Young and the youth

Big Day Out, Melbourne
January 26th 2009

Neil. Rockin'.

The Best...

Band : Black Kids
Could be a little biased and predictable as I'd been dying to see this band ever since they burst onto the Internet in '07. And even though they were down one black kid (Reggie's sister was ill), the Florida favourites didn't disappoint, playing all the infectious indie-pop tracks featured on Partie Traumatic to a very appreciative and sizable crowd. Highlights: Hurricane Jane and the one that started it all, I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You, to end a memorable water-sprayed set.
I'm Not Gonna Teach... (The Twelves Remix)



Song : Cut Copy - Lights & Music
When they got to the end of their 50 minute set, which was mostly, if not all the brilliant In Ghost Colours, Cut Copy announced to the sun soaked crowd that they wouldn't be back infront of Melbourne audiences for a year or two...this meant one thing and one thing only, the next song would be BIG, and what came was the best we'd see all day...the pulsating chorus had thousands jumping and shouting in unison for what could be our last taste of cutters for a while.
Lights & Music
Lights & Music (Boys Noise Happy Birthday Remix)

Moment : 'Old man take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you!'
Headlining to an audience of teens and 20 somethings would have been an every gig occurrence for Neil Young back in the day. These days he plays to greys, but you could tell Neil enjoyed himself on Australia Day, to be back once again, infront of a youthful audience. Though it took a while for the crowd to get right into the 90 minute set, at about half-way Young pulled out some acoustic classics, including Old Man. In that instant, it was as if there was a crowd full of Neil Youngs, singing back to the old man who was alot like them. From there, the youth and Young had a new found connection. The last half of the set ROCKED, from a fifteen minute never-ending Rockin' In The Free World to a cover of The Beatles' A Day In The Life and some last minute guitar string destruction. The old man's still got it!

Surprise Act : Children Collide
First-up for the day were local outfit Children Collide. Though I'd listened to their album The Long Now more than once and heard them on Triple J, I obviously hadn't given them quite the attention they deserve. To play a decent set at 11.45am deserves credit in itself, but to play with the energy they did was really incredible. The 3-member band is led by lead Johnny Mackay, his mastery on vocals, impressive guitar moves and onstage antics really captivated the early revellers. Loved the Joy Division-esk simple riffs and baselines of Skeleton Dance and Brave Robot. Was a great way to kick off what really was a BIG Day Out. Watch this space!