By Daniel Rutledge
The Big Day Out didn’t really go out with a bang in Auckland, but it didn’t quite cough and splutter to the finishing line either.
It was an unusual one to go out on partly as it was by far the most pleasant to be at. The weather was very merciful, no area was heavily congested and getting from one place to another was a breeze. There wasn’t nearly as many sound issues as there often used to be, bar and ride queues were short or non-existent, even the toilets were the best they’ve ever been and almost at a level safe for human use.
It was also unusual as it lacked a lot of the truly memorable moments of many of the Big Day Outs before it, suffering from a somewhat lacklustre line-up and a less passionate than usual atmosphere.
But it was still great fun and most there will fondly remember the day.
Watch video highlights of the festival.
Soundgarden were the standout act of the final Auckland Big Day Out, with frontman Chris Cornell proving he’s maintained his vocal prowess over all these years very well.
At one point in the set, Cornell surveyed the largely empty seated sections of the stadium and told the crowd it looked like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie.
He also dedicated 'Blow Up The Outside World' to Christchurch in a very sincere and endearing moment.
Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell (Photo: Mediaworks)
I watched the grunge heroes with David Farrier, a much bigger fan of the group than me. He says the set was perfectly pitched at loyal fans and had some surprising standouts:
“Soundgarden haven't been here for a very, very long time, and they had a set list to make their fans happy again, covering all their records and showcasing Chris Cornell's insane vocal range.
“Sure, the My Chemical Romance crowd would have no idea what was going on, but for the rest of us, it made it feel like a good BDO.
“Kicking off with ‘Searching With My Good Eye Closed’ from 1991's Badmotorfinger, which got everyone ready for what came next: ‘Spoonman’. Hit after hit followed including ‘Jesus Christ Pose’, ‘Outshined’ and eventually ‘Black Hole Sun’.
“But it was the other stuff that shone, some songs I wasn't expecting: ‘Big Dumb Sex’ was a standout and Cornell simply screamed through it. Speaking of which, Chris Cornell seems eternally young, so it's unusual to see him surrounded by band members who seem to have been treated unfairly by time (or normally, I suppose).
“Guitarist Kim Thayil's grey ponytail was blowing in the wind and bassist Ben Shepherd grizzled. Still, they played their instruments as good as ever and that's all that matters.
“Chris told us there's a new album soon, which means lots of "new shit". He says he'll be back. They all say that, but I hope he's telling the truth. Heck, he was here just a few months ago with his solo show, he must like the place.”
The two headline acts were, rather fittingly, relics of the two major 90s genres: grunge and Britpop. This only became the case when two of the event’s main drawcards – Kanye West and Odd Future – were dropped from the line-up.
Also, on this whole ‘it’s the last one!’ thing, I’m sure that’s genuine and New Zealand is saying goodbye to the Big Day Out – but not for the first time. In 1997 we had another ‘final ever Big Day Out’, but then it came back after taking a year off.
That was a different time, for sure, but if history repeats itself the great Sweetwaters festival will be reborn in 2014 and then the Big Day Out will spring back to life too. Then in 15 years or so we’ll have another final ever Auckland Big Day Out and the cycle will continue.
One of the many admirable things about the Big Day Out is giving local acts the chance to play at such a huge venue. It was fitting that at Auckland yesterday, two of the biggest day crowds that amassed were for local acts Beastwars and Six60.
Beastwars frontman Matt Hyde and bass player James Woods (Photo: Mediaworks)
Beastwars performed at the new Skate stage – the smaller stage on the side of the main field that replaced the second main stage of previous years. The lads put on a wonderful show, as the always do. For my money they are the best band in the country and seeing them play the last Big Day Out was the best part of my day.
Cavalera Conspiracy came after Beastwars, taking to the stage with the best entrance music of the day – Bathory’s ‘Oden's Ride Over Nordland’. The moshpit got particularly brutal a few times during their set, especially to classic Sepultura hits ‘Refuse/Resist’ and ‘Roots’, both of which were fantastic.
The Boiler Room is no longer a room. The dance / hip-hop area was stripped back yesterday to basically mirror the Green stage, just with concrete instead of grass.
DJ Sir Vere (Photo: Mediaworks)
DJ Sir Vere put on a stellar early set filled with club hip-hop hits, interspersed with a few dubstep numbers and finishing with a great medley of hip-hop classics. His final track, a Big L number, was unfortunately cut short as rain killed his mixer right before our very eyes (and ears).
Check out more photos from the day here.
Girl Talk (Photo: Daniel Rutledge)
Girl Talk was a highlight for the Boiler zone later in the day, churning out his uniquely mashed up music while surrounded by a large group of punters who had been let up onstage with him. To maximise the party vibe, confetti and various bouncy balls and objects were constantly fired into the crowd during his set.
Cut Off Your Hands were a pleasure to see at the Green stage, as were Foster the People, who I managed to catch the end of just in time to hear their massive hit ‘Pumped Up Kicks’. That's the only song I know theirs and they played a few different versions of it as a medley. It’s a great pop song that worked surprisingly well live.
The final set of the day was performed by Noel Gallagher. The Oasis man had a great sense of humour and stage presence and performed his hits, old and new alike, very well.
He closed the festival on a sentimental and fitting note, with ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’.
It was great.
The Big Day Out festival has provided me with a great deal of fun over the years and I’m hugely grateful for it. My favourite sets, in no particular order, are:
- Chemical Brothers, 2000
- Metallica, 2004
- The Prodigy, 1997
- Neil Young, 2009
- Die Antwoord, 2011
- Rage Against the Machine, 2008
- Basement Jaxx, 2000
- Justice, 2007
- Dizzee Rascal, 2008
- Beastwars, 2012
- LCD Soundsystem, 2008
- Tool, 2007
- 2 Many DJs, 2006
- Krafty Kuts, 2008
- Beastie Boys, 2005
- Rammstein, 2001
Thanks Big Day Out. You will be missed.
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