20/01/2014
Big Day Out, Auckland 2014
Great Music Good Venue Terrible Organization
The Western Springs Park venue was so much better than the Mt. Smart Industrial Zone, grass, trees and space. It could have been really beautiful with it’s lake and forest vistas instead it looked more like a prison yard. With so many fences and security guards getting to the main stage was like crossing the Berlin Wall. No bags allowed meant waiting up to 30 minutes pay $5 to stash your bag before getting in to the best sound space for the performances. Outrageous.
It was well worth getting there. So many fantastic shows and such a great range over the six stages. From the almost or****ic intimacy of the folksy Bats for Lashes in the Metro “pop up magazine” (an auditorium for less than 50 people with couches). To the rollicking good time rock and roll of The Hive’s with their fantastic high energy front man, Pelle Almqvist, working the crowd and his ninja clad stage hands. The Alt – Indi (Alternative Independent genre) ten piece Canadian band, Arcade Fire were top of my bill. They set themselves apart for a splendid performance. It was so good they seemed to become more and more intoxicated by their own wonderful music. Together they wielded this ecstatic power which had a delirious effect on the crowd. It was non-stop music with each songs journey leading to another. Nothing was held back, there was guitar-smashing, face blood, giving away instruments and the chanting of anthems. Spell bounding.
I never go to another BDO like this again. Way too many people telling me where not to go, not enough toilets and far from enhancing the beauty of the environment they made it so ugly. With so many great acts it should have been so much better.
