The first ever Good Things Festival kicked off in Melbourne on a hot Friday featuring The Offspring, Stone Sour, All Time Low, Dropkick Murphys, Bullet For My Valentine & many more. Wendy Smith reports in on all that happened at the big event, the first of 3 expected this weekend.
Last night was one of those horrible, hot nights. Where sleep comes in sweaty, fitful bursts and the entire city wakes up tired and grumpy. And with a forecast top of 38 degrees, the inaugural Good Things Festival may not end up being either good or festive. But the early arrivals number in their thousands and the rock festival starved Melbourne music fans are keen for things to get underway. The smell of cut grass and the flowers left over from the Melbourne Cup Carnival are overpowering and I have never been so grateful for Claratyn in my life.
The set up looks great. Smaller scale than Soundwave, for sure, but there are a huge number of food choices, numerous bars and you can take your alcohol out into the open areas rather than having to drink in segregated over 18’s areas like at Soundwave. A definite improvement. The extreme heat has been taken into account and there are extra shaded areas, water tankers and some of those misting tents to cool down in.
I had already ascertained that I would be spending the day around Stage 1 and 2 for the international acts. It was easy to spot stage 1 as the rail was already full of middle aged Japanese men camping out waiting for Baby Metal.
The first band I caught was Waterparks from Houston. 3 young guys playing more Pop than Rock and they acknowledged that their music was of a different genre than what most had come to see. They did have their own following though and despite only having been on the go for 6 years and this their first trip to Australia, they had fans, for sure.
Only mad dogs and music fans come out in the midday sun. It’s 1.00 and Scorchio. Northlane have seen fit to add flames to the front of their stage, adding to the heat. This is the first time I’ve seen these guys from Sydney but I seem to be on my own here as those braving the conditions are loving the “metalcore” that is Northlane’s bread and butter. Lead singer, Marcus Bridge can do frightening things with his voice, going from angel to devil in the space of a few bars. With the encouragement of the band, a huge pit opens up but it doesn’t last too long, the heat getting the better of everyone. Only the hardcore, super keen and super fit are going to be able to keep it up today.
My find of the day was the next up on Stage 2, La Dispute. Hailing from Michigan, these guys cut their teeth as a band playing house parties and basements around their Grand Rapids base and on their first, penniless visit to Australia some years ago. Lead singer, Jordan Dreyer, has an unusual vocal style, part spoken word, part singing. I would usually think this would be a bit artsy fartsy for me, but I really enjoyed their set. Check them out!
So, Baby Metal. A legitimate musical offering, or just a gimmick? The crowd waiting at Stage 1 swelled considerably prior to their arrival. Fans or the curious, I wasn’t’ sure at first. The musicians, faces painted white, are definitely legitimate and talented. The “Baby” part of the band are 3 girls, beautifully costumed, choreographed within an inch of their lives, and compelling to watch. Like all things Japanese, it is done to perfection and is just a bit weird. How was it received? This was their first time in Australia and I think from the excitement of the crowd, it was received hugely well. So apparently, you can mix J Pop and metal together and be a legitimate crowd pleaser.
Bullet for My Valentine are as Metal as fuck! I think they personify Nu Metal, combining traditional guitar riffs (played on those jaggy , arrow shaped guitars. Can you get any more metal than that?), with a combination of “clean” and “dirty” vocals. The crowd on the rail to see them were as mixed as I’ve seen anywhere. With suburban housewives rubbing shoulders with the young and pierced. Clearly, their songs resonate with all as they were sung with great passion. Even one of the bouncers in between dragging crowd surfers out of the pit, was singing and dancing away. I loved them and will see them again for sure. And singer Matthew Tuck is as sexy as hell. From Wales and he has perfect teeth. You don’t see that everyday!
The Drop Kick Murphys are not really my bag. Described as Celtic Punk, these guys from Massachusetts play a fiddledy dee kind of punk with banjos, accordions, a penny whistle and bag pipes with a tempo that can be best described as a jig. But surprisingly, this brand of Irish folky punk seems to resonate with Australian festival goers and their spot, 4th on the main stages bill, is well patronised and well received.
2nd last on the Stage 1 bill is All Time Low. Hailing from Baltimore, near Washington DC, they are a good time band playing that instantly forgettable (for me, anyway), radio friendly generic American rock. BUT, they are very entertaining. They have a “thing” for collecting bras during their show and hanging them from drums and microphone stands. I have never heard the words “boob sweat” uttered during a bands’ set, other than All Time Low.
Headlining Stage 2 are Stone Sour. Corey Taylor is among the 5 coolest men on the planet (in my humble opinion). This is their second visit to Australia in 2018, a rare treat for sure. Corey comes out tonight with shoulder length curly hair and a blazer over his black t-shirt. He looks like Eddie Vedder which is a very good thing. Stone Sour give us a 60 minute set full of hits. The stand out was definitely an acoustic version of Bother with Corey accompanying himself on guitar and the crowd were going Ape Shit!
The Offspring take the stage next and tonight, they are playing their album Smash from 1994 in full. I do some quick maths, realising that the Offspring fans of that era will be in their 40’s now, yet as they start playing, there are many way younger than that who are word perfect.
Good Things seems to have been a great success. The line up was awesome, the crowd was engaged and despite the harsh weather conditions, the amenities made it as comfortable as it could be. And I realise that I have missed being part of a rock festival crowd.
Who belongs? – Everyone
What body shape? – Any and all
What clothes? – Anything, as long as it’s black.
What hair? – Any length, any colour.
What age? – Any, as long as you love good, heavy music.
Only for beautiful people? – Everyone looks shit when they seat, are sunburnt and get hosed a few times.
It is the great leveller. Thank God for Good Things, and bring on Download in March. We’ve been waiting too long.
Review by Wendy Smith
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Scott Smith: Lens Of Rock
GOOD THINGS FESTIVAL LINE UP:
The Offspring (Performing ‘Smash’ In Full)
Stone Sour
All Time Low | Dropkick Murphys
Bullet For My Valentine | The Used
BABYMETAL | The Smith Street Band
Dashboard Confessional (Performing songs from ‘The Places You
Have Come To Fear The Most’ + Fan Favourites)
Mayday Parade | La Dispute
Northlane | The Wonder Years
Waterparks | Tonight Alive | Scarlxrd | Emmure
Palaye Royale | Make Them Suffer | Waax
Boston Manor | Void Of Vision | Ecca Vandal
DATES AND VENUES:
Friday 7 December – Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne
Saturday 8 December – Parramatta Park, Sydney
Sunday 9 December – Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane
Tickets & more info: www.goodthingsfestival.com.au
