Playground Weekender - Friday

It seems as if this week is going to be one of the most hectic for the Whiteboydancefloor crew so I thought rather than letting it slip away from us, I'd get the Playground Weekender review cracking for Chris to throw in some happy snaps at a later date.

Upon arriving at the very easy to get to Wisemans Ferry, I had little idea of what was to come. Whilst we waited in the ever growing queue to get a carpark I sat, watched and said nothing as the bong smoking parking attendent proceeded to chat up the ladies in front of us. When they got out of the car, I couldn't blame the brother.

Upon arriving at the warf with all my belongings and honourary white boy Porto, my attempts to sneak in a thumping big bottle of cougar were thwarted by the keno security guard, I'd hidden it well but he snuffed it out quite easily.

The ferry seemed to take a while but it was probably just my imagination as we were at Del Rio and well on our way to erecting our tent in no time at all. Job done, food consumed and the place scoped out, it was time to check some music. Now to set a bit of a scene for you, Porto is as open minded and chilled as they come but I could sense that convincing him Riot in Belgium and Bang Gang Dj's were a winner was going to be something else. Riot in Belgium were our first musical experience of the weekend and they didn't fair too badly, but to be honest with what was to come they didn't really fair too well either. The set was at times too safe and maybe alittle too elitist. While someone as obsessed with music as me could see what they were trying to do, really the set wasn't right for a festival of people sampling music and it was only 'La musique' and the 'omg theres a riot in belgium' lead up sample that got the crowd out of first gear.

Bang Gang Djs I must say can take responsibility for making Riot in Belgium look so bad. They absolutely tore the house down. I'd seen Ajax rip it up briefly before but never Jamie Doom & Gus Da Hoodrat, these guys are absolute geniuses. Playing off each other so well from where I was standing it seemed as if Gus was doing all the moving and shaking and Doom knew just how to compliment. I'd go as far as saying the song selection was one of the finest and most appropriate I have ever witnessed in my entire musical life, not even I could have dropped as many surprises as they. When you get electro trendys to go off to 'Smells like teen spirit', 'Stuck in the middle with you' and 'Hearts on fire' all in the same set without missing a beat, you truely are something else. My only criticism is that it wasn't a two hour or ten hour set... they are just too perfect. The right balance between remaining a firm tastemaker dropped tracks like the mega fresh D.A.N.C.E by Justice to dropping unmixed straight out servings of nostalgia like 'Smells like teen spirit' was just sublime, I cannot really sing their praises enough. Ending with a Sound of Music "so long farwell..bla bla bla... goodnight...so on and so on" was clever if not alittle somber for it meant for this whiteboy, there was nothing but sight seeing & exploring until tommorrow.

A brief two song swaray of Fat Freddy's Drop did little to excite me. Their sound was seemless but a little too chilled as I had just pumped up my party meter thanks to the Bang Gang Djs. So before I could squeeze out another yawn at the New Zealanders, I went off to let the other who had been able to sneak in the reefer enjoy their show. Maybe I missed all the exciting bits?

Retiring to our campsites we heard some very hilarious chatter from our Pommy neighbours in the tents near us, having some downright side slapping conversations with their new found friend Angus, I'm yet to find out of Angus from 12MC if that was him or not as I fell asleep and after being woken by the loud conversations again, jumped out to see if I could spy Angus but sadly was no where to be seen. Sadly the lack of reception meant I was unable to catch up with the other bloggers who had made the trek.



In summing up Friday I think the best recollection I heard was from a fella we met the next day by the name of Marco who said that because so many people were arriving on Saturday it was as if the bands on Friday treated us all to a really intimate show especially for us, and I like that description of Friday. Marco is involved with selling some of the downright coolest shirts this side of Melbourne through a clothing company named PeteVersusToby which I believe he started with other like minded fashionables.

I strongly suggest you head over to their myspace and check out the designs, the innovation, humour and creativity all wrapped into an inspiring minimalist delivery is nothing short of impressive and fuckin' trendy. Putting it bluntly, wearing their shirts will get you all the bitches from here to Dubai... no fattys either.

Whilst on a tight budget I could resist myself from buying a few of their items. Who needs food or petrol or money to pay the bank when you've got killer shirts? Not me... I go to uni, I need all the help I can get regardless.

They've also set an interesting challenge. Anyone to find the picture below somewhere in this fine city gets a free t shirt once they take a picture of it and prove they've discovered the hidden artwork. I'm fascinated but wouldn't have a clue about where to start looking.


Myspace: PeteVersusToby
Myspace: Bang Gang Djs
Myspace: Riot in Belgium
Myspace: Fat Freddy's Drop