Groovin The Moo Review

Hey that rhymes. Amazing.

But yes, last week I got offered a ticket to Groovin The Moo, held annually in Maitland at the showground. I've heard of it before but never really paid too much attention to it. Didn't even know who was on the lineup before being offered the ticket, still didn't know some of the acts after LOOKING at the lineup - but I went anyway!

Maitland's a bit of a drive (2-2.5 hours Nth of Sydney) so needless to say we were late. The festival had put a notice up on the main page saying that the parking area was flooded (and boy WAS IT! Fields looked like lakes with fences in them) so parking was a little bit of a trek away from the grounds. Got to the back of the line and a mime approached me wearing one of those Buckethead masks and asking me for a light. Lit the cigarette and it vanished. I was trippin' (not on acid though) and it was a great way to start.

We entered the main area and my mind immediately went back to Splendour 06. Not because it was a lovely area in which to have a festival (it was) but because of the MUD! Massive amounts of it everywhere and with thousands of patrons walking, dancing and jumping around it wasnt going to get any better throughout the day. Little Red are a band I'd never heard before the festival and by looking at them I'd say they're not much older than 18. Fantastic old school harmonies mixed with CHORD rock, dirty breakdowns and a generally amazing groove. Its the what the Beach Boys and Roy Orbison would sound like if they were young today. I am more than impressed. Check them out.

Up next was That One Guy who I had seen a few nights before on Spicks and Specks. This guy is an anomaly, playing some insane music on some perculiar instruments. The only person I've ever seen perform like this is the God that is Les Claypool. Its very hard to explain so I filmed it and put it on YouTube (technology these days..)

Needless to say he was interesting. Songs about Butt Machines and the moon being disgusting. A boot was played. Triggers, loops and strings all being played on one horrendously beautiful mess of pipes. Theres nothing I can say to make his performance sound ordinary. Thats ok though, because it was anything but.

Custom Kings played a set that got me dancing in the shade out of the sun. I wasnt really aware of their material apart from 'Up Late' but they played a soothing mix of reggae, blues and rock. They also got the guys from Little Red up for a number. Karnivool hit the stage next and while most of my good friends go rabid for these guys I'm a little different. They're a good band, an interesting sound as well but I guess I just don't view them as amazing. Seeing them at BDO and now as well, the sound has been fat and wall-like but the vocals lack the intensity and presence of the recording and alot of the impact is lost for me. They were still great though.

The dusk part of the afternoon was spent getting quite drunk, using the toilets and listening apathetically to the sounds of Gyroscope (yawn) before Spiderbait played a set that certainly could've sounded alot better. Whether that was the sound guys fault or the bands is a hard fact to tell.

Sneaky Sound System were up next and I'll level with you. I dug them. Sure they're part of that wave of electronic artists being played at JB Hi-Fi's and 2Day FM but they have some genuinely catchy songs. I'd almost call them the Garbage (the band, not the... well.. garbage) of Australia. Thats where I see them headed anyway. A nicely paced set with the big songs and a few covers thrown in and the place was a party.

Handy, because a party is what The Presets ordered. The chance to see these guys was what made me take the ticket, the new album is amazing and to see some of it live excited me more than Liz Hurley naked. To come out and open with personal favourite 'Talk Like That' made me shoot my proverbial load (I said proverbial) all over the mud. What followed was a good mix of both albums, and a fantastic way to end the night.

What have I got to say about Groovin The Moo? A great day out. In average conditions nearly all the bands put on a great show. The lines for food, beer and toilets were all moved along efficiently and the crowd was fantastic (no Aussie flag dickheads!). Kudos to the organisers - or should I say 'moodos'.

Funny.