, where we had two days respite before facing up to work and the Melbourne winter, I took in the moment. Mostly happy with the set up, disappointed by the overcrowding in some areas, and worried it might get too big, our first Splendour was one to savour. While I won't be back next year, we'll be in South America by then, I could recommend it to those who like three main stages, a youngish crowd but generally a fairly hassle free, peaceful vibe. I'd like to thank Patti Revson (publicity) for the media tickets and the chance to finally get up north for a festival. Susie, for her incredible hospitality at the Green Mango. Your amazing B&B really was a piece of tranquility, but lastly the locals of Byron who put up with this convergence of mayhem each and every year. It's a good festival, be proud of it and what it does for your little piece of sun-soaked community.
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