Saturday Splendours Part 3

The good news was that Saturday had so many great acts to look forward to, the bad news was that it would be met with some very heart-breaking decisions. Let me just say that as the day wears on and the cue for Gold View getting longer and longer, one has to base their festival selections around not just preference but the stages they play on and your ability to easily move between them.



First up I had the choice between Ernest Ellis or Johnathan Boulet. I chose Ellis as I had heard his entire debut album and I thought every Modular Hipster on site would be at Boulet, after all I only knew “Community Service Announcement” at the time. Ernest is very laid back, I thought bordering on arrogant but Clare reminded me of my own chip on the shoulder, so Ernest & I in proximity didn’t make for a good mix. It clearly wasn’t arrogance but he kept urging the crowd to dance but honestly Ernest, your music ain’t for that. “Waiting For The Cold” was fun but the surprise packet was “Loveless” which finally gave us all something to get down to. A good set but still not sure whether I might have had more fun with the Mod Hipsters viewing Boulet from the Golden View.



Oh Mercy was another pick from Clare’s pre-Splendour research. I knew of Oh Mercy and their thing but was always very indifferent to it. For the beginning of the set, I remained unaltered from my previous thoughts. The front man seemed very unsure of himself and awkward which for my liking didn’t come across as cute, it was annoying. He continued to worry they didn’t have enough for the hour set, his solution of playing a fantastic slow song should have been the plan all along, no boo-hooing required. Anyways toward the middle of the set when he pulled out some new songs (particularly one about “fucking up plans”) I really warmed to him, something the rest of the crowd did from the very start. Oh Mercy has a very intimate relationship with their fans, I personally don’t get it but they clearly don’t need my support.

By chance I caught Clint’s recommendation Two Door Cinema Club who had one of the largest crowds of the day time, perhaps even of any band outside the Amphitheatre. They were your typical it band, they’re from Ireland and they play a fast set of punchy little sing-a-long choruses and jangling verses. These acts are dime a dozen, just ask The Futureheads or Hot Hot Heat or Faker. You’d probably love em...



Next Up were John Steel Singers who I like a few tracks but really only saw them to give the review a point of difference. I liked that “Rainbow Kraut” song a bit so I thought hey why not. I liked when they remarked “You do realise you’re missing The (effin’) Drums, If you wanna go see them you better fuck off now” I appreciated that humble sentiment. Long story short they were a tremendous party band who suited a festival perfectly. The horns were sturring and the dancing horse performers they brought out for “Rainbow Kraut” really demonstrated their ability to put on a performance in every sense of the word.



Like every day I then retreated to base camp for a shower and to change into my night clothes.

First on my night time agenda was a band you’ve probably forgotten about but I certainly haven’t, The Magic Numbers. I’d missed them at Big Day Out due to my lack of knowledge and good taste, I wasn’t planning on making the same mistake twice. They opened the set by tearing through 3 of their big hits from the Self Titled and Those the Brokes before they started introducing some new material. On some of the newer material from The Runaway they got the audience to help with the harmonies and I thought this was a good move as it softened the bore of hearing new songs you can’t sing-a-long to. Their newest single “The Pulse” doesn’t feature the sublime vocals of Romeo but rather his sister Michele, it seems very Fleetwood Mac-esque and I didn’t mind it. Clear standouts were Angela’s astounding vocal ability on “I See You, You See Me” and in general Romeo as a fantastic vocalist. Closing with “Love Me Like You” was immensely enjoyable but again like I said with the Scissor Sisters, I worry I may have been witnessing a band I’ll always adore but may have already exhausted their best on the first two releases. Perhaps I should comment more once I’ve heard The Runaway.



It was off to the set up shop in the Amphitheatre to get in Gold View for The Strokes. That did involve some sacrifices such as missing Paul Kelley and seeing Wolfmother. As we lined up Tame Impala were getting everyone to taste the vibe in the air. While I admit the fact I’ve never tried illicit drugs does put me at a disadvantage but I just can’t gush over these guys like everyone else does. I was left baffled and slightly encouraged that the masses of festival whores could so intently love every waking minute of Tame Impala. This wasn’t a bunch of drunks who’d groove to anything, people were singing along and pumping their fist in time with the music. I think these guys are good but are they really THAT good?

As I mentioned I then had to withstand watching Wolfmother. I really dislike Wolfmother and what they do but it’s obvious they do it well enough for everyone to like it. I think it's because Stockdale is the new Luke Steele but a quarter of the talent. “New Moon Rising” annoys the shit out of me but I knew most of the words, so I guess its Andrew Stockdale 1 Pix 0.

While I was watching these 30+ douchebags in front of me were privately geering Wolfmother in the Gold View section with mocking air guitar and devil horn hand gestures. I’d never exert myself to defend Stockdale and co. but it did make me feel dirty to share opinions of these nobodies. None of them were even remotely hot and I can only imagine they gained Gold Tickets via the contract they have to service the Splendour toilets or they are a hack wannabe blogger like myself.

Oww can I just add that I had been holding a piss in since just before The Magic Numbers and I forgot to go before I entered into the Gold View which has a no queue bar but also no toilet, obviously to promote turnover of guests.



Another band I probably would have missed was the next act, Florence & The Machine. It would have been another big mistake. You don’t need me to tell you this girl can sing, my GOD she probably doesn’t even need a microphone. She was theatrical, graceful and engaging. The crowd were sent into raptures for “You Got The Love” and “Dog Days Are Over” but my personal highlight was the drama she infused in “The Drumming Song”, a really stirring ballad that injected so much blissful tension and rock n roll suspense into the Amphitheatre. I think even Florence was gob smacked by the sheer scale of the Amphitheatre and the incredible response she received from the crowd. She converted me and I have if nothing more, unwavering respect. Oh and “The Machine” are as boring as bat shit, thank God for Florence ay.



Strokes photos didn't really come out... so here's a picture of base camp instead. Sorry :)

To end my glorious Saturday, it was of course The Strokes. Visually their set was so intriguing and arresting with fantastic use of colour and shape. I’d expected another display of typical Julian Casblancas dickheadship however even the biggest cock on the planet was blown away by the Amphitheatre. He summed it up best “What is this Cauldron of Humanity”. “Reptilia” remains my favourite track of theirs but “New York City Cops” was a perfect surprise as the opener. As the set went on, I warmed to him a lot and I realised that his very dry humour perhaps washed over a 17 year old Pix who was at Big Day Out more for Metallica. I missed out on a dance in the rain with friends in 2004 and I wasn’t going to pass up another chance to get down to these guys. Every song faultless and immediately recognisable, I was in awe.