From: carol@ee.uts.edu.au (Carol Gibson)
Newsgroups: aus.music,alt.music.alternative
Subject: Big Day Out, Sydney
Date: 26 Jan 93 21:52:00 GMT
Organization: University of Technology, Sydney
Distribution: aus
NNTP-Posting-Host: rossi.ee.uts.edu.au

	I took myself off to the Big Day Out again this year. In
an overall comparisoan to last year - there were more bands, and 
more international acts, but way, way too many people. Last year
there were a comfortable 10,000 people and 3 stages. This year
there was an unmanageable 22,000 people and 4 stages. There were
also 15 minute queues to buy beer and 20 minute queues to get into
the girls loos.... 

	Now for a round up of the bands I saw:
Armoured Angel - I guess I missed something here. They just looked
	like 3 guys with too much hair trying to sound really heavy
	and evil, not to mention totally tuneless. But the people
	around me sure seemed to like them.
Mudhoney - they played on the main stage, which was an outdoor stadium
	stage. The sound was abysmal. From the back of the feild
	you could barely hear them - the people in the grandstand
	must have wondered when the band was going to start. I went
	up the front for a while - lots of enthusiastic moshing 
	happening, but a hopeless sound. The only songs I enjoyed were 
	the ones I could already sing to myself.
Carter USM - Now I must confess to being rather a Carter fan - so I
	threw myself headlong into this and had a wild time. My only
	gripe? 45 minutes was NOT enough!
Tumbleweed - rated by several of my friends as the act of the day, by
	the time I got there the Horden seemed to have well overfilled
	it's capacity (which is 5000 I think) and I could only squeeze
	in down the back for a while and listen. They played most of 
	the songs off there 2 EPs and one album, they seemed to be
	very tight, and from what I could tell from the screen image I
	see, were putting on a good show.
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - great. Just great. Nick was on at the main
	outdoor stage, and this time the sound was perfect - clear,
	and loud enough to fill the stadium. They did a fair few songs
	off the latest album, with all the old favorites thrown in as
	well. Nick Cave puts on an incredible show. I was damn impressed.
Helmet - I knew nothing about Helmet, except that lots of people in
	America consider them god's answer to Nirvana. I liked Helmet -
	I enjoyed the intricate drum patterns and the powerful sounds.
	I'd see them again given the chance...
Beasts of Bourbon - the Beasts were the Beasts. Tex was Tex. I was bored.
Sonic Youth - dissapointing to say the least. I love Sonic Youth, but
	left after half the set. The mix was the worst of the day - all
	skull numbing bass, and precious little else. Each song ended
	with a drawn out bass note that set your teeth grinding. I
	tried various areas in the stadium and could find no place where
	the sound was good. I decided to wait till I got home and play
	my Sonic Youth albums instead.
Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy - bloody incredible! As the last act of
	long day I was dragging my feet when I got there, and dancing
	by the time they finished. Michael had been at the Aboriginal
	commemoration all day, so turned up on stage wearing a land rights
	t-shirt, waving an aboriginal flag, wishing us "happy invasion
	day" and telling us that "much respect" was due to our indigenious
	peoples. As a left-wing, issue centred rap act, Disposable Heroes
	are renowned for having a lot to say, and saying it well. Apart
	from Michael having a mesmerising voice, his lyrics are clever
	and thought provoking - like "Hipocrisy is the greatest luxury,
	Raise the double standard!". I liked their cover of "California,
	Uberalis" which is on their album. At one stage in the show they
	tore up a caricature of Bush, to much laughter, and then a 
	caricature of Bruce Ruxton, to tumultuous applause. Rap is a 
	powerful medium for transmitting ideas, and I might say, it was
	great to see some true rap, filled with well-thought out, humanist
	ideas and a great backing band, rather than the sexist trite
	that seems to typify the mainstream.


On the whole a great day. But I think next year I'll catch up with the bands
at the seperate shows, and avoid the crowds of the Big Day Out.