Posts by Russell Brown
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Cracker: Gimme Shelter, in reply to Rageaholic,
*Disclaimer: I did not go into any of the licensed areas since I couldn’t be bothered queuing for a beer in what was decidedly not beer weather, and as a smoker I kept my distance from the security staff (they should have a designated smoking area for an event that goes on all day). This lack of contact with BDO staff possibly contributed to my lack of negative experiences with them.
I don’t think it was widespread – and certainly not amongst festival staff in general – but the three assaults by security staff noted in the post and discussion are three too many. The promoters will want to have a serious word with the security firm.
By contrast, the cops were appropriately low-key. They must have been able to smell joints being smoked as they walked the stadium floor, but they knew that wasn’t their issue for the day. People seemed comfortable approaching and speaking to them, which I think is a really good thing.
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Cracker: Gimme Shelter, in reply to harrybast,
it truly was one of the best comedy shows I have ever seen and to think they are serious just makes me laugh even more……Spinal Tap eat yr heart out…
Actually, yes -- that's the other valid way of looking at them :-)
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Cracker: Gimme Shelter, in reply to recordari,
I’m a bit surprised by this. But if you’re sure that’s wise, then who I am to contradict.
If it happened, then it's fine to report that it happened.
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Cracker: Gimme Shelter, in reply to Mark Thomas,
I wonder if it was a different security company than usual… they seemed to be a bit more stroppy than in previous years. I also received a shove in the chest when accidentally walking the wrong way into an exit lane. Unnecessary. When you’re a 120kg security guard, you can afford to ask someone to go the other way – I’m hardly going to put up a fight.
Not just unnecessary, unacceptable. Again, I trust this will come to the promoters' attention. BDO punters are asked to exercise respect and tolerance towards each other on the day. If the so-called security can't do the same, then another firm should be hired.
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Cracker: Gimme Shelter, in reply to Raymond A Francis,
And I know when you are sober and you are dealing with people who have been drinking and maybe partaking of drugs (legal etc) how you see something and they see it are two different planets
The crowd culture at the BDO is pretty remarkable. People will stop and step back to make way for each other. It's not like a wine festival or something -- those things get a bit hairy. So you really aren't talking about a drunken mob.
That said I wasn’t there and assult is unacceptable
Utterly, utterly unacceptable. I trust that this incident will get back to the promoters, who may wish to have words with the licence-holder.
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Cracker: Gimme Shelter, in reply to Tom Semmens,
Two recent events:
If you're sure of the details, I don't mind you naming the offending establishments. Naming and shaming seems like the right thing to do in this case.
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Cracker: Gimme Shelter, in reply to Rich of Observationz,
Exactly why I refuse to go to Big Day Out (and something which a lot of the media, who have access to VIP facilities, ignore).
I think bar access is the least of the benefits of a pass to the Immortals Lounge, which is where journalists, suppliers, friends blaggers, etc, get put. (VIP would be overstating the case, really.) It’s more respite from the noise and easier access to toilets.
I’ve been hanging around long enough to now be allowed to purchase a block of 10 East Lounge tickets, which aren’t cheap but are kinda necessary at my age. I’ve done my time out there in the field. But, again, the bar wasn’t much of an issue. I bought two beers all day.
I’ve been to festivals overseas where there are a range of bars with different operators (including the excellent Worker’s Beer Company). If you look under age, you might be ID’d at the point of service, but there are no “beer ghettos” – once you’ve bought a drink you can carry it wherever you want.
This doesn’t seem to lead to the breakdown of society.
It made for a nastier festival when the BDO had easier access to booze. It felt markedly less safe than it does now. I’ve been to Glastonbury and enjoyed the Workers’ Beer Company tent, but that’s a completely different environment, with far more space. And, it must be said, a different culture. New Zealanders still seem to struggle with alcohol and large events.
It does irritate me a bit the way they’re going with the gate searches – going through every tiny pocket in a woman’s bag, tipping out some guy’s whole packet of tobacco looking for joints.
At least they weren’t handing people over to police when they found drugs. But it’s absurd to suppose that people won’t consume recreational drugs at this event, and the promoters actually rely on alcohol not being the general drug of choice. If it was, they’d be in trouble.
And this won’t stop people bringing illicit drugs. It just means they’ll hide them better.
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Cracker: Gimme Shelter, in reply to philipmatthews,
Anyway, how was the music?
First band I heard (not through choice) was Airbourne on the main stage – a desperate Australian AC/DC knockoff who must surely be contenders for shittest band in the world.
First thing I saw that I liked was CSS, who were infectious, accessible and a bundle o’ Brazilian fun. I’d go and see them again any day.
I also really liked Kody and Bic, who played as a duo (she on drums, he on keyboard) and already have a good little batch of noisy pop songs. Probably won’t appeal to many owners of Bic’s albums, though. I’d moved on before they played Siouxsie and the Banshees’ ‘Hong Kong Garden’.
Went back to the East Lounge for a rest and toilet break, thus caching Lupe Fiasco, who had a guitarist squalling over everything and was okay if you like that sort of thing.
Crystal Castles were tolerable in the tent, and then Kora just rocked the top field. Or, rather, funked. They were even funkier than I recall them being when I’ve seen them before.
Saw a wee bit of John Butler Trio, which seemed alright. Then Shihad, who turned it on without, I think, reaching quite the heights of their last appearance on the main stage – perhaps because there just weren’t as many people in the stadium as last time.
Then Iggy and the Stooges, who also weren’t quite as good as last time – which may simply be because I will always prefer the Ron Asheton Stooges to the James Williamson Stooges. ‘Shake Appeal’ (with a stage full of dancers from the crowd) and ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’ were especially good.
Heard a few seconds of Rammstein on the way out of the stadium and nary a note of Tool, which is just how I wanted it. I don’t get Tool, at all.
Met up with a few friends at the Silent Disco (always a pleasant diversion), then went to wait for LCD Soundsystem in the tent. Sadly, they were delayed about 20 minutes with a technical problem, meaning a 100% clash with Primal Scream.
Most of my mates departed for the Primals, but me and my buddy Nat stayed at LCD – and I don’t regret that at all. They opened, finally, with an epic exploration of ‘Dance Yrself Clean’ and finished with ‘All My Friends’. I like this band a lot on record – but I just plain adore them live. They’re maginificent. Easily my favourite of the day. (I hear Primal Screen were wonderful too.)
Went over to catch a bit of Phoenix Foundation, who sounded pretty good – but by that time it was really starting to rain, so we went back to the tent for Booka Shade, who was okay, if not quite the glorious groove experience I’d been expecting.
Then it was M.I.A., who was … uncompromising. It was more like a sound system than a show – I can recall only two actual tunes, ‘Steppin’ Up’ and ‘Born Free’ – and while the beats were very bangin’, I did have a sense of waiting for something more to happen. We left about 11.45 and walked back to the car in the rain.
Good Big Day Out. And I like the new Boiler Room tent. Having no sides makes for much better access and egress and a much cooler tent.
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I so, so love this.
Purple suede spike-heeled boots. So awesome.
The boots, too, naturally. But I was thinking of your words, and the order in which you placed them.
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sashaying your way down the catwalk in your seventies and four-inch heels
I so, so love this.