Random Play by Graham Reid

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Random Play: The Big Day Out: Lambs to the slaughter

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  • andrew gunn,

    "They are Blooty and the Ho Fish (or whoever they were) for kids who last year loved High School Musical and have now graduated onto what they think is rock music"


    I love the smell of condescension in the afternoon.

    Christchurch • Since Apr 2009 • 45 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Thanks, Graeme. Confirmed for me that it was the right decision not to go to BDO this year, and has heightened the anticipation for Al Green in The Civic on Thursday.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    So Lily Allen overrated, I should have guessed. Still her bank account must be looking healthy. One hit can set a person up for life I believe.

    Al Green in The Civic on Thursday.

    Bugger Im effing broke.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I’d toss her back to clubs where she would have to learn how to engage with an audience and also to get some strength in her vocals. And I don’t mean dance or night clubs, I mean Australian RSL clubs. That would sort her out.

    I dunno. She certainly knew how to run things when she played the Boiler Room a couple of years ago.

    I didn't think she was that bad -- i quite enjoyed it. And I liked the fact that the girlies around me knew all the words. To be honest, I think she suffered from following Dizzee Rascal -- anyone would have struggled to keep up the vibe after that.

    Besides, that pink Jackie O dress was the Frock of the Day.

    You missed Kora, then? I managed to catch all three of the acts that clashed around 4pm: Girl Talk (overrated), Ladyhawke (underwhelming) and Kora -- who struck me as the real thing. I rather wished I'd just stayed put and watched them in the first place, because they were pretty compelling on the main stage.

    Totally with you on The Checks and Dimmer. The latter finished with 10 - 15 mins of 'Seed', and it was great to see the Concord Dawn kids stream in and go nuts to that.

    But yeah, hardly the best BDO musical experience. Is there no way of stopping all those shithouse Aussie rock bands coming here?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    The Dizzee crowd during 'Bonkers'. It was a spectacular place to be.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Perrott,

    did Kora do that mid-song freeze thing? a bit gimmicky, but bloody effective. they rocked the house at last years Womad. I reckon they could just about take Shihad in a scrap.

    with you on the aussies - aside from Tism, they can come back if they like.

    and cheers Graeme, I felt distinct pangs of missing the party when the fullas here were gearing up for the day. now, not so much.

    so yeah, bring on Al Green. not to built any unfulfillable expectations mind. then Florence...then the Pixies.

    Lordy.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    did Kora do that mid-song freeze thing? a bit gimmicky, but bloody effective.

    Yep. And they held it for ages.

    they rocked the house at last years Womad. I reckon they could just about take Shihad in a scrap.

    Them's fightin' words!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    they rocked the house at last years Womad. I reckon they could just about take Shihad in a scrap.

    I reckon that a Kora vs HLAH battle would be just as entertaining.

    And wow, Dizzee is simply amazing. I rated his first album, but thought that he would be simply a one-trick pony. He's proven me wrong, time and again.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Perrott,

    kora vs shihad vs hlah in a cage...get Julie Christie on the phone, I think we're onto something.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Does anyone know a 16-19 year old who can write?

    Because really, it might be interesting to read what somebody in the target audience thinks of BDO. It isn't meant to be for 30+ music geeks (like me). It isn't meant to be "alternative" like Jonathan Dodd seemed to think. It's simply commercial music picked to attract 40,000 plus people in the 16-25 core age group.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Last year Russell linked to a blog by a young BDOer didn't he? I'm sure they're talking about it online somewhere, Rich, though I reckon the event's target age goes up to about 40 judging by some of the acts.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    It's simply commercial music picked to attract 40,000 plus people in the 16-25 core age group.

    Who, like Iggy Pop, Neil Young, Billy Bragg, New Order and those other teeny bopper 60s, 70s and 80s bands you mean? When it's balanced it is truly great, when it is not, it is not.

    Camera Obscura where cool by the way, although the Monte Cristo room is getting to be a sweat box of monumental proportions. The poor wee things nearly melted after coming from minus 10 in the UK.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    a sweat box of monumental proportions

    Twas thus during the Blend, and that without noticeable dancing

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    like Jonathan Dodd

    Wow, he know's Sweet FA, must be young or stupid. It's easy it's spelt
    s-t-r-a-w-m-a-n. The book he quotes, adoringly, use's them a lot apparently.
    Jeez, Research Director, and that home page is dripping with deepity's.
    Market Intelligence, OMFG

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Wow, he know's Sweet FA, must be young or stupid.

    Well, he's not young ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    And wow, Dizzee is simply amazing. I rated his first album, but thought that he would be simply a one-trick pony. He's proven me wrong, time and again.

    Like any musician worth their salt, Dizzee has given the finger to everybody's expectations and just done what he wanted and it's really worked for him. I'm sure his old cobbers in the Grime community aren't too impressed with it but he really has reinvented himself as an international rockstar. As one of the top two British MCs he's like Miles Davis to Roots Manuva's Ornette Coleman :)

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    That's a great summary by the way. Thanks Graham!

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • st ephen,

    It isn't meant to be "alternative" like Jonathan Dodd seemed to think. It's simply commercial music picked to attract 40,000 plus people in the 16-25 core age group.

    No, I think he's closer to the mark than you are, Rich. INXS were hugely popular and commercial in their day, and kept begging to be allowed to play the BDO without success. And no, it wasn't just because they were shite - that hasn't been a barrier for countless Aussie pub rock acts since then. The BDO "brand" is not built on randomly selecting acts off commercial radio. And that isn't entirely due to budget constraints.

    Anyway, there are plenty of comments on the Herald BDO review page from teenyboppers that directly contradict everything Mr. Reid said, as you'd expect. Quality writing, not so much.

    dunedin • Since Jul 2008 • 254 posts Report Reply

  • bronwyn,

    Dizzee has given the finger to everybody's expectations and just done what he wanted and it's really worked for him

    I quite agree - I had quite a discussion with another music fan last week about Bonkers. He only wanted to play Dizzee "before he went pop" (imagine said in that way that people who don't really understand how great pop music can be); I said one of my songs of the year last year.

    And then we played it for the party, and they went danced like crazy, and I felt smug.

    tamaki makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 86 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    And then we played it for the party, and they went danced like crazy, and I felt smug.

    Heh, P-Money played it here in Nelson at Summer Six a week ago and the small ripped right into it. Great tune.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    INXS were hugely popular and commercial in their day, and kept begging to be allowed to play the BDO without success.

    And I bet they still thought they were an indie band just gigging around Sydney, trying to get on. Even tho' they had been stadium rockers for a few years by the time BDO got going and was looking for street cred, not that other thing which INXS had.
    I got a shock when I saw Kirk Pengelly on Masterchef Celebrity.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    One hit can set a person up for life I believe.

    Three big albums is nearer the mark. Probably more today.

    Though it depends on one's chosen lifestyle, but I doubt Ms Allen has cheap tastes, somehow.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Tony Parker,

    Completely OT but apart from the 4 hr drive to Welly I'm looking forward to Neko Case at the Bathhouse tomorrow night.
    Oh and did anyone see Dragon on Sainsbury's show tonight? Mark Williams is looking a little older.

    Napier • Since Nov 2008 • 232 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    Though it depends on one's chosen lifestyle, but I doubt Ms Allen has cheap tastes, somehow.

    That means she is in danger of becoming another irrelevant celebrity living on past glories indulging in crass displays of wealth beyond her means.
    Or she could live within the means afforded by her income, which would be a whole lot better that 80% of the global population.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Three big albums is nearer the mark. Probably more today.

    Nope, the one worldwide hit single is nearer the mark, if you handle the money and rights smartly. And they keep on earning forever.

    The dosh is always in the performance income.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

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