Good Vibrations @ Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne (10/02/2007)

That Melbourne weather really needs to take some anti-psychotic drugs. All day she (I am referring to her as she, as it was the personification of indecisive) was changing. One minute it was warm, and then a big gust of cold wind would hit, only to be rapidly followed by the sun overriding this, but then clouds would cover, and it would be cold again… and the cycle continued. Strangely, the whole day had elements which were synonymous with the weather described.

My approach was met with a “Cold Case” moment: I could see a younger version of myself at the entrance 5 years ago (to the day almost), at “Vibes on a Summers’ Day” waiting to go in and see Groove Armada and Jamiroquai on the same bill. Whilst I am allegedly older and wiser, I found myself sustaining similar anticipation. Pretty hard not to with “Beastie Boys”, “Snoop Dogg”, and “Jurrasic 5” being at the core of a phenomenal line-up.

As per usual, first item on the agenda was a cruise around to get bearings/ access points/ find the bars and toilets (not necessarily in that order). As you walked in, to the right were some stalls, first aid, toilets and the blink and you’ll miss them ITM VIP toilets. Then, as you cruised around, on the right was the Bacardi Tent, and on the periphery of the hills were the bars (clearly also sponsored by Bacardi). Did I mention there was Bacardi? I am still undecided as to whether drinking rum in the sun is a good idea… But it seemed like a great one at the time.

When I was visiting my comrades at the VIP toilets, people were noticeably messy. Not only were they using profanities in an attempt to gain access, but throughout the day there were fence jumpers, and also fair bit of aggression. It was intense that already people were having issues with the main bathrooms and it was only 3pm (barely enough time to have a broken seal). When I went to get my second drink I was shocked at the length of the queues already. Lining up uphill was not fun. It also appeared that everyone was drinking (at least in comparison to the Big Day Out where drinking was a somewhat covert operation).

Naturally the crowd was a jovial myriad of pastel/ headbands/ ever so witty t-shirts/ Havianas/ skimpy designer/ and then there were people that were deliberately matching.

Noticeably, I have not mentioned the stage layouts yet. This is because, in comparison to the main stage (which is an unbelievable amphitheatre taking up most of the venue), the other stages were somewhat modest. Yes there was the Bacardi tent (up on the right on top of the hill), but the Laundry and Roots stage were around the back. They were both very small areas, and the Roots stage was almost down the garden path. It was immediately noticeable the sound was meshing.

I really wanted to see Fort Knox Five & Thuderball at 3.30 in the Bacardi tent, but already it was so congested that I could not get in. Also, it did not have a daytime festival feel about it: it was somewhat dark and sweaty. I was pretty disappointed by that, and as I kept on glancing over throughout the afternoon, the realisation dawned that it was not going to get any better. Thus I missed Ursula 1000, and Kraak and Smaak.

Unfortunately, the scenario was somewhat the same with the Roots stage. Nightmares on Wax and Rahzel & JS-1 were must sees as far as I was concerned. However, it was a bottle neck set out trying to get in. Not that this bothered me (at BDO I was unwilling to make such commitments, but the crowd was somewhat different here). We got to the front, and the sound was absolutely crap. Totally muffled and quiet. 45 minutes in it felt like they had not started, and people were leaving, I followed. The guys in front of me mumbled, “Nightmares on Wax… not just a clever name” When I tried to go back for Rahzel, I could not even get in. Whilst I was annoyed by this, it was relief to know that I had tickets for the sideshow at the Prince on Thursday.

As for the Laundry, it was in a nook on the exterior of the amphitheatre. There was not much room, and it was not really anywhere, more on the way to everywhere else. There was so much commotion everywhere that a fair amount of determination would be required to listen to a set, and that is if you could get close.

Feeling somewhat dejected, I went back to my friends who were also down in the mouth. There were queues everywhere, and people seemed to already be jostling for a prime position for the later acts. Evidently, some people had simply decided to booze on or have an afternoon nap. There was also an abundance of blushing décolletage: there would be some sore sunburnt hooties out there now. To be totally honest, narky could describe me at this point; every task was becoming a mission, and I was acutely aware that it was still getting busier.

It was somewhere around this time that I realised my wristband was a different colour to everyone else’s. I was wondering what that pink baby could do, so I took her for a spin. Off I went, straight over to the side of the stage, which is elevated, giving it a feeling of box seats at the opera. The security guard looked down at my wrist, and then nodded. Suddenly my sullen demeanour flipped and I proceeded to have what I can honestly say was one of the best days of my life.

This was all going on at approximately 5pm. Once in the VIP area which boasted bar, toilets, air conditioning and a million dollar view of the stage, I decided that this was the premier position I had been coveting all afternoon. Upon remembering my jacket was still at the ITM toilets, I swiftly went on one final mission to grab it. I was so lucky to get back in, as the main stage was now congested half way up the hill. It was a similar scramble to getting on the 8.12am Connex from Prahran to the city.

Thus, the first act I saw for the day was Sneaky Sound System. Normally I am one to avoid these guys, and I cannot say that I am the hugest fan of their music, but they killed it. It was not my imagination either. Granted at this point I would have enjoyed a performance by Gunther from the accounts department on the zither, but it would be uncalled for to take anything away from the performance. I recognised that they played, “I love it” and “Pictures”.

Next up was Jurassic 5. They were by far and away the best of the day. Succinct, entertaining, energetic, and fun. This hip-hop outfit killed it. Their set incorporated “Work it out”, “Radio”, “Future Sound” and “Baby Please”. They were required to take it to the next level as clearly we were getting to the business end of the day, and this they did. Looking out from where we were and seeing 20000 people immersed in the performance with their hands up, is a sight that will be branded on my memory until I go senile.

They finished, and left an electric atmosphere. Next up was Snoop Dogg. I remember hearing he had been added to the line-up: you could almost hear a collective gasp in the hallowed cyberspace. Many were regretting their decision to give Good Vibes a miss. The Dogg spent too long mucking around before his set, but when he got out there he was very entertaining. At one point he took a huge toke on a spliff onstage; wouldn’t expect anything less really. His set was great. Playing “Gin ‘n’ Juice”, “What’s my name?”, “Up’s and Down’s”, “Lodi Dodi”, “Murder was the Case”, “Drop it like it’s hot”,
“Pump Pump”, “For all my niggaz and bitches” and finished with “Pump Pump”. He was pretty cool, and my friend who is a huge fan nearly blew a gasket.

The night finished with Beastie Boys. Having missed these guys every time, to say I was elated to be watching them from where I was would be an understatement. I thought they were great. I suppose the performance was not top notch: “Sabotage” was crap, and the whole set was a bit of stop and start, with too much instrumental. It did not bother me that much as I was in the presence of absolute legends. They simply exude cool. Apparently there were also sound problems with them, but my proximity was such that I was unaware.

All in all, I had a great day, but I can understand why others wouldn’t have. It was simply too hard at some points. I was incredibly lucky to see it from where I did, and perhaps the teething problems with sound and set-up were due to the fact that it was the first gig on the tour. There is no denying though that the Jam crew manage to provide the most amazing line-ups, and this year was no different. Just a bit tough when you don’t get to see everyone you intended to. Regardless, the overall feeling was sensational, and it is my favourite event in the summer festival season.