28th January Melbourne BDO
We went early out to the festival site to catch the set from Anti-Flag. The Pittsburgh punk band have the unenviable job of opening on the main stage at midday, which for a black-clad bunch of spike-tops presents a challenge. Undaunted by the heat and the hour, they’ve been putting in high velocity sets and today we finally managed to get our act together in time to catch them.
Their powerfully political tunes and between-number rants soon stir the crowd to life, a dust cloud rising from the mosh-pit during the more frantic songs. The set ends with bass player Chris 2 leaping from the top of his bass cabinet on the final beat.
The Essential Stage was in grassy corner of the site, giving it the atmosphere of a second stage at a folk festival, which suited Kate Nash, Tom Morello and myself right down to the ground. Having got a few shows under our belts, collaborations are starting to flourish. I get up and sing ‘A New England’ with Kate while she returns the favour during my set with ‘Great Big Kiss’. Later The Nightwatchman calls me up along with Chris 2 and Justin from the ‘Flag to sing the Midnight Oil anthem ‘Beds Are Burning’.
The next night, after a hard day’s promo, I went to see one of Arcade Fire’s side-shows and was relieved to see Regine Chassagne cranking the hurdy-gurdy with her usual enthusiasm, the instrument clearly none the worse for having been in our tender care for a day.
One Response to “28th January Melbourne BDO”
By Dane Walker on Feb 7, 2008
I wish Tom and Kate sung with you at the Gold Coast Big Day Out! I hope you’re having a blast in Australia mate. Take Care. Dane